Name: Macdonald Houstoun House
Address: Uphall, West Lothian, Edinburgh West, EH52 6JS, GB

8/10

Excellent

01 Aug 2026

Bonnie

The food and staff were amazing! We felt like we traveled back in time and were treated like first-class guests. It's close to bus stops that can take you to the city centre of Glasgow and Edinburgh. It was a great stay for my husband and I. I highly recommend adding the breakfast that is served every morning instead of the simple continental. Wendy, our server, was fabulous. Also, if you need a taxi the hotel can arrange it, Ubers are not popular.

For people wanting to bring families, I must warn this was definitely a more mature hotel experience. The pool, gym, and spa are not designed for young children; they are meant for a quiet, relaxing experience. We did not have any children with us, but noticed that the spa area rules didn't allow splashing, jumping in the pool, or anything that might disturb others.

Outside of that, for adults, this was a fantastic place to stay. It is a historic hotel, and like most of the UK, there is no air conditioning, so keep that in mind. The garden was beautiful and fun to walk around after dinner. I wish that the garden had more variety of plants to look at and the well (fire pit?) was managed a bit more but other than that it was a fantastic stay and we would definitely rebook.

4/10

Poor

01 Aug 2026

Ann

On arrival staff were helpful & pleasant.
Dinner in the Tower restaurant the first night was disappointing due to lack of menu choices. Subsequently meal in the bar, 5 adults one child, again choices extremely limited, took over an hour for food to arrive. The child’s meal upon arrival an hour & half late was hugely disappointing, burger broken in pieces & no cheese upon delivery. Manager was engaged with list of complaints, whereupon we were offered & miserly discount. Would never return to this venue. We based ourselves in the hotel while visiting the area & friends.
The room was old & tired, paint peeling from window frame, mould growing on window.

8/10

Excellent

01 Aug 2026

Victoria

Beautiful spot in a historic old house. Staff were absolutely lovely. The irritant was a stream of messages beforehand but not answering my own questions. A really weird one was they kept running out of key ingredients at breakfast like brown bread and tomatoes. I’d advise going early because they do run out of things fairly quickly . A nice pool was a real bonus for the kids. Lots of EV chargers too.

8/10

Excellent

30 Jul 2026

Keris

The hotel was fine. A little dated, and thin walls meant I could hear most of what was being said at night in the next room while trying to sleep. Staff were lovely and the gardens are beautiful

6/10

Pleasant

28 Jul 2026

Rebecca

This hotel has potential but misses the mark. Rooms are tired and in need of some updating. Bathroom was dirty when we arrived and paint was peeling around all the windowsills. Room smelled stale and a little bit like cigarettes.
The staff were excellent. Very friendly and attentive and came to my room immediately to clean the bathroom when I mentioned it was dirty. Every staff member from front desk to the restaurant were very helpful and lovely to converse with.
We had both dinner and breakfast in the tower restaurant. Dinner was good but portion size was very small. I’m not a big eater but was still hungry. Breakfast was disappointing. The continental breakfast mentions baked goods and yogurt. No yogurt and 3 small stale looking cinnamon buns. We also ordered the Cooked English breakfast and it was decent.

6/10

Pleasant

28 Jul 2026

Peter

On the one hand, this is a lovely old establishment steeped in history with very polite, helpful and friendly staff. Photos will show you that there is much charm here. On the other, the place looks rather tired and certainly needs upgrades in their heating systems, water systems and room amenities. Lighting could be improved and frankly the whole place needs to be upgraded. If you like a place that looks old and feels old, than this is for you. We like old Classic places but want them to be more modernized for Current comforts. By comparison, we especially liked staying at the Dalmahoy at a similar price range but much better maintained with a luxury feel.

10/10

Exceptional

25 Jul 2026

Jonathan

Flying overnight stay, but can’t wait to go back for a longer visit.

