IMAGE:
GLENEAG
LES
Best for news hounds
££ THE SCOTSMAN HOTEL
For nearly a century, The Scotsman newspaper was
based in this baroque building — all stained-glass
windows, wood panelling and a striking marble
staircase. It was converted into a hotel in 200 1, and
then revamped in 2017 , with rooms now decked out
in cappuccino tones, each with a nod to the building’s
heritage — choose from the likes of Reporter Rooms
and Headline Suites. It also hosts the Scotsman
Picturehouse, with its eclectic programme of cult
classics, new releases and live theatre screenings.
ROOMS: From £210. scotsmanhotel.co.uk
Best for big kids
£ THE GRASSMARKET HOTEL
In the heart of the Old Town, The Grassmarket Hotel
will draw out your inner child during your stay. It
lists distances from the hotel to Edinburgh’s main
sites in footsteps (the Castle is 420 steps away,
for instance), while there’s plenty to keep you
entertained indoors — all rooms have sudoku puzzles
on the wall, comic-strip wallpaper, free Tunnock’s
teacakes, a packed lunch and a giant magnetic map
of the city. Shelves in reception are stacked with
games and copies of The Beano.
ROOMS: From £60. grassmarkethotel.co.uk
Best for homebodies
£ THE RAEBURN
On the edge of the New Town, you’ll find
Stockbridge, one of Edinburgh’s ‘village’
neighbourhoods. Its pretty streets are full of delis,
cafes, bookstores, food shops — and one boutique
hotel. In a 19th-century listed building, the Raeburn’s
10 rooms feature solid wooden floors, an atmospheric
colour palette and rolltop tubs. There’s a traditional
Scottish vibe to the furnishings, too, with tweed
headboards and throws, as well as stylish tartan
fabrics from contemporary Scottish brand Anta.
ROOMS: From £105. theraeburn.com
Best for trendsetters
£££ GLENEAGLES
TOWNHOUSE
Swapping golfing greens for the city,
Gleneagles’ first urban outpost opens this
spring. It comes with serious pedigree:
completed in 18 46, the grand, listed building
on St Andrew Square was originally home to
the British Linen Company. The present day
33-room hotel and members’
club has preserved the
building’s original features,
from its ornate facade to the
tiles and cornicing. There
are wellness suites in the old
vaults, all-day dining in the
magnificent banking hall and a
rooftop bar called Lamplighters,
in a nod to the Robert Louis
Stevenson poem.
ROOMS: From £495. gleneagles.com
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