Hotels in Edinburgh

Edinburgh: Castle Rock, the Royal Mile, and the Firth of Forth

Edinburgh sits on a series of volcanic hills in southeast Scotland, roughly 70 km east of Glasgow and 640 km north of London. The city divides into two Unesco-listed zones: the Medieval Old Town, anchored by Edinburgh Castle on its 135-metre basalt crag, and the Georgian New Town, laid out from 1767 along a grid of sandstone terraces. Between them, the Royal Mile runs downhill from the castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Scottish royal residence. Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano rising 251 metres, sits within Holyrood Park less than two kilometres from the city centre.

Where to Stay

Hotels cluster along Princes Street and in the West End for access to Waverley Station. The Grassmarket and Cowgate areas suit travellers who want the Old Town on foot. Leith, the former port district 3 km north, has converted warehouse hotels near the Shore and the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Practical Tips

• Rail: Lner and Avanti trains run from London King's Cross to Edinburgh Waverley in roughly 4.5 hours.
• Fringe Festival: August brings over 3,000 shows across 300 venues — book accommodation at least six months ahead.
• Weather: Pack a waterproof layer year-round; July averages 18 °C and January around 7 °C.
• Airport: Edinburgh Airport is 13 km west; the tram to Princes Street runs every 8–10 minutes.