Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh, Scotland

There's plenty to do in the local area, including seeing all the sights of the Old Town. Ten minutes away you'll find The Meadows and Morningside - home of Miss Jean Brodie - which is full of small shops and cafés.

The hotel is just off Princes Street, and a 15-minute walk to the castle.

By car: around an hour from Glasgow, 2 hours 40 minutes from Newcastle and 4 hours 30 minutes from Manchester. Paid on-site parking available.

By train: Glasgow Queens Street to Edinburgh Waverley takes around 50 minutes, it's 3 hours from Manchester Piccadilly and 4 hours 45 minutes from London Kings Cross - after which, it's a 10-minute drive (or 20-minute walk) to the hotel. Book trains to Edinburgh.

The hotel's décor is a mismatch of retro (with a touch of 80s Phillipe Starck) with nods to Scotland (tweed and tartan). Although it's an inevitably busy hotel, it never feels impersonal - and there's so much space.

The concierge team are fantastic, helping with last minute tickets and reservations. This has all the advantageous facilities of a large hotel, including room service, laundry, dry cleaning and an airport shuttle service.

• Restaurant
• Bar
• Terrace
• Swimming pool
• Gym
• Spa
• On-site parking
• Free Wi-Fi

Rooms are big and bright, with plenty of amenities including a chair and desk, safe and minibar. The beds themselves are deeply, gloriously comfortable. Bathrooms contain a shower and bath, but the glass walls leave little to the imagination.

Room types: Room, Deluxe Room, Club Room, Sheraton Suite, Castle View Suite, Grand Suite

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with toiletries, bathrobes and slippers, hairdryer, tea and coffee-making facilities, TV, free Wi-Fi

The One Square Brasserie & Bar feels special, with its distinctively Scottish cuisine, served all day. Dishes include carpaccio of venison with pickled raspberries and stone bass with a perfect potato soufflé. We recommend the Stornaway black pudding and brawn pressé with gooseberry ketchup, crispy pig's ear and mustard green salad.

One Square Bar & Brasserie: seasonal Scottish produce. All-day dining, open daily.