The Caledonian Edinburgh United Kingdom
The Caledonian Edinburgh
1 Princes Street
Edinburgh EH12AB, UK
www.the-caledonian-edinburgh/
HOTEL INFORMATION
Group
Hilton Worldwide
Shareholders
The Caledonian Operating Company Ltd T/A The Caledonian Hotel, Princes Street, Edinburgh EH1 2AB
Date of Creation
1903
Hotel General Manager
Nitin Ramtri, General Manager
A passionate hotelier with over 25 years of experience in hospitality, Nitin Ramtri is currently the General Manager of the iconic Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian, located in Edinburgh’s bustling city centre. Beginning his journey with Hilton over 13 years ago, Nitin has an extensive background in senior leadership roles, spanning across 3 different brands. His dedication to anticipating guest needs and building highly engaged teams has been facilitated by his experience in leading hotel operations, revenue, sales and introducing processes to drive business across various brand portfolios. Throughout his career in hospitality, Nitin has also had the opportunity to lead pre-opening and brand conversion projects, has taken part in task forces and leadership projects across the UK which included conceptualizing and launching Food and Beverage concepts while working closely with celebrity Chefs, driven sustainability projects across hotels in the UK, performing operational excellence, and effectively streamlined Housekeeping services and labour management systems.
Hotel Positioning
5* Luxury Hotel
THE CALEDONIAN EDINBURGH
History & Story
The Caledonian Edinburgh, known locally as the “Caley”, is one of Edinburgh’s most significant landmarks. Standing proudly at the West End of Princes Street, this former Victorian railway building hotel nestles in the shadow of the imposing Edinburgh Castle, boasting the most castle-facing guest rooms in the city. The Caledonian Edinburgh has embodied the best in Scottish hospitality for over 120 years.
Built in 1903 as part of the Caledonian Railway, guests are invited to discover the rich history and heritage of the Caledonian, through original features and historic touches throughout the hotel. These features include the original station clock and the Caledonian Railway crest in The Court, ornate marble finishing on the Grand Staircase, and the hotel’s beloved stained-glass windows, depicting all station stops along the original Caledonian Railways route.
The Caledonian Edinburgh offers 231 guest rooms and suites, designed to depict the vast landscape of Scotland and it’s stories. Drawing inspiration from the original railways crests set atop the hotel’s Grand Staircase, each guest room has been designed to celebrate three of Scotland’s prominent cities, and previous capital cities, Edinburgh, Stirling and Inverness.
The Caledonian Edinburgh is proud to have its very own tartan, signifying its unique place in the rich history of Scotland. The pattern of the Caledonian Tartan is made from a blend of five distinct colours; black to reference the tramlines of the Caledonian Railway, scarlet red to pay homage to the striking sandstone façade of the hotel, blue relating a distinct allusion to the Hilton blue, green in reference to our neighboring Princes Street Gardens, and finally a light grey signifying the “Edinburgh Rock” which the Edinburgh Castle sits a top.
Date Renewal
Last Refurbishment – 2024
Main Strengths, Special Touch
As part of The Caledonian’s 120th anniversary, our historic hotel is receiving a significant £35M investment throughout 2024 marking a new chapter in its 120-year history. The investment plans will see improvements in the infrastructure, bedroom refurbishment as well as upgrading and restoring the public areas to enhance the guest and visitor experience.
The Caledonian Edinburgh offers 235 newly refurbished bedrooms, designed to depict the vast landscape of Scotland and it’s stories. Drawing inspiration from the original railways crests set atop the hotel’s Grand Staircase, each guest room has been designed to celebrate three of Scotland’s prominent cities, and previous capital cities, Edinburgh, Stirling and Inverness.
The Court, newly opened in October 2024, is located in the heart of this iconic hotel, embodying the history and character of its rich past, combining vintage luxury and mid-century design. A new social scene for residents and locals to gather and celebrate, featuring exquisite and original heritage features, houses a grand cocktail bar, all-day dining, patisserie, lounge and finished with a live music stage. With each experience flowing into the next, visitors will enter a realm of exceptional artistry, vibrant menus, culture and music; morning, eve and night.
The branding and identity of the venue has been conceptualised by The Gorgeous Group and architectural design shaped by Cunningham Mclean.
At The Caledonian Edinburgh, our guests are at the heart of everything that we do. It is of the utmost importance to our team to welcome each guest with a truly authentic and personalised experience, matched with unrivalled Scottish hospitality.
Location
Scotland’s proud capital is rich in historic buildings and monuments, the medieval Old Town being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Caledonian Edinburgh stands proudly at the West End of Princes Street, in the heart of Edinburgh’s city centre, and within walking distance to some of the city’s most sought-after experiences, including the Royal Mile, Princes Street Gardens, and the iconic Edinburgh Castle.
Key sites/activities in the area
• Historic: Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street Gardens, Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace, Victoria Street, dean Village
• Shopping: George Street, Multree’s Walk, Stockbridge
• Museums & Galleries: National Gallery, National Museum of Scotland, National Portrait Gallery
Fun Facts
Originally built in 1903 as part of the Caledonian Railway, The Caledonian Edinburgh offers in inside look into its rich, Victorian heritage, with original ornate features and historic touches preserved throughout the hotel.
Children’s Corner
Children up to 18 years old stay free (with existing bedding) when sharing a room with a paying adult on a room only rate. Children 5 years and under enjoy complimentary breakfast from our buffet.
