The Principal Edinburgh on George Street has been welcoming hotel guests since 1881. At its heart are five listed Georgian townhouses, built in 1775 as homes for Edinburgh’s most prosperous citizens. Winner of Scottish Hotel of the Year at the 2017 Scottish Hotel Awards, The Principal Edinburgh George St is an ideal base from which to explore the city or conduct business. The sensitive, multi-million-pound restoration and refurbishment combines luxurious natural materials such as oak, marble and leather with a palette of colours inspired by the great 19th-century Scottish landscape painters.A nod to Edinburgh’s rich literary heritage, The Printing Press Bar & Kitchen was once home to acclaimed novelist Susan Ferrier (an equal of Jane Austen, according to Sir Walter Scott), whilst Burr & Co. is a lovely coffee shop with a devoted local following. The hotel also boasts the magnificent King’s Hall – a firm favourite for weddings and celebration – as well as seven additional meeting and event rooms and a newly equipped gym.