The Caledonian

5* and fancy A Hilton hotel, no longer a Waldorf Astoria but a Curio Collection by Hilton Hotel very grand, from a time when even train travel was only for aristocrats probably. Massively wide corridors for ball gowns etc. This used to be a station hotel. There was a station at this end (who knew?) but demolished. Very well located -corner of Princes St and Lothian Road Good accessibility except sink in my room too low for wheelchair and knees below

As Edinburgh grew into a vibrant city, in 1890 the Caledonian railway company extended its line, and built an exclusive high end station at Princess Street. , and it’s main attraction would be the wonderful boutique hotel, and after almost 4 years of building, the Caledonian Hotel proudly opened its doors in 1903. As railway travel declined, the Princess Street station was closed in 1965, and demolished almost completely around 1970. However, the hotel itself was saved, and later expanded to increase the size of the hotel. In 1995 it was made a Listed building, class A, and in 2000 it was sold for around 44 million pounds to the Hilton group. It was later renamed as the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh the Caledonian. When it was sold again, in 2018, it cost 85 million pound, and this made it one of the most luxurious hotels and an Icon of Princess street. Today, this former railway station offers some of the finest views of Edinburgh castle, and across the road from Princess Street gardens. It was here we hoped to offer you our review. Due to COVID 19 restrictions we are unable to give a full review, but we were allowed access to some areas though. We caught a bus from Waverley station on Princess street, to get off three stops later, (photo 1), to go to the Waldorf Astoria hotel, the Caledonian, (photo 2). The appearance was very pleasing to the eye, and there was a ramp to enter the hotel (photo 3). A beautiful reception desk (photo 4) stood next to two highly polished lifts, (photo 5). The lounge bar of Peacock Alley was beautifully decorated (photo 6) certainly had that wow factor, then a lovely staircase led up to bedrooms (photo 7). What a hotel, elegant, beautiful, and certainly worth seeing, an ideal hotel for disabled, although bus stops mean a little walking has to be done, but everywhere in hotel seemed to be wheelchair friendly enough. Then a long walk took us to Queensferry road for our bus to take us back to Princess street. (Photo 8). Our final thoughts. We were disappointed not to see more of the hotel, but the parts we were able to see was spotless, shiney, elegant, and you certainly felt in there that you needed to dress up. But my wheelchair and I were warmly welcomed, and we already felt we would recommend this hotel, though it would be pricey (example, from £370 a night and upwards, during September 2021). But my, would you enjoy your visit.

The Caledonian’s heritage as a former railway hotel was fully on display. With two accessible rooms out of its two hundred and forty-one it was impressive.