
Unique Scottish hotel named among best one-of-a-kind stays in the world
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ON BOARD Unique Scottish hotel named among best one-of-a-kind stays in the world
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A UNIQUE Scots hotel has been named one of the best in the world.
Travel experts at TripAdvisor have pulled together their annual list of the top places stay.
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The Scots hotel wouldn't look out of place in Agatha Christie
Credit: TRIPADVISOR
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The hotel floats in Leigh docks
Credit: Alamy
Their prestigious Travellers' Choice Awards: Best of the Best Hotels 2025
Analysing 12 months of review data from over 1.6 million venues listed on the site, winners span 10 categories from the definitive top hotels through to B&Bs, luxury destinations and pet-friendly stays.
This year also sees the launch of a new category - one-of-a-kind, celebrating quirky hotels across the globe.
And a Scots location has been named number one in the UK and fourth in the whole world beating the likes of a Giraffe Manor in Nairobi and an ice hotel in Sweden.
Fingal Hotel is a luxury, floating hotel housed in an old lighthouse keeper's ferry and is permanently berthed on Edinburgh's vibrant waterfront.
Built in 1963 and retired in 2000, the 'boatel' is now home to stunning cabins and suites that wouldn't look out of place in an Agatha Christie novel.
Meanwhile, guests can dine in the two AA Rosette eaterie The Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar.
Kristen Dalton, Tripadvisor's President, said: "Tripadvisor's Best of the Best Hotels captures the opinions of millions of travellers worldwide and offers trusted guidance for travellers to plan their best stays.
"Known for their outstanding hospitality, premium amenities and prime locations, Tripadvisor's Best of the Best Hotels stand out as top choices in their respective destinations and across the globe.'
It's not the only Scots location in the top one-of-a-kind hotels list. Coming in at number three in the UK is Eagle Brae, nestled in the countryside near Beauly.
The Torridon: Scotland's Ultimate Hotel Experience
The stunning collection of high-end log cabins overlook Glen Affric in the 8,000 acre Highlands estate.
And it feels like living in a fairytale when visitors step into this away-from-it-all corner of Scotland.
Meanwhile, coming it at number five is Edinburgh institution The Witchery.
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Eagle Brae looks like it belongs in a fairytale
Credit: Tim Winterburn
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The Witchery is full of gothic romance
Credit: Marc Millar
Steeped in gothic romance, the hotel is housed in a secluded collection of historic buildings at the gates of Edinburgh Castle, dating back to 1595.
And guests can indulge in fine-dining, an award-winning wine list and the most atmospheric dining rooms in all of Scotland.
Number one on the planet for one-of-a-kind stays is the Taj Lake Palace, in Udaipur, India.
The building was a masterpiece conceived between 1743-1746 by Maharana Jagat Singh II and once served as a summer haven for the Mewar Royal family.
TOP 10
TOP 10 one-of-a-kind hotels in the UK:
Fingal Hotel, Edinburgh
Port Lympne Hotel, Lympne, Kent
Eagle Brae, Beauly
The Old Railway Station, Petworth, West Sussex
The Witchery, Edinburgh
Thornbury Castle Hotel, Thornbury, Gloucestershire
Hotel Football, Old Trafford, Manchester
The Bodmin Jail Hotel, Bodmin, Cornwall
Gilpin Hotel and Lake House, Windermere, Lake District
The Fish Hotel, Broadway, The Cotswolds
In 1963 it was transformed into a heritage haven, meticulously resurrected to its former glory.
It now houses 65 luxurious rooms and 18 grand suites decorated sumptuously with silk, velvet, priceless rugs and objets d'art, once graced by royalty.
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