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Choose The Balmoral for an Edinburgh stay by rail, with Waverley station beside the hotel rather than a drive across the city.

What makes it special

Commission a poem through the hotel's Poet in Residence service to mark a special occasion with words written specifically for you.

Room to consider

Book the J.K. Rowling Suite for its Harry Potter connection, including the signed marble bust left by the author after finishing the series.

Insider tip

Use the hotel's paid valet service if arriving by car, with a parking space guaranteed for resident guests without advance booking.

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Free membership gives you access to preferred rates, exclusive benefits and current promotions for your stay.

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Balmoral Hotel Edinburgh

At 1 Princes Street, The Balmoral gives Edinburgh a particularly recognisable front door. Its clock tower rises above Waverley Station, with the Old Town on one side and the New Town on the other. The address is useful as well as ceremonial: guests can arrive by train, leave their bags, and walk straight into the city's historic streets, galleries and shops. This is a large, established hotel with a strong sense of occasion, not a secluded retreat. Its appeal lies in having the capital close at hand while still offering the rooms, dining and spa of a full-service Rocco Forte hotel.

The building began life in 1902 as the North British Station Hotel. Its stone exterior and prominent clock retain that railway-era ambition, but the interiors take a softer approach. Olga Polizzi's rooms draw on the colours and textures of the Scottish landscape, with tailored furniture, art and marble bathrooms. There is a pleasing contrast between the busy streets outside and the more measured pace within. The Balmoral works especially well for a first visit to Edinburgh, yet its choice of restaurants and distinct room outlooks also give returning visitors reasons to stay.

Rooms

  • 165 165

Hotel Style

  • Charming Charming

Leisure

  • Pool Pool
  • Spa Spa
  • Sauna Sauna

Experiences

  • Culture Culture
  • City Vibe City Vibe

Rooms & Suites at Balmoral Hotel Edinburgh

Executive Room
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Executive Room

269 sqft
From 965 USD

A large bathtub and Italian marble surfaces define the bathroom. Irene Forte skincare products are supplied. In the bedroom, artwork and natural shades reflect the...

Deluxe Room
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Deluxe Room

344 sqft
From 1’035 USD

A sofa and a work area provide places to sit and write beyond the bed. The furnishings combine modern lines with Scottish design details. In...

Executive External City View Room
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Executive External City View Room

269 sqft
From 1’070 USD

Tartan fabrics and woodland-patterned wallpaper bring a Scottish character to the room. Large windows face Princes Street, with soft seating set within the bedroom. Cool...

Old Town View Executive Room
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Old Town View Executive Room

269 sqft
From 1’144 USD

Shades of heather and moss run through the room, with tartan fabrics and large windows framing the skyline. An armchair creates a sitting spot within...

Old Town View Deluxe Room
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Old Town View Deluxe Room

301 sqft
From 1’214 USD

Leaf-green velvet and tartan sit against woodland-patterned wallpaper, with a sofa in the sitting area. The decor pairs Scottish details with modern furniture. Large windows...

Castle View Deluxe Room
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Castle View Deluxe Room

301 sqft
From 1’530 USD

Velvet fabrics, tartan and woodland-patterned wallpaper bring Scottish touches into the bedroom. A sofa forms part of the seating area, with ornaments and natural tones...

Junior Suite
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Junior Suite

409 sqft
From 1’669 USD

The open-plan layout brings a lounge area into the bedroom, with soft seating and space to unpack in the wardrobe. Modern furniture sits alongside fabrics...

Castle View Junior Suite
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Castle View Junior Suite

409 sqft
From 1’808 USD

Cushions by Glasgow design studio Timorous Beasties sit alongside wool tartans and shades of heather and moss. A desk and armchairs furnish the lounge area...

Classic Suite
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Classic Suite

474–710 sqft
From 2’043 USD

Botanical art and ornaments give the sitting room its character. The bedroom is separate, with a walk-in dressing room providing space to unpack. The Italian...

Grand Suite
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Grand Suite

549–592 sqft
From 2’259 USD

Turreted alcoves and large windows shape the living room and separate bedroom. The four suites are named Braemar, Stirling, Dunrobin and Tay. Each has its...

