Luxury Hotel · Edinburgh
The Balmoral Hotel
Tailor-made, always
Every trip built from scratch around your dates, pace and preferences.
Your own specialist
One named person and a 24-hour number while you travel.
Hundreds of five-star reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot across ten years of LGBTQ+ luxury travel.
At a glance
One of Edinburgh’s most recognisable landmarks, The Balmoral occupies a commanding position at 1 Princes Street, where its iconic clock tower has defined the city’s skyline since 1902.
Interiors designed by Olga Polizzi draw on the Scottish landscape throughout, with bespoke Balmoral tartan, Hebridean blues and heather hues setting the tone for rooms and suites that feel distinctly and deliberately Scottish.
The dining offering spans five venues, from the 4 AA Rosette Scottish cuisine of Number One to the French-Scottish bistro fare of Brasserie Prince and the award-winning afternoon tea at Palm Court. SCOTCH, the hotel’s whisky bar, stocks over 500 Scottish malts.
The Irene Forte Spa brings a wellness offering rooted in natural, Italian-made products, while the hotel’s position looking up to Edinburgh Castle places guests at the meeting point of the Old Town and New Town, as central an address as Edinburgh offers.
Highlights
- Landmark clock tower address at 1 Princes Street, where Edinburgh’s Old Town meets New
- Number One restaurant holds 4 AA Rosettes for Scottish fine dining
- SCOTCH whisky bar stocks over 500 Scottish malts
Accommodation
Classic Room
The Classic Room combines comfort with style, providing an ideal retreat for those seeking a sophisticated yet cozy stay in Edinburgh.
Annan Suite
The Annan Suite, elegantly designed, offers spacious accommodation with luxurious amenities and some lovely views of the city – perfect for an indulgent stay.
Glamis Suite
The Glamis Suite offers sophisticated décor and stunning views, ideal for a lavish experience. We love the decor in the lounge – it feels traditional yet stylish.
Scone and Crombie Suite
Exuding elegance, the Scone and Crombie Suite offers a sumptuous stay with its exquisite design and top-notch facilities.
Further information
Dining
The Balmoral’s dining spans five venues. Number One leads with contemporary Scottish fine dining and 4 AA Rosettes, while Brasserie Prince takes a more relaxed approach, marrying classic French cuisine with Scottish produce. Palm Court delivers an award-winning afternoon tea in one of Edinburgh’s most elegant rooms. Bar Prince offers a glamorous retreat from Princes Street, and SCOTCH rounds out the offering as one of Edinburgh’s largest whisky bars, with over 500 Scottish malts.
Spa
The Irene Forte Spa uses the brand’s own award-winning vegan skincare range, developed over 35 years of research, alongside advanced technologies including LYMA Laser Pro and volcanic stone therapies. Five treatment rooms sit alongside a sauna, steam room, indoor lap pool, state-of-the-art Technogym gym and the Forte Vita Bar, offering fast facials, hair and nail services. Spa day packages combine use of the thermal suite and pool with treatments and afternoon tea.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is Scotland’s capital and sits on the country’s eastern side, close to the Firth of Forth. It’s a relatively compact city, although the hills and cobbled streets mean distances can feel rather more substantial once you start walking them. The historic center is divided broadly between the Old Town and New Town. Together they form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but they feel remarkably different.
Stellar service. Stellar products. Stellar people and it gets so much better when you pick up the phone and call.
Anthony S.
Super client centred service. From first contact I have had warm, efficient, friendly and flexible service.
John
I’m confident in giving Out Of Office a 5-star review! They are one of the leaders in this space without a doubt.
Tiberiu
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Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specializing in tailor-made vacations and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury vacations, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalized experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with traveling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveler, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalized service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ vacations?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalized itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travelers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of traveling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first inquiry to homecoming. No call center, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.