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Hotel
5 star

The Balmoral

Princes Street, Edinburgh city centre · Hotel

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Photo: The Balmoral

Landmark five-star hotel at the east end of Princes Street, known for its clock tower, Michelin-starred dining and full spa.

What's nearby

  • Sainsbury's Local next door
  • Waverley Market next door

Distances as the crow flies, via Google

Good to know

Accessibility

  • ✓Accessible parking
  • ✓Accessible entrance

Payment

  • ✓Debit cards

Details via Google — worth confirming with the hotel before you travel, especially for access needs.

Photos

Photos via Google

About The Balmoral

The Balmoral stands at 1 Princes Street, on the joint between Edinburgh's Old and New Towns, and its clock tower is one of the most recognisable things on the city skyline. The building opened in 1902 as the North British Station Hotel, serving Waverley station next door, and the railway heritage still shows in the scale of the public rooms: high ceilings, deep cornicing and a good deal of marble. Rocco Forte Hotels run it now, and the interiors have been reworked over the past decade without stripping out the Edwardian bones.

There are 167 rooms and suites. The standard rooms are generously sized by British city-centre standards, with Scottish wool throws, marble bathrooms and, in many cases, views over Princes Street Gardens towards the Castle or across the New Town rooftops. The suites at the front of the building are the ones people book for anniversaries. Every guest gets access to the spa, which has a fifteen-metre pool, sauna, steam room and a full treatment list.

Dining is a genuine draw rather than an afterthought. Number One holds a Michelin star and sits in the basement, done out in deep red lacquer. Brasserie Prince offers French-Scottish bistro cooking at a more everyday price, and afternoon tea in the glass-roofed Palm Court is an Edinburgh institution in its own right. Scotch, the whisky bar, keeps several hundred bottles and a resident ambassador to talk you through them.

It suits people who want to be able to walk everywhere. The Royal Mile, the National Gallery, Waverley station and the main shopping streets are all within a few minutes. It is expensive, particularly in August during the Festival, and it is not a quiet retreat, but for a city break where the hotel itself is part of the occasion it is hard to better in Scotland.

Reception hours

Monday
Open 24 hours
Tuesday
Open 24 hours
Wednesday
Open 24 hours
Thursday
Open 24 hours
Friday
Open 24 hours
Saturday
Open 24 hours
Sunday
Open 24 hours

People say this hotel offers a luxurious afternoon tea, delicious meals at the Brasserie Prince, and a wide selection of cocktails at the bar. They highlight the beautiful, historic, and elegant decor, and the convenient location near the train station and city center. They also like the friendly, welcoming, and attentive staff, and the exceptional service provided by the concierge team.

Summary via Google

At a glance

Property type
Hotel
Location
Princes Street, Edinburgh city centre
Star rating
5 star
Guest score
9.0 / 10 (3,200 reviews)
Prices from
£395 per night
Destination
Edinburgh
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