Inside the Glasgow hotel loved by celebrities after revamp
hotel
Mar Hall Golf and Spa Resort
Entrance
Kylie, Beyonce, Brad Pitt, Ed Sheeran. These are just some of the celebrities who have graced this stylish resort on the banks of the River Clyde, on the leafy outskirts of Glasgow. In fact, Kylie was one of the first guests to stay after it reopened in May 2025 following a $38 million overhaul. Mar Hall was originally built as a country house for a lord, later became a hospital for wounded soldiers during the First World War, and opened as a hotel in 2004. It is halfway between the city center and Greenock harbour, from where cruises depart from around the British Isles. The hotel is 10 minutes from Glasgow airport.
Appearance
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Set in 97 hectares of woodland with an 18-hole championship golf course, Mar Hall was designed in the 1820s by Sir Robert Smirke, architect of the British Museum in London. Beyond the stark neo-Gothic stone exterior, the opulent renovation combines restored original features, such as Canadian oak paneling, with contemporary décor that ranges from soft to kaleidoscopic. The hotel’s swoon-worthy centerpiece is The Gallery, a long room with a patterned ceiling, exotic rugs, marble-topped champagne bar and cozy fireplace seating where guests can enjoy wine-infused lunches and afternoon teas. Browse the eclectic paintings in and around the hotel, displaying more than 400 pieces by Scottish artists, as well as models of Clyde-built ocean liner models from the past.
room
Timeless elegance meets modern elegance in 74 rooms and suites. Some overlook the river; Others, like my Deluxe Suite, overlook the fountain-dotted gardens of Sir Charles Barry, who designed the Palace of Westminster in London. Wood flooring, high ceilings and a comfortable super king-size bed, as well as a coffee maker and a gorgeous spacious bathroom with walk-in shower and separate bathtub, are the highlights of my suite. You can also soak in the hotel’s spa, Ishga (“water” in Scots Gaelic). It has a heated pool, saunas, steam rooms, a large gym and treatments using Hebridean seaweed.
food + drink
Scottish ingredients, including seasonal herbs and vegetables, dominate the dishes at The Dining Room; Here you can enjoy Orkney scallops and dry-aged Perthshire beef for dinner, for example, then return for a full Scottish breakfast, smoked Argyll salmon or pastries and yoghurts infused with honey from the estate’s bees. Small plates are served next door at Slainte, a stylish bar with plush fabrics, botanical wallpapers and cocktails featuring Scottish gins and whiskies. Il Posto next to the golf course has wood-fired pizzas.
out + about
Mar Hall’s friendly staff organize activities such as falconry, ax throwing and clay pigeon shooting, but be sure to visit Glasgow too. The host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games has excellent galleries, museums, parks, bars and concerts. You can also take a side trip to Dumbarton Castle, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. If the weather is too busy, browse the coffee table books in the hotel’s magnificent library and play a game of pool in the downstairs billiards room.
Decision
Rustic environment. Bonnie’s interiors. It’s a pleasant surprise to find a place as beautiful as Mar Hall so close to Scotland’s largest city.
Fundamentals
Mar Hall, Earl of Mar Estate, Bishopton, Scotland. Bed and breakfast starts from £225 ($427) per night. To see marhall.com; visitscotland.com
Our rating out of five
★★★★½
highlight
A dead heat between the gallery and the view across the River Clyde to the forested hills.
low light
You’re a bit lonely without a rental car. A taxi to Glasgow city center costs £40 ($76).
The author traveled as a guest of Visit Scotland.
Steve McKenna lives in England but is generally attracted to sunny climates. He has a particular interest in Mediterranean Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America.
