Royal Mile Balconies by the Castle

Hotels
8.1 (1586 reviews)
493 Lawnmarket,The Royal Mile , Edinburgh , gb

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Children allowed

Facilities

Non-smoking rooms
Non-smoking throughout
Staff adhere to local safety protocols
Guest rooms disinfected between stays
Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
Physical distancing rules followed
Cashless payment available
Sanitized tableware & silverware
Contactless check-in/check-out
Smoke alarms
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location
Clean and comfortable rooms
Cons:
Noise from deliveries
Stairs might be challenging for some

Categories

Cleanliness
7.99
Many reviews noted cleanliness positively, though some mentioned minor details like cobwebs.
Service
8.46
Guests appreciated the friendly and responsive staff.
Location
9
The hotel is centrally located, with most reviews praising its fantastic location.
Room Quality
7.95
Rooms were generally described as clean and comfortable, though some mentioned size issues.
Amenities
7.48
Basic amenities described, but a few guests mentioned noise and stairs.
Value for Money
7.94
Guests felt it was good value, though some pointed to high prices in relation to certain issues.
Food and Beverage
7.49
There were mentions of no breakfast options, affecting overall perception.
Overall Experience
8.46
Most guests were happy with their experience, indicating they would return.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-24 07:32

Property Description

Historic Charm and Modern Comfort
Royal Mile Balconies by the Castle offers a unique stay in a 15th-century Scottish building once inhabited by the renowned philosopher Sir David Hume. Each of the 6 rooms is elegantly decorated and equipped with king-size beds, LCD TVs, and free high-speed Wi-Fi.

Scenic Views and Private Bathrooms
Enjoy the picturesque views of Edinburgh's Old Town from some of the rooms overlooking the historic courtyard. The original private bathrooms in each room feature large showers, adding a touch of luxury to your stay.

Prime Location and Nearby Attractions
Located directly on Royal Mile, just steps away from Edinburgh Castle and Edinburgh Military Tattoo, our hotel is the perfect base for exploring the city's rich history and cultural attractions. Book your stay at Royal Mile Balconies by the Castle for an unforgettable experience in the heart of Edinburgh.

Important information:

“Royal Mile Balconies by the Castle” will contact the guest directly after booking with check-in instructions by the email. On arrival it is essential to have the property self check-in instructions with you to access the safe.

The property does not have a luggage storage facility.

Please be aware that access to the rooms is through narrow spiral staircase only and may be unsuitable for those with limited mobility.

Limited public payable parking is available close to the property or a large car park is around 10 minutes walk away.Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
This property does not accommodate bachelor(ette) or similar parties.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 10:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Parking

    No parking available.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in public areas and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    You haven't added any extra beds.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.1
Based on 1586 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.99
Service: 8.46
Location: 9
Room Quality: 7.95
Amenities: 7.48
Value for Money: 7.94
Food and Beverage: 7.49
Overall Experience: 8.46
S
Stéphany • couple • ch
10
2026-03-28 • via Nuitee
A
Anne • family_with_children • gb
5
Great location,let down by facilities.
Pros:

The location.

Cons:

Hairdryer not working.
No space to store toiletries in bathroom.
Roller blind in bedroom broken.
No safe,although it stated there is one.

2026-03-28 • via Nuitee
C
Charalampos • solo_traveller • gb
10
Would always be my first pick whenever available
Pros:

Everything, atmosphere, location it was a fantastic choice

Cons:

All fantastic

2026-03-27 • via Nuitee
T
Troncana • couple • it
10
2026-03-26 • via Nuitee
L
Leslie • family_with_children • us
8
Lovely location and well-renovated, but small and basic for the price.
Pros:

Great location in the heart of Edinburgh and near a great pub.

Cons:

The room is small and basic, and the bed is extra bouncy. The spiral staircase is daunting with luggage. It was quite pricey.

