Edinburgh hotels — Expedia and Hotels.com

Edinburgh's compact Old Town walks easily in a weekend — the Royal Mile end-to-end is 1.6km, and Arthur's Seat is a 45-minute climb from Holyrood. August brings the Fringe, Military Tattoo, and International Festival simultaneously: hotel prices jump 3–4× and inventory inside the Old Town disappears 6+ months out. Outside festival season, the value window is September through November and February through April, when Old Town stays drop below £100/night midweek. The New Town (Georgian grid north of Princes Street) is quieter and walkable to everything, while Leith on the Forth has the best food scene at sharper prices and a 15-minute tram into the centre. Edinburgh Airport tram lands in Princes Street in 30 minutes.

Typical nightly rate: £80–£240