🇬🇧 Edinburgh
The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte hotel
📍 1 Princes St., Edinburgh EH2 2EQ, UK
Your stay — The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte hotel
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Edinburgh.
The Property — The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte hotel
The Balmoral is Edinburgh’s grand railway hotel, a sandstone clock-tower landmark at the east end of Princes Street. The lobby hums with polished marble, tartan carpets and the clink of afternoon tea – it’s old-school formal but not stuffy, with doormen in kilts and a concierge who knows every close and wynd in the Old Town. Best for travellers who want Landmark Status, F&B (Number One restaurant has a Michelin star, the Scotch Bar pours 400 malt whiskies) and a room with a direct view of the Castle or Arthur’s Seat. It’s less intimate boutique, more stately institution – think chandeliers, mahogany and a shoeshine service left on your doormat overnight.
Chronicles of Edinburgh
Edinburgh grew from a volcanic rock – Castle Rock – where Iron Age settlers built the first fort. The medieval Old Town huddled below on the Royal Mile, its tenements reaching 14 storeys high because the city couldn’t expand beyond its defensive walls. After the 1707 Union, the city built a planned New Town on the north side of the Nor Loch (drained to become Princes Street Gardens), a grid of Georgian townhouses that became a UNESCO World Heritage site. The 19th-century Victorians added the monumental Scott Monument, the National Gallery and Waverley Station, turning the city into a banking, publishing and festival centre. Today Edinburgh mixes its literary past (Burns, Scott, Stevenson, Rankin) with a fiercely independent cultural scene – the Fringe, the Book Festival, the Hogmanay street party – and a skyline that hasn’t changed much since Robert Louis Stevenson walked these pavements.
Best Time to Visit
Full Edinburgh guide →Best months
May and September – mild (12–17°C), long evenings, fewer tourists than August, gardens in bloom and the Fringe crowds still absent. Late June is also good if you catch a clear day for the Hillwalking views.
Peak / festival surge
August is pure peak: the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and International Festival fill every venue, crowd Princes Street and send hotel rates to triple normal levels. The Balmoral’s standard rooms in August 2025 went for £800–1,200/night. The Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade (nightly except Sundays) is the main ticketed event.
Budget shoulder season
April and October are the sweet spots. April offers spring lambs in Holyrood Park, lighter coats and rates 30-40% below August. October has the Book Festival leftovers, autumnal colours on Calton Hill, and more availability at The Balmoral for under £400/night.
Weather & packing
Edinburgh in July averages 12–19°C but can flip from sunshine to haar (sea mist) in 20 minutes – the city’s microclimate is famously fickle. Pack layers: a light waterproof jacket (windproof matters more than rainproof), a jumper or cashmere, and decent walking shoes – you will be climbing stairs and cobbles.
Live City Briefing — Edinburgh
- The City of Edinburgh Council is finishing the ‘George Street & First New Town’ public realm project – expect pedestrianised sections and outdoor seating on George Street from June 2026; the usual bus diversions on Princes Street may shift to Queen Street.
- Waverley Station’s main entrance is still under a hoarding for a £50m redevelopment finishing in 2027 – enter via the Market Street side instead; the tram line from the airport now runs directly to the station (journey time 30 min, single £7.50).
- The Scottish Parliament has introduced a temporary visitor levy (tourist tax) from spring 2026 – hotels in Edinburgh will charge an extra 5% per night on room rates; check your final booking confirmation for this surcharge.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a rear-facing room on floors 3 or 4, away from Princes Street traffic and the Waverley Station side. Higher floors here minimise street rumble.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid any room on floors 1–2 facing Princes Street — bus routes and taxi drop-offs create constant noise. Also skip rooms near the lift shaft on any floor; central lift location carries clatter.
Best views
If you must face Princes Street, floors 5–6 get a clear view of Edinburgh Castle and the Scott Monument — but pair with thick curtains to block bus headlights.
Quietest floors
Floors 4–6 are generally quietest, above most street-level noise and away from ground-floor bar and restaurant hum.