Castle View Suite
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Castle View Suite

506–624 sqft
From 2’391 USD

Blue tones, tartan fabrics and nature-inspired art carry through the sitting room and separate bedroom. Named after Scottish rivers and castles, the suites have books...

Bowes lyon Suite
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Bowes lyon Suite

721 sqft
From 2’685 USD

Porthole-style windows and an unusual layout set the suite apart. Green velvet sofas and leafy curtains furnish the salon. The dining area has views over...

J.K. Rowling Suite
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J.K. Rowling Suite

592 sqft
From 2’911 USD

An owl door knocker leads into an entrance filled with stars. Beyond it is a lounge with turreted alcoves and antique furniture. The signed marble...

Balmoral Suite
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Balmoral Suite

710 sqft
From 3’961 USD

The sitting room has artwork and fabrics inspired by Scottish lochs and woodland, with touches of heather and deep green. Windows look towards Arthur's Seat...

Glamis Suite
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Glamis Suite

1,130 sqft
From 5’413 USD

Velvet sofas and antiques furnish the salon, with ornate plasterwork above. In the separate dining room, Scottish baronial furniture sits beneath an antique chandelier. Books...

Scone & Crombie Suite
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Scone & Crombie Suite

1,292 sqft
From 7’019 USD

The entrance hall has Devonshire Swans tapestry wallpaper. Beyond it, the rooms use soft blues and greys. Tall windows face the Old Town. Yellow accents...

Princes Street places the hotel directly beside Waverley Station, a practical advantage for a rail arrival or a short city break. Across the station, the closes and landmarks of the Old Town are within walking reach; north and west, the New Town offers Georgian streets, shopping and restaurants. Princes Street Gardens, the Scott Monument and the Scottish National Gallery are close enough to fit naturally into a day rather than requiring a separate excursion. Edinburgh Castle sits above the gardens and forms part of the outlook from selected rooms.

The location is central and active. Anyone hoping to withdraw from the movement of the city should bear that in mind; anyone who prefers to explore on foot will value it. A morning can begin among the shops and galleries, continue uphill into the Old Town, and end back at the hotel for dinner or a whisky without arranging a car. The clock tower, traditionally set three minutes fast for travellers heading to the station, is a reminder that the building has always been tied to Edinburgh's daily rhythm.

Room choice matters here because size and outlook vary considerably. The 19-square-metre Classic Room faces the courtyard and is best understood as an efficient city base. Executive and Deluxe Rooms provide more space, though their views may be of the city or an internal courtyard. Guests who want a particular Edinburgh scene should look to the named categories: Executive and Deluxe Old Town View Rooms face the historic quarter, while the Deluxe Castle View Room is expressly oriented toward the castle. A view is a category decision, not a promise attached to every room in the hotel.

Junior Suites add a sitting area and a more spacious feel. The Junior Suite Castle View looks toward the castle and Princes Street Gardens, particularly appealing when the view is part of the stay. Classic Suites go further with a separate living room, and their outlooks vary between North Bridge, Princes Street and the Old Town. Grand Suites are listed with views toward Arthur's Seat or Calton Hill. The choice is personal: some guests will value a skyline most, while others need the privacy of a separate living room.

At the upper end, the Castle View Suite combines a separate living room with its named outlook. The Balmoral Suite has two bedrooms and views toward Arthur's Seat and the Old Town, which makes it relevant for a longer family stay. Interconnecting family room and suite configurations are also listed. The J.K. Rowling Suite is part of the hotel's accommodation collection and faces Calton Hill. Across the categories, Scottish references remain present without making the rooms feel like period sets; the design is composed for present-day stays.

Number One is the hotel's more formal dining room, serving modern Scottish cooking shaped by seasonal ingredients. It is the place to choose when dinner itself is the evening's main event. Brasserie Prince offers a different tempo, bringing classic French dishes together with Scottish produce in a relaxed brasserie setting. Having both under one roof is useful over several nights: guests need not commit to the same style of meal each time they return to the hotel.

