dreamescape - The Balmoral

OVERVIEW

The Rocco Forté Collection’s Balmoral is situated in what was once the North British Station Hotel, a Victorian building with Scottish baronial influences.

Originally known as the North British, The Balmoral Hotel was acclaimed as one of the great railway hotels. Hotel porters in red jackets used to meet guests off the train at Waverley Station, taking them into a lift and whisking them from the station hall to the reception desk in the hotel. Though the hotel no longer boasts direct access to Edinburgh Waverley Station, the Balmoral continues to run its clock three minutes early, to ensure travellers never miss their trains.

The property boasting 167 bedrooms and 20 suites is stylish, modern and contemporary. This is evident from the moment you enter via the Lobby, through Palm Court or the most recently added, Scotch Bar.

HIGHLIGHTS

SCOTCH Whisky Experience

Choose from over 500 single malts and blends courtesy of SCOTCH, The Balmoral’s destination whisky bar. The kilted Whisky Ambassadors are on hand to take guests through one of Edinburgh’s largest collections of whisky.
Travel on a tailored journey to distilleries in the Highlands and Lowlands from the comfort of a tweed armchair.

Afternoon Tea Masterclass

Our Afternoon Tea Masterclass promises to unlock the history of a very British ritual in this unique offering for the city. Learn about the origins and etiquette of this tradition over delicate finger sandwiches, scones and expertly poured A guided explanation of the finer points of Afternoon Tea – from the Scot who first took tea from China in the 19th century to the etiquette of the ritual.
5-course Afternoon Tea including homemade scones, sandwiches and a selection of seasonal pastries.

Balmoral Poet-in-Residence

The Balmoral is proud to have Marcas Mac an Tuairneir, one of Scotland’s leading Gaelic poets as Poet-in-Residence, or Bàrd air mhuinntireas.

The Balmoral’s Poet-in-Residence can be pre-booked by guests staying at the hotel for a celebration or to commemorate a special occasion. Guests can select a pre-written Gaelic poem or develop a bespoke poem with Marcas, making for the perfect memento.

ACCOMMODATION

Executive Room

Comfortable and welcoming, the executive rooms at Balmoral have a combined bedroom and living space with king size or twin beds & a spacious en-suite.

Decorated to reflect traditional Scottish style, these elegant rooms can be interconnected, making them suitable for families.

Deluxe Room

Comfortable and contemporary, these large rooms at The Balmoral have a choice of either a king size bed or two single beds, sitting area and spacious bathroom decorated in marble & ceramic with a large bath.

Superior Deluxe Room

Offering views of the Castle from their higher floor location, these rooms are between 18 and 37 sqm. Superior Deluxe rooms come furnished with marble bathrooms with James Bond prints and a king-size bed with the option of twin beds.

Junior Suite

As their name suggests, these suites benefit from views of the castle and are a step up in size (28-47sqm) from the Balmoral’s bedrooms with the option of an extra bed on request and a comfortable lounge area.

Junior Suite Castle View

Classic Suite

The Balmoral’s first room/suite category with a separate bedroom and sitting room, a Classic Suite spans 44-66sqm, offering enough space for two extra beds for children to be added upon request. Views from these suites are either across the old town, Princes Street or Northbridge.

Grand Suite

Each of these suites measures between 51 and 55sqm and four are located in areas of the building affording turret-style alcoves. They are named Braemar, Stirling, Dunrobin, Tay and JK Rowling. A brass owl door knocker indicates the latter, the room where the final Harry Potter book was completed. Each suite has a king-size bed and enough space for two extra beds for children.

Deluxe Suite

All of these six suites are named after Scottish rivers or castles – Rothesay, Dee, Drummond, Brodick, Bothwell and Spey. Most have original working fireplaces and offer views of Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street Gardens are possible and there is the option to add an extra bed for children. (Each measure between 47 and 58 sqm)

Balmoral Suite

The Balmoral Suite offers guests a king size master bedroom, the option to interconnect with a Classic Room, separate dining room for six people, living room, bathroom and guest powder room. At 66 sqm this suite is ample in size and located so as to provide views of Arthur’s Seat and the historic old town.

