Edinburgh’s an easy city to bring a dog to — Holyrood Park on the doorstep of the Old Town, the Water of Leith running right through it, the Pentlands a short drive away. Our Edinburgh hub page and dog swimming spots guide cover plenty of what to do once you’re here. For somewhere to stay, Figo and I only wanted places with a genuinely checkable dog policy on the operator’s own site. Here’s what we found.
Hotels
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh
At 1 India Buildings, Victoria Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2EX (Google Maps, the hotel’s own pet policy page), pets stay free, with no size or breed restriction stated. Pet-friendly rooms come with a tartan dog bed, bowls, blanket, towel and treats, and dogs are welcome in the hotel’s dog-friendly restaurants — there’s even a room-service dog menu. Keep dogs on a lead in public spaces.
Prestonfield House
Priestfield Road, Edinburgh, EH16 (the hotel’s own dog-friendly page), dogs stay free of charge if you let the hotel know in advance. All bedrooms and suites are dog-friendly, with a dog bed prepared on arrival, and dogs are welcome in the historic drawing rooms and public spaces — just not in the Rhubarb restaurant itself.
We checked Edinburgh’s main chain and boutique hotels directly (Motel One, Hotel du Vin, Malmaison, Hotel Indigo, ibis, Novotel, Best Western, the Caledonian and others), but couldn’t verify a branch-level policy for any of them on their own site, so none make this list.
Camping & caravan parks
Mortonhall Caravan and Camping Park
At 38 Mortonhall Gate, Frogston Road East, Edinburgh, EH16 6TJ (Google Maps, Meadowhead’s own site), dogs are welcome on a lead at all times. They’re not allowed in the children’s play area or any buildings, and a small number of unspecified breeds are excluded — check directly with the park before booking.
Edinburgh Caravan Club Site, Silverknowes
At 35-37 Marine Drive, Edinburgh, EH4 5EN (Google Maps, the Caravan Club’s own site), the site has an on-site and off-site dog walk and a dog wash station. Keep dogs close by and in sight, and to a 5mph site speed limit.
Self-catering
The Cooperage, Leith
At Commercial Wharf, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6LF (Google Maps, Cottages & Castles listing), this converted 18th-century warehouse apartment on Leith’s harbour takes one dog, with additional charges that may apply — check at booking stage.
Just over the boundary in East Lothian, Drummohr Camping and Glamping (Levenhall, Musselburgh, EH21 8JS) is also worth knowing about — dogs welcome free on tent and touring pitches, with a small cleaning charge on the dog-friendly glamping pods.
A new place to sleep can unsettle even a well-travelled dog. Our Edinburgh vets guide is worth bookmarking before you go, and we’ve found the calming collars and treats at Calmshops a useful complementary option — always check with your vet first if your dog has any underlying health conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a dog-friendly hotel in Edinburgh?
Yes — Virgin Hotels Edinburgh lets pets stay free with no size or breed restriction, and Prestonfield House offers free dog stays with advance notice. We checked Edinburgh’s main chain and boutique hotels directly and couldn’t verify a branch-level policy for any of them.
Are there dog-friendly campsites near Edinburgh?
Yes — Mortonhall Caravan and Camping Park and the Edinburgh Caravan Club Site at Silverknowes both welcome dogs on a lead, plus Drummohr Camping and Glamping just over the boundary in Musselburgh, East Lothian.
Written by Georgiana & Figo.
