Independent hotel guide
The Witchery by the Castle
Romantic celebrations, atmospheric Old Town stays and travellers who want the hotel itself to feel like an occasion.
- Luxury
Image: The Witchery by the Castle. Full attribution
At a glance
Quick facts
- Price band
- Luxury
- Neighbourhood
- Old Town
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Classification
- 5-star Five-star hotel (official hotel website classification)
Editorial take
Why consider The Witchery by the Castle?
Nine maximalist suites hidden in historic Castlehill buildings at the gates of Edinburgh Castle.
Best for
Romantic celebrations, atmospheric Old Town stays and travellers who want the hotel itself to feel like an occasion.
Avoid if
you want understated design, family flexibility, predictable modern layouts or an easy luggage route without checking stairs.
- Couple
Strengths and trade-offs
Strengths
- Exceptional location at the top of the Royal Mile beside Edinburgh Castle
- Only nine highly individual suites
- Two destination dining rooms on site
Trade-offs
- Historic buildings and individual layouts demand careful access checks
- One king bed per suite and no additional beds limit family or group flexibility
Fit check
Who it suits — and who should skip it
Best for: Romantic celebrations, atmospheric Old Town stays and travellers who want the hotel itself to feel like an occasion.
Skip it if: you want understated design, family flexibility, predictable modern layouts or an easy luggage route without checking stairs.
Related reading:Edinburgh hotel guide; Where to stay in Edinburgh; Best Boutique Hotels in Edinburgh.
Stay details
Rooms and spa
These are the room categories for which our current source set contains useful, comparable detail. They are not presented as a complete live inventory.
suite
Witchery Suite
- Published for up to 2 guests
All nine suites have one king-size bed; the hotel does not provide additional beds. Each suite has an individual layout.
Facilities in our source set
- On-site restaurant
The Original Dining Room and Secret Garden form the restaurant at the same Castlehill address.
On the ground
Location and access
The Witchery by the Castle is at Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 2NF. See our Edinburgh hotel guide for the wider area context and other places to stay.
The hotel is on Castlehill at the top of the Royal Mile. The uphill route from Waverley includes gradients and busy historic streets.
Before you book
Good to know
Policy notes
Suite occupancy is constrained by one king bed and no additional beds. Confirm current dining, breakfast, cancellation and access arrangements for the exact suite.
Accessibility
No accessibility survey has been carried out by BestUKHotels.com. The suites occupy historic buildings, so confirm every step, stair, lift and bathroom requirement for the named suite before booking.
Quick answers
Questions travellers ask about The Witchery by the Castle
What is the main reason to choose The Witchery by the Castle?
Nine maximalist suites hidden in historic Castlehill buildings at the gates of Edinburgh Castle.
Who is The Witchery by the Castle best for?
Romantic celebrations, atmospheric Old Town stays and travellers who want the hotel itself to feel like an occasion.
Where is The Witchery by the Castle?
The hotel is at Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 2NF. The hotel is on Castlehill at the top of the Royal Mile. The uphill route from Waverley includes gradients and busy historic streets.
What should I check before booking The Witchery by the Castle?
Study the exact suite page and access route. Every suite has one king bed, no extra beds are available and layouts differ sharply.
Featured in our Edinburgh guides
The Witchery by the Castle is shortlisted in these editorial guides, each written for a different trip.
Destination guide
Best hotels in Edinburgh
Where to stay
Where to stay in Edinburgh
Curated guide
Best Boutique Hotels in Edinburgh
Curated guide
Best Hotels in Edinburgh Old Town (Near the Royal Mile)
Curated guide
Best Hotels for Edinburgh Festivals
Curated guide
Best Edinburgh Christmas Hotels 2026
Alternatives
Other hotels we have written up that may suit a different brief.
Prestonfield House
- Best for
- Romantic breaks, celebrations, drivers, Arthur’s Seat and travellers who want a secluded hotel experience.
- Trade-off
- Not a walk-out city-centre base for most sightseeing itineraries
A romantic 23-room country-house experience within Edinburgh, trading walk-out sightseeing for parkland, drama and privacy.
Booking tipPick the room for mood and floor as well as price; top-floor Luxury Bedrooms have mansard ceilings, while larger Estate Rooms add space and views.
Fingal
- Best for
- Couples, special occasions, maritime design, Leith dining and repeat visitors seeking a stay outside the centre.
- Trade-off
- Leith is roughly two miles from the city centre rather than a walk-out Old Town base
Edinburgh’s most distinctive overnight stay: a 23-cabin floating hotel in Leith with Art Deco maritime character and tram access.
Booking tipChoose a cabin category for layout as well as price: standard cabins are compact, while Duplex and Skerryvore options add space and stairs.
100 Princes Street
- Best for
- Couples, solo travellers, celebrations and families prepared to book interleading rooms directly.
- Trade-off
- Entry-level Single Rooms average 14 square metres
An intimate Princes Street townhouse with standout castle views, individual rooms and useful interleading options for larger parties.
Booking tipReserve Executive Double - Castle View, Junior Suite - Castle View, Isobel or Archibald; an ordinary Executive King or Terrace Suite is not a view guarantee.
Editorial evidenceSources4 cited references supporting this page
Claims are paired with the publisher and access date used during editorial verification.
Hotel is open; official five-star positioning, nine suites, Castlehill location and current luxury rate context
Official booking pages were open. Luxury is an editorial relative price band, not a quoted live rate.
Suite bed configuration, lack of extra beds and hotel facilities
Address and position beside Edinburgh Castle
Coordinates for EH1 2NF
Map pin is the postcode centroid, not a surveyed entrance.
How this page was researched: how we review hotels · editorial policy · affiliate disclosure · corrections