Excellence Luxury Villas · Edinburgh
Luxury Holiday Rentals in Edinburgh
Apartments and townhouses beneath the castle, from the Old Town closes to the Georgian crescents of the New Town
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A medieval ridge, a Georgian grid and a volcano in the middle
Few capitals are built as dramatically as Edinburgh. The castle sits on an extinct volcano, the Old Town tumbles down the Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and across the valley the New Town lays out its Georgian streets and squares with great composure. Together they form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Arthur's Seat rises over it all, close enough to climb before breakfast.
Our Edinburgh collection runs to 140+ homes, mostly apartments and townhouses in the Old Town, the New Town, Dean Village and the leafy southside, with some larger houses for families and friends travelling together. Several have saunas, open fires or views of the castle.
Here is how the city's neighbourhoods differ, and when to come.
Edinburgh at a glance
- Homes
- 140+ apartments, townhouses and houses, with up to 12 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £2,700 to £5,100 a week, from around £2,300
- Best areas
- The Old Town and New Town, Dean Village, Stockbridge, and Bruntsfield and Morningside
- Best time
- May to September; August for the festivals; late December for Hogmanay
- Getting there
- Edinburgh airport, around half an hour by tram or car; trains from London King's Cross in around four and a half hours
Browse all 140+ properties in Edinburgh
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Kirkliston Castle United Kingdom12 bedrooms
Rent Arabella Apartment United Kingdom3 bedrooms
House Ravelston Edinburgh: Luxury 6-Bedroom House with Family-Friendly Features – Edinburgh6 bedrooms
Blossom Mansion | 10-Bedroom Apartment with Hot Tub in Edinburgh10 bedroomsWhere to stay in Edinburgh
The Old Town for history on the doorstep, the New Town for Georgian elegance and good restaurants, Dean Village and Stockbridge for a village feel by the Water of Leith, and Bruntsfield and Morningside for quiet streets and families.
Closes, wynds and the Royal Mile
The Old Town runs along a narrow ridge from the castle down to Holyroodhouse, with steep closes and wynds dropping away on either side. Staying here puts you within a short walk of St Gi' Cathedral, the National Museum of Scotland and Greyfriars Kirkyard.
It is busy by day and busier still in August, but step off the Royal Mile and the quiet returns surprisingly fast. Arthur's Seat and Holyrood Park sit at the bottom of the hill, for a walk up to the summit and a view across the Firth of Forth.
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Georgian order and a river in a gorge
The New Town was planned in the eighteenth century as a grand, orderly answer to the crowded Old Town, and it still feels that way: wide streets, private gardens, fanlights and some of the city's best restaurants and bars around George Street and Dundas Street.
A few minutes' walk west, the streets drop suddenly to Dean Village, a former milling hamlet on the Water of Leith. Follow the riverside path one way to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, or the other to Stockbridge, with its independent shops and Sunday market, and the Royal Botanic Garden beyond.
Browse homes in Dean Village
The southside, for space and a slower pace
South of the Meadows, Bruntsfield and Morningside are where Edinburgh lives rather than visits. Victorian tenements and villas line streets of delis, bookshops and neighbourhood cafés, and Bruntsfield Links has been played on since long before golf had rules.
It is a good choice for families and longer stays, with Blackford Hill and the Hermitage of Braid for weekend walks, and the Old Town still within a pleasant stroll across the Meadows.
Browse homes in Bruntsfield and Morningside
August crowds, Hogmanay and a dram
In August the city fills for the Edinburgh International Festival, the Fringe and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the castle esplanade, and homes book up many months ahead. Hogmanay brings street parties and fireworks over the castle at the end of December.
Spring and early autumn are quieter and often kinder than you might expect, though the haar, a sea mist off the Forth, can roll in on a sunny day. Eat Scottish langoustines, venison and Shetland mussels, and save an evening for Leith's waterfront restaurants. Our concierge can arrange festival tickets, restaurant tables, whisky tastings and day trips to the Highlands.
Ask our conciergeFeatured properties in Edinburgh
House Pentland Bruntsfield: Elegant 3-Bedroom Apartment with Family-Friendly Amenities – Bruntsfield & Morningside3 bedrooms · sleeps 7From £7,364 a week
House Helm Drummond New Town: Luxury 3-Bedroom Apartment with Castle Views – Edinburgh New Town3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £7,329 a week
House Gloaming Bellevue New Town: Elegant 3-Bedroom Luxury Apartment Suitable for Families – Edinburgh3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £7,119 a week
House Gregale Calton New Town: Elegant 3-Bedroom Luxury Apartment for Families – New Town Edinburgh3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £7,000 a week
House Lysias Duddingston Edinburgh: Elegant 4-Bedroom Apartment with Antique Decor – Edinburgh4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £6,993 a week
Manor Drummond Edinburgh: Spacious 3-Bedroom Apartment with Castle Views – New Town3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £6,699 a week
House Calton NewTown: Luxury 3-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview – New Town Edinburgh3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £6,608 a week
House Helm Blackford Hillside: Charming 2-Bedroom Chateau with Historical Charm – Edinburgh2 bedrooms · sleeps 4From £6,286 a weekWhy book your home in Edinburgh with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Edinburgh is a city of steep hills, hidden steps and very different neighbourhoods, and we know which homes are a level walk to dinner and which are quiet even in August. With 140+ properties in Edinburgh, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Festival and Tattoo tickets, restaurant reservations, whisky tastings, private guides to the Old Town, day trips to the Highlands and transfers from the airport or Waverley. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in Edinburgh?
The Old Town puts you beside the castle and the Royal Mile, while the New Town is more elegant and has many of the best restaurants. Dean Village and Stockbridge feel like villages within the city, and Bruntsfield and Morningside suit families and longer stays.
When is the best time to visit Edinburgh?
May to September brings the longest days and mildest weather. August is festival month, lively and very busy, and Hogmanay at the end of December is one of the great New Year celebrations. Spring and autumn are quieter.
How far ahead should I book for the Edinburgh festivals?
As early as you can. Homes in the Old Town and New Town are often reserved many months ahead for August, and tickets for popular Fringe shows and the Tattoo sell quickly. Our concierge can help with both.
Can you arrange a private chef at a home in Edinburgh?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury propertie in Edinburgh cost?
Across our 140+ properties in Edinburgh, weekly rates typically range from £2,700 to £5,100, with the most affordable from around £2,300 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to Edinburgh?
Edinburgh airport has flights from across the UK and Europe and is around half an hour from the centre by tram or car. Trains from London King's Cross reach Waverley station, in the heart of the city, in around four and a half hours.
Are there homes in Edinburgh for large groups?
Yes. Our Edinburgh collection includes properties with up to 12 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your home in Edinburgh
140+ apartments and townhouses in Edinburgh, booked direct with our concierge on hand