Looking for Glasgow or Edinburgh hotels for your Scottish adventure? Most of us know Fraser Suites – it’s been a top name in serviced apartments and accommodation for years. But did you know the group has 120 properties in 70 cities, including seven in the UK? GEORGIA BISSET and JACK HARRISS stayed at the Edinburgh and Glasgow properties recently and were wowed by the grand old buildings and their locations.
Where to stay in Edinburgh
Fraser Suites Edinburgh has such a great location – right in the old town, among all the amazing architecture and buildings, near transport, tourist attractions and a three-minute walk to Edinburgh Waverley train station.
The building dates back to the 1800s but is perfectly maintained. It blends into the town on the outside and has a clean and modern interior – and a very cool foyer! We found the staff very friendly, courteous and organised – check-in was easy. There’s no onsite parking, so after dropping off our luggage we drove to a nearby car park (about a seven-minute walk away).
The details
Our accommodation was a beautiful one-bedroom suite with incredible views over Edinburgh through huge windows. The suites come with a desk, kitchenette, dishwasher, stove, fridge, pots and pans, microwave and coffee machine. There are big king-sized beds that were so comfortable, plus a huge bathroom with a bathtub. The toiletries are all L’Occitane, including lip balm, shampoo, soap and more. You’ll also find a big wardrobe, drawers, ironing boards, dressing gowns – everything you might need for a longer stay.
As for the facilities in the property, one big plus for us after being on the road for a while was the laundry – it was all free, including washing powder. The gym was great, too.
Breakfast in the Lobby Lounge looked pretty good but we decided to make our own, as we had been eating out so much. There is also a bar being built in the property, which will be a great addition.
What we did in Edinburgh
It’s so good that Fraser Suites is just a short walk to Edinburgh Castle. It’s also only ten minutes to famous Victoria Street, said to be one of the inspirations for the Harry Potter books.
We also enjoyed a nice stroll up to the National Monument on Calton Hill, with its panoramic views over the old town, Edinburgh Castle and Arthurs Seat. Designed as a replica of the Parthenon in Athens, the monument commemorates the Scottish servicemen who died in the Napoleonic Wars. It was never completed – just twelve columns stand there now. The Nelson Monument is also on the hill; it was built in 1816 to commemorate the death of Admiral Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Eating out
We highly recommend the Johnnie Walker experience; it’s just a 15-minute walk from Fraser Suites, and the bar has amazing views of the castle. (The Old Fashioned cocktail is worth a special mention!)
Another highlight was The Spence, a fine dining restaurant in an old bank building with granite columns and marble urinals. It’s quite an experience, and there are great meals served all day – the lamb is amazing! We also went to Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen, and while some of the dishes were delicious, others left us wanting, and we didn’t feel that it justified the cost.
Further afield
Stirling Castle is 45 minutes away, and a great day trip from Edinburgh. We just loved the castle – one of Scotland’s largest and most important – and also the surrounding scenery, which has witnessed so much history, including key battles in the wars of Scottish independence. Braveheart and Outlander are both based on events that took place in this area.
Where to stay in Glasgow
Glasgow is about an hour’s drive away from the Scottish capital. It’s a quieter city with fewer tourists, but it has plenty of drawcards, including museums (many of which are free), galleries and historical sights. The university is one of the 10 biggest in the UK.
Like its sister property in Edinburgh, Fraser Suites Glasgow is set in a beautifully renovated 19th-century building. The location is in the cultural quarter, known as Merchant City, and it’s close to Argyle Street for shopping.
There are studio suites for solo travellers or couples, plus bigger one- and two-bedroom apartments for small groups or families. We had an even larger room than in Edinburgh, and with all the same amenities (a few suites, like ours, don’t have a dishwasher). And the gym was even better than the Edinburgh one, which is saying something!
A special mention to one of the staff members, Stephanie, who was really lovely and helpful. We arrived three hours early and she ensured our luggage was kept in a safe place. It was all very accommodating and friendly.
What we did in Glasgow
As we only had one night in Glasgow we took the open-top bus for the official sightseeing tour – it leaves from George Square, a five-minute walk from Fraser Suites. It’s a great way to see the city, especially if you don’t have much time. You also get two days of unlimited travel, hopping on and off wherever you want.
One stop we made was at the Riverside Museum, where we had a look at the Tall Ship Glenlee, an old 19th-century sailing ship, and heard an interesting talk from a tour guide. The museum is free, but you can also pay to go up onto the ship.
There are lots of nice bars and restaurants around the hotel, plus guests of Fraser Suites get 20 percent off two of the nearby restaurants, as well as a discount on the car park, which we really appreciated. Glasgow is definitely worth a longer visit!
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