Edinburgh

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About Edinburgh

Edinburgh packs a lot in to its small footprint. Basically it’s hilly, historic and deeply beautiful, and even our most central picks for the best places to stay in Edinburgh will see you walking up and down a lot. The selection of accommodation in this city is wide. You'll find everything from cheap and cheerful hostels, through average big chain options to chic little guesthouses and five star luxury city hotels. We favour the smaller independent properties, and we've even tracked down a lovely old lighthouse tender, which has been converted to a stunning floating hotel in the heart of Leith.

Some of our Edinburgh Collections:

Edinburgh is a city of many differing faces from the Old and New Towns, through to trendy Stockbridge and edgy Leith. Our neighbourhood guide will help you choose the best area for your stay, especially if this is your first trip to the city.

This city is a hugely popular destination year round, but come August it's Festival season and it's almost impossible to move here! So if you want to be part of the festival fun and book one of the best places to stay in Edinburgh, you'll need to plan well ahead to avoid disappointment!

The Best Places to Stay in Edinburgh

For a memorable stay

The Roseate Edinburgh comprises two stately Victorian townhouses, on opposite sides of the road, in a peaceful corner of the West End. Combined they make a 35 room boutique hotel, with individually decorated rooms and suites featuring a luxurious array of original details and modern conveniences, including Nespresso machines and Roberts digital radios, and some with four-poster beds and stand-alone copper baths. There’s a very nice bar and restaurant specialising in local Scottish produce from small suppliers. Stylish and welcoming, they also have family suites.
The Fingal is a retired lighthouse tender turned luxury, 23 room hotel, and now anchored in the hip area of Leith. Cabins range from classic doubles to decadent suites. The design is luxurious with brass fittings, leather, and rich hues. A glamorous ballroom is ideal for a party and there's a fabulous little restaurant too. She's now part of the Royal Yacht Britannia trust, and is Scotland's first luxury floating hotel.
The Balmoral is a large, and typically historic Edinburgh hotel, which began life as the railway hotel, sitting right beside Waverley Station, in between the Old and New Towns. Olga Polizzi is responsible for the decor and its understated, but with plenty of variety and sophistication amongst the 168 rooms and suites, and many of them have excellent city views as well. There’s a choice of restaurants, and one of them has a Michelin star, or you could eat out and return for a nightcap in the Palm Court bar, or the whisky bar.

The Best Hotels on The Royal Mile

You can’t get much closer to the action than The Inn on The Mile, a bar with kitchen, and nine room hotel on the Royal Mile, opposite the Tron Kirk, where the South Bridge meets the High Street, just five minutes stroll from the castle. Sit outside and watch the traffic pass up and down the Mile, or enjoy the live music and food indoors. The rooms are chic, offering complimentary mineral water and chocolate-dipped strawberries, bathrobes, slippers and tea and coffee. The ‘Royal Mile’ rooms are the larger ones with the views.

For the New Town

Twelve Picardy Place is a ten room hotel converted from a beautiful Georgian townhouse close to Carlton Hill. The decor is cool and contemporary, with wall-sized photo murals and a grey colour palette, and there’s a trendy cocktail bar and award-winning steakhouse.
Small and stylish, The Rutland is a 12 room hotel on Princes Street opposite the end of the Princes Street Gardens. Each of the rooms are individually decorated, but they’re all large and elegant. Some are more colourful than others, so it’s worth checking out them all. It also has a gourmet steak restaurant and a swanky bar and nightclub.

For a City Break Hotel

Formerly the headquarters for The Scotsman newspaper, the The Scotsman building is historic and well positioned, with views of Edinburgh Castle. So it’s ideal if you want to be in the thick of things. Inside there are 59 very elegant rooms and suites, decorated in pale neutrals, with pale wood panelling. Plus they have a spa and gym, and family suites.
Le Monde is a converted townhouse just one block back from Princes Street in the New Town, close to the National Gallery. There are only 18 rooms and suites to this chic hotel, individually decorated in a range of contemporary styles and colours, named and styled after global cities, but there are also three bars and two restaruants, and one nightclub. The cocktails are great and the vibe is fun.
Almost directly across the road from Le Monde is The George, a large and grand-looking hotel, with 249 sleek, contemporary rooms and suites. Now a listed building, this hotel was created using a row of five townhouses, and many period style details have been included in the new design, including parquet floors, stucco folderols and plenty of marble. The bar and restaurant are elegant too, and the bar stays open until 1am. We like the roof terrace too.

