Hotel Macdonald Roxburghe

The Roxburgh looks over Charlotte Square, at the start of George Street. The hotel is well located for shopping, and for exploring Edinburgh's New Town with its picturesque Georgian terraced houses and many parks and squares. George Street itself was the former banking district, and is now full of trendy bars and upper-market boutiques with Princes Street, the city's main shopping area, just around the corner. The Roxburghe is 20km from the airport, which can be reached by taxi or bus (the direct airport bus stops at the start of Princes Street ? a five minute walk from the hotel). Guests arriving by car should book one of the hotel's 19 car parking spaces in advance, which cost a fairly steep £19.50/night. Ask for a key from reception if you'd like obtain access to the lovely Charlotte square, which is only accessible to neighbours.

The Roxburgh has recently undergone an enormous renovation of all bedrooms, which was completed in April. But the work doesn't stop there - the hotel plans to redecorate and refurbish all of the public areas next, including the reception, bar and guest lounge. Work is due to be completed by 2012, so to enjoy The Roxburgh at its best, hold off you visit until next year! The hotel has an award in Green Business Tourism, and an impressive 15 point plan to reduce its carbon footprint by 15% come 2015.

The Roxburghe was originally made up of seven Georgian townhouses dating back to 1848, but now incorporates two wings - the old Georgian wing, and the new building, which was added to the existing hotel in the 1990s. Public areas of the hotel are light and spacious and the original large oval skylights in the stairwells are a nice touch. An inner courtyard that lies between the old part of the hotel and the new addition is particularly popular for afternoon teas in summer - try out the ?cosmopolitan tea', which comprises of a cocktail and cakes instead of tea! While BT customers currently benefit from free internet in the hotel, internet access costs a hefty £10/hour for most. All guests have complementary access to The Roxburghe's Spa and Health Club, but the gym is also popular with residents meaning it can get very busy at peak times.

One of Edinburgh's larger hotels, The Roxburgh has 199 rooms altogether, of which most are located in the new wing, and the remaining 82 can be found in the original Georgian townhouses. While both wings are of an equally high standard, townhouse rooms have the benefit of original Georgian features. Rooms on the ground floor and first floor, for example, have particularly high, grand ceilings, as these were originally used as public spaces. The hotel also has a number of suites including the Billiard Room, which has three huge skylights beaming down on the room from the high ceilings. The room is large and open plan, with a nice dressing area (separate his and hers wardrobes to avoid disputes...), two TVs and a grand bathroom with a roll top bath. Large fireplaces in many of the rooms have preserved the original Georgian tiles.

With The Melrose Restaurant, The Melrose Bar and the Consort Bar, there's no shortage of places to drink and dine at The Macdonald Roxburgh. Breakfast and dinner are served in the Melrose Restaurant, which is light and airy with tall grand windows facing out onto the street. Disappointingly, the restaurant is slightly generic and lacks character. Light snacks and refreshments are available in the Melrose Lounge bar, a grand hall on the ground floor with lovely views of Charlotte Square. Alternatively, the low-lit Consort Bar is a cosier option, perfect for an evening drink or after work apero. The hotel also offers 24h room service, with a reduced menu between 11pm-6am.