Edinburgh Hotels
The reviews on this page give you background information that you probably won't get elsewhere, and tell you what's nearby so you can plan what part of town you want to be in. Click the "Reviews" links for user reviews - scroll down to the bottom of the Tripadvisor page to see the review section. Click the "Price & Book" link if you want to make a booking. This takes you to Tripadvisor which gives you a choice of sites such as Expedia or Lastminute to make your booking.
- 5 Star Hotels in Edinburgh City Centre
- 4 Star Hotels in Edinburgh City Centre
- 3 Star Hotels in Edinburgh City Centre
- 2 Star Hotels in Edinburgh City Centre
- Out of Town Selection
5 Star Hotels in Edinburgh City Centre
Balmoral Hotel
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This is probably the best known hotel in Edinburgh - it's the building with the clock in the famous view taken from Calton Hill looking along Princes Street. (My picture is taken in the opposite direction looking towards Calton Hill). Originally the station hotel for the North British Railway company, its name was changed in 1991 from the "North British Hotel" to the "Balmoral Hotel". The significant contingent of traditionalists amongst the Edinburgh population used the name "New Balmoral" for a time, so that they could continue to call it the "NB". This hotel also has the only hotel restaurant in Edinburgh to have a Michelin star. This has the distinction of being the only residential building on the south side of Princes Street, all the other locations (including the station) being restricted by planning laws that protect the views over the valley between the Royal Mile up to the Castle, and the New Town. It is therefore tucked right at the East end of Princes Street, on the corner with North Bridge. It is very plush and very upmarket.
Hilton Caledonian Hotel
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The Balmoral's traditional rival, the Caledonian was built by the competing Caledonian Railway Company. Clearly this railway lost the competition in the end, as it's now the West Approach Road. The building has a distinctive appearance, being built of red stone. This hotel is at the extreme opposite end of Princes Street from the Balmoral, midway between Waverley and Haymarket stations and handy for the Usher Hall, Royal Lyceum Theatre and the financial district.
Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa
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This is almost a next door neighbour to the Caledonian, being just across the West Approach Road from it. It's a more modern building, having been built in the 1980s. It's in the financial district, just across Lothian Road from the Usher Hall, Traverse Theatre and Royal Lyceum Theatre, and a short walk from the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (The round building in the picture, behind the hotel). The King's Theatre is about 10 minutes walk, and there are cinemas and restaurants in the vincinity. The hotel's own restaurant is also good - it gets 2 AA rosettes.
The Scotsman Hotel
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When I visited this building as a schoolboy in the late 1970's it was a completely different place. Then, it housed the journalisitc offices and printing presses of the Scotsman Newspaper. Technology has moved on, and so has the newspaper to new offices near Holyrood. In doing so they left this building to be refurbished into a luxury hotel with themed rooms and a good reputation for food. This hotel is separated from the Balmoral only by the bridge over Waverley station, and it's just across the road from the Carlton hotel. The Royal Mile is only a few steps away. There are many restaurants in the vincinity if you want to eat out.
4 Star Hotels in Edinburgh City Centre
Macdonald Holyrood
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This is a relatively new hotel, a product of the growth of the Holyrood Road area after the decision to place the Scottish Parliament here. Macdonald Hotels are a chain with a number of hotels around Scotland and some in the rest of the UK. This hotel is ideally located for Holyrood Park, the Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Palace. The lower end of the Royal Mile (the Canongate) is a short walk through a close. Museums at this end of the Royal Mile include Huntly House and The Peoples' Story. Unlike most of the central hotels, this one is not great for bus routes but the Edinburgh Tour bus passes this way and there's a taxi rank across the road outside the Scotsman building.
Carlton Hotel
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The entrance doors on North Bridge take up very little street real estate, most of the street is shops. Once you get upstairs though, this hotel stretches all the way from Waverley station to the Royal mile. You should be able to get some good views if you get the right room. The hotel was refurbished a few years ago.
Radisson SAS Hotel
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This is a beautiful and modern hotel located right on the Royal Mile and stretching back towards the Cowgate in the valley. It was built in the late 1980s by a Scandinavian hotel company and opened as the Scandic Crown. You can detect a Scandinavian theme to the arhitecture, but it also fits in really well with the surrounding historic Royal Mile architecture as well.
