The best Edinburgh hotels with spas, including Hebridean seaweed treatments and infinity hydro pools

This modern hotel has everything you would expect from the brand, with bells on. Although predominantly aimed at business travellers, the location, range of rooms and services, luxurious spa and well-regarded restaurant make it the perfect choice for travellers who like to know exactly what they’re getting. The spa is one of the best in town, with a 19-metre infinity swimming pool, thermal suite with seven treatment areas, Espa treatments, gym, café and utterly relaxing rooftop hydro-pool. It’s located on Festival Square on the Lothian Road overlooking the west side of Edinburgh Castle, an easy walk from the city centre or the Old Town.

An occasional whisper of the former Missoni branding still lingers here, but this stylish hotel has developed its own uniquely Scottish identity, losing nothing in translation. The popular La Cucina restaurant remains, but with a fresh new look and feel that sits well with the hotel’s Old Town location. The dreamy new suites, individually designed by notable Scottish artists and designers (think Hatti Pattison, Judy R. Clark and the Timorous Beasties) are delights of colour, wit and style. If you’re fashion-led in your thinking, this is still the place to stay. A small but comprehensive spa offers a full range of treatments, using Eve Lom and Aromatherapy Associates productes.

This neo-Renaissance building with its massive clock tower has been an Edinburgh landmark for more than a century. With elegant bedrooms and over-the-top marble bathrooms, and the Palm Court for champagne afternoon teas, this is a 21st century version of a grand hotel. The exceptionally large spa specialises in ESPA treatments and offers a relaxation suite, swimming pool and gym. It’s next to Edinburgh’s main Waverley railway station, at the eastern end of Princes Street, and a short walk from the National Gallery and shopping areas.

Driving down the long front avenue through 50-odd impeccably landscaped acres, it is hard to believe Edinburgh airport is only two miles away. It’s a comfortable stepping off point for flights or a peaceful alternative to staying in the city. Located in a stunning sunken-glass building in the old walled garden, the splendid spa has swimming and hydro pools, steam and sauna rooms, treatment rooms (including double treatment rooms for friends/couples) offering a range of treatments, all with Elemis and Ishga (made from Hebridean seaweed) products. The health club boasts a serious gym and exercise studio, and there’s a bright café-bar and outside terrace.

Charles Dickens — once a guest in Edinburgh’s first purpose-built hotel — certainly would not recognise this latest incarnation. It displays its intent from the moment you enter the dramatically contemporary lobby: palely gleaming marble floors, deep purple walls and snazzy lighting. The Yu Spa, though a little compact, has a gym, steam and sauna rooms, ozone pool and a good choice of both Elemis and Yu Spa signature treatments, including a ‘Frangipani Body Nourish’ and ‘Lime and Ginger Salt Glow’.

Imagine a health club with rooms and you won’t be far wrong. It’s a faux-hipster-meets-shopping-mall mash-up, but with better upholstery. You can sweat, steam, swim, spin and spa before hitting Starbucks, or the bar and grill, then retire to pleasingly simple, comfortable bedrooms. The spa includes a 20-metre pool; a vast gym full of shiny equipment; a spinning studio with 40 bikes; studios and classes; and a sauna, steam room and whirlpool spa. There’s also waxing, wrapping, tanning and tinting (must be pre-booked) in the beauty spa.

The Caledonian is an imposing and historic building in the heart of Edinburgh, with a Galvin restaurant, castle views and a Guerlain spa, complete with swimming pool. It’s a modern take on the grand hotel: doormen in top hats, afternoon teas and women in furs alongside first-class connectivity and impeccably refurbished rooms. The restaurant collaboration with London’s Galvin brothers is one of the hotel’s greatest strengths. It is in one of the premier locations in the city, great for shoppers and sightseers alike.

The hotel is just off the Canongate, with the Royal Mile a few steps away. It’s not a bad base for sightseers, with the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood Palace, Arthur’s Seat and Dynamic Earth all close by. The spa is compact, but offers a range of facial treatments and massages using Elemis products, with fake tanning, manicures, pedicures and makeovers available. There’s a 14-metre swimming pool, sauna, steam room, well-equipped Technogym (with instructors) and a small candlelit relaxation room with loungers and soft woollen throws.