Edinburgh City Centre Hotels
When to consider staying at a City Centre hotel?
Before you go ahead and book the most central hotel in Scotland's capital you should consider the layout of Edinburgh's City Centre. Compared to most European capitals, Edinburgh is a small city with a population of just over 500.000.
Edinburgh seems designed for tourists and not just for those who can afford to stay in a luxury five-star hotel. All major tourist attractions, best pubs. restaurants and shopping are located in the very compact City Centre instead of being scattered around.
Edinburgh City Centre can be reached very easily from most directions via public transport or on foot. It's literally a matter of minutes to go from Edinburgh Castle to Princes Street, the main shopping area and back to the Old Town.
- Because Edinburgh is so compact you don't really have to choose a hotel in the City Centre to be close to attractions, shops and restaurants. Choose hotel accommodation 5-10 minutes away from Edinburgh City Centre. Public transport is very frequent and it only takes a few minutes to get to Princes Street.
- Edinburgh's train station, bus station and airport express bus stop are all located in the same area of the City Centre. Just hop on a bus for a 5-10 minute ride to your hotel accommodation.
- Most tourists believe they save on taxis by choosing a central hotel accommodation. Because Edinburgh is so compact taxis take you back to the hotel in no time and be quite cheap as a result. Most of the times, taxis are unnecessary thanks to the excellent public transport.
Choosing hotel accommodation away from Edinburgh City Centre is not really a compromise on location but more of a sensible decision. These types of hotels have the same easy access to what Edinburgh has to offer at a discount.
The hotels in Edinburgh City Centre
It's no wonder that there are so many hotels at the heart of Edinburgh, but what is generally considered the a City Centre hotel?
- Hotel accommodation at the very heart of Edinburgh - Hotels on Princes Street itself, North Bridge, the Royal Mile and the west end of Princes Street. These are the most expensive hotels to stay in.
- Other hotels the City Centre - Hotels in parts of the Old Town such as the Grassmarket, Holyrood and in the New Town on George Street, Queen Street and streets connecting with Princes Street.
City Centre hotel accommodation in Edinburgh is generally where you have views of Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town.
Most of the hotels in the City Centre are five and four star accommodation but you do occasionally find the odd three star hotel. As you would expect, staying in the centre of Edinburgh is very expensive and justifiable only in certain instances.
The advantages of central hotel accommodation
- Some of the hotels on Princes Street such as the Balmoral Hotel, Old Waverley Hotel and the Caledonian Hilton Hotel have stunning views of Edinburgh Castle and Edinburgh's skyline that you can't get anywhere else. You not only pay for the hotel's location but also for the views.
- One of Edinburgh's most famous hotels, the Balmoral, is a landmark in itself. You'll stay in a historic railway hotel that has the best views in the city. Other hotels in historic buildings include the Caledonian Hilton Hotel, the Carlton Hotel and the Old Waverley Hotel.
- Events in Edinburgh such as the Fireworks Concert, Hogmanay, Festival Cavalcade and Candlelit Procession become a unique experience when watched from some of these central hotels.
The disadvantages of central hotel accommodation
- The hotels in Edinburgh City Centre can afford to charge premium prices for the location and views and sometimes you get better quality of service in other hotel accommodation of comparable ratings.
- Staying in City Centre accommodation means parking space is expensive and scarce. You also have to budget for valet parking space which most luxury hotels in the area offer.
- The hotels on Princes Street and North Bridge are more or less noisy during the day and even at night.
Edinburgh City Centre hotels - Bottom line
It's worth paying premium prices for staying at a luxury hotel on Princes Street only if it provides an unique experience, such as views over the City Centre, Edinburgh Castle or if the hotel has a particular feature that makes it extremely appealing, such as the Spa at the Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh's West End.
Hotels in Edinburgh City Centre:
- Hotels near Edinburgh Castle - Ideas for accommodation close to the Castle.
- Balmoral Hotel (five star luxury) - Princes Street
- Caledonian Hotel - Princes Street
- Carlton Hotel - North Bridge
- Holyrood Hotel - Holyrood Road
- Old Waverley Hotel - Princes Street
- Sheraton Hotel - Festival Square
- Scotsman Hotel (5-star boutique) - North Bridge
- Prestonfield Hotel (5-star boutique) - near Edinburgh City Centre
- Witchery by the Castle (5-star boutique) - near Edinburgh Castle
- Glasshouse Hotel (5-star boutique) - Greenside Place
- Grassmarket Hotels - Grassmarket, Old Town
- Top Secret Edinburgh Hotels
Bed and Breakfast accommodation
- Elmview B&B - The Meadows
- Gerald's Place B&B - Abercromby Place
>> Back to Hotels in Edinburgh guide index
All articles on hotels in Edinburgh:
Hotel accommodation in Edinburgh City Centre The way Edinburgh City Centre is laid out plays in favour of tourists. This major advantage over other European cities makes choosing hotels in Edinburgh seem less of a compromise on location. However, the luxury hotels at the heart of the city can offer a unique experience during your Edinburgh break.
When to book hotels in Edinburgh Edinburgh has become an all-year round tourist destination and hotels are seeing more bookings on and off season. There are two instances when you must book as early as possible.
Also see:
Accommodation in Edinburgh Tourist information on quality accommodation schemes, hotels and how to choose accommodation in Edinburgh.
