Prestonfield House

A country house inside the city

Prestonfield House is a 1687 mansion in its own parkland of about eight hectares, with gardens and woodland, at the foot of Arthur's Seat and five minutes by taxi from Waverley station. It's a five-star hotel with the same owners as The Witchery, and it shares their taste for the theatrical: velvet, antiques, deep colours and roaring fires. What sets it apart in Edinburgh is the silence: you sleep in the city as if you were on a country estate.

Rooms, dining room and lounges

There are 23 rooms and suites, each decorated in its own way, with antique pieces and heavy fabrics. The Rhubarb restaurant is open every day from 12:00 to 22:00 (last booking), and the Whisky Room has sofas by the fire for an after-dinner drink. Afternoon tea costs £70 per person. There's a lift to the restaurant and the rooms.

Who it suits

For a luxury break as a couple, for anyone travelling with a dog (every room accepts them, and they can be in the lounges, though not in Rhubarb) and for those arriving by car: parking is free and there are electric chargers. It also welcomes children of all ages, who can dine in Rhubarb until 20:00. If you don't have a car, buses 2, 14 and 33 stop about five minutes' walk away. The hotel suggests walks that start from the estate itself.