Apex International
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My wife used to go to university in this building. It was the main site of the Heriot Watt University until it moved to its Riccarton Campus in the early 1990s. THe Heights restaurant with views over the castle used to be the library. I took my wife for a meal there once, she said it was a very strange experience (nothing to do with the food!). The hotel is located in the Grassmarket, which is one of the valleys on either side of the ridge that makes the Royal Mile. This area and the Cowgate a little further along is noted for its pubs and nightlife. Here you are a short walk up Candlemaker Row to the Museum of Scotland, the Royal Museum, and Greyfriars Bobby. If you walk up the charming Victoria Street instead, you are virtually at the Royal Mile in the vincinity of St Giles Cathedral and not far from the castle. If you head out the other end of the Grassmarket, you can get to the theatres and cinemas around Lothian Road and Tollcross.
Apex City
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Apex hotels clearly liked the Grassmarket so they opened a second hotel just along the road. Which is really confusing if all you remember is that you're heading for the "Apex in the Grassmarket". I wonder how many times taxi drivers ask "Which Apex?" only to be met by embarrassed confusion from their passenger. By the way there's also an Apex European, but it's West of the town centre a little beyond Haymarket station.
Thistle Hotel
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Not to be confused with the smaller 2 star Thistle Hotel near Haymarket, this is probably the ugliest of the hotels described here. Built in the 1960s (the decade of demolishing historic buildings to replace them with concrete), this building is part of the St James Shopping Centre complex. An attempt was made to redeem part of the outside by building a stone extension to John Lewis, but it's still an unfortunate construction. However, it's fine inside!
Novotel Edinburgh Centre
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One of the newest hotels, this is a vast improvement on the concrete tower that used to be here (though the former patrons of the Tap o' Lauriston pub would not agree). This is not really near anything but is a reasonably short distance from many places in different directions. Within 5 to 10 minutes of walking you could be at the Grassmarket, Museum of Scotland, the University, the Meadows (a city park), the King's Theatre, the Odeon Cinema, the Filmhouse, the Royal Lyceum Theatre, the Usher Hall and even Princes Street if you walk quickly.
3 Star Hotels in Edinburgh City Centre
Mount Royal Ramada
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This hotel is located on Princes Street with views across Princes Street Gardens to the castle and Old Town.
Jury's Inn
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A recent conversion of a concrete office block. It's about 2 mins walk from the back entrance to Waverley station (take the exit at Platforms 20 & 21, cross the road & turn left. Take the right fork up the hill (Jeffrey Street). You are only a close (steep alley) away from the Royal Mile near the Museum of Childhood, Carrubbers Christian Centre and John Knox House
2 Star Hotels in Edinburgh City Centre
Hotel Ibis Edinburgh Centre
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This hotel is in the heart of the Old Town, on Hunter square just off the Royal Mile. The Tron Kirk is just across the sqare; St Giles Catherdral a few steps up the Royal Mile.
Out of Town selection
Airport / West: Hilton Edinburgh Airport
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This hotel is very near the airport terminal - but not on the flight path. A taxi into town from here will be around £20 though.
West : Best Western Edinburgh Capital
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Beautifully located high on Corstorphine Hill, this hotel looks out over fields and you can start the climb to the top of the hill just by crossing the road. Yet, it is near enough the city to be on the number 26 bus route which is one of the most frequent into town - so if you're driving from the north or west you can stop here without ever having to drive through the city. When you're ready, leave the car behind and get taken right into the town centre with no traffic or parking worries.
East: Best Western Kings Manor (3 Star)
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If you are approaching Edinburgh from the east or south, you could stay here and avoid driving into the city centre. Turn right at the roundabout at the end of the A1 road, into Milton Road. The hotel is on the right after about 30 seconds of driving. The 44 bus into town is frequent and takes you right to Princes Street.
South : Dalhousie Castle (4 star)
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My wife and stayed here for our wedding night. This is an upmarket hotel in the country, and you will need a car. It is a beautiful old building with library and some themed bedrooms.
South : Prestonfield (4 star)
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This is a country house hotel next to a golf course and near Holyrood Park (the far side from the Scottish Parliament, about 2 miles away from it). Despite its peaceful setting it is reasonably close to the town centre. The hotel has a good reputation in the city.
North : Malmaison (4 star)
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This hotel is on Leith on the north side of the city, a good place to stay if you like being near water and boats. There are plenty of buses into town. I have eaten in their restaurant and they do a lovely steak.
Copyright (c) Neil McKenzie 2005-2008