Spa:
Minors under 16 years old are subject to restriction for treatments, please refer to the spa for more details.
Swimming Pool: Children under 16 years must be accompanied into the water by an adult at all times. Please note, within your party, the ratio of adult to children in the pool in 1:2.
Family Activities:
• Afternoon Tea in The Court: An unforgettable experience for the entire family, afternoon Tea at The Caledonian Edinburgh offers a season selection of rotating themes to surprise and delight the youngest of travellers.
• Edinburgh is home to a selection of year-round, family friendly experiences, including the Edinburgh Castle, Camera Obscura and the Edinburgh Zoo.
HOTEL FEATURES
Accommodation
• Number of suites: 18, Ranging from from King Junior Suite of 317 sq.ft/30 sq.m to Caledonian Suite 1,415 sq.ft /13130 sq.m, mainly city or castle views (some courtyard).
Each of our Signature Suites have been affectionately names after notable Scottish figures throughout history, including Alexander Graham Bell, Sir Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson and Sir Walter Scott.
The Caledonian Suite, the largest of our suites, offers 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and exceptional views of the Edinburgh Castle.
• Number of Luxury rooms: 217, from Deluxe rooms of 215 sq.ft/20sq.m to Double Double of 490 sq.ft/45sq.m, mainly city or castle views (some courtyard)
Newly refurbished in 2024, our guest rooms have been designed to depict the vast landscape of Scotland and it’s stories. Drawing inspiration from the original railway crests set atop the hotel’s Grand Staircase, each guest room has been designed to celebrate three of Scotland’s prominent cities, and previous capital cities, Edinburgh, Stirling and Inverness.
• ‘The Wolf and Oak’ guest rooms, named after Stirling, represent ancient tales of Scotland left untold, featuring silhouettes of delicate branches, falling oak leaves and woodland textures.
• The Inverness-inspired ‘The Thistle and The Loch’ guest rooms, in rich tones of purple, evoke the captivating wild summits, peaks, lochs and valleys, and the serenity of the Scottish Highlands – affectionately paired with Scotland’s national flower, the Thistle.
• Finally, our Edinburgh-inspired ‘The Maiden and The Doe’ guest rooms overlook the iconic Edinburgh Castle, embracing our surrounding in Scotland’s capital, and embodying a tale of fair maidens and peaceful solitude.
Restaurants & Bars
• The Court – Located in the heart of The Caledonian Edinburgh, The Court embodies the history and character of its rich past, featuring a grand cocktail bar, exceptional all-day dining, patisserie selection, lounge and finished with a live music stage.
• The Caley Bar – Inspired by the timeless heritage of the Caledonian Railway, offering a selection of signature cocktail, and an extensive selection of premium whisky and local spirits.
• Dean Banks at the Pompadour – Fine dining experience, offering the best Scottish flavor from land and sea. Chef Proprietor, Dean Banks, Masterchef: The Finalists.
Wellness
• The Spa at The Caledonian features a selection of curated wellness experiences, in partnership with Scottish wellness brand, Ishga.
• The Spa’s leisure facilities include a swimming pool, steam room, sauna and private treatment rooms; Fitness over 2 floors with cardio and strength/weight areas, Technogym equipment and Peloton Bike
• 8 Private Event Spaces including our “signature Spaces” Castle Suite, Versailles Suite and Boardroom (listed spaces with hand painted walls / original wood paneling)
Corporate & Celebration Events
• Capacities of 2 to 250 pax, events range from social gatherings & weddings, to incentive trips to corporate meetings & events.
• We can provide layouts to suit every occasion: from seminar rooms and classrooms through theatre, cabaret style and banquet, to a grand reception.
• From grand gathering, to intimate celebrations, weddings at The Caledonian are the quintessential setting to bring each bride’s dream day to life, featuring bespoke packages, signature Scottish touches and a dedicated wedding planner for each event.
Extra Notable Features
• In celebration of 120 years of The Caledonian, our team conduct “history tours” of the building for anyone that wishes to learn more about the heritage of the hotel and our rich railway past.
• A unique list of curated Luxury Experience, encouraging guests to discover the rich heritage, shopping and authentically Scottish moments throughout Edinburgh and beyond, from Highland Pony Picnics to a Marine Safari and Luxury Shopping.
• Fable Yoga Mats are present in all guest rooms and suites, accompanied by a QR codes to experience in-room guided yoga and meditation sessions.
Hotel & Restaurants Awards
2023
Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards – #5 Best Hotel in the UK
Green Tourism – Green Tourism Silver Certification
U.S News & World Report – Top 3 Hotels in Scotland
World Travel Awards – Scotland’s Leading Luxury Hotel
World Luxury Hotel Awards – Best Luxury Historical Hotel & Best Luxury Wedding Hotel
World Luxury Spa Awards – Best Luxury Historical Hotel Spa in Northern Europe
AA Rosette Award – Three Rosettes – Dean Banks at The Pompadour
2021-2022
Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards – #3 Best Hotel in the UK
World Travel Awards – Scotland’s Leading Hotel
World Spa Awards – Scotland’s Best Hotel Spa
Travel + Leisure – Top 500 Hotels of the Year
Historic Hotels Worldwide – Best City Centre Historic Hotel
AA Rosette Award – Three Rosettes – Dean Banks at The Pompadour
AA Rosette Award – Two Rosettes – Grazing by Mark Greenaway
Number of employees
270