Glamis Suite

A contemporary suite with sitting room views of Princes Street, Glamis measures 85 sqm and comprises a dining table for four and signature Balmoral bathroom. A king size bed comes as standard with the option for twin beds, an extra bed for children and the possibility to connect to an Executive Room.

Scone & Crombie

The signature suite at The Balmoral, this iconic residence is the largest offered at the hotel and offers the potential to sleep two adults and two children (extra beds added on request) and to be connected to an executive room. Views from the suite are over the historic Old Town and the interior is abundant in traditional and elegant Scottish touches.

Deluxe Old Town View Room

Deluxe Castle View Room

DINING

Experience the finest in luxury dining at the Balmoral’s restaurants.

Brasserie Prince by Alain Roux

Combining classic French cuisine with sublime Scottish produce, Brasserie Prince by Alain Roux is a chic, relaxed restaurant housed within the hotel

Number One

Number One is where Michelin-starred modern Scottish cuisine meets world-class service. Head Chef Mark Donald and his team have developed a menu fusing modern Scottish cuisine with international flair.

Sink into one of the dove grey wool banquettes and admire the contemporary art on the lacquered red walls, from pieces lent by London’s Royal College of Art, to Adam Ellis’ stunning Scottish oak triptych.

Palm Court

Enjoy award winning afternoon tea at the Palm Court. Take a seat under the green leaves of palm trees, under the sparkling glass dome and the Venetian chandelier. Listen to the harp, gently playing from the elegant gallery and ddmire the hand-painted de Gournay wallpaper. It’s difficult to imagine a more decadent, indulgent treat.

ACTIVITIES

EDINBURGH

Edinburgh is a breathtaking city with many bars, theatres and museums. Guest can visit the famous Edinburgh Castle which is within walking distance from the Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh will certainly be a memorable visit.

If you don’t want to venture out of the hotel, there are a wide range restaurants and also the award winning Spa which has a pool, sauna, steam room, weights room and modern gym.

FAMILY

For little ones there is a special Owl Teddy Turndown Service. Babysitting, night lights and play mats are available.

Children can look forward Kids’ check-in cards, colouring books, comment cards and newspapers, as well as the special Rocco Forte Kids passport and Balmoral passport. The is a city activities fact sheet and activities. Not forgetting the all important rubber ducky for the bathroom! Special experiences for teens include teen spa treatments.

LOCATION

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HOLIDAY IDEAS / SAMPLE ITINERARIES

See below for some itinerary ideas that can include The Balmoral.

Scotland: Art & Architecture

A Capital Adventure: London & Edinburgh

Tattoo and The Highlands

"Relaxed Elegance"

Brownell Travel Educational Visit
"Luxury, Location, Service"

Brownell Travel Educational Visit
"The Balmoral is THE place to stay"

Brownell Travel Educational Visit

GET IN TOUCH

ACCOMMODATION COLLECTION

Gregans Castle Hotel

Gregans Castle Hotel is an oasis of comfort and genuine Irish hospitality with breath-taking views across Galway Bay. It is the ultimate luxurious and decadent hideaway idyllically situated overlooking the unique Burren landscape. The elegant bedrooms, antiques, modern art, turf fires, candlelight and garden flowers add to the indulgently relaxing atmosphere. Guests have included J.R.R Tolkien, who is said to have been influenced by the Burren when writing The Lord of the Rings, as well as other revered artists such as Seamus Heaney and Sean Scully.

Rooms : 21 Bedrooms and Suites. Type : Couples, Families, Outdoor Active

Glin Castle

Podcast. Holly chats to Catherine Fitzgerald about all the experiences to be had while staying at her family’s Private Castle and Estate in Ireland.

Sleeps: 22 Bedrooms: 15+ Ensuite Bathrooms: 15 Dining for up to 85 people

Type: Celebration, Family, Seclusion, Corporate

Features & Activities: Boating, fishing, tennis, golf, rural

Location: Co Limerick., Ireland. 55 minute drive from Shannon International Airport. 90 minutes from Cork Airport and 2 hours 30 from Dublin Airport

Those looking for: A castle experience, time to recharge or celebrate.

