The Balmoral Hotel

Hotels
Rocco Forte Hotels
9.3 (1839 reviews)
1 Princes Street , Edinburgh , gb

Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Fitness facilities
WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Fitness center
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Beautiful location
Luxurious amenities
Great dining options
Cons:
Lift was out of order
Check-in felt transactional

Categories

Cleanliness
9.19
Well maintained but felt dated, some complaints about check-in lacking warmth.
Service
9.66
Staff were very friendly and attentive throughout the stay.
Location
9.7
Perfect location with excellent surroundings.
Room Quality
9.15
Gorgeous room with a view and a lovely bathroom.
Amenities
9.18
Luxurious with a magical atmosphere and lovely decorations.
Value for Money
8.64
Pricey during Christmas but generally felt worth it.
Food and Beverage
9.19
Breakfast and dining options received high praise.
Overall Experience
9.66
A truly magical stay, felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-08 22:32

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodation:
The Balmoral, first opened in 1902, offers elegantly designed rooms with marble bathrooms and interactive TVs. Many rooms boast stunning views of Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town, providing a truly unforgettable stay.

Culinary Delights:
Indulge in a gastronomic experience at The Balmoral's dining establishments. From the fine dining menu at Number One Restaurant to the informal Brasserie Prince and the innovative cocktails at Bar Prince, there's something to satisfy every palate. Don't forget to enjoy a traditional afternoon tea at Palm Court.

Relaxation and Wellness:
Unwind and rejuvenate at The Balmoral Spa, featuring a pool, sauna, Turkish steam room, and 5 treatment rooms. With an exercise studio available, guests can stay active and pampered during their stay.

Experience luxury and sophistication at The Balmoral in the heart of Edinburgh. Book now for an unforgettable stay!

Important information:

Reservations of 7 nights or more will require full prepayment.

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.
Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 12:00 PM
Airport code: EDI

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed on request. Charges may be applicable.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge.

  • Groups

    When booking more than 9 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 3 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 3 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    Children from 4 years old to 12 years old stay for £50 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    Children from 4 years old to 12 years old stay for £50 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

  • Parking

    Public parking is possible at a location nearby (reservation is not needed) and costs GBP 40 per day.

Location

Guest Reviews

9.3
Based on 1839 reviews
Cleanliness: 9.19
Service: 9.66
Location: 9.7
Room Quality: 9.15
Amenities: 9.18
Value for Money: 8.64
Food and Beverage: 9.19
Overall Experience: 9.66
M
moej426 NONE
10
A really pleasant stay
Pros:

Really nice hotel, great staff, tasty food, comfy bed, best icecream (Joelato), very pleasant scent in the lobby. Would definitely come back!

2026-07-25 via Tripadvisor
R
ryanb709 Couples Carlsbad, California
10
Best Hotel Experience In My Entire Life
Pros:

Spent 4 nights at The Balmoral Hotel recently on a trip to Scotland. It was hands-down the best hotel experience I’ve ever had in my life. I’ve stayed at the Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles, the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, Hilton’s Conrad properties all over, JW Marriott’s and Four Seasons. Never have I had the combination of Service, History, and Location that I had at the Balmoral. It blows them all away and is my new gold standard. On the service front, when housekeeping tidied up our room or did turn-down service they put our eyeglasses on lens wipes and put a bookmark in our books. I know that might sound silly, but the level of attention to detail like that was the type of thing that really stood out. Another thing: being a guest at the hotel entitles you to use of their spa facilities, namely the steam room and sauna. That is a benefit that is typically reserved for spa guests only. At the daily included breakfast they had an incredible spread and menu options. I got eggs benedict or avocado toast. So good. The staff were all wonderful, from bellmen at the door to front desk to the restaurant and whiskey room, and of course the aforementioned housekeeping team. Their whiskey room must have had a selection of over 500 bottles from across Scotland. We did a flight and had a great experience. Finally, location cannot be beat. Right in the heart of the city, next to the largest train station, walkable to everything, with unbostructed views from all sides. Incredible. 10/10, will stay again.

2026-07-23 via Tripadvisor
W
Wanderer10411291260 NONE
10
A great place for afternoon tea.
Pros:

A great place. Classy and delicious. Yes, it is a bit expensive, but it was worth it. I will go back there when I return to Edinburgh again.

