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Privacy NoticeAs the evenings draw in and with Halloween on the horizon, what better place to visit than Scotland’s bewitching capital, Edinburgh? One in three of the city’s residents claim to have encountered an otherworldly presence, and with its imposing castle, abundance of ghost stories, Gothic architecture and Harry Potter connections, it has earned a reputation as the country’s paranormal hot (or should that be cold?) spot! We checked into the impressive Prestonfield House and then its sister property, aptly named The Witchery by the Castle – both serving up Halloween with class. A host of celebrities have crossed their thresholds over the years, too. During the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August, festivalgoers at Prestonfield were entertained by Sir Cliff Richard, Julian Clary and former Strictly judge Dame Arlene Phillips, while its royal visitors have included the Princess Royal, King Charles and, in 2006, the late Queen Elizabeth II. At The Witchery, diners have rubbed shoulders with A-listers like Margot Robbie, Justin Timberlake, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Leonardo DiCaprio and The Phantom Of The Opera composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.
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(Image: David Cheskin)
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(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
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SPOOKY HAPPENINGS We joined a Ghosts and Gore tour (witcherytours.com) – a very entertaining hour-long walk around Edinburgh’s Old Town, led by the “deceased” Alexander Clapperton in Victorian costume. Characters from the past jump out unexpectedly at you and you can hear their tales of witches and body snatching. You’ll also learn about Deacon Brodie, an 18th-century gentleman who led a double life and was believed to be the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s fictional Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde. We explored underground Edinburgh, too, at The Real Mary King’s Close (realmarykingsclose.com). It’s home to the city’s only preserved 17th-century street and you can imagine the noise and stench as people lived cheek by jowl. The guided tour covers everything from the bubonic plague to the ghost of a child, “wee Annie”, who is said to have died there.
The Witchery’s Autumn Harvest menu is a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience and jam-packed with local cuisine
(Image: David Cheskin)
ENCHANTED EVENINGS After all that ghostly activity, it was time to relax and enjoy spirits of a different kind at the first of our hotels. Prestonfield, a 10-minute drive from the city centre, has the grandeur of a stately home but a personal touch when it comes to service. The property has been a labour of love for owner James Thomson, whose antiques, paintings, and objets d’art pack every room. Forget minimalism here, this is pure theatre with swags and bags of character – toile de jouy wallpaper, plush red velvet throws and piles of cushions. Guests get a complimentary bottle of champagne for every day of their stay – and there are lovely homely Scottish touches like Tunnock’s tea cakes in the room. And as luck would have it for Halloween, there is even a resident black cat called Raven. GOTHIC SPLENDOUR Back in the city centre, our second stopover, The Witchery, describes itself as a restaurant with rooms and is spread over two 16th-century buildings. It has nine suites, all individually decorated and furnished in theatrical fashion with manymore of James’s eclectic finds. Roll-top baths, Gothic four-poster beds and rich tapestries are a common theme.
Enjoy a meander up the Royal Mile’s cobbled streets before arriving at The Witchery – which is stunning at this time of the year
(Image: David Cheskin)
Feel inspired by all things Harry Potter with a stay at The Witchery – this is the infamous Heriot Suite
(Image: David Cheskin)
The Witchery is a one-minute walk from Edinburgh Castle and right on the Royal Mile. It is also minutes from George Heriot’s School, said to be the inspiration for Hogwarts. Sure enough, the café where JK Rowling created Harry, Ron and Hermione, and since renamed The Elephant House, is just a [Philosopher’s] stone’s throw away. But sadly the building was one of several properties badly damaged in a blaze on George IV Bridge in 2021 and the café remains closed. MOUTHWATERINGLY MAGICAL For spirits of a different kind, the spooky cocktails at Prestonfield pack a punch. Sip a Scary Sour, a mixture of gin, angostura bitters and aquafaba, or relish a Rhubarb Revenge, with whisky, cranberry juice and rhubarb rooibos tea. They grow their own rhubarb here, so it features a lot on the menu – even the restaurant, which is open to non-residents, is named after it.
Sip on spooky cocktails to scare you silly at Prestonfield House
(Image: David Cheskin)
The recently launched autumn harvest afternoon tea is a feast for the eyes and stomach. There’s savoury pumpkin cheesecake, haggis croquette, scones and cakes, such as caramel apple and clementine and chocolate tart, which are artworks in themselves. Afternoon tea is £50 or £65 with a glass of Billecart-Salmon Champagne. No points for guessing which option we picked. Meanwhile, The Witchery has two restaurants – The Secret Garden and The Original Dining Room. This is full-on Halloween, with pumpkins and gourds lining the entrance and meals by candlelight. A “light” two-course lunch is £29.50 and defies its description. We were seriously full after the most delicious wild mushroom velouté with poached egg and a risotto of pumpkin and Gorgonzola custard. They also serve moreish mocktails – try the Witchery Iced Tea if you’re the designated driver. Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnTravelReal Life
