Edinburgh Launches 5% Tourist Charge for Paid Overnight Accommodation

Edinburgh has become the first city in the United Kingdom to implement a city‑wide visitor levy, charging a 5 percent surcharge on the pre‑VAT price of paid overnight stays for up to the first five consecutive nights. The scheme, approved by Edinburgh City Council in January 2025, takes effect on 24 July 2026 for bookings made on or after 1 October 2025. The levy is expected to generate up to £50 million a year, with the revenue earmarked for tourism infrastructure, cultural attractions and visitor services.

The council has already allocated more than £90 million for three priority areas over the next three years: city operations and infrastructure, culture, heritage and events, and destination‑visitor management. Early projects funded include a £132 000 contribution to the Edinburgh Festival Carnival and Mardi Gras, 10 Festival City Ambassadors for the summer festival season, and a partnership with Police Scotland to create a dedicated City Centre Policing Unit. Future investments foresee a £2 million participatory‑budgeting programme, expanded street‑cleaning, graffiti removal, upgrades to public bins, and major heritage works such as £5 million for restoring Leith Theatre.