The Old Town of Edinburgh is built on a ridge that rises gradually from the Palace of Holyrood to Edinburgh Castle. There are staircase lanes, called Wynds, that lead off this 'Royal Mile' that give the impression of the city being built on multiple levels and buildings that date from the 11th Century. The New Town is also a World Heritage Site with its mix of Georgian town houses and the earliest examples in Europe of tenement flats. The views to be had from the Castle, Arthur's Seat and Carlton Hill are dramatic and inspiring.
Private small hotels can (though not as a rule!) be the best and most exclusive accommodation to be found anywhere in Britain and are often to be found in converted country houses in the most beautiful gardens or on mini-estates. They can usually be booked on a full-board or Bed and Breakfast basis but expect tariffs to be at the more expensive end of the market. Learn more about accommodation types