Edinburgh stay-- Dalkeith or Old Town

I am unfamilar with the paces you mention. We like the Royal British. It is across Princes St. from Waverly station. Very nice, good value and great location. We stayed there when we took our kids (years ago) and we it was just the 2 of us.

We usually stay in the Dalkeith area and either walk into town or catch the bus. It is neither a long walk to the bus nor a long ride on it. A nice quiet B&B is certainly more preferable (to me)than Jury's.

Hi Sandy,
We stayed at the Jury's Inn last June. I liked being so close to the Royal Mile and all the action. I would not reccomend the Jury's Inn though. I found the room to feel cheap. The breakfast was awful and expensive. After the first day I walked to nearby Starbucks and brought back Breakfast. Also the hotel upon checkout converted bill into dollars (for a fee) I had to complain to get it reversed.

I'll compare that to another big box hotel, the London County Hall Premier Inn which we loved (except for the breakfast)

Hope this is of some help.

Dont know which Dalkeith Laurel visited but I'm from Edinburgh and there is no way you could walk daily from Dalkeith to the city...Its barely a suburb but is actually a separate city.I would strongly recommend staying in the city as the bus fares alone for a family will be so expensive and you would spend too much time travelling evey day. It costs one pound every time you get on a bus ( no transfers in Scotland)so assess carefully where you want to visit in town.....Try to take your children to the National Museum and to Greyfriars churchyardfor the story of Greyfriars Bobby which is just around the corner from the museum.

I think she talking about the Dalkeith Road area referenced in Rick Steves guidebook. It is a quiet area accessible to Royal Mile by bus-takes about 15 minutes.I like the experience of taking public transportation when I am in Europe but that may just be me.

We stayed at a B&B (the B&B has since closed) on Dalkeith Road. As Richard said, it's about a 15 minute walk and public transportation is readily available. I'm not sure how it would be getting back and forth with small children but it is a nice, quiet neighborhood.

Thank you for all your thoughts thus far.---Just reading the responses illustrates my dilemma. I looked for other places near the Royal Mile and most can not accomodate a family...only a holiday inn express, a travelodge, and an ipex. (any thoughts on those?) For those who know--how frequently does the bus run from Dalkeith (near the RS recommendations) into town? Still have not decided, just when I think I have, I rethink and decide on the other way. Any thoughts on other places that are closer but not on the royal mile?

Hi Sandy, I stayed at the Kenvie in 1999 (a very nice B&B by the way). I too was concerned with the bus situation. The bus stop was not a far walk from the B&B, about 4-5 minute walk. Also, there is a public swimming pool right nearby (at least it was in 1999; anyone out there care to comment if it is still there?) about 6-10 min walk from the B&B. The owners can answer any questions you have about the bus, and may even still be providing a card with the bus numbers on it that take you from the city center back to the B&B. Practically all the buses leaving the Dalkeith area go to the City Center, therefore, roughly every 10 minutes or so. Just ask the driver when he opens the door if he's going into the city center, chances are that he is. That said, I did not travel with young children, so I cannot respond in that regard. You may want to look into an all day ticket for the bus, allowing you to hop on and off all day throughout the city, should you have a change of heart in what you wish to see/visit. The cost may prove prohibitive, though. Just a thought.....

Yes, Thank you Richard.