5 Fun and Unusual Hotels to Stay at in Edinburgh

The culture-rich capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is a charming city that attracts thousands of visitors every year. Its imposing Edinburgh Castle, the quaint streets of the Old Town, and love for the arts makes it a great place to spend a holiday for the entire family. Hotels in Edinburgh carry forward the spirit of the city with their individual charm and designs, making sure that every trip is full of remarkable experiences and memorable moments.

Angels Share

Angels Share is an out-and-out Scottish hotel that takes immense pride in the country's heritage by celebrating its many iconic figures. Each of the 31 rooms in the hotel highlights a different Scottish celebrity, such as Sean Connery or Ewan McGregor. Boasting of contemporary living arrangements to make every vacation as pleasant and luxurious as possible. Free bathroom toiletries, free wifi, high quality linens along with the legendary Tunnocks teacakes, give the rooms a distinct modern-day personality that pairs beautifully with the city's ancient charm.

Angels Share's central location, a stone throw's away from Edinburgh Castle, makes it the perfect place in the city for first-time tourists. In addition to the hotel comforts, the in-house bar and restaurant help enhance every stay. Complimenting the Scottish theme of the hotel, the restaurant serves regional dishes made using locally sourced ingredients. The bar, besides serving bespoke cocktails and Scottish whiskey, comes alive on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights when live performances light up the entire place.

Four Sisters Boatel

Permanently moored a short walk away from Edinburgh's city center, Four Sisters Boatel is a genuinely novel accommodation that provides four-star luxury at a fraction of the cost. The barge, converted into a beautiful residence, is an intimate self-catering space that can surprisingly host up to six adults and two children. The interiors of this pet-friendly houseboat have been done tastefully, with lots of wood and plush furnishings, adding a hint of sophistication to the stay, even if it is a bit unusual and might seem rustic at first.

While the living area in this 55-foot barge is broad, the kitchen galley and shower room are limited in space, yet very satisfying. There is also the possibility to sit on the deck, ideal for catching up some rays on a sunny afternoon. If you are in no mood to cook for yourself, there are several restaurants and cafes around the canal boat for a lovely meal at any time of the day.

Castle Snug

Keeping true to its name, Castle Snug is a tiny little apartment that can comfortably house a couple or a small family at most. What makes this particular residence, situated in Edinburgh's Old Town, iconic is that it was the home of James Bowell during the second half of the 1700s. During which Dr. Samuel Johnston frequented it often. For visitors now, the petite home is strategically located close to the city's main tourist attractions, such as Edinburgh Castle, Woolen Mill, Princes Street, and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Castle Snug's appeal, though, is in its old-world character, tightly packed into a small area. The main living room has a kitchenette, exposed stone walls, a cozy fireplace, and a large bookcase with a built-in extra bed that can be taken out if required. The main bedroom, featuring a wrought iron double bed, is a few steps above and is sufficient for two adults. Although the vintage appeal of the residence is apparent from the furniture and atmospheric location, Castle Snug isn't without contemporary luxuries. There is a lovely bathroom with a shower en-suite, cable tv, and internet, resulting in this idyllic abode becoming a real home away from home for travelers visiting Edinburgh.

Fingal

For tourists who prefer to complement their stay with an element of the unexpected, the Fingal is a beautiful, newly-opened option. The 23-room refurbished lighthouse ship stands majestically at the Port of Leith, and offers its guests a remarkable experience of living on the sea, without actually leaving Edinburgh.

Inside, Fingal's new avatar pays homage to the ship's past but has an extravagant and modern allure to it, brought about by its spacious common areas and equally large rooms. Classic fittings and spotless details give each bedroom, named after a famed lighthouse, a polished look. The en-suite bathrooms, featuring rain showers, are luxurious, to say the least, while the staterooms come with underfloor heating, air conditioning, WiFi, and smart TVs.

If money is no object, choose the Skerryvore Suite, which has a separate private deck, complimentary minibar, and freestanding bathtub in addition to the rain shower. As for dining options, several fine-dining restaurants are located a short walk from the ship. Else, you can enjoy a pleasant culinary experience at Fingal's very own The Lighthouse Bar.

Grassmarket Hotel

Photo byLuca Moglia/Flickr

In contrast to its Old Town surroundings, the Grassmarket is a bright, colorful, and stylish hotel that can cheer up the most exhausted of travelers staying there. It's conveniently located close to the Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile, and offers lodging options for singles as well as large families in their "quad-rooms."

The highlight of staying at the Grassmarket Hotel is its hip abodes with their unique and vibrant décor. Think comic book wallpapers, magnetic maps, and chalkboard walls where you can play sudoku. That's not all, though, because the hotel takes pride in its tech-friendly approach and has iPod docks with Bluetooth speakers, USB charging ports, free WiFi, and self-lockable safes in all rooms. The rain showers in the en-suite bathrooms, packed lunch options, air-conditioning, and in-room dining options create a sense of indulgence to the stay.

If looking for some more personal attention, Grassmarket provides customers who book directly with added benefits like a 24-hour "buddy" to help with any requirements and a complimentary bottle of prosecco, making it a hotel deal you do not want to miss.

Conclusion

Edinburgh is an all-weather destination and even takes on a gorgeously romantic persona during rainy days. However, it attracts the greatest number of visitors when hosting the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival that consists of hundreds of performances by professional and amateur artists. As expected, hotels during this time are in high demand, and if you plan to attend the festival, make sure you book a room a good eight to ten months in advance.


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