Old Town / Royal Mile

Radisson Blu Hotel Edinburgh City Centre

★★★★★

The Radisson Blu on the Royal Mile solves a problem that catches out many families in Edinburgh: the city's most atmospheric hotels tend to be small, expensive and short of space, while the roomy ones are often out of the centre. This one sits at 80 High Street, on the Royal Mile itself, roughly halfway between Edinburgh Castle, a little under a kilometre uphill, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, a few minutes' walk down the Canongate. Step out of the door and you are among the closes, the street performers and the bagpipers, with the Real Mary King's Close, St Giles' Cathedral and John Knox House all within an easy walk. The building is modern but designed to sit within the Old Town streetscape, and inside it is a full-service hotel of a kind that is rare this close to the castle. The biggest draw is the leisure area: an indoor heated swimming pool with a sauna, steam room and gym, plus a spa offering treatments. After a day of cobbles and hills, a swim is welcome, and on a wet afternoon it rescues a holiday with children. Rooms run from standard doubles and twins through superior rooms, some with scenic views, to premium rooms and suites. Families are properly catered for, with large family rooms sleeping three adults and two children, and the option of two connected rooms. Itchycoo Bar and Kitchen serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a relaxed setting, with a garden terrace that opens in the warmer months. Service is professional and international in style, and the hotel handles groups and conferences as well as leisure guests.

Who should book it? Families first: a pool, family rooms and a Royal Mile address are a combination few Edinburgh hotels can match, and children can walk to most of the big sights. Couples who want a reliable four-star in the heart of the Old Town, with a swim before dinner, will also be comfortable here. Travellers looking for historic character or boutique design might prefer the smaller Old Town hotels, and light sleepers should know the Royal Mile is lively late into the evening in summer and during the festivals, so ask for a quieter room facing away from the street if that matters to you.

Location in practice: everything in the Old Town is walkable, but the Royal Mile is a slope, so the castle is uphill and Holyrood downhill. Waverley Station is a short walk down one of the closes or via the North Bridge, which helps on arrival and departure. Dynamic Earth, the Scottish Parliament and the start of the Arthur's Seat paths are all within fifteen minutes on foot. Parking in the Old Town is limited and expensive, and the city has a Low Emission Zone, so arriving by train or taxi is much simpler than driving.

Value and booking: rates sit in the upper mid-range, rising sharply in August during the festivals and around Hogmanay, when booking months ahead is essential. Family rooms are limited in number and go quickly. Edinburgh's visitor levy, at five per cent of the room price before VAT for the first five nights, applies to stays from 24 July 2026, so check whether your rate includes it. For a family stay with a pool in the middle of the Old Town, it is the most dependable choice.