Edinburgh's Most Romantic Hotels

Small and intimate, 21212 is a Michelin-starred restaurant with just four elegant guest rooms. It’s close to Holyrood, and Carlton Hill, but still only ten or 15 minutes walk from the castle. Aside from the food, we love the small size of this place, even the restaurant is on the small side, so one feels very cocooned, like a guest at a luxurious house party with a short invitation list.
In a prime position at the top end of the Royal Mile close to Edinburgh Castle, and offering a combination of intimacy and Gothic decadence, it’s hard to find somewhere more memorable to stay in Edinburgh than the Witchery by the Castle. The nine rooms that now occupy this 16th century building are theatrically opulent, with gilded ceilings over four-poster beds, oil paintings over wood panelling, candlelight and swathes of jewel-coloured velvet. The restaurant is known for its Scottish cuisine and for its atmosphere.
Surrounded by 20 acres of private parkland, Prestonfield feels more like a country house hotel than a city central one, but this opulent manor house conversion is just five minutes from the Holyrood Palace end of the Royal Mile. Inside are 23 rooms and suites, many of which are among the most romantic in Edinburgh, with their canopied beds, heavy drapes, rich fabrics, antiques and roaring fires. There’s a fine dining restaurant too. And nothing is too much trouble for the concierge at Prestonfield, balloon flights over the area included.
Close to the Palace of Holyrood end of the Royal Mile, about 15 minutes from the castle, Six Brunton Place is a superb, 22 room hotel in a carefully converted Edwardian mansion. The rooms and suites are all unique, decorated with style and simplicity, showcasing artworks and the various rooms' original features.

Some of Edinburgh's Best B&Bs

23 Mayfield is an elegant, five star B&B in a beautiful Victorian building. There are only seven rooms, some with four poster beds, and all with wood panelling, fireplaces and big bathtubs. They serve an excellent breakfast and there’s a lovely garden. The location isn’t super central, but it’s a really charming place to stay.
The Hedges is a five room B&B in a charming Edwardian townhouse just a short stroll from Carlton Hill and Holyrood. It’s simple, affordable and the owners are also the managers, so you’ll get plenty of local recommendations if you need them.

For great value

B+B Edinburgh is a roomy, 27 room B&B in the West End, which has the feel of a private club or boutique hotel. It’s awash with Victorian details, and luxurious touches, but it’s still really affordable, especially when you consider that breakfast is included and the location is so central.
Nira Caledonia is a 28 room boutique hotel within a magnificent row of Georgian townhouses in Stockbridge, which is close to the botanic gardens and the Stockbridge Farmers Market. The rooms vary in size and style, but they’re all chic and comfortable, with spacious ensuite bathrooms. There’s also a superb restaurant

Prefer a self-catering Apartment?

If you’d prefer to stay in a city centre apartment, we recommend you visit our online partner, booking.com.

Travel Information

Edinburgh International Airport has links to over 130 destinations and is about an hour’s flight from London. However Scot Rail’s Caledonian Sleeper is probably the most romantic way to arrive. You get into Waverley Station, which is also well connected to other UK wide destinations. Obviously alternative trains are also a good option.
If you want to hire a car - which we strongly advise if you’re staying in Edinburgh and you want to see the surrounding area - we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
Edinburgh is busy over August for the Festival and the Fringe, and over Christmas and New year for Hogmanay, but the space in between is quiet and still pleasant weatherise. Alternatively June and July are also popular. Of course if you’re here for the events then book well ahead!

Still not sure which to book?

You could refine your search to the 6 Best Hotels in Edinburgh's West End?
Or the 10 Best Hotels in Edinburgh's New Town? or the 5 Best Hotels in Edinburgh's Old Town? or the 5 Best Hotels on the Royal Mile?
Or perhaps you'll find find something in our Ultimate Guide to the best hotels in Scotland?
Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.

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The best hotels in Edinburgh

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Brooks Edinburgh

Edinburgh (West End)

Amazingly good value in not quite central Edinburgh. Clean, tidy, comfortable, friendly and for those on a budget a great find.

Local exploring - Well located in Edinburgh's West End, just a 10 min walk from the Old Town and five mins from Haymarket Station
Value chic - Clean, comfortable accommodation at extremely affordable prices
Less £ - Elegant central Edinburgh B&B that won't break the bank
Sights nearby - Easy walk to the sights; both Old and New Towns are a short stroll from Brooks

from $75 for 1 room, 1 night including taxes & fees