Edinburgh to implement its 5% Visitor Levy from July 24, 2026

Anyone who is staying in paid, overnight accommodation in Edinburgh needs to pay the levy. This includes tourists, people staying for work or visiting the city for other reasons. UK and Scottish residents are included as well.

The scheme is expected to generate up to £50 million annually, with all funds reinvested into Edinburgh services and infrastructure that support both residents and visitors.

Necessary funding for Edinburgh

Edinburgh Council Leader Jane Meagher has emphasized that while Edinburgh benefits greatly from its global popularity, tourism also places significant strain on local services and communities.

As one of the lowest-funded local authorities in Scotland, the city has long faced challenges in managing these pressures. The visitor levy, she says, provides a sustainable funding solution to maintain and enhance Edinburgh’s appeal while addressing the impact of high visitor numbers.

In 2024, total overnight trips by international and domestic visitors reached 5.05 million in the Scottish capital (including 2.56 million international tourists), generating a total of 17.79 million overnights. 

Councillors have now approved the first round of spending programs, totaling more than £90 million over the next three years. These investments are structured around three key areas: City Operations and Infrastructure, Culture, Heritage and Events, and Destination and Visitor Management.

The funding aims to improve public spaces, support cultural venues, and ensure the city remains clean, safe, and welcoming.Planned initiatives include major public realm improvements across the city, such as upgrades to town center high streets and key visitor areas like Cramond foreshore and Portobello Promenade.

Cultural investment is also a priority, with funding allocated to restore Leith Theater and transform the Old Royal High School into a national music center. A new Market Street Arts Hub will further strengthen Edinburgh’s cultural offering.

Boosting safety and cleanliness

Public safety and cleanliness are central to the plan. The city will invest in enhanced policing, expanded CCTV coverage, upgraded public toilets, and increased street cleaning services. Additional funding will tackle graffiti, improve waste management, and maintain infrastructure to a world-class standard. Edinburgh’s parks and green spaces will also benefit, with more maintenance funding, expanded planting programs, and a doubling of park rangers.

The levy will also support broader strategic goals, including a Housing and Tourism Mitigation Fund that could deliver hundreds of affordable homes, helping reduce reliance on temporary accommodations like bed and breakfasts. Other initiatives aim to spread visitor numbers more evenly across the city and throughout the year, while supporting the tourism sector in becoming more sustainable and resilient.

With other UK cities and governments closely watching, Edinburgh’s visitor levy could set a precedent for similar initiatives nationwide. For now, city leaders are confident it will deliver long-term benefits—helping preserve Edinburgh’s heritage, enhance its infrastructure, and ensure it remains one of the world’s most desirable destinations to visit and live.