InterContinental Edinburgh The George by IHG is a luxury hotel set in the heart of Edinburgh. Its historic facade and elegant interiors reflect the city's rich heritage. The hotel boasts stylishly decorated rooms equipped with modern amenities such as free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and luxury bedding. Guests can indulge in fine dining at the on-site restaurant, which offers a menu of seasonal dishes made from local ingredients. The hotel also features versatile event spaces, making it a popular choice for both business and leisure travelers. Additionally, its prime location provides easy access to famous landmarks such as Edinburgh Castle and the Scottish National Gallery.
What each source says
- Tripadvisor 4.5 2,683
- Google 4.5 2,046
- Expedia 4.5 1,009
- Priceline 4.2 885
Bar length is review volume, so you can see how much weight sits behind each score. Captured 2026-08-26.
What visitors single out
Liked
- Charming Atmosphere The hotel is housed in a beautiful, historic building that blends traditional elegance with modern comforts. Guests appreciate the well-kept, stylish decor that provides a classic Edinburgh experience in a grand setting.
- Exceptional Staff Staff members are consistently praised for being warm, professional, and proactive. The concierge team, in particular, is frequently highlighted for going above and beyond to assist with restaurant reservations and travel planning.
- High-Quality Breakfast The extensive breakfast buffet is widely regarded as excellent, offering a wide variety of fresh, high-quality options. Many guests find the grand dining hall setting and the food selection a standout part of their stay.
- Prime Location Situated in the heart of the New Town, the hotel is perfectly positioned for city exploration. It is within comfortable walking distance of major attractions like the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, and the Waverley train station.
- Well-Appointed Rooms Rooms are frequently described as clean, comfortable, and well-equipped. Thoughtful extras, such as complimentary snacks, high-quality toiletries, and cozy bedding, consistently enhance the overall guest experience.
Criticised
- Breakfast Service Inconsistencies While the food quality is high, the breakfast service can be disorganized. Guests often mention long wait times for seating, slow service, or difficulty ordering specific items during peak hours, detracting from the experience.
- Confusing Hotel Layout The layout of the property can be difficult to navigate, with a complex maze of corridors and different wings. Some guests feel that reaching elevators or certain rooms is inconvenient and poorly signposted.
- Inconsistent Heating and Cooling Multiple guests have reported technical issues with temperature control, specifically heating and air conditioning systems that fail to work. This occasionally leads to uncomfortable room temperatures that are difficult for staff to resolve.
- Noise Disturbances Due to the city-center location and the historic structure, some rooms suffer from significant noise. Guests frequently report disturbances from street-level nightlife, delivery vehicles, or sound transferring easily between neighboring rooms.
- Small Room and Bathroom Sizes Many guests find standard rooms to be cramped, with particularly tiny bathrooms that lack vanity space. This can make the layout feel restrictive and less spacious than expected for a premium hotel.
The longer read
The InterContinental Edinburgh The George offers a quintessentially elegant experience housed within a historic building, located in the heart of Edinburgh's New Town. Its prime position provides excellent walkability to the Waverley train station, the Royal Mile, and various museums and shopping districts, making it an ideal base for city explorers. While the hotel’s lobby and public spaces are consistently described as grand and welcoming, the structure’s age does impose some architectural quirks, including a maze-like layout in certain wings that guests occasionally find confusing to navigate.
The standout feature of this property, according to a vast majority of guests, is the service. The staff—from the front desk and concierge team to the doormen—are frequently lauded for being exceptionally professional, warm, and proactive. Numerous reviewers shared anecdotes of staff going above and beyond to arrange dinner reservations, assist with lost luggage, or provide thoughtful, personalized gestures for birthdays and anniversaries. This high level of attention often makes guests feel like family, distinguishing the hotel’s hospitality from more impersonal luxury chains.
However, guests should be selective when booking room types, as experiences vary significantly due to the property's historic nature. While many rooms are beautifully appointed and spacious, others—particularly lower-tier doubles or those in certain wings—are reported as cramped with limited bathroom counter space. Noise can also be a factor; light sleepers may want to request a room away from the back alleys, where delivery vehicles or service doors can cause early-morning disruptions, or away from the street if they are sensitive to city sounds. Maintenance quirks, such as variable water pressure or heating/cooling issues, appear occasionally, though staff are generally quick to resolve them when prompted.
Finally, the breakfast service is widely regarded as a highlight, featuring an extensive, high-quality buffet with a broad selection of both traditional Scottish items and international staples. The grand dining hall adds to the overall experience, though the popularity of this service means it can become quite busy during peak times. While the hotel may be on the higher end of the pricing spectrum, its unbeatable location, classic character, and truly dedicated service team make it a premier choice for those seeking a memorable Edinburgh stay. Travelers aiming for the best experience should consider booking premium room categories or suites to ensure a more spacious layout and modern bathroom facilities.
A synthesis of published third-party reviews. Not written by Breaks.
Getting there
- Phone
- +441312251251
- Website
- ihg.com/redirect?path=hd&localeCode=en&hotelCode=EDIGS
- Check in
- 15:00 · out 12:00
Facilities
- 24 Hours
- Accepts Credit Cards
- Accessible
- Activities
- Air Conditioning
- Allergy Free Room
- Baggage Storage
- Banquet Room
- Bar
- Bridal Suite
- Cafe
- Complimentary Instant Coffee
- Complimentary Tea
- Concierge
- Conference Room
- Family Rooms
Against the neighbourhood
Rated 4.5 against a median of 4.4 across the 93 venues we hold for Edinburgh, where the most-reviewed is Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh.
Booking
What this page cannot tell you
- Descriptions and review summaries are supplied by the source index and are reproduced as published; they are not independently verified by Breaks.
- Ratings and review counts are point-in-time snapshots and drift constantly. Check the venue's own site or the rating provider for the current figure.
- Opening hours change seasonally and at short notice. Confirm with the venue before travelling.
- Category labels come from the source index and are occasionally wrong — a venue may be filed under a type that does not match how it trades.
- Straight-line distances understate real walking distance, especially where a river or railway sits between two points.