Best for
Choose The Balmoral for an Edinburgh stay by rail, with Waverley station beside the hotel rather than a drive across the city.
Best for
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.
Free membership gives you access to preferred rates, exclusive benefits and current promotions for your stay.
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 may face the city or an inner courtyard. A city view is not guaranteed in this category.
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 Scottish landscape, with daylight entering through the windows. An armchair offers a place to sit beside the sleeping area.
The room has a Nespresso machine, tea facilities and a minibar. You can choose pillows from a menu, and the bed linen has a 300 thread count. Housekeeping includes evening turndown, with in-room dining available around the clock. An extra bed can be requested, subject to availability. Connecting rooms are also available on request for parties needing a second room.
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...
Some rooms face the city, while others overlook an inner courtyard. The outlook varies by room.
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 the Italian marble bathroom, black-and-white prints of Sean Connery as James Bond hang on the walls. Irene Forte skincare products are supplied.
A Nespresso machine and tea facilities are provided, with a minibar for drinks. The pillow menu lets you choose a pillow to go with the bed linen, which has a 300 thread count. Housekeeping includes evening turndown, and meals can be ordered at any hour. An extra bed can be requested when booking, subject to availability.
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...
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 tones carry through the furnishings. The bathroom has Italian marble surfaces and Irene Forte skincare products.
A shower is fitted over the bath, with bathrobes and slippers supplied. Coffee and tea facilities sit alongside the minibar, and meals can be ordered day and night. An extra bed can be requested, subject to availability. Connecting rooms can be booked together for a family stay. Evening turndown is included in the housekeeping service, with the room also serviced each morning.
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...
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 the bedroom. The decor draws on Scotland's woodland colours, while the marble bathroom has black-and-white prints of Sean Connery as James Bond.
Irene Forte skincare products are supplied in the bathroom. There is a Nespresso machine for coffee, with tea and a minibar also provided. The bed linen has a 300 thread count, and pillows can be chosen from a menu. Housekeeping includes evening turndown. Meals are available through the in-room dining service at any hour.
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...
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 bring daylight into the bedroom and frame the historic roofs beyond.
Italian marble finishes the bathroom, where Irene Forte skincare products are supplied. A Nespresso machine, tea facilities and minibar keep drinks close at hand. Meals can be ordered day and night. The bed linen has a 300 thread count, and a pillow menu offers a choice of support. An extra bed may be arranged on request, subject to availability. Housekeeping includes an evening turndown service.
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...
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 around it. The windows also look over Princes Street Gardens, giving a green foreground to the city skyline.
The marble bathroom has a large bathtub and Irene Forte skincare products. A pillow menu is provided, and the bed linen has a 300 thread count. There is a Nespresso machine for coffee, with tea and a minibar also supplied. Meals can be ordered at any hour. An extra bed is available on request, subject to availability, and housekeeping includes evening turndown.
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...
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 chosen for their Scottish character. The windows look out over the city, and a marble bathroom completes the space.
Irene Forte skincare products are supplied. Some bathrooms display black-and-white prints of Sean Connery as James Bond. A Nespresso machine, tea facilities and minibar are provided inside the suite. The bed linen has a 300 thread count, with a choice of pillows from the menu. A child's extra bed can be requested, subject to availability. Meals are available around the clock.
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...
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 in this open-plan suite. The windows take in Princes Street Gardens as well as the skyline, and a large wardrobe provides space to unpack.
The bathroom is finished in marble. Back in the suite, there is a Nespresso machine for coffee, with tea and a minibar also provided. Bed linen has a 300 thread count, and pillows can be chosen from a menu. Housekeeping includes evening turndown. An extra bed can be requested, subject to availability.
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...
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 marble bathroom has a bathtub and black-and-white art prints. Irene Forte skincare products are supplied.
The windows face Princes Street, North Bridge or the Old Town, depending on the suite. There is a Nespresso machine for coffee, with tea and a minibar also provided. Bed linen has a 300 thread count, and a pillow menu offers a choice for the night. In-room dining is available at any hour, while housekeeping includes an evening turndown service.
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...
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 own furnishings, with tartan fabrics and shades of blue inspired by Scottish lochs. Their outlook takes in Arthur's Seat or Calton Hill.
Daylight reaches the Italian marble bathroom, which has a bathtub and a separate walk-in shower. Irene Forte skincare products are supplied. A walk-in dressing room provides storage away from the bed. The sitting room offers space for coffee from the Nespresso machine or a drink from the minibar. Tea and a pillow menu are also provided.
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...
Only some suites have a working fireplace. This feature depends on the individual suite assigned.
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 on the shelves. Their windows look towards the Scott Monument and Princes Street Gardens, and a walk-in dressing room completes the layout.
Daylight enters the Italian marble bathroom, which has a bathtub and a separate shower. There is also a guest powder room. Irene Forte skincare products are supplied, along with a Nespresso machine and tea facilities. You can choose pillows from a menu, and the bed linen has a 300 thread count. Meals can be ordered at any hour.
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...
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 Princes Street, and a hardwood desk provides space to write. In the separate bedroom, shades of heather meet patterned throws and softly lit lamps.
The bathroom has a bathtub and a separate walk-in shower. A walk-in wardrobe provides space to unpack, with Irene Forte skincare products, bathrobes and slippers also supplied. There is a Nespresso machine for coffee, and tea is provided in the suite. Meals can be ordered through the in-room dining service at any hour.
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...
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 bust of Hermes marks the place where the author finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Large windows face Calton Hill, with woodland details throughout the decor.
The bedroom is separate from the lounge and has an adjoining Italian marble bathroom. This has a bathtub and walk-in shower, with Irene Forte skincare products supplied. A guest toilet and walk-in wardrobe complete the layout. There is a Nespresso machine for coffee, with tea also provided. Meals can be ordered at any hour.
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...
A connecting room can add a third bedroom. This must be booked separately and is subject to availability.
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 and the roofs of the Old Town. Each bedroom has its own decorative details. A walk-in wardrobe provides space for clothes and luggage.
The main marble bathroom has a bathtub and a separate walk-in shower. A second bathroom has its own shower, giving guests another place to get ready. Irene Forte products, bathrobes and slippers are supplied. There is a Nespresso machine for coffee, and tea is also provided. In-room dining is available day and night.
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...
An extra bedroom requires a connecting room to be booked too. These are subject to availability.
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 and records are kept in the suite. Blithfield curtains dress the large windows facing Princes Street.
Full-height drapes rise above the bed, with a walk-in wardrobe providing space to unpack. Arabascato marble lines the bathroom. It has a freestanding bathtub and a separate walk-in shower. Natural daylight reaches this room, and Irene Forte products are supplied. There is a Nespresso machine for coffee, with tea also provided. Meals can be ordered through the in-room dining service at any hour.
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...
The suite has one bedroom. For two or three bedrooms, connecting rooms must be booked as well.
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 and botanical details continue into the bedroom, while a separate dining room provides a place for meals away from the salon.
Italian marble and mosaic line the bathroom. It has a freestanding roll-top bath and a walk-in shower. Irene Forte skincare products are supplied, and there is a separate guest toilet. A walk-in wardrobe adds space for clothes and luggage. The suite has a Nespresso machine and tea facilities, with meals available through in-room dining day and night.
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.
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.
1 PRINCES STREET
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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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