No lock(e)down here: Stylish aparthotel in the heart of Edinburgh - a review of Eden Locke
Aparthotels almost invoke an image of gloomy, dark hallways with flickering lights, dirty rooms and poor design. I'm happy to say that Eden Locke on George Street is nothing like this - and was one of the most memorable hotel stays in a long time (and for positive reasons!).
After catching the Airlink 100 from Edinburgh Airport, we got off at the Princes Street stop that sits across from the world-famous castle, and took the five minute walk to the aparthotel. With a Georgian façade that blends in with the rest of the street, it is quite easy to walk past Eden Locke and not realise quite where it is - however, there is a small doorway which leads to the reception and café area. Once inside, you'll leave the Georgian look behind and step afoot into the Scandi-modern, über stylish, green foliage covered dual-purpose café/dining-cum-reception area. Locke have an extensive digital presence, meaning most of the check in procedure takes place prior to arrival (including making reservation payment) - when checking in, just provide your booking reference and suitable ID before being handed over key cards for accessing the room.
What is an aparthotel?
Effectively, an aparthotel is a hotel with larger rooms, more living space and, to a certain degree, a usable kitchen with hob and oven. They're particularly useful if you're planning an extended visit, or like the flexibility to have a kitchen and more space than a regular hotel room.
How are the rooms at Eden Locke?
Two words. Beautiful and modern. The rooms are large and functional even at the cheapest rate. My favourite feature of the aparthotel is the comprehensive kitchen and living area of the room which featured:
- kettle
- oven
- electric hob
- washer/dryer
- dishwasher
- and a fridge freezer
If you were staying here for a lengthy period of time this would make Eden Locke an extremely suitable place to stay as you're getting your own personal space where you can do everything you need to. I'd argue that it is preferable to an Airbnb because you are dealing with a more experienced hosts (the hotel) and can benefit from in-room cleaning for longer stays. Although we only visited for 3 nights, I did appreciate having the option to use these appliances. The washer dryer in particular came in handy for somebody who hadn't anticipated the rainy weather in Scotland...silly me...
The Locke experience is made even better with lots of thoughtful touches by the hotel. Upon arrival in your room, there is a bag of goodies (Locke Essentials) featuring a small glass bottle, drip filter coffee bags and tea - which is exactly what a British person travelling looks for in a good hotel. This was included in the cost and I did appreciate the addition as somebody who likes having a coffee first thing in the morning. However the thoughtful touches didn't stop there, with a high quality Locke branded yoga mat that can be used in the room to do some exercise - as well as free access to the FIIT exercise app via the in-room Apple TV. Touches like this really set a hotel experience apart from others.
Throughout the rest of the room, there features a reasonably sized dining table for two people, a comfy sofa and wall mounted television (with the aforementioned smart functionality via Apple TV). The room is split via a wardrobe between the living/kitchen area and sleeping area acting as a divider between the two. Although the bedding area is a simple design, with plain white bedding, it is extremely comfortable and suitable for a great sleep after a long day being a tourist in a new city. The bathroom is ultra modern just like the rest of the hotel, featuring a rainfall shower, gorgeous amenities from Kinsey Apothecary and premium toilet roll by Who gives a crap (not that this impressed me...).
Errands
Breakfast is not included in the cost of most bookings, mostly due to the fact that aparthotels give you the flexibility to cook in your own room or that people now often opt to go elsewhere for food. We did try out breakfast at Eden Locke on our first day, it was decent but nothing noteworthy with a usual smörgåsbord of pastries, coffee and toasts. The breakfast takes place in the cafe, reception area, which I noted earlier, making it a nice environment to drink your coffee in - or co-work from for that matter. Finally, and this is a strange one, but Locke have very clearly invested in a signature scent for their properties - salted caramel reed diffusers. The smell is delightful and I wanted to buy some, however they do not offer them for general purchase and cannot be purchased online.
The verdict?
Go for it. If you are visiting Edinburgh, give Eden Locke a go particularly if you are in the city for an extended stay. I loved it so much I ended up going to a sister property in London.
Eden Locke can be found at 127 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4JN, United Kingdom.
I recommend booking direct for the best price and always use the code LIVELOCKE to save 25% - this is not an advertisement and I have not been paid by Locke Hotels for this review, nor will I receive a commission for using this voucher code.