8/10

Excellent

24 Jul 2026

Staci

Nice pool and gym.

2/10

Poor

19 Jul 2026

Kerry

We were given a family room right next to a wedding party. There were tables and chairs directly outside the room and a really loud disco went on until midnight. There is no way we could sleep. When we complained we were offered a new room which we moved into at 11.20pm with my child. The receptionist in the morning said it was my fault because it clearly says they are a wedding venue. We were expecting a luxury spa weekend but it ended up the worst stay of any hotel we have ever been too especially due to the lack of empathy

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jul 2026

Christopher

Beautiful place to stay!

Family

4/10

Poor

16 Jul 2026

Biju

Room was not clean and not worth the money !

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jul 2026

Thomas

Excellent staff.

6/10

Pleasant

10 Jul 2026

Paul

Great room, spacious and clean. Staff were super nice. No air conditioning or fridge though, that’s why only 3 stars.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

04 Jul 2026

Deena

Nice hotel set in beautiful grounds. Chloe on reception was warm and welcoming a credit to the team. The room was clean but basic and a little tired but the bed was comfy.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jul 2026

Beth

I was greeted by a very friendly receptionist :) My room was in great condition and was very clean throughout. The shower had a very good level of pressure. The gym, albeit on the smaller side had a very good variety of equipment. I would be happy to stay here again and would recommend this hotel to others :) Thank you for a lovely stay!

Business Self

4/10

Poor

27 Jun 2026

Sara

The grounds are beautiful and historic and when we drove up I had high expectations for the interior. I would not consider it anywhere near a 4 star hotel. The room was in a poor state, and paint was chipping from every surface, and the carpet was split down the center of the room creating a crater, in addition to being frayed and shredded. The interior design hasn’t been updated in quite some time, and the pictures online are misleading. The staff was polite and helpful and the hotel has major potential.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jun 2026

Carl

Excellent night stay and really good breakfast

10/10

Exceptional

18 Jun 2026

William

The bedroom was a good size and the bed very comfortable. The staff were very pleasant and helpful. The decor is older but good quality and the price for a hotel in lovely grounds with a pool and spa can’t be scoffed at. Close to Edinburgh and cheaper than a basic chain hotel in Edinburgh.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

15 Jun 2026

Robert

comfortable stay in a big light and airy twin bed room. good sized bathroom with a bath. Top quality breakfast and evening meal. Bar was cosy and welcoming. Lovely grounds with a delightful garden.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jun 2026

Joel

The staff were friendly. The setting and grounds were absolutely beautiful.

Family

4/10

Poor

09 Jun 2026

Steve

I stay at a lot of hotels throughout the UK and for the cost of this one I expected much more. The decoration was very tired and the carpets were in desperate need of replacing, the bedroom I was in (£168 with breakfast) had old windows that let the wind in and the glass was filthy, the double bed (2 singles pushed together) had collapsed into the middle which made sleeping difficult and the walls are paper thin and I could hear the next door neighbours conversation as clear as if they were in the same room as me. It is understaffed as they are scurrying round doing multiple people’s jobs, they were the highlight though, very nice staff. I feel a bit let down by this property as it promised so much but didn’t deliver.

Self

8/10

Excellent

08 Jun 2026

Gerry

Very expensive for food. Half board only allows for £60 per room for dinner. This does not allow for two courses to be included in the meal.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jun 2026

Mark

Great hotel and always well looked after. This is the second time we have stayed at this hotel.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

05 Jun 2026

Anthony

Wonderful grounds and buildings, but for breakfast the croissants and butter were both minimal/poor.
Everything else was fine

Partner

8/10

Excellent

03 Jun 2026

Sarah

Staff were lovely and I love the grounds at this hotel! Used the pool & spa facilities for the first time and they were lovely!

Self

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jun 2026

Christie

Beautiful place to stay. Kind staff & nice rooms. Loved all of it!!

