The Balmoral

The honest review

The Balmoral's position at the junction of Princes Street and North Bridge — directly above Waverley train station with Edinburgh Castle visible up the Royal Mile from the entrance — gives it the best strategic location of any Edinburgh hotel for families doing a Scotland city trip.

For families with Harry Potter readers (ages 8+), Room 552 is the specific draw: J.K. Rowling completed Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in this suite, which still has the original marble bust she signed with her signature and the inscription she left when checking out. The hotel offers this suite as a bookable experience with associated memorabilia; it sells out well in advance.

The broader Edinburgh experience from this location is comprehensive: Edinburgh Castle (10 minutes up the Royal Mile, the most visited paid attraction in Scotland) contains the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny; the Palace of Holyroodhouse (the Queen's official Scotland residence) is 20 minutes down the Royal Mile; the Dynamic Earth science museum is adjacent to Holyrood and appropriate for ages 8+. Arthur's Seat — the 251m extinct volcanic plug above Holyrood Park — is hikeable from the hotel entrance in 45–60 minutes for families with capable children, with unobstructed 360° city views from the summit.

The indoor pool and Number One restaurant (2 Michelin stars) serve different parts of the family split: children in the pool after a long day of sightseeing, parents at dinner with the concierge babysitting. This is a city hotel rather than a family resort; the value is entirely in the location and the Edinburgh experience it enables.