Melville Castle Hotel
Midlothian, Scotland
Photo: Shani Evenstein (שני אבנשטיין), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: Stephencdickson, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Grendelkhan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- Hotel (Melville Castle Ltd)
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Hotel guests only
- Nearest station
- Eskbank, 1.0 miles (straight-line)
- Stays
- Overnight accommodation available
- Note
- 1791 castellated mansion near Edinburgh
Pinpoint
Gilmerton Rd, Edinburgh EH18 1AP
Telephone 0131 654 0088
A castellated mansion built in 1791, close enough to Edinburgh for an easy day trip but styled and run as a full country-house hotel, with grounds where horses graze within view of some rooms. Reviewers are consistently enthusiastic about the atmosphere from the moment you walk into the lobby fire.
At a glance
Worth the trip
Afternoon tea in front of the lobby fire - repeatedly singled out by reviewers as worth booking even if you're not staying the night.
Before you go
It's close enough to Edinburgh to visit for afternoon tea alone without booking a room, which several reviewers did as a gift or one-off treat rather than a full stay.
What visitors say
Melville Castle Hotel reviews · 4.5 / 5 across 1,040 Google reviews
Reviewers consistently praise Melville Castle's friendly, attentive staff, its restored castle character, and the grounds and trails just outside Edinburgh.
Food and breakfast are frequently singled out as strong points.
A couple of visitors note that the restaurant's actual menu on the night can be more limited than what's shown online, so it's worth confirming in advance, but this is a minor gripe against an otherwise glowing set of reviews.
“We were given a gift of an afternoon tea here and have to say it was absolutely beautiful. The staff are friendly, chatty and very good with requests. This is a hotel too, we didn't stay this time but plan on booking a…”- Carolann Hume, visitor review
Within reach of Edinburgh (5 miles) - see what else is nearby.
Weddings at Melville Castle Hotel
Melville Castle Hotel is on our wedding roll because Hotel (Melville Castle Ltd) mentions weddings on their own site. Visit their site.
Comparing options? See every castle wedding venue in Scotland, or the full UK wedding roll.
Dates, capacity, licensing and exclusivity change constantly and we hold none of it - treat this as a starting point and speak to the venue before you plan anything around it.
History
Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville · 1791
Melville Castle was built in 1791 by architect James Playfair for Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, replacing an earlier 18th-century house on the estate. The three-storey Gothic mansion sits in 54 acres of parkland and gardens near Edinburgh, and was extensively restored and opened as a hotel in 2003.
Adapted from this castle's Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Common questions about Melville Castle Hotel
Where is Melville Castle Hotel?
Melville Castle Hotel is in Midlothian, Scotland, at Gilmerton Rd, Edinburgh EH18 1AP.
Can you visit Melville Castle Hotel?
Melville Castle Hotel operates as a hotel, so access is normally for staying guests rather than day visitors. Contact the hotel directly about staying or visiting.
Can you stay overnight at Melville Castle Hotel?
Yes - Melville Castle Hotel offers bookable accommodation, so you can spend the night in the castle itself or within its grounds. See the Castles You Can Sleep In guide for the full list and how each stay works.
Is Melville Castle Hotel dog-friendly?
Visitor reviews suggest dogs are welcome at Melville Castle Hotel - one reviewer noted: “…ety of choices quite soon. The hotel is dog friendly and at meal times were kept to one specific dining room. W…”. Policies can vary between parts of a site and change over time, so confirm with the operator before visiting with a dog.
What is the highlight of visiting Melville Castle Hotel?
Afternoon tea in front of the lobby fire - repeatedly singled out by reviewers as worth booking even if you're not staying the night.
