Entire home

Main house · The Rock House

Photo gallery for Main house · The Rock House

A hotel room with two beds, a fireplace, and a chair.
Property video
A wooden staircase with a handrail leading to a second floor. A bench is placed against the wall on the first floor.
A dining area with a wooden table set for four, a bench with a patterned cushion, and a vase of flowers.
A cozy living room with a fireplace, a green armchair, a sofa, and a coffee table with a board game.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Private garden
    A rare find — relax in the peaceful, private garden space.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Close to Princes Street
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Barbecue
  • Refrigerator
  • Dryer
  • Fireplace
  • Garden
  • Non-smoking

Explore the area

View map
Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Place, Princes Street
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Calton Hill
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Airport, Edinburgh (EDI)
    ‪32 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Spaces

Kitchen
Garden

About this property

Main house · The Rock House

Spanning two floors, the historic Rock House exudes character and charm. A more inviting house in Edinburgh would be hard to find. Throughout are period details, open log fires and beautifully designed living areas, the result of which is a timeless elegance. A stay here is guaranteed to be as unforgettable as it is captivating.

Rock House is a unique landmark house boasting spectacular panoramic views of Edinburgh from its elevated position and is conveniently located just a few moments walk from Princes Street. The house has a fascinating history and now as a self-catering holiday let both the views and its heritage can be enjoyed by those seeking a exceptional place to stay in the city.

Built in the 1750s, Rock House is reputed to be one of the oldest houses in Edinburgh’s new town. It came to worldwide fame as the home of David Octavius Hill, the artist and pioneering photographer who in 1843 together with Robert Adamson developed the calotype process at Rock House. Both Hill and Adamson are credited with the origination of photography as an art form - taking the camera into the landscape and for the first time photographing people in their natural habitat.

Rock House remained in continuous use as a photographer`s studio from the 1840s up until the 1950s. Recently renovated, it has now returned to its former glory and can be enjoyed by members of the public for short stays and holidays.

The location is ideal! Located on Calton Hill, near historic landmarks and close to both Old Town and New Town tourist destinations including the Edinburgh Castle. The airport tram stop is just 5 minute walk and so is Waverley train station.

There is a secure private car park just a few minutes away

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed, service animals permitted
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 11437477
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

About the area

Edinburgh

Edinburgh City Centre, a neighbourhood in Edinburgh, is home to this cottage. Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle are notable landmarks, and travellers looking to shop may want to visit Princes Street and George Street. Check out an event or a game at Murrayfield Stadium, and consider making time for Edinburgh Zoo, a top attraction not to be missed.
Map
Edinburgh, Scotland

What's nearby

  • Princes Street - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Calton Hill - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Waterloo Place - 1 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Royal Mile - 9 min walk - 0.8 km

Getting around

  • Edinburgh Waverley Station - 4 min walk
  • St Andrew Square Tram Stop - 7 min walk
  • Edinburgh Airport (EDI) - 44 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Society Bar & Kitchen - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Wingstop - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Pho Edinburgh - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪John Lewis Cafe - ‬3 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Main house · The Rock House pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

How much does it cost to stay at Main house · The Rock House?

As of 17 Oct 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Main house · The Rock House on 22 Oct 2026 start from AU$2,427, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

What time is check-in at Main house · The Rock House?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Main house · The Rock House?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Main house · The Rock House located?

Located in Edinburgh City Centre, this cottage is steps away from Calton Hill and Princes Street. Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre and George Street are also within 10 minutes. Edinburgh Waverley Station is only a 4-minute walk and St Andrew Square Tram Stop is 7 minutes.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 2 out of 2 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 2 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 2 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 2 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 2 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was the perfect spot for visiting Edinburgh for the first time!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A great lodging in a fantastic location. We really appreciated that we could walk to just about everywhere in downtown Edinburgh, and had easy access to train, bus, and tram as well. So nice to be on Calton Hill, where a few steps up took us to a grand view over the city, and yet we felt as if we were in a very private place. The two-story lodging feels very homey and it was lovely to return to at the end of the day. We had neighbors downstairs a couple of nights during our weeklong stay but didn’t really notice them. The backyard garden was only for us and on sunny days it was great to sit out there. Can’t recommend this place highly enough; we would absolutely book here again. Also, host was super responsive whenever we had a question, answering us within minutes.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2026

About the host

Hosted by Marco Amore

Host profile image

Languages:

English, Italian, Spanish
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