Best hotel Edinburgh

[sweetpeajam]

Which hotel is best to stay in for Edinburgh? Want to see the zoo and castle and if anyone has anything to add to this for a 4 day break I'd be grateful.
Thanks

Location wise the Balmoral is probably the best. Depends on your budget though I guess.

Thank you that's helpful. Silly me I should have put there's no budget.

We stayed at the Dunstane Houses and absolutely loved it. It's a little outside the city center but still walking distance.

thedunstane.com

LOL The Balmoral every time but it really comes down to budget! There’s a million and one hotels within a short walk of the castle and city centre attractions and with easy access to the zoo by bus.
if you need parking that seriously reduces your options, ditto if you want facilities such as a pool.
give us an idea of budget per night.

If there’s no budget then definitely the Balmoral

Apex hotel Waterloo place, we have stayed there 3 times in recent years and really love it but if budget is no issue then I concede I would probably stay at The Balmoral or somewhere else posh

The waldorf astoria is lovely

Came here to recommend the Waldorf

We always stay at the Cheval Old Town Chambers . It's a beautiful apartment hotel with Balconys looking Princess Street and the Station. Its just off the Royal Mile. The staff are really lovely, the accommodation is outstanding. Favourite place in Edinburgh

We stayed at Apex Waterloo place last summer. Admittedly still with some covid restrictions but would not repeat, Rooms overlooking the back very noisy, window would not shut fully and bathroom poorly maintained. There is another Apex near Grassmarket.

I received good feedback after recommending The Scotsman Hotel to a friend a few years back. You might want to look at more recent reviews to see if they are still goods. It's a character building and certainly was a nice hotel, even if it's not The Balmoral.

There's also the new Gleneagles Townhoyse, which looks lovely.

Oops - Townhouse

We really liked Ten Hill Place when we stayed a few years ago

In order with no budget, Balmoral, Waldorf Astoria, Scotsman (though the food is terrible there but the rooms are lovely). Or if you like smaller hotels, The Bonham is quirky.

Edinburgh zoo, I have to say, is rubbish and very much not worth a day of your time when there are so many other things to do.

I know this is a few days old but now trying to book between the balmoral and Waldorf. Anyone have any opinions between these two? Thanks

Personally I’d say the Balmoral for the location.

The Balmoral is more iconic

Thank you have found it quite difficult to choose but I think the balmoral may win on location too.

Unless you've been to loads of zoos I don't know how anyone could describe Edinburgh zoo as "rubbish". Giraffes, pandas, the lovely penguins, tiger - even dinosaurs at the moment, though they don't move much!
But there are loads of things to do in the city, you'll be grand.

@Iggi999 thanks for this. I can't see the dc complaining about seeing a panda! Probably won't spend a long time there but will be going there for a short time at least.

Booked the balmoral. Exciting! Thanks all.

I agree. We've visited a lot of zoos in the UK and I'd say that Edinburgh is amongst the best. Sure it's not as big as Chester or Marwell but if has a wide variety of animals and some you can't see elsewhere (such as the pandas 🐼). The penguins are amazing too. The main negative is that it's rather hilly so you need to be fairly fit to enjoy the day. We've always spent a full day there and we've been a few times now.