Preston Tower
East Lothian, Scotland
Photo: DougRM, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: DougRM, CC BY-SA 4.0 ยท DougRM, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- East Lothian Council (guardianship)
- Condition
- Ruin
- Access
- Grounds only
- Nearest station
- Prestonpans, 0.2 miles (straight-line)
- Note
- 15th-century tower house of the Hamiltons of Preston, burned in 1544, 1650 and 1663 and abandoned thereafter.
Pinpoint
30 Cross Cottages, Prestonpans EH32 9EJ
Possible Opening Hours*
*Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
A fifteenth-century tower house of the Hamiltons of Preston, burned three times through the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and abandoned since. The walled garden and doocot are freely open; the tower itself opens on a more limited basis, organised by local volunteers.
At a glance
Worth the trip
The doocot and walled garden - reviewers particularly enjoy this quiet, little-known corner of Prestonpans.
Before you go
Don't confuse this with the similarly-named Preston Tower wedding venue in Northumberland - this is the free, council-guardianship ruin in East Lothian.
What visitors say
Preston Tower reviews · 4.5 / 5 across 122 Google reviews
Reviewers consistently enjoy the quiet, well-kept walled garden and doocot even when the tower itself is closed, and those who visited on an open day praise the volunteer guides and presentations.
Only the ground and first floor are typically open to the public.
It's a short visit rather than a long one, but several reviewers say it's worth seeking out precisely because it's little-known.
“Went to one of there open days 2 weeks ago. Interesting. Only the ground and first floor open to the public.”- pauline morgan, visitor review
Within reach of Edinburgh (8 miles) - see what else is nearby.
History
15th century
A late medieval townhouse constructed in the 15th century for the Hamiltons of Preston. The tower was burned by English forces under the Earl of Hertford in 1544, again by Cromwell in 1650, and suffered accidental fire in 1663. The doocot and walled garden remain important features of this East Lothian landmark.
Drawn from East Lothian Council (guardianship)'s own page.
Practical notes from visitors
Quoted from individual Google reviews, not verified with the operator - treat as a steer, not gospel, and check before you travel.
- Parking
- “Not loads of parking but it's completely free to park and look around” - jamesc76
- Guided tours
- “We went on a guided tour and by far the highlight was interacting with the volunteers who are very knowledgeable and clearly love history and the local community.” - Paul Finch
- Terrain & accessibility
- “Such a quiet, walled garden, steeped in history and lovely to walk around.” - Scottieboyuk
Common questions about Preston Tower
Where is Preston Tower?
Preston Tower is in East Lothian, Scotland, at 30 Cross Cottages, Prestonpans EH32 9EJ.
Can you go inside Preston Tower?
At Preston Tower the grounds are open to visit but the castle interior generally isn't, under East Lothian Council (guardianship). Check the official site for current access before you travel.
What is the highlight of visiting Preston Tower?
The doocot and walled garden - reviewers particularly enjoy this quiet, little-known corner of Prestonpans.
Is Preston Tower a ruin or still intact?
Preston Tower is a ruin - 15th-century tower house of the Hamiltons of Preston, burned in 1544, 1650 and 1663 and abandoned thereafter.
