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Special feature: Rutland Apartment, Rutland Hotel, Edinburgh, UK

Last weekend we stayed at the Rutland Hotel in the heart of Edinburgh but not in one of their rooms; instead, we were just a short way down the road from the hotel in the beautiful Rutland Apartment which offers so much more than a hotel room.  We were warmly welcomed by Liz who made a fuss of our two boys before showing us to the accommodation. Pictured below is the living area of the apartment. And just off from the living area is a small kitchen and breakfast bar with everything you’d need if you wanted to cater for yourself rather than eat out. The apartment has two bedrooms, beautifully decorated with bright colours and bold wallpaper print, both with a flatscreen TV, and both pictured below. Space is of a premium in Edinburgh City Centre so it comes as something of a surprise to find that the Rutland Apartment even comes with its own small garden, perfect for those summer evenings where you can relax with a glass of wine before ambling up the road for the dinner. On the Saturday morning we had breakfast at the hotel and both opted for the Eggs Benedict on a bed of ham, spinach and muffin.  The eggs were cooked to perfection and provided ample fuel for the day ahead. Later in the day, after a little retail therapy, we ventured into Edinburgh and had lunch at The Hub, a historic Grade A listed building and a bustling café very close to Edinburgh Castle. You would need to reserve a table in advance if you don’t wish to queue on arrival. After a hearty brown seeded roll with prawns, lemon, dill mayonnaise and an avocado salsa, and having ‘done’ Edinburgh Castle and the Camera Obscura on our last trip to Edinburgh a couple of months ago, we decided to head to Our Dynamic Earth. It sounded like the perfect attraction to take our inquisitive children to… and it didn’t disappoint!  First we were taken in a ‘time machine’ which took us back through the ages… …we learnt about volcanoes, glaciers, evolution and more. Since I have a PhD in glaciology, I can’t say I learnt too much about glaciers that I didn’t already know(!) but it was nevertheless engaging and enjoyable, especially for children, and with some great effects thrown in. There were plenty of hands-on exhibits and some interesting insights into how we know about certain subjects such as ocean currents. There was even a simulation of a rainforest towards the end, as well as a 4D film experience. Back at the Rutland Apartment, we went out for dinner at the hotel restaurant which offered a menu created by head chef David Haetzman and his team. I was due to run the Edinburgh Marathon the next morning so the choice for me was easy… I was going for pasta.  So, after a starter of mussels steamed with cider, leeks and cream, I chose the homemade tagliatelle with fresh peas, broad beans, courgette, peas and crumbled goats cheese… which tasted as good as it looks. We really enjoyed our stay at the Rutland Apartment and would recommend it to anyone visiting the city – particularly families or guests travelling on business who appreciate a little more space, privacy and independence. Sadly, I can’t say I enjoyed the marathon quite as much!  The views on the way out of Edinburgh were lovely, as we passed a number of picturesque beaches which I hadn’t realised existed so close to the city.  But by mile 22, having turned back into a horrible headwind on my way back towards Musselburgh, my legs decided they had had enough!  At one time it had looked like I could have been on for a personal best but instead I struggled to the finish in a time of 4 hours and 8 minutes.  On the plus side, though, I did raise around £600 for the British Heart Foundation! If you’re ever thinking of a trip to Edinburgh, log on to This is My Edinburgh for information on how to get there, things to do, etc. If you would like a special feature on A Luxury Travel Blog, please contact us.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Daily Telegraph.

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2 Comments

  1. I lived in Edinburgh for a number of years, beautiful city! After extensive travel and living in different cities around the world, Edinburgh still gets my vote as one of the best cities to live or visit! Very multicultural, safe, and there’s always something to do no matter the weather.

    Why not hike up Arthur’s seat (just beside Dynamic Earth) or take a stroll around the beautiful Botantic Gardens in the quaint Stockbridge area.

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