Virgin Hotels Edinburgh
1 India Buildings, Victoria St, Edinburgh EH1 2EX, United Kingdom / VIRGINHOTELS.COM
Image taken from Virgin Hotels
It’s so aggressively close to Grassmarket that you merely have to look out the window and you’re assaulted by the sound of bagpipes and a polyester tartan scarf imported from China.
With beautiful castle views, a cracking bar and attentive but relaxed staff, the Virgin Hotel in Edinburgh is one of the better options. Its location is exceptional; so aggressively close to the tourist centre that you merely have to look out the window and you’re assaulted by a bagpipe and a polyester tartan scarf imported from China. The rooms have the icon lounge bed setup (basically a sofa attached to the bed). I don’t know who deemed it to be iconic, however it actually came in exceptionally handy, plus my ADHD is so rife that having an entire working desk beside the bed in lieu of a bedside table is an exceptional way to spread my bits about.
You couldn’t be closer to the tourist centre of Edinburgh if you tried.
The interior designs seems as though it’s been pulled from a Virgin x City of Edinburgh collab that just dropped; Virgin Red neon signs read ‘Oh, Deer!’ (because Scotland = shooting + deer, obvs) dangled above leather armchairs in the beautiful library. There are red SMEG fridges in every room, and there are crimson trews-clad doorman to greet you when you enter. Bonus, the male toilets are labelled ‘Sirs’ with a line drawn Branson crossing his legs as if desperate to pee, which is a nice touch.
Scotland = shooting + deer, obvs
The Library room
The cocktail bar is pretty exceptional, with mixologists found hacking away at a crystal clear cube of ice at all times of day. The cocktails are expensive, but well made and delicious, with the William Wallace clocking in at over £50 (This price is due to the exceptional whiskies used).
The breakfast is buffet style, at another one of their restaurants, with the option to order a la carte (and comes included in the room prices). The service is quick, the staff are friendly, and the food is better than what you would expect from a hotel buffet. I was, however, so hungover on both days that I would have eaten a breakfast cooked by Stevie Wonder. What did make it immensely better, however, was the addition of Bonner, the hotels black Labrador that freely roams, and will gratefully accept a sly sausage.
All in all, if you’re looking for a central Edinburgh hotel that won’t decimate the bank, is easy and luxurious without being stuffy, look no further.
Image taken from Virgin Hotels | The Grand Chamber
Exceptional Castle View from the room