Radisson Blu Edinburgh

Complimentary high-speed WiFi (Radisson Blu Members receive priority bandwidth); speeds typically 50–100 Mbps; auto-login via room key or email verification required on first connection.

Two passenger lifts serve all seven floors and both wings; no stairs-only areas for guest rooms; historic Royal Mile–facing atrium has original stone features but full step-free access via lifts.

Complimentary digital newsstand (PressReader) in-room via smart TV; complimentary physical copies of The Scotsman and The Herald at lobby breakfast from 06:30–10:00 weekdays, 07:00–11:00 weekends.

Standard check-in 15:00, check-out 11:00; early check-in (from 13:00) and late check-out (until 14:00) subject to availability at no charge; room held from 18:00 if not arrived.

Complimentary luggage storage before check-in and after check-out at the bell desk (24-hour availability).

Full step-free access via High Street entrance; two accessible rooms (one King, one Twin) on Ground and First Floors with roll-in showers; accessible lift, toilet, and dining facilities; assistance dogs welcome; advance notification recommended.

No on-site parking; nearest NCP car park (High Street car park, 50m walk) £2.50/hour or £18/day; on-street metered bays (2-hour max, £1.80/hour) saturated; Waverley Station multi-storey (150m) £4/hour; no EV charging on-site; nearest public EV charger (Tay Street, 400m, Instavolt).

Royal Mile (100m walk, historic cobbled street with tartan shops, whiskies, souvenirs); Princes Street (300m south, modern high street: John Lewis, Zara, H&M, Next); St James Quarter (500m east, modern shopping centre with 80+ brands).

Water of Leith Walkway (500m north, 12 km riverside path through botanics to Leith Docks, mostly flat, paved); Calton Hill (200m east, steep path to national monument, views of Firth of Forth); Arthur's Seat (3 km south, extinct volcano, moderate 45-min climb, panoramic city views).

National Museum of Scotland (Chambers Street, 500m, free admission, 5 min walk); Scottish Parliament (Royal Mile, 250m, free tours); Real Mary King's Close (High Street, 100m, paid: £15/adult, underground closes tour).

Edinburgh Playhouse (Leith Street, 400m, theatre); Usher Hall (Lothian Road, 800m, classical/concerts); Traverse Theatre (Cambridge Street, 1.2 km, contemporary); Festival Square venues (500m, used for events).

Arcade Quest (historic arcade near Waverley Station, 300m south); Meeple Peepo (board-game café, Cockburn Street, 250m up High Street, light snacks).

Royal Bank of Scotland ATM in hotel lobby (no fee for Visa/Mastercard); nearest Bank of Scotland (Princes Street, 300m, 4 min walk) also fee-free for major cards.

Boots Pharmacy (Princes Street, 350m, 08:00–18:00 weekdays, 09:00–17:00 Saturday, 11:00–17:00 Sunday, pre-registered customers only after hours); Superdrug Pharmacy (St James Quarter, 500m, 09:00–18:00 weekdays, 09:00–17:00 weekends). Nearest 24-hour pharmacy: Newington Pharmacy (Newington Road South, 2.5 km, 24 hours, 15 min by bus Lines 7, 29, 37).

Boots (Princes Street, 350m, 5 min walk; open 08:00–18:00 weekdays, 09:00–17:00 Saturday, 11:00–17:00 Sunday); Tesco Express (Royal Mile, 200m, 24 hours).

Waverley Station (main rail hub, 300m south, walk straight down Cockburn Street or Leith Walk); Buchanan Street Bus Station (city buses, 50m south of hotel on High Street for Lothian Buses). Local Lothian Buses: £1.80 single journey, Day Ticket £4.50 (unlimited city travel 00:00–23:59); exact change or contactless card required; WiFi-enabled vehicles available.

Pound Sterling, GBP (£)

Travelex (Waverley Station, 300m, competitive rates, open 07:00–21:00 daily); avoid airport bureau (poor rates, -3–4% markup); most banks on Princes Street (RBS, BoS, HSBC) do currency exchange at fair mid-market rates Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00; Wise (online transfer) best for large sums.

Visa, Mastercard, American Express universally accepted in shops, restaurants, hotels; contactless (phone/watch pay) standard and encouraged; cash (GBP) less common but useful for street vendors, pubs, tips; Maestro/Cirrus cards less common, carry backup card.

Restaurants: 10–15% optional (auto-gratuity 15% typically added on group bills; check bill before paying); taxis: round up or 10%; hotel housekeeping: £1–2 per night (optional); bar staff: £1 per drink or 10% on tab (optional); tour guides: £2–5 (optional). Tipping not obligatory in Scotland but appreciated.

Cairngorm Coffee Roastery (High Street, 100m walk, £2.20 flat white, excellent roast); alternatively, Pret A Manger (Princes Street, 300m, £2.80 Americano, reliable chain).

Subway (Royal Mile, 150m, 6-inch meal £5.95–7.50); Pret A Manger (various, £4–6 sandwiches); Marks & Spencer Food Hall (Princes Street, 350m, meal-deals £3–5); Greggs bakery (multiple locations, sausage roll + coffee £2.50).

Hairy Pig (Broughton Street, 800m, Scotch burgers, mains £8–12); Whiski Rooms (High Street, 150m, haggis neeps & tatties £11; also above-average Scotch whisky sampling); Fish & Chips (Lee's Restaurant, Leith Walk, 600m, £8–10 fish supper, local favourite).

High Street/Royal Mile food carts (12:00–18:00, crepes £5–7, hot dogs £4–6); Waverley Station food court (multiple cheap chains); farmers market at Castle Terrace (Saturdays 09:00–14:00, May–Oct, fresh produce + street vendors, 800m south).

Tesco Express (Royal Mile, 200m, compact; expensive); Sainsbury's Local (various, standard prices); budget option: Aldi (Leith Walk, 1.5 km, or Murrayfield, 2.5 km; open 07:00–22:00, cheapest supermarket chain in UK); Lidl (Haymarket, 1.8 km west).

Zara (Princes Street, 350m, mid-range); H&M (Princes Street, 350m); St James Quarter (500m east, 80+ high-street brands including Next, Gap, Uniqlo); Primark (St James Quarter, budget fast-fashion); vintage/charity shops (Grassmarket, 400m, independent vintage boutiques, £10–30).

Lothian Bus Day Ticket (£4.50, unlimited city travel); airport to city: Airlink 100 bus (Edinburgh Airport, 11 km west, 30 min, £7.50 single or £12 return); avoid black cabs (£20–25). Cheapest: pre-book Stagecoach bus (£2–3 from city terminus to airport, less frequent, 60 min).

1. Buy a Lothian Bus Day Ticket (£4.50) if taking 3+ journeys; local buses always cheaper than taxis. 2. Visit museums and galleries on Free Fridays/weekends (National Museum free Fridays 17:00–20:00, most attractions free entry or reduced; Edinburgh Castle £17.50 normally, book ahead). 3. Eat lunch at fine-dining restaurants (Currents, Witchery) for à la carte mains at £12–16 vs dinner £24–35; coffee shops offer better value than hotels; supermarket picnic lunch on Water of Leith costs <£6.