🔊 Noise notes
Princes Street is a main bus corridor (Lothian buses start at 5am) and Waverley Station is directly behind the hotel — train announcements carry on still nights. Also, the hotel’s ground-floor bar (the Caledonian) can echo into the lobby and adjacent stairwell until 11pm weekends.
Insider tips
1) Use the hotel’s concierge to request a rear-facing room via email a few days before check-in — it’s quieter and gives views of the Old Town rooftops. 2) If driving, skip the hotel’s limited spaces and use the Castle Terrace car park (5 min walk) — it’s cheaper and avoids Princes Street gridlock.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte hotel
Complimentary basic Wi-Fi for all guests (up to 10 Mbps; fair for email/web). A premium tier (50 Mbps, better for streaming) costs £15 per 24 hours. Login via room number and surname.
Four lifts serve all guest floors; no stairs-only sections.
Complimentary digital PressReader access via hotel app, plus physical copies of The Times and The Scotsman in the lobby each morning.
Check-in from 15:00; early bag-drop at concierge from 06:00; late check-out until 14:00 costs 50% of room rate, after 14:00 full night charged.
Complimentary for guests arriving early or departing late; no charge.
Step-free main entrance via Princes Street; accessible rooms on lower floors. Lifts serve all areas. No structural limitations for wheelchairs in public areas.
No on-site parking; valet parking at nearby NCP Castle Terrace (5-min walk) costs £35 per night. No EV charging on site; nearest public charger at Holyrood (0.5 mile, 50 kW CCS).
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (included in room rate; no separate city tax for hotels in Scotland)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking for non-refundable rates; otherwise a credit card hold of £50 per night for incidentals at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: Hubbard Academy of Personal Independence Scientology Edinburgh (111 m · ~1 min walk)
- Church: St Patrick's RC Church (277 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: St Giles' Cathedral (310 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Augustine United Church (341 m · ~4 min walk)
Halal: Al-Turki Butchers on Leith Walk (5-min walk); multiple halal kebab shops within 2 min walk on Leith Walk
Kosher: Fenwick's Delicatessen (city centre, 20-min walk) stocks kosher items; no dedicated store in EH2
Vegan/Vegetarian: Harmonium café on Queen Charlotte Street (8-min walk), 100% vegan; The Lookout on Leith Walk offers extensive vegan menu
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Waverley Market — 647 m · ~8 min walk
East Princes Street Gardens — 648 m · ~8 min walk
St Cecilia's Hall — 94 m · ~1 min walk
St Cecilia's Hall — 94 m · ~1 min walk
Royal Mile Nursery — 282 m · ~4 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 36 m · ~1 min walk
Royal Mile Pharmacy — 317 m · ~4 min walk
Sainsbury's Local — 29 m · ~1 min walk
Edinburgh Waverley — 536 m · ~7 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →British Pound Sterling, GBP
Travelex at Waverley Station or local banks (avoid airport bureaux with poor rates); Post Office in Leith Walk offers competitive rates
Contactless and card payments widely accepted everywhere; mobile pay (Apple Pay, Google Pay) standard in most venues
Restaurants: 10-15% if service not included; taxis: round up or 10%; hotel staff: £1-2 per service; not obligatory but appreciated
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Starbucks or local cafés in Leith Walk around £2.50; Caffeine & Co for better value at £2.30
Tesco meal deals (sandwich, snack, drink) £3.50 at nearby Leith Walk supermarket; kebab shops offer £5-7 mains
Fish & chips from Fritto (Leith Walk) £7-9; Indian takeaways on Easter Road £6-8 for a main
Leith Walk has multiple kebab and chip shops; weekend food van near Pilrig Park with pizza/burgers around £8-10
Tesco Extra on Leith Walk (10-min walk) or Sainsbury's on McDonald Road (12-min walk); budget chains offer best prices
Leith Walk high street has Primark, H&M, New Look within 5-10 min walk; charity shops on Easter Road for bargains
Day ticket (Ridacard): £4.50 for unlimited buses/tram within zones 1-2; airport bus (Airlink 100): £5.50 single or buy 3-day pass for £13.50
Buy Ridacard weekly (£18.50) instead of daily; use Tesco Clubcard for food discounts; Leith Walk has numerous free activities and quieter parks than city centre
Good to know — Edinburgh
Type G · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ £0.75 · GBP
Emergency Contacts
Edinburgh999 (or 112 from a mobile phone)
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Edinburgh, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte hotel
🕒 Check-in is from 15:00. Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 36 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · Royal Mile Pharmacy — 317 m · ~4 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Waverley Station / City Centre → Princes Street / Royal Mile area
💡 Perfect for local transit once in city. Modern, accessible, connects main attractions. Hotel is walkable from tram stops.
