British Boltholes: The Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel in Edinburgh is a great place to start exploring the city.

  • Lizzie Enfield says the rooms are ‘comfortable and quirky, with great views and eclectic artwork’
  • She finds that the hotel’s Baba restaurant blends Middle Eastern and Celtic menus to ‘mouth-watering effect’
  • Guests can enjoy light meals, whisky cocktails and buffet breakfasts in the glass-roofed courtyard garden

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There’s a touch of theatricality to Kimpton Charlotte Square, which sits on the fringe of Edinburgh’s historic New Town.

One block to the north is Princes Street. These interconnected Georgian Townhouses overlook a lovely garden square.

The entrance is decorated with stacks of leather luggage and wicker umbrella stands. This feeling continues into the library, which has a Moroccan theme with jewel-coloured velvet chairs and low tables. There are also fireplaces with African jugs and lanterns.

Kimpton Charlotte Square (pictured), which sits on the fringe of Edinburgh’s historic New Town, has an impressive Georgian frontage

Kimpton Charlotte Square (pictured), which sits on the fringe of Edinburgh’s historic New Town, has an impressive Georgian frontage

Lizzie Enfield says that there's a touch of theatricality to the hotel. Pictured is the hotel's map room

Lizzie Enfield said that the hotel has a bit of theatre. The hotel’s map-room is shown in the picture.

Stacks of leather suitcases and wicker umbrella stands lend a golden-age-of-travel feel to the entrance (pictured), according to Lizzie

Lizzie says that stacks of leather luggage and wicker umbrella stand give the entrance a vintage-travel vibe (pictured), 

Pictured is the Moroccan-themed library with its 'jewel-coloured fringed velvet chairs and fireplaces decked with lanterns'

The library is decorated in Moroccan style and features a fireplace with lanterns, velvet-covered chairs, and fireplaces.

The bedrooms are adorned with muted wood panelling, cream walls, and hung with art, a variety of artwork and cushion-festooned mattresses, industrial-style tables, tartan throws, and button-back chair.

The devil is in the quirky details: red, old-fashioned bedside telephones and enamel ‘tuck boxes’ with Scottish treats (Tunnock’s wafers and Mackie’s crisps) are positioned alongside tea and coffee. To see the garden, draw the velvet curtains. Step outside and see Edinburgh’s historic castle. It is alive with the excitement of an intermission crowd, as it returns from lockdowns and opens up to new tourist attractions.

Just around the corner, the once-thriving House of Fraser store is now an all-singing Johnnie Walker Experience, with tours (from £25) charting the history of Scotland’s iconic square-bottled whisky (complete with tastings) and a rooftop bar with fantastic views.

The ice rink is back after a break, as is the Christmas market, and there’s even a new train service to London operated by Lumo. It aims to take on the airlines with cut-price fares (from £19.90 advance bookings) and an eye-catching all-electric blue train. 

'Bedrooms are all muted wood panelling and cream walls hung with an eclectic mix of artwork', writes Lizzie

Lizzie says that the bedrooms are adorned with a mix of art and panelling made from muted wooden panels. 

Luxurious: Pictured is one of the hotel's spacious bathrooms, which features a freestanding roll top bath

Luxurious: This is the bathroom that features a roll-top bath. 

Guests can expect sumptuous cushion-festooned beds in the hotel's rooms

The hotel rooms offer luxurious cushion-festooned bed options.

Both of the hotel's eateries are popular with locals for the exotic backdrop as much as the food, says Lizzie. Pictured is the courtyard garden that serves light meals and buffet breakfasts

Both of the hotel’s eateries are popular with locals for the exotic backdrop as much as the food, says Lizzie. This is the courtyard garden where you can enjoy light meals or buffet breakfasts.

The hotel's reception. 'For travellers, [the hotel is] the perfect place from which to explore Edinburgh,' says Lizzie

Hotel reception. ‘For travellers, [the hotel is]The perfect spot to discover Edinburgh’, says Lizzie

The hotel’s Baba restaurant blends Middle Eastern and Celtic menus to mouth-watering effect: the mezze plates, including baba ganoush with pomegranate and mint, whipped smoked mackerel with sweet and sour cucumber and chilli mozzarella, cost from £5. Mains including slow-cooked harissa lamb, chargrilled steak and grilled monkfish start at £13.

In the glass-roofed courtyard garden, light meals are served as well as whisky cocktails and breakfast buffets. Locals love both the unique backdrop and the delicious food at these eateries.

For travellers, it’s the perfect place from which to explore Edinburgh, or stay put and allow the hotel to hog the limelight.

Old-fashioned bedside telephones and enamel ‘tuck boxes’ with Scottish treats await guests

Old-fashioned bedside telephones and enamel ‘tuck boxes’ with Scottish treats await guests

Lizzie reveals that the hotel is located in the heart of the capital - yet manages to feel tucked away. Pictured is the Kimpton's lobby area

Lizzie tells us that while the hotel’s location is in the city center, the lobby area feels like it is tucked away. This is the lobby at Kimpton. 

The hotel's spa. Prices for B&B rooms at the Kimpton Charlotte Square start from £175 per night

You can also enjoy the spa at this hotel. Prices for B&B rooms at the Kimpton Charlotte Square start from £175 per night

These rooms are:Large, spacious rooms featuring great views, quirky details, and comfortable accommodations.

The USP The golden age of travel atmosphere that is reminiscent of its 18th Century environment.

Food:Middle Eastern mezze, charcoal-grilled Scottish lamb and beef as well as seafood. 

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