BB31

I will be spending 17 days in the UK in December. Some of my time is set and I will be traveling with friends , but I have some solo days yet to plan, and could use some help.
8 nights - airbnb in London with friends
5 nights open- flying to Edinburgh. How long should I spend there? Should I spend a night or two outside the city?
any recommendations for hotel in Edinburgh that are nice / upscale but also have a nice bar, restaurant or otherwise fun scene?
3 days in Hampshire with friends
2 nights in London solo- any recommendations for a special hotel - fun, festive , or otherwise just well designed?

janisj

Need more info from you - Like what what are your actual dates? Do they include 24/25/26 December and/or New Year's Eve/Day? These can have a huge impact on public transport and hotel rates.

Have you booked a flight to EDI? If not it is faster city centre to city centre and a more convenient trip by train. Where is the London AirBnB? That could determine practicality of train vs plane.

I would plan on any exploring outside of Edinburgh -- the days are very short and the weather could be nasty. Except maybe a day trip by train to Stirling.

What is your hotel budget in boyh Edinburgh and London -- 'upscale' in either city could be eye wateringly expensive. Give us an actual # - preferably in £.

BB31

Dates are the 2th to the 19th so I won’t be affected by the actual holidays. My transport will be based on friends schedules so really mainly looking for hotel and Scotland suggestions .
I willing to splurge if a place is worth it ( splurging in hampshire) but let’s say I’d prefer to stay under 400 £ a night.

Underhill

For a hotel around Christmas, I'd opt for Brown's. They do a really good festive meal on Christmas day.

BB31

Browns looks great but is 900£ a night

janisj

OOPS -- my post should have said "I would not plan on any exploring outside of Edinburgh . . . " makes a huge difference



Brown's is quite a nice hotel but is far from the up-est of upscale. You said 'Upscale' but may not realize how expensive hotels are in Edinburgh and London. £400 per night will get you a very nice place but not particularly upscale in December. (For me personally, Brown's would not come to mind for f'un/well designed'. It is a very nice property buy very (very) traditional.)

janisj

In London I'd look at the Hoxton's (there are several), the Standard, the St Martin's Lane

janisj

. . . and in Edinburgh -- check the Apex Grassmarket

BB31

Thank you for the suggestions !
the budget isnt fixed but I’m not willing to go up to the top level places ( Dorchester , Connaught etc)
id prefer something a bit more young and fun, but not say the Ace.
Does anyone have feedback on the 22 in London or gleneagles in Edinburgh?

janisj

Did you check out the hotels I mentioned in posts 7 & 8? They are closer to what you are looking for.

Gleneagles in Edinburgh is super nice but not what I'd call a 'young and fun' nor at all trendy. Their standard rooms would run about $450/night depending on the date. Their larger more upscale rooms - about $600

janisj

. . . and the Twenty-Two is in Grosvenor Square/Mayfair. They claim to be for the 'creative and curious' but that is a VERY upscale neighborhood - definitely not young and trendy. Per their website for your dates around the 17th / 18th Dec their cheapest room is £626 pre-paid/ Non-refundable. For flexible/refundable -- its £695 . . . that is $860 bleedin' US$.

BB31

I’m not looking for trendy. I just feel like I’m some cases upscale can mean stuffy and quiet and I would like something with a bit more activity.

janisj

You brought up Twenty Two? Had you checked out their rates?

. . . I didn't mean 'trendy' like too full of themselves - but what you described-- well designed, fun, young.

I've stayed in several world famous, upscale hotels in London (and rented many low end flats too ) Whether the Savoy, or the Claridges or the Goring all are superb and not 'stuffy'. Just fabulous service. But none are what I'd call young and fun.

Someplace like St Martin's Lane will probably run in the £300-£350 range (between $375 and $450-ish) and is in the heart of Covent Garden.

BB31

Yes I had checked the rates on 22. While I’d prefer lower the rates They are similar to what I’m paying in Hampshire . If I’m going to spend I just want it to be worth it.
I like the more traditional hotels in some cases, but when solo, I like more activity. On past trips in London I’ve stayed in a pretty diverse group of neighborhoods and lodgings- I’m sure wherever I end up will be fine.
However I’ve not been to Edinburgh, and don’t really know the best areas to stay, how long is ideal etc.

janisj

Your posts are over the place -- you want upscale but when upscale is recommended "No, that's too expensive". Want to stay under £400 per night - then post that Twenty Two is just fine cost-wise. Want young/fun/active scene - then say you prefer traditional. Just too hard to hit a moving target.

Stay in Old Town in Edinburgh . . . I'm out

crellston

Spent a couple of nights last week at Browns. Upscale, yeas but I wouldn’t describe as stuffy in the same way as a say the Dorchester etc. Seemed more like a private members club than a hotel. Friendly staff great service , superb food. In terms of activity , a reasonably busy bar area, the jazz in Donavans bar was excellent. Beautifully decorated throughout. The reception


Also just stayed at The Balmoral in Edinburgh. Also part of the Rooco Forte hotel. Great location right on Princes Street, walking distance to a lot of sights. Not quite as fantastic as Browns but still great. V. popular with Americans ( we were in a minority &#128521

The group do a package which included a DBB for couple of nights in both hotels with 1st Class train fare in between. May be worth a look. Glenaeagles Townhouse just across Princes St which looked interesting.

Another London hotel which may fit the bill is The Londoner. Situated on Leicester Square it is close to all the action in the West End, theatres,galleries Soho, Covent Garden, Seven Dials etc.

marketed as London newest 5* Boutique hotel. Haven’t stayed there but walked past the other day and it looked pretty special!

bilboburgler

Rocco

ChgoGal

Envy your being in London in December--I've not done that yet. Always wanted to see Kew at Christmastime, and also Chiswick House. For your solo time in London, I can't speak to nightlife, as I've never been young enough for that, but googling for rooftop bars or hotel bars should give you some good ideas. Otherwise, if you expect to be doing more touristy things, I might just look at the Resident Hotels in Soho or Covent GArden. They have a nice little kitchenette that's tucked away, and is very nice to have in the room to keep some lovely English cheese, crackers, and wine. Not super posh, but nice and in lively areas for theater and Chinatown.

I've only been to Edinburgh once, so others will be better to advise, but 5 nights would be too long for me without day trips out of the city. Not sure if Rabbies Tours do those in December, but I would schedule 1-2 of those if possible.

Fra_Diavolo

May I suggest the Bloomsbury Hotel https://www.doylecollection.com/hote...oomsbury-hotel, which at about £350 in mid-December is near your budget. It has a lively bar and aa restaurant and is near the theaters, Covent Garden and the British Museum. It's upscale but definitely not in the rarified heights of Brown's, etc.

BB31

I considered dividing my time in Scotland and doing 3 nights in Edinburgh and 2 elsewhere. But with travel time to and from London and between spots I think that would end up feeling rushed. I will do a day trip or two and just relax and enjoy the city at the holidays.