The Most Romantic Hotels in Edinburgh

Once the austere press HQ of The Scotsman newspaper, this Baroque-era building sits above Waverley Station – no lugging suitcases around the capital here. Inside, rooms offer a greatest hits of Edinburgh views from the get-go, with the Mound, Calton Hill and Princes Street Gardens all framed at the far end of the bed. Decor is as two-tone as the paper that used to be produced here – soft beiges and porridgy creams. There’s a bar for late-as-you-like nightcaps, but with the chockablock Royal Mile six doors down, there’s romantic drinks and dinner options right on the doorstep, too.

Hilton-owned city hotels tend to be no-surprises-in-store places. This isn’t the case here, as this building was designed for Princes Street Station in 1903, and the reception, foyer and public lounges are part of what was once the ticketing hall and main station hangar. Cue nostalgia in the history-infused Caley Bar –with 100 top-shelf whiskies – find a fast-track to modern thrills at the UK’s only Guerlain spa and enjoy a delightful meal at the lauded Grazing by Mark Greenaway restaurant. Meanwhile, the sigh-worthy views of Edinburgh Castle are as good as you can get.

Let’s get one thing straight: no other hotel is better located, and when royalty comes to town – the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Oprah included – they all stay here. A landmark, turreted hotel, it features country-house decor alongside first-rate fabulous cuisine at its Michelin-star restaurant, Number One. The misty grey, creamy oatmeal and heathery purple rooms evoke all the romance of the Highlands, while the west-facing views of Edinburgh Castle are proposal-worthy. Don’t be fooled by the storied clocktower, either: it runs a few minutes ahead so locals don’t miss their train at nearby Waverley Station.