Friends

2/10

Poor

01 Jun 2026

Thomas

1. Room had cat hair and cat food on the carpet and under the couch

2. Room did not have hot water for showers in the AM.

3. Shower water was scalding hot on the lowest setting (when there was hot water).

4. Stayed for 5 nights (Tuesday - Saturday), two nights had wedding receptions and one night there was a high school prom. Common areas looked trashed the next day (beer bottles, confetti and trash littered about). Also - loud music till late and just filled with loud people.

5. Rooms had phones removed recently (according to staff), and nobody answered the phone at front desk, so any requests meant having to walk down to the front office to speak to someone

6. The “pub” charges an extra 8£ to bring your food to your room (this service is free most places).

There is quite a bit more but I will just write it off as “charm” because it’s such an old building.

The lady who did our checking Tuesday evening was fantastic (she even held the door open for my family and I on several occasions without being asked). The grounds were also stunning and well groomed, but the littered confetti/beer bottles/pint glasses really dampened the experience.

Final note - the grounds has a “well” in it, when looking down it’s just filled with trash… Not sure why, but that was disgusting.

Overall - would not recommend or stay here again whatsoever.

Family_with_children

2/10

Poor

31 May 2026

Tony

The reception staff were most unhelpful. When calling the reception from my mobile in the room (not even an in room phone provided) it once took me 15 attempts over 40 minutes before they answered. The lady at breakfast was almost painful to listen to repeating the same lines over and over. The stairs to the rooms on the upper floors were terrible. Probably one of the worst stays I have ever had.

10/10

Exceptional

31 May 2026

Kiran

Beautiful property with well maintained lawns

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

19 May 2026

Paul

The staff at this hotel are amazing. I can't compliment them enough. This is the 2nd time we've stayed here as a famiky and hands down, the best hotel staff I've ever come across.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

18 May 2026

Catherine

Our daughter Shannon had an evening wedding reception. The staff were all excellent and attentive. Would totally recommend this venue. It was more like a party. Food was the best. All our guests loved it.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

03 May 2026

Diane

Beautiful property

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 May 2026

Jill

From the moment we arrived all the staff were incredibly friendly, helpful and created a welcoming ethos. Special mention to the host who checked us in, she was consistently in a great mood and always looking to make our stay positive. During dinner I asked about the history of the building, and the lovely staff member was quick to print out a mini newspaper! I couldn't fault the experience. Some aspects are dated- but this is a historic building! I will definitely visit again

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Apr 2026

David

Breakfast was very good

Business

8/10

Excellent

25 Apr 2026

Nicola

Beautiful grounds. Lovely bar and breakfast. Staff excellent. Rooms dated. Bathrooms dated.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

25 Apr 2026

Chris

Became my favorite hotel in Scotland, just wish they had my king bed available as stated on my reservation, and a bit more firm pillows. Beautiful property, walking around there was lovely. Staff are amazing!
Would definitely go back :)

10/10

Exceptional

24 Apr 2026

Margaret

We traveled over 20 hrs to get to Scotland and were tired. They let us check in early and we promptly fell asleep. The beds were very comfy and the shower was perfect. The food in the bar was perfect same with the breakfast. Thank you for all your help with directions and calling taxis.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

20 Apr 2026

Susan

Really nice hotel with lovely staff and a great pool. Rooms are a good size with comfortable chairs and a bathroom with a bath. Good base for some sightseeing, including Edinburgh only 20 minutes away by train.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

19 Apr 2026

Rosalind

Very friendly, efficient staff.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

16 Apr 2026

Jamie

From arrival to departure- this was a great stay. The staff were brilliant. Very friendly and helpful on arrival; always smiling and chatty.

The grounds and gardens are very nice to walk around. The pool and leisure club are easy to access. All very clean and tidy. Again staff in the leisure club were brilliant.

There’s a cosy wee bar left of reception, which does a cracking pint.

