Edinburgh attracts millions of visitors each year, making it one of the world’s top travel destinations. However, starting in 2026, a new visitor levy (tourist tax) will apply to overnight stays in the city. If you’re planning a trip, here’s everything you need to know about the new tax and how booking early can help you save money!
What is the Edinburgh Tourist Tax?
The Edinburgh visitor levy adds a 5% charge to overnight accommodation costs. The tax is being introduced to help fund local services and infrastructure, ensuring the city continues to provide a top-tier visitor experience. The City of Edinburgh Council have projected the raise £50 million annually from the tourist tax, which will be reinvested into the city’s infrastructure and sustainable tourism initiatives such as:
- Affordable Housing: Investments to increase the availability of affordable homes for residents.
- Public Parks and Greenspaces: Enhancements to maintain and improve the city’s parks and recreational areas.
- Tourism Facilities: Upgrades to facilities that support the tourism industry, ensuring a high-quality experience for visitors.
- Cultural Events and Festivals: Funding to support and expand the city’s renowned cultural events and festivals.
- Well Kept City Fund: A dedicated fund focused on street cleaning and parks maintenance to ensure the city remains welcoming and clean.
When Does the Tourist Tax Start?
The tourist tax takes effect on 24 July 2026. Any bookings made on or after 1 October 2025 for stays on or after this date will include the levy.
Who Pays the Visitor Levy?
All visitors staying in paid accommodation must pay the tax. This includes:
- Hotels
- Guesthouses
- Bed & Breakfasts
- Self-catering properties
- Hostels
- Campsites and caravan parks (including Linwater Caravan Park)
Whether visiting for leisure or business, guests will see the levy added to their accommodation bill at the time of booking.
Why is Edinburgh Introducing a Tourist Tax?
The visitor levy will generate funds to support the city’s tourism industry, improve public spaces, and enhance the visitor experience. Edinburgh leads the way as the first UK city to introduce this tax, following in the footsteps of popular European destinations like Paris and Barcelona.
How Does This Affect Stays at Linwater Caravan Park?
As a top choice for visitors exploring Edinburgh and its surroundings, Linwater Caravan Park must apply the 5% visitor levy to bookings made on or after 1 October 2025 for stays on or after 24 July 2026.
Seasonal Pitches – Since winter seasonal pitches are not charged per night stayed, they are exempt from the visitor levy.
Static Caravan Holiday Home Owners – Owners of holiday homes are also exempt from the tourist tax, as they pay an annual site fee rather than a nightly rate for their stays.
To reduce the cost of your next visit to Edinburgh, book your 2026 stay before October 2025 and secure your holiday at a lower cost.
A Message from our Owner – Katie Guinan
“We are disappointed with the introduction of the visitor levy and have strongly opposed it from the start. During early consultations, Edinburgh Council assured Campsites that they would be exempt. However, in a bid to generate more revenue, they have now included us—despite our concerns that this type of holiday is often chosen by those on a budget. We made it clear that this additional charge would unfairly impact our guests, but unfortunately, our objections were ignored.
Tourism already brings huge economic benefits to Edinburgh, and we do not believe this levy offers good value for money. Despite the extra income it will generate, we have no guarantees that it will be reinvested into the improvements that would actually benefit our visitors, such as better public transport links from the park, safer walking routes to local facilities, or well-maintained roads.
Adding to this frustration is the rise of ‘wild camping’ in campervans and motorhomes, encouraged by hire companies and facilitated by local car parks, such as those in the Pentland Hills, which allow free overnight stays. This means that responsible tourists who choose to stay at a campsite, support local businesses, and pay for proper facilities are being penalised. They are now required to pay the visitor levy while others park for free and still expect to use campsite services at a fraction of the cost. This unfair system discourages responsible tourism.
As we sit on the border of West Lothian and Edinburgh, we often find ourselves overlooked when it comes to investment in infrastructure and services. Yet, when it comes to raising money, we are suddenly included. This feels unfair, and we remain frustrated by the lack of consideration for campsites and budget-conscious travellers.”
