The entrance hall of The Balmoral, with its high ceiling and glorious flower arrangements, gives a taste of the opulence to come in a building that began life as a hotel in 1902. Located right in the heart of Edinburgh, The Balmoral enjoys views across the hills, spires and monuments of the city. The room decor is traditional, with deluxe fabrics and local Scottish artwork, while the hotel鈥檚 public areas have fireplaces, stained glass windows and hand-painted silk wallpaper. Dining options here are superb: the hotel has a Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant as well as an excellent brasserie and whisky bar.
OUR OPINION:
The Balmoral is one of our preferred hotels in Edinburgh, you can鈥檛 beat it for location and classic, deluxe grandeur.
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Photos of The Balmoral
Rooms
Rooms are tastefully decorated in the russet and purple shades of the Scottish landscape. The marble bathrooms all have a shower over the bath except the deluxe suites, which have separate baths and showers. Room types vary mainly by size and view. Classic rooms overlook the internal courtyard, executive and deluxe rooms have views of either the courtyard or the city, and superior deluxe rooms look out over the city. The junior suites either overlook the internal courtyard or the city, its gardens and the castle. All rooms have TVs and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Location
The Balmoral is situated on the eastern end of Princes Street, directly above Waverley Station, with which the hotel used to be associated as a 鈥榞rand railway hotel鈥�. Both Edinburgh鈥檚 Old and New Towns are within easy distance on foot, and the concierge team can give you accurate walking times to the main attractions. Alternatively, the nearest taxi rank is directly outside the hotel鈥檚 front door and the nearest tram station is a five-minute walk further up Princes Street.
Food and drink
The Balmoral鈥檚 main restaurant, Number One, has held its Michelin star for over ten years and offers 脿 la carte and tasting menus. Hadrian鈥檚 Brasserie serves an 脿 la carte menu of classic dishes using regional produce in a more informal setting. Afternoon tea is served in Palm Court, an elegant room with a glass-domed ceiling and a Venetian chandelier. The Balmoral Bar is the hotel鈥檚 cocktail venue, while Scotch, the hotel鈥檚 whisky bar, boasts over 400 whiskies.
Facilities and activities
The Balmoral has a spa with a 15 m (49 ft) indoor pool, a steam room, a sauna, relaxation and treatment rooms and a gym.
Tour ideas in Edinburgh
Our itineraries are there to spark ideas for how you could include a stay at The Balmoral as part of your trip. Treat them simply as suggestions, because every aspect of the trip we create for you will be yours to define.
Alternative places to stay nearby
Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favorite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can't be bettered.
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![Prestonfield House, Edinburgh]()
Prestonfield House
Edinburgh -
![Radisson Blu, Edinburgh]()
Radisson Blu
Edinburgh -
![Radisson Collection Hotel, Royal Mile Edinburgh]()
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![The Royal Scots Club, Edinburgh]()
The Royal Scots Club
Edinburgh
Experiences while staying here
The following activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences of the area where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can also suggest outdoor pursuits and activities, such as cooking classes, that will introduce you to the traditions of the area's inhabitants.
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Castles and palaces of Edinburgh's surrounds ![Linlithgow Palace]()
Castles and palaces of Edinburgh's surrounds
Castles and palaces of Edinburgh's surrounds
Explore some of the numerous historic monuments that litter the countryside around Edinburgh on a full-day tour of the region's most interesting castles, stately homes and palaces. Visit elaborate chapels, country manors and strategic defense positions as you learn about the region's history.
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Eat Walk Edinburgh tasting trail ![Glass of whisky]()
Eat Walk Edinburgh tasting trail
Eat Walk Edinburgh tasting trail
Discover Edinburgh's thriving food scene on a half-day walk around the city streets, stopping off to sample local, national and international food and drink along the way in the company of a passionate guide and a host of engaging restaurateurs.
View details -
Ghosts and ghouls of Edinburgh's Old Town tour ![Edinburgh Castle]()
Ghosts and ghouls of Edinburgh's Old Town tour
Ghosts and ghouls of Edinburgh's Old Town tour
Brave Edinburgh's darkest corners on a two-hour walking tour that leads you down narrow laneways and into underground vaults to hear stories of murder, mystery and intrigue and get an insight into the illicit goings-on in the medieval city.
View details
Edinburgh and nearby places
- St Andrews 31 miles away
- Glasgow 42 miles away
- The Highlands 54 miles away
- Loch Lomond 56 miles away
- The Cairngorms 78 miles away
- Loch Awe 83 miles away
- Glencoe 90 miles away
- Oban 94 miles away
- Fort William 95 miles away
- Isle of Jura 100 miles away