Edinburgh is a mesmerising mixture of historical periods, from the medieval charm of the cobblestone Old Town to the Georgian New Town, where much of the city’s best shopping can be found.
Edinburgh is also known for its nightlife, whether one’s tastes lie with regal concert venues and theatres, or nightclubs and live music.
Families visiting Edinburgh are sure to enjoy Edinburgh Zoo or the Camera Obscura on the Royal Mile.
Here are our top 10 picks for where you should stay on your next holiday in Edinburgh.
1. Jurys Inn Edinburgh
One of the most perfectly positioned hotels in Edinburgh, Jurys Inn is a stone’s throw from the Royal Mile and a couple of minutes from Waverley train station.
Edinburgh Castle and the International Conference Centre are also both within walking distance. The hotel features a restaurant, bar and cafe, and is well equipped for business travellers with five meeting rooms.
Enjoy onsite dining of local fare at Jurys Inn
2. Haymarket Hotel
The Haymarket has the attractive distinction of being set in three 19th-century townhouses, and is also within walking distance of Princes Street's retail and dining options.
Haymarket station is two minutes away, with Murrayfield Stadium and the Gallery of Modern Art also nearby.
Guests can enjoy a wide range of whiskies at the hotel’s lounge bar. Rooms of various sizes are available, each one with its own fireplace.
3. Mercure Edinburgh City Princes Street Hotel
Conveniently located on Princes Street, the Mercure Edinburgh is close to the Palace of Royal Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh Playhouse, a variety of galleries and museums, and Waverley Station.
Guests can enjoy stunning views of the Edinburgh skyline, particularly from the open-plan Princes Dining Rooms, which look out to Edinburgh Castle.
Mercure Edinburgh City's facade is almost as impressive as Edinburgh Castle
4. The Knight Residence
These luxurious serviced apartments are set in a five-storey building, with options ranging from studios to three-bedroom suites.
Each apartment is equipped with a kitchen and washer-dryer. The nature of the accommodation allows for privacy, independence and an authentic sense of home.
The Knight Residence is also less than two kilometres from the city centre, Edinburgh Castle and The Meadows.
5. The Carlton Hotel
This exquisite Victorian building directly overlooks the famous Royal Mile, while some rooms offer views over Arthur’s Seat.
Waverley Station and Edinburgh Castle are a short, pleasant walk away, with attractions such as the Edinburgh Dungeon and the Museum of Edinburgh located nearby.
Guests of The Carlton Hotel can enjoy a range of onsite amenities including an indoor pool, fitness centre, spa treatments and even squash courts.
Enjoy the cosy and convenient surrounds of The Carlton Hotel
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6. Novotel Edinburgh Park
A distinctly modern Edinburgh hotel, the Novotel is slightly east of the city centre and Old Town, yet access to central attractions is very easy with Edinburgh Park station within a short walk.
The Novotel is one of few Edinburgh hotels with a heated indoor pool. There’s also a fitness centre, great for burning off the delicious international cuisine served at the onsite Elements Restaurant.
The hotel is particularly suited to business visitors, with Edinburgh Park Industrial Area almost adjacent.
7. Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh Waterfront
The Waterfront Holiday Inn offers a different side to Edinburgh. Situated close to the Entrance Basin in the city’s north, the hotel provides great proximity to the Royal Yacht Britannia and the Ocean Terminal indoor shopping centre.
Facilities in this newly refurbished establishment include a licensed bar and options for customised bedding.
The beds are even bigger at the Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh Waterfront
8. Brooks Hotel
Brooks Hotel is housed in a building of historical significance: a gothic-style dwelling originally built in 1840. Recently refurbished, the boutique hotel offers 46 bedrooms, all of which have been sensitively renovated and enhanced with contemporary and vintage furniture sourced locally.
Attractions around the hotel include the Royal Mile, Grassmarket and Princes Street, offering couples, business travellers and families a cosy B&B experience in the middle of Edinburgh’s vibrant West End.
9. Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
Another Holiday Inn in Edinburgh can be found on Picardy Place, very close to the Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Botanic Garden and the Royal Mile.
The beautiful Georgian-style building features contemporary interior design and has an intimate dining room along with a relaxing bar and lounge. A fitness centre and business facilities are available to guests.
Convenient breakfast awaits
10. Leith House Hotel
Looking out over Holyrood Park in the Leith district of Edinburgh, Leith House Hotel is well placed for guests wishing to visit Edinburgh Playhouse, the Sherlock Holmes Statue, Urban Paintball Edinburgh, Mansfield Place Church and the Filmhouse.
The hotel is slightly to the north of Edinburgh’s centre and is convenient for fans of Hibernian FC, whose stadium is nearby. Leith House contains a cocktail lounge and a library, perfect for cosy winter Edinburgh nights.
