Novotel Edinburgh Centre

The Novotel Edinburgh Centre is a 4-star, eco-certified hotel located at 80 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9DE, United Kingdom, in the heart of the Scottish capital. It is ideally situated for both business and leisure travellers, with internationally-renowned attractions like the Royal Mile, Princes Street, and Edinburgh Castle on your doorstep. The quirky bars and independent stores of Grassmarket are just a two-minute walk away. The hotel offers 180 newly upgraded rooms, including Standard Rooms with Queen-size bed and sofa, Standard rooms with two single beds, Classic Family Rooms, Superior rooms, Executive Rooms with Queen size bed and convertible sofa, Executive Rooms with Castle View, and a Suite Queen Bed with balcony and city or hills view. All rooms feature hypo-allergenic bedding, minibar, in-room safe, desk, flatscreen TV, and free WiFi. Check-in is from 3:00 PM, check-out until 12:00 PM. Guests can relax in the heated indoor pool and spa, which includes a sauna and steam room. The fitness centre is well-equipped for workouts. On-site dining includes the Tap Kitchen & Bar, serving contemporary cuisine, craft beers, and local gins. The Tap Music Lounge offers live entertainment and a lively atmosphere. Breakfast is served daily, and the hotel provides 24-hour room service. The restaurant caters to various dietary needs including vegetarian, vegan, and locally-sourced organic options. The hotel has seven meeting rooms, the largest being 73m² (239 sq ft) with a maximum capacity of 80 seats (40 for banquets). On-site car parking is available but limited (approximately 30 spaces for over 400 rooms), costing £20 per night for Accor members and £25 for non-members. EV charging points are available with 15 Type 2 (Socket Only) chargers at 7 kW each, operated by POD Point. The tariff is complicated: £0.45/kWh or £0.75/kWh, and membership is required. Public charging access is available. The hotel is wheelchair accessible and dog-friendly (pets welcome). It is a cashless hotel, and there is a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) effective from 1 June 2024. Free WiFi is available throughout. The property is 100% non-smoking. Transport links are excellent: a bus stop (Lauriston Place) is 160m away (1 min walk), Haymarket Railway Station is 800m (10 min walk), and Edinburgh Airport is 11.26km (20 min drive). The hotel is within walking distance of many attractions including Edinburgh Castle (800m), National War Museum, Usher Hall, Old Town, National Museum of Scotland, and Grassmarket. Customer reviews are very positive: ALL Rating 4.4/5 (3,057 reviews), TripAdvisor 4.0/5 (4,023 reviews), and Hotels.com 8.6/10 (1,014 reviews). Guests particularly praise the friendly and helpful staff – including Mo Mo the fluffy dog, Manisha, Carolina, and the front desk team – as well as the cleanliness, comfortable rooms, and excellent location. Some reviews note limited parking, room storage issues, and occasional lapses in service, but overall the hotel is highly recommended for families, couples, and business travellers. The general manager is Mikhail Myasin. The hotel is part of the Accor group and offers the ALL loyalty programme with member rates and rewards points.