Room with a View - Leonardo Hotel, Edinburgh
For the second leg of the anniversary trip, I’m happy to be back in Scotland. I’ve stayed in what hotels call ‘compact’ rooms in my time and the Leonardo isn’t even the smallest one I’ve had in Edinburgh.
For my first visit to Scotland, I stayed in a single bedded room at the Royal British Hotel (that sounds a lot worse in these post-2016 times than it did in 2011) which was conveniently opposite Waverley train station. Our last visit was at the superbly equipped Premier Inn Hub which was far less claustrophobic than I had feared.
Now we are in the wonderful neighbourhood close to the Meadows where you can easily spot 20 dogs per coffee if you look all around you while sipping it.
We picked the smallest room as the prices were off the scale due, I guess, due the demand of a nation seeking UK holidays in 2021.
Readers will know my old habit of re-designing hotels rooms in my head. This ritual has lessened in recent years as newer hotels are built for a 21st-century living (see Kempinksi for something close to perfection).
However, the double wardrobe that couldn’t fully open as it’s next to (my side) of the bed would have benefited from being part of a built-in structure housing the TV. That whole wall laid bare other than a long desk with one drawer.
Storage
In addition, the desk had a handy cupboard plus there are shelves in the wardrobe so everything can be tucked away. Both bedside units have a drawer too.
Amenities/comfort
Good to see the kettle plugged in and not having to move it somewhere else.
Safe
Hairdryer
Full-length mirror.
Dressing table mirror
One USB and plenty of sockets
Windows that open
Both rooms had radiators that could be turned on so handy for drying towels if needed. Luckily the towels dried with the room’s temperature.
TV on the wall (where a wardrobe unit could fit around it)
One small table & chair
Desk chair
Luggage rack
Bathroom
Towel shelf/rail
Just two big towels and two hand
Lighting
Two desk lights
Two bedside lights
One overhead light
One bathroom
The only issue we had was with the TV remote (the Olympics were on) it took two nights of trying different ones before one worked. But the staff were friendly and this is a great location.
