84 Accessible Edinburgh: A Festival Guide Sleeping 85
Most accommodation providers set prices according to demand,
so if there’s a big-name concert on a Saturday, expect to pay a
hefty premium, even for mediocre places.
Our accessibility partner UMOJA has reviewed seven of the
most accessible Edinburgh hotels. Note that the hotel accessi-
bility information was correct as of 1 August 2016. Visit https://
http://www.umoja.in/location/edinburgh/ for the complete, most up-
to-date information. You can also email UMOJA with any queries
at [email protected].
» Ibis Styles Edinburgh Centre, 19 St Andrew Sq
» Hilton Edinburgh Grosvenor, Grosvenor St
» Jurys Inn, 43 Jeffrey St
» Novotel Edinburgh Centre, 80 Lauriston Pl
» Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, 1 Festival Sq
» Tune Hotel, 7 Clifton Tce
» Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian, Princes St
Here are the top three (in no particular order) chosen by
UMOJA.
Tune Hotel
Located just opposite Haymarket Station with very convenient
access to the airport bus and tram (both wheelchair-accessi-
ble), Tune Hotel is an accessible gem. With some rooms in high
season available for as little as £85, Tune is one of the best-value
accessible hotels in Edinburgh.
Tune Hotel goes above and beyond in catering for guests with
accessibility needs. All nine accessible rooms have roll-in show-
ers, very wide doors for easy access, and fittings such as win-
dow handles and light switches at an ideal height for wheelchair
users or people of short stature. The hotel also caters well for
guests with hearing impairments, with two key members of staff
proficient in British Sign Language (BSL) and vibrating pillows
available on request. The hotel’s close affiliation with DeafBlind
Scotland also highlights a commitment to accessibility that goes
beyond legal requirements. Hotel staff have received disability
awareness training from DeafBlind Scotland and support efforts
to raise funds for the charity.
Click here for the full UMOJA access profile and Euan’s Guide
user reviews.
Hilton Edinburgh Grosvenor
Situated 500m from Haymarket Station, the Hilton Grosvenor
has two accessible rooms. Although the main entrance is not
accessible there is a button for visitors to call for assistance. The
accessible, ramped entrance is 30m further down Grosvenor St.
Once inside the hotel, both accessible rooms as well as all
public areas (including reception, restaurant, cafe and meeting
rooms) are on the same floor, which allows for easy circulation for
guests with a mobility impairment. The accessible rooms them-
selves are spacious and equipped with roll-in showers. The Hilton
Grosvenor also offers some good features for guests with hearing
impairments, including a hearing induction loop at reception and
vibrating pillows for bedrooms. Staff are very helpful and welcom-
ing and have all received disability awareness training.
Click here for the full UMOJA access profile and Euan’s Guide
user reviews.Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian
The Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh is lavishly stylish, overlooking
Edinburgh Castle and partly built on the old Princes Street Sta-
tion. If you’re after luxury and accessibility then look no further
than the Waldorf Astoria. Situated just five minutes away from
the Scott Memorial in the heart of Edinburgh, the Waldorf Astoria
offers great accessibility but at a price: its two accessible rooms
are available from £280 per person per night.
The hotel is fully wheelchair-accessible throughout, with
ramp and lift access to all public areas, wide doors in rooms and
well-installed grab rails and roll-in showers in the accessible
bathrooms. There is also accessible parking on site. There are,
however, no vibrating pillow alarms in the accessible rooms and
there was no hoist into the swimming pool. Staff have received
disability awareness training.
Click here for the full UMOJA access profile and also for Eu-
an’s Guide user reviews.