Breakfast was fantastic, the staff very friendly and welcoming. They got everything spot on, and it was one of the nicest hotel breakfast experiences I think we’ve had.

Local area is great for access to Edinburgh and shops/restaurants. Charging in car park is easy to use through app and trouble free.

We are coming back as soon as we can!

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

13 Apr 2026

Maria

Lovely hotel we had the big family room across courtyard. Pool was large and clean. Dinner was nice in restaurant albeit service of food slow but other than that can’t complain. Had a nice stay

8/10

Excellent

12 Apr 2026

Victoria

Breakfast - continental lacked presentation
Cooked selection small portion in large plate
Staff friendly throughout the hotel, warm and welcoming
Would stay again

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

10 Apr 2026

Pawel

Everything was fine

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

06 Apr 2026

Richard

Nice hotel but was not balanced with the staff. Presented as luxury restaurant with highend prices. Food was nice but let down with very young inexperienced waiting staff still in school, made no mistakes but overly cautious and questioning

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

06 Apr 2026

Ms

Rooms are v spacious
Lovely grounds
In need of some modernation
Breakfast was not organised at all very poor booked twice and had no info that we were there but did get us a table

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

30 Mar 2026

Victoria

Clean room and staff were excellent from beginning to end. Very pet friendly. Only real downside was the breakfast. Menu was good but number of the listed items were missing. For the gluten free breakfast instead of substituting or increasing items to compensate the serving was half the size. One rasher of bacon, 4 mushrooms, small amount of beans and crispy scrambled eggs

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

22 Mar 2026

Euan

Beautiful gardens surround what clearly was a stunning manor house in its day. Met at reception by a cheerful helpful lass who soon had us booked in.
Room was very dated and tired and desperately needed a full refresh. A questionable mark on the bed valance caused concern.
The bath plug spun wildly and wouldn't seal meaning a bath was out the question. Saying that there was no shortage of hot water for a shower.
We slept well enough and beds were comfortable.
Breakfast was nothing short of a comedy sketch, the only people missing were Manuel and Polly.
Cooked breakfast eventually arrived and was edible, other than the fried egg which was like a frisbee.
Enjoyed our swim the following morning.
Pool was clean and warm but I couldn’t find an unoccupied locker that would actually lock.

These things generally come down to value for money versus expectations. We have stayed at some outstanding hotels all over the UK but they cost a small fortune.
We paid brass buttons for our one night stay and as an overall experience it was enjoyable and actually quite funny at times.
Staff were friendly and chatty which in our book goes a long way in making up for some of Faulty Towers moments.
If you can get a storming good deal and you are of a relaxed and easy going disposition like us there's no reason not to book.
If you are looking for a flawless experience and paying full price I'd look elsewhere.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

19 Mar 2026

Martyna

We had an excellent stay at this hotel and would highly recommend it, especially for families travelling with dogs.

We stayed with our family and two large dogs, and the experience exceeded our expectations. The hotel was very welcoming and accommodating — it’s clear they genuinely understand what guests with pets need. There was plenty of space, and we never felt uncomfortable or restricted with our dogs.

The staff were friendly, helpful, and made us feel at ease from the moment we arrived. Everything was clean, well-organised, and family-friendly, which made the whole stay relaxing and enjoyable.

It’s not always easy to find a place that comfortably accommodates larger dogs, but this hotel does it effortlessly. We would definitely stay again and highly recommend it to anyone travelling with family and pets.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

17 Mar 2026

lee

Staff are amazing clair was outstanding

Self

10/10

Exceptional

16 Mar 2026

david

What a great hotel for leisurely stay.
All staff, especially Kirsty and Chloe, on reception, were friendly and professional.
Great dining options and fantastic breakfast.