2026-07-23 via Tripadvisor
H
Henri couple fr
9
2026-07-23 via Nuitee
T
Tim couple gb
8
Pros:

The hotel is of a very good standard, in an excellent location and the staff are very helpful and efficient. Everything was clean and well presented

Cons:

The room was on the small side

2026-07-21 via Nuitee
M
Matli933 Couples
10
Absolutely wonderful stay
Pros:

Absolutely loved this hotel, for such a big hotel it feels like coming home...how they do that I do not know but they do.
The housekeeping is excellent, the bar menu is amazing, the bar staff second to none!
The main star of the show is the front desk staff, I swear they treat you like family/old friends and we had never been before. Tereza on reception, I don't know what they are paying her but pay her double she is outstanding! Best sleep EVER..we will be back, thank you for a wonderful stay.

2026-07-20 via Tripadvisor
S
Sue couple gb
7
Beautiful hotel but too big for our taste .
Pros:

Central location , beautiful and comfortable rooms .Afternoon Tea was fabulous.

Cons:

Breakfast! Food was very disappointing, my husband’s porridge was the worst he had ever had . Felt that the breakfast room was far too big and therefore very noisy. Very expensive, definitely not worth the money .

2026-07-19 via Nuitee
L
Louisa solo_traveller fr
10
2026-07-18 via Nuitee
A
Ashlett823 NONE Sao Paulo, State of Sao Paulo
10
Can’t wait to go back!
Pros:

An absolute gem of a hotel. I don’t think I can go back to Edinburgh again and not stay here. A prime location to the tourist attractions near the Royal Mile, with just the friendliest staff you can want. We ended up staying a whole day in the hotel because of a sudden change of plans and enjoyed it all immensely. Afternoon tea is well worth it for the two hours. Number One is delicious and the staff are awesome. Prince Bar staff are so friendly. The valets helped us figure out how to manage our car! The room was just what we needed, with an beautiful en suite. Oh! Make sure to check out the spa! The massage tables are amazing and its a lovely heated pool area! So relaxing. Loved it all.

2026-07-17 via Tripadvisor
N
Norma solo_traveller gb
10
2026-07-16 via Nuitee
C
clairepU805UJ Business
10
Excellent Experience
Pros:

The experience at the Balmoral is Excellent and it would not be the same staying in Edinburgh if we did not stay at the Balmoral.

The Wellness Centre is now back in operation which is Super !

The rooms are a real treat with super soft bedsheets and pillows, a turndown service, great mini bar and shower and bath facilities.

Breakfast should not be missed especially the kippers and haggis !

The concierge are helpful and informative and there is nothing that they will not assist you with.

The only let down is the food other than breakfast which needs improvement.

2026-07-12 via Tripadvisor
N
NishiSP NONE Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
10
Comfort and service par excellence
Pros:

Exceptional hospitality and superior customer service.
Our requests were received and honoured with great understanding of our needs.
We had a memorable trip for our daughters graduation ceremony and the Balmoral made it very special.

2026-07-12 via Tripadvisor
M
Marisa couple us
9
Great hotel and location
Pros:

The building and location

Cons:

The 10% gratuity announcement as soon as I arrived.

2026-07-12 via Nuitee
8
856karimh NONE Glasgow, Scotland
10
Perfect afternoon tea time of the highest quality
Pros:

Excellent afternoon tea time which is of the highest quality, it is the best afternoon tea experience we ever had in the whole world (even compared to those we had in 5 star hotels in London, Paris and New York).

2026-07-11 via Tripadvisor
M
Meshal couple sa
10
2026-07-10 via Nuitee
X
X1519GZls NONE United Kingdom
10
A beautiful and sophisticated venue
Pros:

A beautiful and sophisticated venue with exceptional service. The tranquil atmosphere made for a truly relaxing and enjoyable experience. Food and drinks were delicious .
Thank you

2026-07-09 via Tripadvisor
D
DFlintstone NONE Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England
10
Excellent
Pros:

A truly memorable stay. All staff were professional and welcoming and knew the purpose of our celebratory visit. .
We had a fantastic experience thanks to the kindness and generosity of the team.
Thank you so much for all of the very thoughtful touches which made our stay truly outstanding.

2026-07-08 via Tripadvisor
J
JOHN couple gb
9
2026-07-08 via Nuitee
M
Martin couple gb
10
Nice hotel food was very nice staff were amazing just a bit pricey unfortunately
Pros:

Nice hotel

Cons:

Price

2026-07-08 via Nuitee
R
Ruben extended_group es
7
Precio -Calidad Pésima relación.Muy mal conservado
2026-07-05 via Nuitee