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) → The Scotsman Hotel, Royal Mile
💡 Pre-book for better rates. Black cabs are iconic but metered taxis can be cheaper. Hotel can arrange pickups.
Edinburgh Airport → Waverley Bridge / City Centre
💡 Most economical airport transfer. Buy Ridacard for unlimited city bus travel. Buses to hotel area are frequent.
Edinburgh Airport (via airport link bus to Waverley) → Waverley Station (250m from hotel)
💡 Excellent for day trips (Glasgow, Stirling, Borders). Station is 5-minute walk to The Scotsman Hotel on Royal Mile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte hotel?
Request a rear-facing room on floors 3 or 4, away from Princes Street traffic and the Waverley Station side. Higher floors here minimise street rumble.
Which rooms should I avoid at The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte hotel?
Avoid any room on floors 1–2 facing Princes Street — bus routes and taxi drop-offs create constant noise. Also skip rooms near the lift shaft on any floor; central lift location carries clatter.
Is The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte hotel noisy?
Princes Street is a main bus corridor (Lothian buses start at 5am) and Waverley Station is directly behind the hotel — train announcements carry on still nights. Also, the hotel’s ground-floor bar (the Caledonian) can echo into the lobby and adjacent stairwell until 11pm weekends.
Which rooms have the best views at The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte hotel?
If you must face Princes Street, floors 5–6 get a clear view of Edinburgh Castle and the Scott Monument — but pair with thick curtains to block bus headlights.
What are insider tips for staying at The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte hotel?
1) Use the hotel’s concierge to request a rear-facing room via email a few days before check-in — it’s quieter and gives views of the Old Town rooftops. 2) If driving, skip the hotel’s limited spaces and use the Castle Terrace car park (5 min walk) — it’s cheaper and avoids Princes Street gridlock.
What time is check-in at The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte hotel?
Check-in at The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte hotel is from 15:00. Check-out is by 11:00.
Does The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte hotel have Wi-Fi?
Complimentary basic Wi-Fi for all guests (up to 10 Mbps; fair for email/web). A premium tier (50 Mbps, better for streaming) costs £15 per 24 hours. Login via room number and surname.
Is there a city or tourist tax at The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte hotel?
None (included in room rate; no separate city tax for hotels in Scotland)
Where can I eat cheaply near The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte hotel?
Tesco meal deals (sandwich, snack, drink) £3.50 at nearby Leith Walk supermarket; kebab shops offer £5-7 mains
What is the cheapest way to get around from The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte hotel?
Day ticket (Ridacard): £4.50 for unlimited buses/tram within zones 1-2; airport bus (Airlink 100): £5.50 single or buy 3-day pass for £13.50
When is the best time to visit Edinburgh?
May and September – mild (12–17°C), long evenings, fewer tourists than August, gardens in bloom and the Fringe crowds still absent. Late June is also good if you catch a clear day for the Hillwalking views.
Top Attractions in Edinburgh
💡 Free guided tours run at 11am and 3pm. The basement cafe has the cheapest lunch on Princes Street.
💡 Head to the rooftop terrace for a clear view of the castle. The cafe does a decent bacon roll for under a fiver.
💡 Look for the grave of Thomas Riddell—J.K. Rowling borrowed the name for Tom Riddle. Ask at the art gallery next door for the map of notable graves.
💡 Start at the path behind Holyrood Palace. Avoid the grass if it's wet—it gets treacherously slippery.
💡 The glasshouses are free but ask at the ticket desk for a timed pass. The café does decent scones for under £3.