8/10

Excellent

15 Mar 2026

Jonathan

fast wifi, rooms are old fashioned but in keeping with the building, bed comfy, bathroom small but clean

Partner

8/10

Excellent

06 Mar 2026

John

Staff are great very friendly

Self

10/10

Exceptional

03 Mar 2026

Danielle

We had a lovely big room which with sperate beds for the kids which they loved. The pool was a real highlight, nice size and lovely and warm for the kids. Really enjoyed the breakfast too.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

01 Mar 2026

Annette

The room was clean and spacious the beds were very comfortable, the staff were very friendly and helpful, the spa was fantsatic,the restaurant food was outstanding, and very reasonably priced highly recommended we had a fantastic time

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Feb 2026

Sandra

Staff great. Hotel a bit tired. Needs some attention.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

22 Feb 2026

gemma

great sized family room, good pool facilities

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

21 Feb 2026

Ashley

We stayed 2 nights with our 2 kids and it was amazing. Kids loved their stay and spacious bedroom. The staff couldnt do enough and were very accomdating. Breakfast was excellent. Parking spacious. Would definitely return when visiting this area again. Also dog friendly.

8/10

Excellent

20 Feb 2026

Deborah

Stunning hotel, lovely staff

10/10

Exceptional

15 Feb 2026

Sandy

Good location. Ideal for everything in Edinburgh but not in city centre. Buses and trains make it easy to get to/from the city centre.
Very friendly and welcoming staff and great facilities
We will be back

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 Feb 2026

Celerino

Great thanks.

10/10

Exceptional

01 Feb 2026

Nathan

All excellent A++++

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jan 2026

Jim

Good staff, clean, quiet room.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jan 2026

Cynthia

Quaint setting in the countryside with lovely gardens. Pub is charming with a good selection of beers and wine. Our room had good amenities including Nespresso coffee maker, kettle and selection of teas and coffee. Bathrooms are updated.

10/10

Exceptional

18 Jan 2026

Suntharampillai

Very good

8/10

Excellent

11 Jan 2026

Cheryl

Lovely room, friendly staff. Delicious food at bar.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jan 2026

Scott

Fantastic

8/10

Excellent

07 Jan 2026

Donna

Staff were wonderful and the room was very clean and well presented. The food was also amazing. Thank you.

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jan 2026

Olatunde Sulaiman

Dinner was fantastic

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jan 2026

John-Paul

Excellent venue with lovely staff and facilities! Charlotte in the tower bar was extremely helpful getting a gluten free menu for my wife and serving us! The staff made the experience!

Leisure Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

02 Jan 2026

Alan

Excellent service

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Dec 2025

Oguz

A beautiful, well run hotel with character and polite staff.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

24 Dec 2025

james

Was a hidden gemstone, with history to the site. Staff were very helpful and friendly. The kids loved the fire being lit in the bar area. Will definitely be staying here again the the near future for sure

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

24 Dec 2025

Ka Man

Nice staff and room, sufficient heat and lots of space for my dog.

10/10

Exceptional

24 Dec 2025

douglas

A lovely stay - all very friendly and helpful. Great loc

8/10

Excellent

21 Dec 2025

Anthony

Breakfast was lovely good quality local produce

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Dec 2025

Alex

Clean and spacious room with friendly hotel staff

Leisure Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

18 Dec 2025

Paul

Nice big rooms. The building my room was in was a little dated in decor , carpets and doors could do with a lift. The room itself was well appointed. Beds were a little soft. Staff very friendly, evening food very nice as was breakfast.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

17 Dec 2025

Jamal

I had no concerns I felt like I was truly on vacation.

10/10

Exceptional

16 Dec 2025

Louise

Stunning, the building oozes history......

