A Look Inside: The Gleneagles Tower Suite, a Former Library Transformed into a Luxury Suite
Set within Gleneagles’ historic Scottish estate in Perthshire, the newly refurbished Tower Suite transforms a former library into an Art Deco-inspired retreat, featuring bespoke interiors, a private dining room for ten, a concealed cocktail bar and an exclusive rooftop terrace overlooking the Ochil Hills and the hotel’s championship golf courses.
Set beneath the Ochil Hills in Perthshire, Gleneagles is one of Scotland’s most celebrated luxury hotels, known for its grand architecture, championship golf courses and extensive collection of country pursuits. Opened in 1924, the estate was conceived by the Caledonian Railway Company as a destination where the glamour of rail travel met the traditions of a grand country house. More than a century later, the hotel has unveiled a new chapter for its original tower, transforming a former library into the Gleneagles Tower Suite, an Art Deco-inspired retreat with a private rooftop terrace, bespoke interiors and dedicated service.
Designed by AIME Studios, the refurbished suite draws on the hotel’s 1920s heritage, combining rich timber, polished brass, marble and hand-painted artwork with a series of carefully considered details. Set above the hotel’s grand entrance and beneath the Scottish Saltire, the one-bedroom suite is designed for both private relaxation and entertaining, with its own dining room, sitting room, library and rooftop terrace overlooking the surrounding countryside.
Inside the Gleneagles Tower Suite
The Tower Suite begins with a hallway of monochrome marble, high-gloss burgundy resin and gold-patterned wallpaper, establishing the Art Deco aesthetic that continues throughout the suite. A central staircase connects the main living spaces across three levels, while a concealed staircase leads from the library to the private rooftop terrace above.
The tower was once home to the hotel’s library before being converted into a suite decades ago. Its history remains part of the story, with Gleneagles recalling how regular visitors once exchanged handwritten notes in a leather-bound guestbook, sharing news of their stays and the social life of the hotel. The refurbishment introduces a new chapter without losing that connection to the building’s past.
At the heart of the Gleneagles Tower Suite is a timber-panelled dining room with seating for ten, creating a setting for private dinners, celebrations and even working sessions or board meetings. Herringbone flooring, vintage Art Deco chairs and a Ming Green marble bar built into the panelling give the room its character, balancing formal entertaining with the warmth of a traditional drawing room.
The dining room can host private dinners, with menus featuring dishes from across Gleneagles’ restaurants or created specifically for the occasion. Seating up to ten around the table, it offers a more intimate alternative to the hotel’s restaurants for celebrations, long lunches or evenings spent entertaining without leaving the suite.
A concealed bar, stocked by The American Bar with spirits and pre-batched cocktails, adds another layer to the entertaining facilities. Integrated into the sitting room, it reflects the design’s emphasis on discovery, with amenities discreetly incorporated into the interiors rather than displayed as typical hotel amenities.
A bedroom inspired by the Perthshire landscape
The bedroom centres on a custom-designed king-size four-poster bed, framed by bespoke joinery in walnut, mahogany and burl. Behind it, a hand-painted mural by Scottish artist Nancy Daniell takes inspiration from the surrounding Perthshire countryside, introducing colour and a sense of place to the richly layered interiors.
The adjoining marble bathroom features an Arabescato arch framing the bath and shower, with Nero Marquina detailing and Art Deco mosaic tiling providing contrast. A dramatic curtained bath, tinted mirrors, a separate powder room and a walk-in wardrobe complete the private quarters.
For late-night refreshments, a bespoke Night Pantry incorporates a fridge, freezer, coffee machine and curated snacks tailored to preferences before arrival. The suite also includes a walk-in minibar, alongside the separate hidden cocktail bar in the sitting room.
A private rooftop terrace above the estate
The defining feature of the Gleneagles Tower Suite is its private rooftop terrace, reached through a concealed door and staircase from the library. It is the only private rooftop terrace at the hotel, with panoramic views across the Ochil Hills, Gleneagles’ three championship golf courses and the surrounding Perthshire countryside.
The suite sits above the porte cochère, the covered entrance through which vehicles arrive, beneath the Scottish flag that marks the original tower. From this elevated view point, the landscape that helped inspire the hotel’s creation becomes part of the experience, whether the terrace is used for morning coffee or evening drinks.
The outdoor space also reinforces the suite’s emphasis on entertaining, providing an extension of the private dining and sitting areas rather than simply a balcony attached to a bedroom.
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Personal service and country pursuits
The suite is designed to function as a private retreat while retaining access to the wider estate. A dedicated host acts as a single point of contact from reservation through to departure, with round-the-clock assistance during the stay. Arrangements can range from having morning coffee delivered at a preferred time to securing restaurant reservations away from the hotel or organising activities across the grounds.
Gleneagles’ country pursuits include salmon fishing, falconry, horse riding and off-road driving, alongside more contemporary activities such as padel. The range allows the Tower Suite to serve as a base for an itinerary built around the estate, while its private living and dining spaces offer somewhere to return to at the end of the day.
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