In the world of luxury services, the Gleneagles brand needs no introduction. Hotel lovers everywhere waited with bated breath when Gleneagles announced the opening of a city centre outpost in Edinburgh in 2022, and the Gleneagles Townhouse has fast become one of the UK’s favourite boutique destinations. We wanted to see for ourselves what all the fuss is about.
Gleneagles Townhouse is situated right in the centre of Edinburgh’s New Town, in St Andrew’s Square, about 5 minutes’ walk from Waverley train station. The exterior alone is worth stopping by for; an imposing Georgian structure complete with grecian-style columns and six colossal figures staring down at you from the rooftop. It used to be the British Linen Company and was such an iconic structure in the city that it’s the location outside which the classic novel Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson ends, and where the sequel begins.
Inside, things are no less awe-inspiring. The palatial foyer is church-like, with huge stained glass windows, ornate cornicing at every turn, and a tiled floor more fitting of a ballroom than a former bank. We’ve barely arrived at the reception desk when a suited staff member greets us with a smile and begins the check-in process. “Have you stayed with us before?”… it’s a good sign. A check in that comes with an explanation means plenty of facilities to discover.
We are assigned a guide who accompanies us for a mini tour of the room. This level of personalised care isn’t surprising for Gleneagles – great service is what the brand is known for – but it’s a treat all the same. She points out robes and umbrellas, a mini bar stocked with single malt whisky and rum from a small batch producer in Glasgow, and what looks like a glass jewellery box, filled with six perfectly-formed chocolates – “a gift from the chef”.
We’re staying in a Town Room with views over the gardens of the Royal Bank of Scotland. It’s the sort of room that wouldn’t appear out of place in a stately home (couch in bottle green velvet, canopy bed framed with heavy curtains, a large beaded chandelier) but also inviting enough to dive in among the cushions and get comfortable. Our room is quite small, but is well-designed to maximise the space and keep the emphasis on comfort. Small touches such as a personalised welcome message on the television and soft music from the radio beside the bed help to set the tone.
As the little sister property of Gleneagles, the Townhouse focusses the same attention to luxury details, but everything just feels a little fresher. The colour palette is a stylish mix of deep greens, pinks, and golds; antique touches sit side-by-side with mid-century modern furniture and there’s contemporary art on the walls.
The bathroom is design heaven; a visual barrage of chintz, papered wall-to-wall in a toile de Jouy print and accented with miniature empire lamps. The sink is a standalone feature in marble, and a large rain shower is accessorised with signature Scotch Heather Gleneagles cosmetics. Hanging on the back of the door are two of the most sumptuous hotel robes you’re likely to come across – swathes of bottle green quilting – and slippers like cushions.
Being right in the heart of Edinburgh’s city centre, there’s plenty to do in the vicinity of Gleneagles Townhouse. Despite this, the hotel has catered well for the eventuality that you may not want to leave at all. Like Gleneagles, the Townhouse is run as a membership facility, meaning that non-hotel guests can use the bar and wellness areas with their membership. While this doesn’t make for the most exclusive atmosphere for the hotel guests, it does mean that the facilities are far better than the usual hotel offering. The gym equipment is a good match for any professional gym space, and there is a menu of over 40 complimentary fitness classes, which are available to both members and guests.
The hotel doesn’t have a pool or large spa area, but what it does have is quite unique. In addition to a space for massages and treatments and an infrared sauna, Gleneagles Townhouse has a cryotherapy chamber – the first of its kind we’ve seen in a hotel. We strip down to swimwear and then, in a move that seems counter-intuitive, are given knee-high socks, gloves, a woollen hat and Arctic-style slippers.
Cryotherapy is said to bring various benefits such as pain relief and injury prevention, but standing in a closed chamber at temperatures of almost -100˚C is not the most comfortable thought. Still, Gleneagles Townhouse tries to make it as pleasant an experience as possible. I’m asked to select a song to motivate me through a painful 3 minutes. As the doors close and the song blasts, dancing is the only way to distract from the feeling of your nose freezing from the inside.
As promised, the after-effects are rejuvenating and we could even be tempted by a repeat visit.
Another membership perk that guests can enjoy is access to Lamplighters, the hotel’s rooftop bar. It has to be one of Edinburgh’s most enviable cocktail spots, with an outdoor terrace offering the best sunset views, shared only by the six statues atop the building. It’s a stylish hideaway modelled on the Robert Louis Stevenson poem of the same name, its design drawing from the glamour of a bygone era with velvet banquettes and a ship-inspired curved wooden bar. Tassels and art deco sconces create a feel of old Hollywood glamour.
Like everywhere else in the hotel, the service is impeccable, and our waiter takes generous time to talk us through the literary inspirations of the cocktail menu. I order the Bottle Imp cocktail: coconut rum, manzanilla sherry, agave, and topped with Veuve Cliquot champagne. It’s served with a solid dollop of sorbet in the glass, which looks a bit unappealing when mixed together but creates the effect of a fancy champagne slush puppy.
It’s a Sunday evening and the lamps are low lit, with just a couple of tables chatting (a mix of guests and members) in hushed tones against a backdrop of soft jazz. It’s a perfect place to shield from the cold Edinburgh winter outside.
By the time we’ve finished our cocktails and returned to the room, the turndown service has taken place. Our slippers are sitting waiting by the bed and the sheets are fluffed and tucked with inviting perfection. The lights have been turned down low, setting the stage for what will be an incredible night’s sleep.
Breakfast at Gleneagles Townhouse is served in breathtaking style at The Spence. This would have been the principle room in the old linen bank, and it’s really something to behold.
It’s a palatial space set around an art deco-style circular bar in the centre, which is accessorised with dangling champagne flutes and velvet bar stools.
There is so much to take in: marble columns, cathedral-like windows, layers of intricate cornicing, a jungle of tropical palms in the middle of the room. The same design theme continues here through velvet booths in different shades of pink and napkins embroidered with the Gleneagles lettering.
Our server encourages us to order as much as we like from the menu (be sure to leave plenty of time to enjoy the breakfast experience), which offers impressive choice: full sections for smoothies and juice shots, breads and pastries, and cereals and grains. And then there’s the from-the-kitchen section with the classics from eggs any style to a full Scottish. Between us, we manage a little bit of every section and it’s all delicious.
The inevitable time comes when we have to say goodbye, wrapping up some of the chef’s homemade granola bars from our room for later. We close the door behind us, wishing we were sleeping in that wonderful bed for just one more night. Gleneagles Townhouse has perfected the art of leaving you wanting more. The gold-standard service continues right up until the very last minute; when we check out at reception we’re handed a Gleneagles-branded package of Scottish fudge as a memento of our stay.
Gleneagles Townhouse has absolutely lived up to the hype and more. Everything – from the service to the decor – is of the highest quality, designed to cater to those with a taste for the finer things in life. An experience like this has to be repeated. Fortunately they offer a membership…
We stayed
in a House room, priced at ~£300 per night in low season including access to the spa and breakfast.
For best rates and offers, book directly on the Gleneagles Townhouse website.
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