Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh

Burak Ciylan3/5 · 2026-07

We stayed at the Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh and had a mixed experience. On the positive side, the room was clean and comfortable, and the hotel itself was well maintained. The staff were polite, friendly, and generally willing to help. However, we had a serious issue with the heating in our room. The air conditioning/heating system was not working, and the room became very cold. When we first called reception, we were told the issue would be fixed, but nothing changed. After waiting around two hours, we called again and a staff member came to assist. He said he would try to resolve the problem, but unfortunately it could not be fixed, and we were instead given a portable heater. Unfortunately, the heater did not work either. It smelled really bad, so we didn't run it. As we come from a much warmer climate, the cold was particularly difficult for us, and some members of our family became unwell during our stay. While we appreciated the staff's efforts, the problem was never properly resolved, which had a significant impact on our experience. Overall, the cleanliness, room quality, and service were good, but the heating issue was a major disappointment. For that reason, I would rate our stay around 2.5–3 stars.

Andrea Armellei1/5 · 2026-05

We arrived at the hotel and were immediately surprised by the bad mood and unwillingness of the reception staff. We were only attended to by the third receptionist, as one kept passing us on to another, clearly showing a lack of interest in carrying out our check-in. After check-in, we were given a room clearly inferior to the one we had reserved and already paid for in advance. The room was tiny, with a small bed, an unpleasant smell, and a window facing directly onto a construction site, which already suggested constant noise throughout the day. We were extremely frustrated, as we had specifically booked a spacious room with a king-size bed. We returned to reception to discuss the issue. On top of that, the lifts in the tower were out of service and the receptionist failed to inform us. In fact, we met another Brazilian couple in the lobby who had experienced exactly the same problems. When speaking to the receptionist about the size and condition of the room, she still insisted that the room was “large”. We then requested a room change and made it clear that, if necessary, we would even pay extra, because there was no possibility of staying in that room for 6 nights, especially considering the high price we paid and how poorly we were being treated. When we finally arrived at the new room, it was larger, had a king-size bed, and actually matched the category we had originally booked. In other words, we had initially been placed in an inferior category room and, had we not complained, it would likely have remained that way. In addition, the hotel does not provide even basic essential amenities, not even a simple shower cap. The overall experience and way this hotel operates were extremely disappointing. I do not recommend it.

NH B5/5 · 2026-05

We had an excellent stay at Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh. The hotel's location is outstanding, with many of the city's main attractions within walking distance, making it the perfect base for exploring Edinburgh. The reception staff were exceptionally kind and professional. We were especially grateful that our request for an early check-in was taken into consideration, and our room was prepared ahead of time, allowing us to check in earlier than expected. This thoughtful gesture made a great first impression and was highly appreciated after our journey. The staff in the breakfast area were also incredibly friendly, attentive, and helpful, contributing to a very pleasant start to each day. Overall, the combination of excellent service, comfort, and a prime central location made our stay truly enjoyable. Whenever I want to stay in the heart of Edinburgh, Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh will be my preferred choice.

Kiren Ibraimo1/5 · 2026-08

Disappointing experience — rude and inefficient staff. Our stay at the Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh was extremely disappointing, largely due to the attitude and inefficiency of the staff. The check-in process was chaotic. There were large numbers of guests waiting in a very small lobby well past 3pm because rooms were not ready. After a long journey, this was an extremely poor first impression. We also had 10+ bags in our car and there were no porters available to help. We had to unload everything ourselves, put the luggage onto a trolley that was up the road, and bring it into the hotel ourselves. For a hotel of this size and price point, this was unacceptable. The attitude of reception staff was particularly frustrating. On one occasion, I asked reception to check something in lost property and, without even checking, I was immediately told it wasn’t there. On another occasion, a guest asked whether the hotel had a weighing scale. The receptionist told her they didn’t — despite a weighing scale literally being about one metre away from her. If you ask reception for assistance, they seem to make every effort to pass the responsibility on to the concierge, who was seemingly never there. Unfortunately, the attitude wasn’t limited to reception. The atmosphere in the breakfast room was equally poor. There were two female members of staff walking around looking visibly annoyed and seemingly doing everything possible to avoid being approached or asked for assistance. The general impression was that helping guests was an inconvenience. What was perhaps most disappointing was how the hotel handled feedback. At the end of our stay, we spoke directly to the manager and explained our concerns face-to-face. His response was essentially to stare at us blankly without offering any meaningful response or even acknowledging the issues raised, seemingly hoping we would simply leave. Hotels don’t have to be perfect, but basic courtesy, efficiency and willingness to help guests should be non-negotiable. Unfortunately, we experienced very little of any of these during our stay. The only positive is the location right below the royal mile but I would not stay here again and cannot recommend this hotel.

YKC Cheng4/5 · 2026-07

The overall impression is very good. We enjoy our stay in this hotel. The hotel was well maintained. Staff are nice & polite. However, a cleaning worker in female washroom on ground floor is so rude & impatient. Yesterday afternoon, after we used the washroom & going to wash our hands, the cleaning working told me to walk away for her to clean the floor. So wired & “efficient”! So I went to the other basin to continue. But, she stood next to us & stared at us impatiently all along. This gave us a very bad impression of this hotel as well as Edinburgh. There was no notice for cleaning when we entered the washroom. She should wait until we finished. So ridiculous to be treated in a “4 star” hotel like that.

Alan Bressan5/5 · 2026-06

Moments walk from Waverley Station. Easy access to shops, cafes, restaurants. Our room was overlooking the station along with great views of the old buildings of Edinburgh. We received a lovely welcome note along with wine and chocolate. Room was spacious and comfortable.