Conveniently located in the heart of the city, close to the shops and next to the central railway station, The Balmoral is only 20 minutes by car from Edinburgh Airport, making it the ideal accommodation from which to enjoy the many events held in Edinburgh, including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, or simply to relax and unwind.

ACCOMMODATION: The Balmoral boasts 188 guest bedrooms, including 20 of the most attractive suites in Europe, many of which have working fireplaces. The bedrooms have an authentic character borrowed from the original design themes of the hotel.

All rooms are individually designed and include all the facilities that you would expect from a five-star hotel. We have also upgraded the in-room technology. All rooms now have two phone lines, a modem point and satellite TV on which you can also check and pay your bills in the room before departing. Many of the bedrooms have wonderful views of the city, including Edinburgh Castle and the rolling hills close by.

The Balmoral offers guests a choice of 20 suites, each with an average size of 225 sq metres. Divided into two rooms the suites all have king beds (4 even have 4 poster beds) with a mix of antique and modern, free-standing furniture and lighting. The rooms are mostly on the four-corners of the building with wonderful two-dimensional images of the city's many stunning views. The second room is the living area with elegant 3-piece suites and numerous pieces of antiques and ornaments, with a walk in wardrobe off this room.

RESTAURANT & BAR: Number One, the hotel's famous restaurant serves creative Scottish dishes and award-winning cuisines. Alternative to Number One is Hadrian's, a restaurant for chic, cosmopolitan dining at reasonable prices. For all day dining and afternoon tea there's The Bar at Palm Court, the hotel's principal lounge. And for a live music and a delicious, good value bar meals there's N.B.'s Bar.

Number one is The Balmoral's Michelin Star restaurant and is recognised as one of Scotland's most highly acclaimed restaurants, with Chef Jeff Bland providing outstanding cuisine. He places emphasis on creative dishes, whilst promoting the best of Scotland, by using only the finest and freshest Scottish ingredients. Number one continues to rise from strength to strength, certified by regular guests at The Balmoral, as well as Edinburgh residents, who consistently return for the prominent cuisine and exceptional service. Gillian Glover, Scotland's acclaimed food critic, described number one as "polished, dependable and very, very classy", following a recent visit.

Hadrian's is The Balmoral's stylish brasserie, offering excellent cuisine in an informal ambience. With a wide range of cuisine on offer including à la carte and our special three-course set menu.

For all day dining and afternoon tea in luxurious refinement you can choose The Bar at Palm Court, the hotel's principal lounge. Here you can enjoy morning coffee, traditional afternoon tea, light snacks and refreshments. A harpist plays during afternoon tea and a jazz pianist plays in the evening on selected dates.

HEALTH AND LEISURE: The Balmoral Spa boasts the largest city centre hotel swimming pool in Edinburgh, a fully-equipped gym for both aerobic exercise and weight training, a steam room and sauna, and a wide array of beauty therapy treatments. A perfect place to retreat from the rigours of everyday life.

2001 saw the refurbishment of the gymnasium and the addition of a new Aerobics Studio, as well as 5 additional treatment rooms. Anyone who enjoys a Reiki treatment can now enjoy this treatment along with a number of other services more often than ever!

For those who would just rather relax by the pool side, the Spa also has a Juice Bar which provides a wide selection of fruit smoothies and healthy snacks to enjoy.

MEETINGS: We have ten function suites which benefit from natural light and can accommodate private dinner parties, business meetings, conferences and receptions for up to 400. All are equipped with the latest audio-visual technology and can be laid out whichever way suits you best. Many of the rooms have stunning views of Edinburgh castle and the surrounding hills and so provide an inspirational setting for your event.