By Diana Rowe
The clock tower of The Balmoral
With a view of this capital city's historic landmarks, a clock tower reigns atop Rocco Forte The Balmoral, a luxury, 188-room hotel in the heart of Edinburgh and across from Waverly Station. Its long history began in 1902 as the North British Hotel (or NB), catering to the passengers from two now-demolished train stations.
Besides its prime location in bustling Edinburgh, The Balmoral also lays claim to a famous guest, author J.K. Rowling of "Harry Potter" fame, who finished the last book in the series as a guest at the five-star hotel.
Wows and Woes
The Balmoral's rooms are inviting to all ages.
The Balmoral incorporates the essence of Edinburgh beginning with the kilt-clad welcoming staff to the pristine, historic property. Astounding views of Edinburgh Castle and Old Town are waiting for you from many guest rooms and their renowned Sir Walter Scott Suite, the latter popular with business conferences, meetings and weddings.
Business travelers will love the comfortable rooms, yet the price of in-room Internet connection might not be as comforting. However, because of its fantastic location, guests might want to consider packing their laptop and buying a latte at any number of nearby coffee shops that offer free Wi-Fi.
Insider Tips
The Balmoral offers views of Edinburgh Castle.
The moment you step into The Balmoral you step back into architectural time with the merging of Victorian and traditional Scottish baronial. To seal the experience, enjoy fine dining at the hotel's Michelin-starred No. 1 fine dining restaurant and finish the evening with a Scottish whiskey at the stylish Balmoral Bar.
Author's Most Memorable Moment
You can listen to the stimulating sounds of bagpipes delivered by a piper.
After a red-eye flight, The Balmoral was my first glimpse of Scotland. Its elegant entryway and gracefully historic accommodations energized me to take advantage of its prime Edinburgh location and walk about the city, gazing at the historic sites and listening to one of many pipers on the street.
Bottom Line
Contemporary yet historic describes the guestrooms at The Balmoral
The Balmoral's recent accolade is spot on: Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List (US edition) within "the best hotels in the world for location."
About the Author:
Denver-based freelance writer Diana Rowe (www.dianarowe.com) offers more than 13 years of experience with hundreds of published articles. Her articles have appeared in multiple publications including American Cowboy, Business Traveler, The Broadmoor Magazine, Motorcycle Rider News, Corporate & Incentive Travel, Event Solutions, Travels.com and Away.com.
