Stay on or near Royal Mile in Edinburgh

Which Edinburgh Hotels are Near to Royal Mile?

As one of Edinburgh's busiest tourist areas, the Royal Mile is a must-see for most visitors to the city. But where is the Royal Mile exactly? It is actually a series of streets, just over a mile long (hence the name.), which stretches from Edinburgh Castle at the top to Holyrood Palace at the bottom. The Royal Mile is made up of Castle Esplanade, Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, Canongate and Abbey Strand.

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Home to many shops selling traditional Scottish arts and crafts, as well as authentic kilt-makers, it also boasts a wide range of restaurants and cafes, from inexpensive eateries through to fine dining. It is no wonder that many visitors thinking where to stay in Edinburgh choose a hotel in this buzzing and vibrant part of the city. If you are thinking of staying on or near the Royal Mile, there is a huge selection of hotels to choose from. Here are some of the main ones to consider, either directly on the Royal Mile itself or within a couple of hundred metres.

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Which accommodation is closest to Royal Mile? Read on.

Which Hotels are Close to Royal Mile?

Witchery by the Castle

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The dramatic Witchery by the Castle is well-known as accommodation with a difference. Located on Castlehill at the top of the Royal Mile, it has been described as an 'operatic fantasy' by Conde Naste Traveller. With just eight Gothic inspired suites (and usually booked far in advance) including the Vestry, the Old Rectory and the Inner Sanctum, a stay at the Witchery is an expensive option. But for a totally different experience, most people agree that it will live up to your expectations.

Hotel Missoni

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The fashionable 5-star Missoni Hotel is located at Number 1 George IV Bridge, facing the High Street on the Royal Mile. It is a true designer hotel, based on the signature zig-zag pattern of the Missoni design house, and dramatically decorated in black and white and bright colours. The rooms, many of which have a view over Victoria Street, Arthur's Seat or even Edinburgh castle, are funky and modern with numerous nice touches such as a Nespresso machine, iPod dock, and free laundry and Wi-Fi. The Missoni is fast becoming one of the most fashionable places in Edinburgh, especially the Bar Missoni with its innovative mixology cocktail concept. Glamorous and trendy, the Missoni is a popular choice in the old town.

Scotsman Hotel

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The historic 5-star Scotsman Hotel is an Edinburgh landmark which is located on North Bridge, just a couple of minutes' walk from the attractions of the Royal Mile. The Scotsman Hotel was tastefully and stylishly converted from the historic building of the Scotsman newspaper and many original features remain such as ornate ceilings, stained glass windows and oak-panelled walls. The result is an elegant yet modern boutique hotel, full of character and atmosphere, offering luxurious accommodation. There is also a luxury spa and health club with an indoor swimming pool and state-of-the-art gym. The Scotsman is one of the more expensive hotels in the Royal Mile area, but it is an excellent choice for 5-star luxury stay in the heart of Edinburgh.

Radisson Blu Hotel

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The 4-star Radisson Blu is a stylish and elegant hotel located in the High Street in the middle of the Royal Mile. It offers spacious and modern accommodation, reflecting the contemporary design of the Scandinavian style of the Radisson Blu chain. The informal tapas style menu of the hotel restaurant, Itchycoo Park is varied and great fun, although many guests choose to eat in the many restaurants of the Royal Mile. Inexpensive on-site parking (unusual for the Royal Mile), free Wi-Fi and great leisure facilities make the Radisson Blue a popular choice with both leisure and business travellers alike.

Carlton Hotel

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The 4-star Carlton Barcelo hotel, part of the Barcelo group of hotels, is situated on North Bridge, overlooking the Royal Mile, perfectly located for the Old Town. Many of the guest rooms have views over the Royal Mile, Arthur's Seat or Calton Hill, so ask for a room with a view. One the main attractions of the Carlton Barcelo is the leisure facilities - there is a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, 2 squash courts and a gym; plus a hair and beauty salon offering aromatherapy massages and other spa treatments. If you want to relax after a hard day sightseeing or shopping, consider the Carlton Barcelo.

Fraser Suites Hotel

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The 4-star boutique hotel Fraser Suites is situated on St. Giles Street, just a few steps from the High Street. The guest rooms are decorated to a high standard in a contemporary style and very well equipped with an iPod dock and, unusually for a hotel, a small kitchenette with a fridge, microwave and basic kitchen items. Guests looking for a modern and chic Royal Mile hotel who want the added flexibility that the kitchenette offers should consider Fraser Suites.

MacDonald Holyrood Hotel

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The 4-star Macdonald Holyrood part of the Macdonald chain of hotels, is located at 81 Holyrood Rood, on a quiet part of the Royal Mile and with stunning views of Arthur's Seat and Holyrood Park. It is well-located for the Scottish Parliament, Dynamic Earth and Holyrood Park. The hotel offers clean, comfortable and modern accommodation, including Club Suites with complimentary afternoon tea and butler service. The Macdonald Holyrood is slightly further away from the main Royal Mile attractions but it could be an excellent choice for those looking for a quieter location.

Other hotel accommodation around the Royal Mile area

• The 3-star Jurys Inn Hotel on Jeffreys Street is just 200m away from the Royal Mile. It offers value for money accommodation in an excellent location, perfect for the attractions of Edinburgh.
• The 3-star Bank Hotel, part of the Festival Group of hotels, is situated at 1 South Bridge, on the Royal Mile. The hotel, originally a bank, as the name suggests, was refurbished in 2008 and offers modern accommodation in a very central location. One of its attractions is the Bank Bar which has views of the Royal Mile and an outdoor seating area. Consider the Bank Hotel if you are looking for a budget hotel right in the heart of the Royal Mile.
• The Hotel Ibis Edinburgh Centre is a budget chain hotel in Hunter Square, a few meters from the Royal Mile. It could be your hotel of choice if you are looking for an inexpensive hotel just off the Royal Mile.
• The Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh-Royal Mile is located at Cowgate, a couple of minutes' walk from the Royal Mile. Winner of the 2009 Scottish Budget Hotel of the Year award, it offers modern and comfortable no-frills accommodation with air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi. The Holiday Inn Express is a good option for a budget hotel close to the Royal Mile.

Conclusion - Staying in 4 and 5 star hotels close to Royal Mile

The hotels on the Royal Mile area range from 3-star to 5-star accommodation so you should be able to find something which suits your budget. Remember that hotel accommodation on the Royal Mile itself might be more expensive than that a couple of streets back.

Another factor to consider is the noise level - if your hotel room is facing out onto the Royal Mile it might be quite noisy, especially at night. If this is a concern, then consider a room at the back of the hotel or a hotel that is set back slightly away from the main road.

Edinburgh is a relatively small city so nowhere is very far, but remember that the Royal Mile is over a mile long and there are some steep hills in the city, so the hotel's precise location on the Royal Mile will also be important.

Bottom line, if you prefer to stay at the top of the Royal Mile, closer to Edinburgh Castle, consider the Witchery, the Missoni or Fraser Suites; for the bottom of the Royal Mile try the Macdonald Holyrood; and for a hotel in the middle look at the Scotsman, the Radisson Blu, the Carlton Barcelo or the Bank Hotel. If you are planning on shopping in the Royal Mile, many of the shops are in the High Street and Canongate area and restaurants are spread fairly evenly along the Mile, but there is little to be found at the Holyrood end of the Royal Mile.

Looking for holiday apartments on the Royal Mile? Why not check out our section on Best Royal Mile Apartments or find hotel accommodation in central Edinburgh

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