Ashford Castle

The magnificent five star Ashford Castle is set in 350 acres, on the picturesque shores of Lough Corrib. With 82 guest rooms, a wealth of activities and thoughtful touches, enjoy acclaimed Irish hospitality on a grand scale. The Castle dates back to 1228 when it was originally founded by the Anglo-Norman De Burgo family, later becoming the family home of the famous Guinness family whose name is now synonymous with the Emerald Isle.

Rooms : 82 Bedrooms. Type : Couples, Families, Outdoor Active, Golf

View entire accommodation collection

Edinburgh

"Probably the best of the best in the UK and Ireland for organising amazing trips. They know their stuff, have fantastic relationships with suppliers and always go the extra mile."

Rob Arrow, Al Tayyar Group
"Lovely suite. Fabulous private tours. Everything has exceeded our expectations. "

William A Heim, Client
"I had the most wonderful time with you and learned so much...What you offer is rare and much needed in the truly exclusive travel world. "

Jean Newman-Glock, Signature Travel Network
"You were the heart and soul of the trip….I truly admired your sunny personality, sense of humor, organization and professionalism. You also demonstrated that a guide’s work is never done as you were constantly researching….. Did you ever rest??? "

Sharon Delano, Frosch
"We want to thank you and the team from Dream Escape. All six of us in our group had a wonderful time, and we all agreed we owed that in large measure to the work of Dream Escape. From the onset of working with you, you demonstrated a tremendous knowledge about all the activities we wished to pursue —from playing golf to dining at excellent restaurants to seeing historical sites and the Tattoo and Fringe Festival. And, then you executed "

Thomas Cohen, Client
"THANK YOU a zillion times over for choosing/assigning Rosie to be with this family. She MADE the trip for them – there’s no other way to put it! "

Jill Jergel, Frontiers International Travel
"Our holiday in Scotland now tops their lists of best trips…… To their growing list of amazing and memorable first-time experiences, our sons may add fishing for trout and salmon on the River Tay; steering a motor boat on Loch Ness; and taking private guided tours on Culloden Moor Of the eight full days we were in Scotland, Alex and Mattie thought each and every day was the best"

Michael Guadarrama & Trammi Nguyen, clients of Peter Carideo. CRC Travel
"All six of us were deeply moved by the whole experience. Bravo Dream Escape "

Max Levy, Direct client
"Thank you Karen and all of the staff and guides affiliated with Dream Escape…..the Flemings are having an awesome tour of Scotland. You all have made me look like a star! "

Joni Gerace, The Travel Society, LLC
"Thanks for all your help and we can chalk this one up as a big success! Our anniversary celebration was all we could have hoped for "

Clients of Courtney Regan, Affiliate of Brownell Travel
"Rosie was MORE than outstanding – she went out of her way to help us in every regard...She was so knowledgeable – we all loved her"

Jill A. Jergel, Frontiers International Travel
"I cannot thank you, Nicola and all the Dream Escape “clan” for the wonderful care & attention you have provided, and are providing for my clients"

Cindy Evans, Travel Consultant
"I hope I have another opportunity to work with Dream Escape in the near future. The company is so professional, yet approachable and easy to work with. It has been a pleasure!"

Carole McFarland, Universal Travel
"Dream Escape is delivering in a superb manner. Jim Johnston is a great driver and one of the best guides we've had - I wish to very much thank the Dream Escape Team for fulfilling a Dream…"

Donald M. Davis, President, Luxury Travel, Inc.
"Thank you all so much it's great to have trusted friends on the ground to take care of our clients!"

Peter Carideo, CRC Travel
"The trip was great.... Dream Escape is the name of the game"

Ann Lipschitz, Worldview Travel
"Your level of service is just outstanding"

Debra Fini, VWTI
"Dream Escape don’t just organise trips – they create adventures"

Financial Times, How to Spend it
"It was, without doubt, one of the most spectacular weekends I have ever had"

Country Life
"David Tobin’s an ace at getting inside private castles and estates and he’s well connected.... "

Conde Nast Traveller Magazine
"The level of service they provide is outstanding. They truly care about every aspect of the trip to ensure you have a fantastic stay. Rosie is a hidden gem of a tour guide. Just fabulous."

Yvonne Malka, Signature Travel Network, April 2018

The Balmoral