2026-03-25 • via Nuitee
S
Stian • family_with_children • no
8
2026-03-23 • via Nuitee
Þorsteinn • family_with_children • is
9
Helgarferð í Edinborg
Pros:

Frábær staðsetning, Húsið gamalt og fallega uppgert. Rúmið var gott. Hljóðlátt var á gististaðnum þó að staðsetningin sé á miðri götu þar sem búðir, barir og veitingahús eru á hverju strái.

Cons:

Okkur líkar ekki herðatré á hótelherbergjum sem er föst við fataslánna. Þetta er svona þarna og þó við skiljum ástæðurnar er þetta samt pirrandi.

2026-03-22 • via Nuitee
F
Fiona • solo_traveller • gb
7
Comfortable stay for the price and great location for train
Pros:

Property was clean and had everything required.. a few decorative repairs need done..

Cons:

Location! Stairs to property were horrendous and trying to carry a suitcase was not good..

2026-03-21 • via Nuitee
A
Andrea • couple • gb
9
Had a fab time in Edinburgh. Would recommend the accommodation with caveat of stairs
Pros:

Great location. Lovely room

Cons:

Not owners fault as we were told but 3 floors up a spiral staircase with suitcases was tricky

2026-03-21 • via Nuitee
M
Mia • couple • be
8
-
Pros:

Cosy romantic room in the heart of Old Town. The instructions to find the place we're very well prepared.

Cons:

I didn't understand there was a spiral staircase to the room and we were in the third floor. I as semi-invalid had it really difficult to go up and down the steps - without a handrail. It should have been indicated more clearly at Booking.com when doing the reservation.

2026-03-21 • via Nuitee
A
Adrian • couple • gb
10
Very satisfactory
Pros:

Good location. Comfortable bed. Good bathroom.

Cons:

We arrived late and it was slightly in unnerving not having a reception or contact if something went wrong.

2026-03-20 • via Nuitee
C
Carol • family_with_children • es
10
Excepcional
Pros:

Está en plena Royal Male a pocos minutos del castillo y de absolutamente todo caminando. No tuvimos que coger transporte para movernos.

Estuvieron en todo momento atendiendo nuestras preguntas y nos acomodaron la habitación antes del check in marcado en web.


El detalle de la cajita fue todo un encanto ♥️ y la habitación era muy bonita y confortable.

Sin duda volvería a hospedarme aquí

Cons:

Quizás las escaleras, pero ya lo avisan que no tienen pasamanos pero ningún inconveniente, apenas subes dos veces para descansar así que todo genial 😉

2026-03-18 • via Nuitee
R
Rory • couple • gb
10
Brilliant, conveniently located and easy to find. Would stay again. Thank you.
Pros:

It was clean, warm, comfortable. Easy to find and follow instructions.

Cons:

Considering you are opting to stay in the middle of Edinburgh off the busy mile, it’s personal preference and not the fault of the property - it’s above a loud pub, but it’s of no criticism from us. More don’t expect serenity whilst pubs serving.

2026-03-17 • via Nuitee
M
Mahir • solo_traveller • tr
9
2026-03-16 • via Nuitee
A
Adrian • couple • es
5
Pros:

La ubicación

Cons:

Difícil de encontrar, habitación pequeña, baño muy pequeño

2026-03-16 • via Nuitee
M
Miguel • couple • es
8
Perfecta ubicación
Pros:

La localización

Cons:

El baño

2026-03-16 • via Nuitee
F
Francesco • solo_traveller • it
10
2026-03-16 • via Nuitee
M
Mirela • family_with_children • bg
10
2026-03-14 • via Nuitee
R
Rodrigo • family_with_children • cl
10
Para 2 personas es la mejor opción, por comodidad y ubicación
Pros:

La ubicación excelente, al llegar nos tenían un regalo muy tierno. La pieza es muy cómoda aunque alguien podría encontrarla pequeña, es perfecta para quienes buscan un lugar cómodo para dormir y recorrer los Town y alrededores a pie

Cons:

Todo bien, fue un poco difícil encontrar la entrada, recomiendo que lean el documento que te envían con las instrucciones, ya que no es con recepcionista si no con claves en puertas.

2026-03-14 • via Nuitee
M
Macarena • couple • cl
10
2026-03-13 • via Nuitee