Edinburgh Introduces the UK’s First City-Wide Visitor Levy

Visitors staying overnight in Edinburgh may now pay more for their accommodation after the city became the first in the UK to introduce a city-wide visitor levy.

From 24 July 2026, a 5% levy applies to most paid overnight accommodation across Edinburgh, including hotels, bed and breakfasts, guest houses, hostels, self-catering accommodation, short-term lets and campsites. The charge is calculated on the accommodation cost before VAT and applies only to the first five consecutive nights of a stay.

The levy applies to visitors regardless of where they live, including those from Scotland, elsewhere in the UK and overseas. For example, accommodation costing £500 before VAT would incur a £25 visitor levy.

The scheme applies to stays from 24 July 2026 that were booked on or after 1 October 2025. Stays that were booked and at least partly paid for before 1 October 2025 are exempt from the levy.

Edinburgh City Council expects the levy to raise up to £50 million a year once fully established. The money will be used to maintain public spaces, support culture and events, improve infrastructure and enhance services used by both residents and visitors.

Tourist taxes are common across many European destinations, but Edinburgh is the first UK city to introduce a city-wide scheme under powers granted by the Scottish Parliament. Other Scottish councils are also considering introducing similar levies.

For travellers, the new levy means accommodation in Edinburgh may cost slightly more than before. When comparing hotels or other overnight accommodation, it is worth checking whether the visitor levy is included in the advertised price or added separately during the booking process.