Royal Mile Balconies by the Castle

Hotels
8.1 (1539 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 1539 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
Giorgio • couple • it
8
2026-02-14 • via Nuitee
C
Catherine Mounsey • couple • gb
7
Good location but a bit "down at heel" - back of a pub.
Pros:

Superb communication and we were able to check in early which I could not fault (although a phone number could've been useful) Bed & Bath linen could have been better (towels too small). Thoughtful elements in the room (eg corkscrew & wine glasses!)

Cons:

Exact location not very salubrious but extremley convenient. Towels too small and could've been better quality.

2026-02-13 • via Nuitee
J
Jacky • solo_traveller • fr
10
2026-02-12 • via Nuitee
P
Patricia • family_with_children • at
9
2026-02-12 • via Nuitee
F
Fina • couple • it
10
2026-02-10 • via Nuitee
M
Massimo • couple • it
10
Grazie per la vostra ospitalità spero di tornare presto
Pros:

Tutto perfetto e ottimo! Piccolo kit di benvenuto che ci ha regalato una piacevolissima sorpresa. La posizione non può essere migliore tutto a portata di mano e soprattutto il punto migliore per scoprire Edimburgo.

Cons:

Va benissimo tutto così

2026-02-09 • via Nuitee
D
Derek • family_with_children • gb
8
Cons:

Spiral staircase

2026-02-09 • via Nuitee
A
Arvis • couple • lv
9
Pros:

Location waa great, in the middle of Royal mile. Got tea and cookies, what also was nice surprise. Bad was good.

Cons:

Door downstairs at first was little bit hard to unlock by door key, but later was fine. Owners sent quite detailed instructions how to get inside and find property, so all good.

2026-02-09 • via Nuitee
E
elaine • family_with_children • gb
9
Brilliant royal balconies
Pros:

The room was warm ,clean and comfortable. The accommodation provided everything needed for a short stay. The location could not have been bettered with the castle, shops, restaurants and pubs all within a few yards. This is the 3rd time we have stayed there and hope to return again

Cons:

The key pads needed to gain entry were difficult to use at night as the lighting was not very bright

2026-01-31 • via Nuitee
J
Jonay • family_with_children • es
10
2026-01-30 • via Nuitee
R
Roberto • couple • it
8
La struttura si trova in un punto ottimo della città,le camere sono piccole ma molto graziose con tutto il necessario
Pros:

La caratteristica della stanza,una parete in pietra molto bella

Cons:

Solo il materasso da sostituire un po’ scomodo

2026-01-28 • via Nuitee
L
LUCA • family_with_children • it
1
Pros:

Nulla

Cons:

Tutto

2026-01-28 • via Nuitee
V
virginia • family_with_children • es
10
Pros:

La ubicación es perfecta, en la Royal Mile, en pleno centro historico.
La habitación muy acogedora

Cons:

Si tuviera que poner alguna pega, aunque para mi no lo es, serian las escaleras, que al ser un edificio antiguo son de caracol y quizá puedan ser dificiles para según que personas

2026-01-27 • via Nuitee
A
ARNONE • couple • it
9
Posizione e ospitalità ottimi
Pros:

La camera era molto accogliente e in una posizione ottima per visitare tutta la città a piedi

Cons:

L’unico difetto che posso trovare è che nonostante gli host ci abbiano mandato tutte le informazioni per trovare la struttura non è immediato riuscire a trovarla, per noi forse è stato così perché siamo arrivati la sera tardi e non si vedeva gran che però per il resto tutto molto molto bene!!!!

2026-01-26 • via Nuitee
M
Melissa • solo_traveller • gb
9
Great location & comfortable room
Pros:

Great location

Cons:

Floor needed hoovering and mould in the shower

2026-01-25 • via Nuitee
S
Sören • couple • de
6
2026-01-25 • via Nuitee
R
Raffaella • couple • it
8
meraviglioso
Pros:

la posizione dell'appartamento perfetta, comoda per raggiungere qualsiasi luogo si desiderasse visitare. Ci siamo trovati benissimo, molto contenti per tutto quello che ci è stato offerto. Grazie alle spiegazioni ricevute siamo riusciti a trovare l'alloggio in modo semplice e veloce. Da rifare

2026-01-23 • via Nuitee
S
Smith • family_with_children • gb
9
Pros:

Location very good, comfortable for short stay

Cons:

Creaking floorboards were a bit of a nuisance

2026-01-22 • via Nuitee
S
Stephanie • couple • gb
10
Charming place in a perfect spot.
Pros:

The instructions are super easy and clear to follow. Yes there are stairs as we were on the third floor but we expected that and it added that extra charm to the room. Quiet during the day and night. We loved the box of biscuits on arrival, nice little touch!

Cons:

The mini fridge had a bad smell so we didn’t use it. Wasn’t essential to our stay but would’ve been handy to have.

2026-01-21 • via Nuitee
E
Elsa • solo_traveller • es
5
No volvería a alojarme
Pros:

Está céntrico

Cons:

Moqueta sucia ,muy sucia ruidoso se oye hasta los ronquidos de la habitación de al lado ,para llegar te envían 4 hojas de explicación y además te dicen que no tienes a dónde contactar sino encuentras la habitación sino por email lo cual no me parece muy correcto si llegas a las 10:00 de la noche

2026-01-21 • via Nuitee