Royal Mile Balconies by the Castle

Hotels
8.1 (1680 reviews)
493 Lawnmarket,The Royal Mile , Edinburgh , gb

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Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Non-smoking rooms
Heating
Pets allowed
Non-smoking throughout
Staff adhere to local safety protocols
Laundry washed per local authority guidelines
Guest rooms disinfected between stays
Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
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.
A deposit may be required at the property.

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 1680 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
G
Gillian • couple • es
10
Excellent apartment in perfect location!
Pros:

Location was perfect!

Cons:

Nothing!!

2026-07-18 • via Nuitee
N
Natalie • couple • gb
9
Excellent location in a fun courtyard right by the castle
Pros:

fabulous location

Cons:

pigeons on the outside stairwell

2026-07-18 • via Nuitee
M
M. Ali • solo_traveller • pk
4
Cons:

Stairs

2026-07-15 • via Nuitee
M
Marta • solo_traveller • it
1
Worst esperience in my life
Pros:

No one attending or supporting you

Cons:

No lift

2026-07-15 • via Nuitee
N
Nick • couple • se
9
2026-07-14 • via Nuitee
J
Jacobus • couple • nl
9
2026-07-13 • via Nuitee
L
Lynne • couple • gb
9
Good for a one night stay - great central location, very clean and good communication.
Pros:

Lovely old brickwork. Great location

Cons:

Great central room but pricey

2026-07-12 • via Nuitee
S
Sadık • couple • tr
9
Güzel bir odaydı herkese gönül rahatlığıyla tavsiye ederim.
Pros:

Tesisin konumu harika zaten Royal Mile’nin hemen üstünde, ulaşımı çok kolay tren istasyonuna 5 dakika, bize sundukları ikramlar da harikaydı, ince düşünülmüş teşekkür ederiz.

Cons:

3.katta konakladık bina 16.yy dan kalma olduğu için asansör yoktu bavul taşırken epey zorlandık.

2026-07-10 • via Nuitee
A
antonio • couple • es
8
2026-07-09 • via Nuitee
G
Giorgia • couple • it
8
Una struttura in pieno centro
Pros:

In pieno centro struttura silenziosa e con tutto a disposizione

Cons:

La doccia migliorabile

2026-07-09 • via Nuitee
A
Abdullah M. Alanazy • solo_traveller • sa
1
Fake photos and bad reviews on google map
Pros:

Nothing

Cons:

Bad customer support, and fake reviews on booking and denied the request to cancel booking and get refund for the fraud photos and reviews. Never gonna trust booking's reviews ever again

2026-07-08 • via Nuitee
D
Daniele • couple • it
9
Perfect stay in royal mile!
Pros:

Nice and in a perfect position!

Cons:

Nothing

2026-07-08 • via Nuitee
J
Julie • couple • na
8
We had a lovely stay.
Pros:

The location is great

2026-07-08 • via Nuitee
M
marco • couple • nl
7
Voldoende verblijf op een prachtige locatie
Pros:

Locatie, duidelijke uitleg hoe er te komen.

Cons:

Kan geen raam open, douche heel lang vochtig, schimmel in de douche

2026-07-06 • via Nuitee
S
Sophie • couple • gb
10
2026-07-06 • via Nuitee
L
Lorina • solo_traveller • gb
5
2026-07-04 • via Nuitee
A
Ann D C • solo_traveller • gb
8
2026-07-04 • via Nuitee
G
Gilian • couple • gb
10
2026-07-04 • via Nuitee
P
Penni • couple • gb
8
We enjoyed our stay in the compact and bijou Dundas room, great location and quirky.
Pros:

Excellent location to visit Edinburgh and you are staying right on The Royal Mile, which is obviously a busy spot for tourists. It’s a very unique building and has a very quirky feel with the spiral staircase and its history. There is good communication from the Julia and the Property owners about the location and how to access the accommodation, very straightforward instructions and information. There was a good variety of shops and restaurants in the area to get breakfast etc. The Castle is a two minute walk up the hill from the property.

Cons:

The Dundas room was compact and bijou, it was fine as a base to sleep and very close to everything but you don’t have a lot of space and the shower / toilet is tiny, it wouldn’t be suitable for anyone who is quite tall / large. It is clean but the mattress is a bit past its best and the sheet did have a mark on it. It’s an old building and the window frame needs some attention.

2026-07-04 • via Nuitee
P
Pamela • couple • gb
9
Great short stay just off the royal mile; perfect location and good value
Pros:

Location was great and room decent size with everything we needed for a two night stay. Added bonus of gifted biscuits for us; nice touch!!

Cons:

Could have had more coffee and shower gel sachets

2026-07-03 • via Nuitee