Edinburgh is home to many of the most impressive, historic hotels in the world, even dating back to the 16th century when witches were burnt at the stake.
Some of the top heritage hotels include Georgian townhouses that were built in the 18th century, a former national newspaper’s headquarters and a striking 17th-century baroque mansion just outside of the city centre.
Another has a clock tower which is a prominent part of the Edinburgh landscape, best viewed from the top of Carlton Hill. The time on the clock is three minutes fast, helping commuters make their train at Waverley Station since the 1900s.
These hotels are steeped in the rich history of the Old and New towns and many have retained some of their original character features, blending them with modern touches.
Take a look at ten of the oldest hotels in the Capital.
9. Hilton Edinburgh Carlton
The Hilton Edinburgh Carlton dates back to 1889. It spent decades as the home of the prominent department store Patrick Thomson. House of Frasier acquired the building in the 70s and opened an “Arnotts”. But it was not to last. The retailer sold it to hoteliers in 1984 and it soon became known as 'The Carlton' hotel. Aramis Hospitality formed a partnership with Hilton Worldwide in 2016 and revitalised the building, now a much-loved fixture of the North Bridge. Photo: Enric (creative commons license)