Waldorf Astoria - The Caledonian Hotel

Edinburgh, UK

Every person should do Hogmanay as it was designed to be done at least once in their lifetime. And to give it good and proper respect, you need to go straight to source. Edinburgh’s Waldorf Astoria is the perfect base to invest some time in the bars of Princes Street, on the way home from a morning’s sightseeing at Edinburgh Castle, which is beautifully visible from many of the bedrooms in the hotel: request an east-facing room. Founded as one of Britain’s great railway hotels, the cavernous central hall was once the booking office, holding many of the original features that are now supported by enough marble and brass to bring it in line with any five-star hotel in the world. Rooms play on its location with an almost twee tartan, luxurious linens and bathrooms that employ the kind of mid-century showers that value good temperature and water flow over the more design-led, ineffective fittings springing up today. On-site restaurant The Pompadour by the Galvin Brothers is without doubt one of the best French-leaning fine-diners in the city with views across the townto match. Doubles from £159