The Balmoral Hotel

Hotels
•
Rocco Forte Hotels
9.3 (1790 reviews)
1 Princes Street , Edinburgh , gb

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Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Health or beauty spa nearby
Fitness facilities (surcharge)
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room service
Family rooms
Pets allowed
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.

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 1790 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
G
Gerardo • couple • ve
10
2026-05-29 • via Nuitee
G
Gerardo • couple • ve
10
2026-05-29 • via Nuitee
M
Maurice • couple • gb
10
A dream come that came true.
Pros:

The self service buffet breakfast was out of those world. Simply beautiful, and well presented.

Cons:

I could never ever fault this prestigious establishment. Or even try to find one.

2026-05-28 • via Nuitee
L
lily • solo_traveller • au
10
Love Edinburgh and what a lovely place to stay. Hope to return soon.
Pros:

Location is great. Room lovely. Staff exceptional. Shaboom and Murray helped out when I made a mistake with my booking.

2026-05-26 • via Nuitee
A
Aidan • couple • gb
10
2026-05-25 • via Nuitee
L
Lynne • family_with_children • gb
10
The staff and personal touches make the experience extra special
Pros:

Location great,breakfast alittle expensive for what we had but staff and special personal touches made the expensive extra special

2026-05-25 • via Nuitee
J
Jose • extended_group • es
10
La nostre estada ha sigut magnífica en tots els sentits.
Pros:

Es difícil destacar alguna cosa per sobre de la resta. Pero jo destacaria la professionalitat del personal.

Cons:

Crec que hi ha poca seguretat. Qualsevol persona pot accedir a les habitacions ja que l’ascensor no hi ha clau d’accés.

El preu de les habitacions es molt alt.

2026-05-24 • via Nuitee
J
Jayne • couple • gb
6
2026-05-23 • via Nuitee
D
Dominica • couple • gb
9
Really enjoyed it
Pros:

Beautiful decor & helpful staff

Cons:

Service of food to table in the restaurant was very slow

2026-05-21 • via Nuitee
N
Nardulli • couple • us
6
Indifferent.
Pros:

Building was very impressive and well located.

Cons:

The staff put an inordinate amount of pressure on us to upgrade to a suite, which we ultimately did. The very expensive room we initially reserved was incredibly tiny and we had to upgrade at a cost of over $500 a night. They promised us things and then did not deliver, which was disappointing. Overall, the staff seem pretentious in a way that was not supported by their service.

2026-05-19 • via Nuitee
L
Ling • solo_traveller • hk
9
2026-05-19 • via Nuitee
F
fuat • solo_traveller • tr
8
2026-05-16 • via Nuitee
J
Jennifer • family_with_children • mt
10
Just one word - Regal
Pros:

The property is the most magnificent building in Edinburgh.

The staff went out of their way to make our stay very comfortable. They helped us in getting a doctor when my baby became unwell there - thank you.

Thank you also for the lovely baby welcome gifts, they made my daughter very happy :).

Rooms were large and very comfortable.

We will be back :)

Cons:

Nothing

2026-05-12 • via Nuitee
C
Carina • couple • se
10
2026-05-12 • via Nuitee
Y
Yogan • couple • za
9
Excellent location and wonderful staff
Pros:

The location and staff

Cons:

Confusion surrounding my booking which included breakfast. After they confirmed that it was sorted out I still received an account for breakfast costs. This was then removed and they advised me that there was a discretionary service charge of 12,5 % which you could not in all fairness ask them to remove. If we were made aware of this at the beginning we would have elected to exercise our discretion to pay the waiter directly.

2026-05-11 • via Nuitee
D
Diddell • couple • us
9
Great
2026-05-09 • via Nuitee
E
Evgeniy • family_with_children • ru
8
2026-05-08 • via Nuitee
G
Gustavo • couple • cl
8
Pudo ser mejor para ser 5 estrellas
Pros:

La habitación

Cons:

Nadie hablaba español y cuando hice las preguntas para coordinar la pedida de matrimonio a mi novia no me pudieron/quisieron ayudar los chicos de recepción.

2026-05-07 • via Nuitee
E
Emma • couple • gb
6
A means to an end.
Pros:

Beautiful building, very comfortable bed close to station.

Cons:

Over priced and Some of the staff were rude and I didn’t like the fact service charge was added to the bill at the end.

2026-05-07 • via Nuitee
S
Sil • family_with_children • nl
10
Great family hotel
Pros:

Amazing place with great facilities

Cons:

Maybe the rooms can have a light upgrade

But it was waxing

2026-05-05 • via Nuitee