THE HAYMARKET HOTEL, Edinburgh

The hotel sits on a cobbled street in Edinburgh's West End, 250 yards from Haymarket Railway Station. The tram stop is right outside, offering direct service to the city centre and a 15-minute ride to Edinburgh Airport - the Airlink 100 bus also stops nearby. Princes Street and the Royal Mile are a 10-15 minute walk or a 3-minute bus/tram trip. The surrounding area is quiet and safe, with several boutiques, cafés and restaurants within a 5-minute walk. Murrayfield Stadium is a short distance away, and Dean Village is close for a pleasant stroll. For those driving, on-street metered parking is available on Wester Coates Road (£6-9 per day, free on Saturdays and Sundays), but the hotel itself has no car park.

Spread over six Victorian townhouses, the rooms are individually decorated with flat-screen TVs, tea/coffee trays, and complimentary chocolates. Deluxe rooms are the most spacious and add slippers, bathrobes, Nespresso machines, and fridges. Superior and family rooms also include fridges. All bathrooms feature walk-in showers (no baths). Rooms may be compact, particularly singles; top-floor rooms can be warm as there is no air conditioning - portable units are available on request. Some basement rooms have limited natural light and may feel stuffy, while ground-floor rooms are available for those with mobility concerns. Noise from the street or internal corridors can be an issue; rooms facing the back garden tend to be quieter. There is no lift, so guests with heavy luggage should request a lower floor. Daily housekeeping and towel changes are provided.

Breakfast is served from 7:30 to 10:00 am in Logan's bar, a cosy room that transforms into the bar later. Options include a continental buffet (£10.95) or a cooked breakfast (£14.95), with traditional items like haggis. A reduced continental option may be available during quieter periods. The space is small, so there can be waits during peak times. There is no restaurant for lunch or dinner, but the bar offers a good selection of local and national drinks in a relaxed setting, with a flat-screen TV. Several cafés and restaurants are within a 2-minute walk - including a Tesco Express for essentials - and the surrounding Haymarket area has a wide variety of eateries. Special diet menus can be requested, and the breakfast can be offered as a to-go option. Note that breakfast is an additional charge and not always included in the room rate; check when booking.

There are no on-site wellness or leisure facilities. Guests can enjoy the bar and lounge area or explore the surrounding area on foot - nearby attractions include Dean Village, the Water of Leith walkway, and several parks.

Free Wi-Fi is available in all rooms. Luggage storage is provided for free before check-in and after check-out (must be picked up by 11:30 pm when reception closes). Daily housekeeping and towel changes are standard; laundry and fax/photocopying are available for an additional charge. The reception desk is open from 7:30 am to 11:30 pm, and a night porter is on site for overnight access. A safety deposit box, ironing facilities and heating are provided in every room. Pets are allowed with a fee of £10-20 per night. The property is spread over six townhouses and has no lift; ground-floor rooms are available on request. The hotel accepts Visa, Maestro, Solo and MasterCard. A tour desk and concierge can help with planning excursions.