The Balmoral Hotel is one of the most recognisable landmarks in Edinburgh, closely associated with the development of the city’s railways and its emergence as an international destination.
This comprehensive, illustrated history of the hotel, based on original research, will be available in late 2026. It examines the circumstances of its construction, its relationship with the North British Railway and its role in the life of the city from the late 19th century onwards.
As with other studies on this site, the aim is to look beyond familiar accounts and to return to contemporary sources in order to build a clearer understanding of the hotel’s origins and evolution.
This complete history will be available in time for the hotel’s 125th anniversary in 2027.
Hotel History Expert 