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

14 Dec 2025

Kenneth

Cosy bar, fantastic breakfast, friendly and helpful staff.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Dec 2025

Deborah

Large room, attentive staff, good selection at breakfast

Business

4/10

Poor

09 Dec 2025

Lucy

No hot water 2 out of 3 days so no hot showers
Room was cold on arrival
Wanted upfront full payment day I arrived (wasn't a problem but unusual as normally settle at end of stay)
Hotel needs new life breathing back into it with investment
No offer of a free drink for hot water issue or asking how our stay was going or if there was anything that could make it better
Not 4* quality overpriced and food there is on the expensive side

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

07 Dec 2025

Justyna

Everything was fantastic
Welcoming staff
Brilliant room
Warm and clean
Beautiful surroundings
Pet friendly
Definitely will come back and recommend to friends

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

03 Dec 2025

Kirsty

Staff were all friendly and helpful.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 Nov 2025

Rhona

Room spacious and clean, great facilities and extremely pleasant and friendly staff

4/10

Poor

28 Nov 2025

Nicola

Rooms and hotel felt very neglected , and run down . Bath panel was coming off the bath , taps rusty and while sitting having breakfast the walls were dirty like something had been drop and sprayed on the wall

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 Nov 2025

Paul

Very friendly staff, good breakfast, nice location

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

23 Nov 2025

Mark

Swimming pool was great and breakfast was cooked fresh and quality of produce was excellent.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

18 Nov 2025

Karen

This hotel is beautiful. The grounds are gorgeous and well maintained. The room was clean, cute and comfortable.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

07 Nov 2025

Justin

Staff very friendly and helpful. Rooms clean. Facilities good and food good.

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

06 Nov 2025

Simon

Ideal location if you don’t want to pay Edinburgh prices ,

4/10

Poor

06 Nov 2025

Sarah

Sadly the hotel was not worth how much we paid. The room was cold, storage heaters meant the heating only came on when you put the card in the slot. We go moved no problem but we paid for a premium room and sadly it wasn’t that.
Staff were helpful and dinner in the restaurant was lovely.
Breakfast was disappointing being served brown avocado on toast.
Breakfast not worth the extra money.

10/10

Exceptional

01 Nov 2025

Molly

It was an interesting property and staff were exceptional. They met needs and were awesome and accommodating for my autistic son.

Leisure Family_with_children

4/10

Poor

01 Nov 2025

Christopher

Staff were friendly

10/10

Exceptional

01 Nov 2025

Monika

Beautiful grounds, old hotel but well kept. Very good breakfast served, staff was very friendly. The swimming pool was one of the best, the view from the pool was also great.

Friends_and_family Family

2/10

Poor

26 Oct 2025

Damire

Avoid, hotel stinks and is run down.

All rooms in this hotel have one category: twin, rundown and stinky. We booked a double bed for a higher rate and on arrival were given a twin room. They did not offer to move us to our category or even join the beds, since that's all they offer. Following a claim they also refuse to refund the difference.
The smell of mold in this place is borderline hazardous. The fire alarm went off twice in the early morning, with no rush to investigate as it seemed like a common occurrence to staff. There were several broken fixtures, including the handle for our window. Breakfast was standard, but slow.

4/10

Poor

24 Oct 2025

William

Hotel is looking very tired. Badly requires an update. Hotel was also very expensive for what it was. Food also very expensive (£23 for a burger and chips) Majority of rooms that we were in were dirty. Not impressed and won’t be staying there again.

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

17 Oct 2025

Gillian

Great Stay

Stayed one night as a family before heading to airport. Rooms a little tired but clean and very spacious. Comfortable beds and quiet. There was an event on when we stayed and when we walked to our room I was very worried we'd hear it in our room but heard absolutely nothing. Staff were exceptional and great with the children. Swimming pool which was great too. We would definitely stay again.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

12 Oct 2025

mihail

Very enjoyable place to rest from overwhelming city, quite and peaceful, a great place to relax. 15-20 min by train to Edinburgh so you can enjoy the city without being worried about traffic and parking.

Business_and_leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

09 Oct 2025

Brandie

The staff were so friendly. The room was well-sized and maintained. The restaurant's food was delicious. There are also nice areas to walk around outside.