Palm Court is associated with afternoon tea, giving a daytime visit to The Balmoral its own sense of occasion. Bar Prince provides the more casual setting for a drink, while SCOTCH is devoted to whisky. The hotel's current collection exceeds 500 Scottish varieties, so the bar can reward a knowledgeable drinker as readily as someone seeking a guided introduction. For a visitor interested in Scotland's distilling culture, it is a substantive part of the stay rather than a token hotel-bar shelf.

These spaces give the building different rhythms. Tea suits a pause between sightseeing and dinner; the brasserie accommodates a less formal meal; Number One asks for a longer evening. SCOTCH offers a distinctly local finish to the day. The choice is particularly welcome in an urban hotel, where guests may spend much of their time out in the city but still want the option to make an evening of staying in.

Irene Forte Spa provides a quieter counterpoint to Princes Street. Its facilities include an indoor lap pool, sauna, steam room, gym and five treatment rooms. There is also a Forte Vita Bar for shorter facial, nail and hair appointments. Treatments use Irene Forte Skincare, a concept with Mediterranean roots that feels deliberately different from the hotel's Scottish architectural setting. The pool and thermal facilities make it possible to build genuine downtime into a city itinerary, rather than reserving the spa only for a single treatment.

That balance suits Edinburgh. The city's hills and stone streets make walking rewarding but demanding, and the spa offers somewhere to slow down before dinner. It is a city-hotel wellness space, not a country resort, so expectations should match the setting. Guests who prioritise daily exercise also have the gym, while those who would rather move outdoors can use the hotel's central position as a starting point for walks through the gardens, the Old Town or toward Calton Hill.

The Balmoral suits travellers who want the formality and resources of a grand hotel without giving up easy access to Edinburgh on foot. Its railway history is visible in the building, but the strongest practical reasons to stay are current ones: a station-side address, a broad range of room categories, several credible dining choices and a proper city spa. It can serve a cultural weekend, a family visit or a longer stay in which the hotel itself becomes part of the routine.

Choose the room with care. The entry category gives access to the same address and hotel facilities, while a named view category changes the experience of returning upstairs. A suite with a separate living area may matter more for a longer visit than a famous outlook alone. Those seeking a small, hushed property may prefer another part of town; The Balmoral is unmistakably a landmark at one of the city's busiest crossings. For guests who want Edinburgh's energy outside and an established hotel to come home to, that is precisely the point.

Why we love this hotel

Why we love this hotel

Families can request content-protected Wi-Fi for children and teenagers, adding a filtered connection for younger guests using their devices at the hotel.

Guests staying with a dog can relax together in Bar Prince's library area, one of the hotel's designated spaces for canine companions.

The Forte Vita Bar offers express facials, providing a shorter spa option when you want a treatment without setting aside a lengthy session.

Location of The Balmoral

1 PRINCES STREET

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Weather at Balmoral Hotel Edinburgh

Edinburgh

What to Know About Balmoral Hotel Edinburgh

Is The Balmoral a good hotel in Edinburgh?

Yes. The Balmoral is a strong choice for travelers who want a landmark luxury hotel in central Edinburgh. The hotel has 167 rooms, elegant suites, a famous clock tower, spa, Number One, Brasserie Prince, Palm Court, and city views.

Where is The Balmoral located?

The Balmoral is at 1 Princes Street in Edinburgh, where Old Town meets New Town. The location works well for Waverley Station, Princes Street, the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, shopping, restaurants, and museums.

How many rooms and suites does The Balmoral have?

The Balmoral has 167 rooms, including a collection of suites, in a grand historic building. The mix suits couples, families, business travelers, solo guests, and visitors who want a classic Edinburgh address.

What are rooms like at The Balmoral?

Rooms at The Balmoral combine Scottish character with polished contemporary comfort. Guests can expect elegant fabrics, calm colors, thoughtful details, strong service, and views that may include city rooftops or Edinburgh Castle.

What is special about The Balmoral?

The Balmoral is one of Edinburgh's most recognizable hotels because of its clock tower and Princes Street position. Its grand railway-hotel history, central address, refined rooms, restaurants, spa, and landmark silhouette give it rare city presence.

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