The Royal Highland Hotel

The Royal Highland Hotel

a view of the room
Traveller (1197)
Ceiling of the room
Room & Suite (382)
Ash Bar and Restaurant at the Royal Highland Hotel
Dining (100)

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Avg. C$89 /night, 2/12 - 2/13
C$130
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C$108
per night
C$86
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About

#33 of 39 hotels in Inverness
4.5 of 5 bubbles
Location
3.6 of 5 bubbles
Rooms
3.7 of 5 bubbles
Value
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Cleanliness
3.7 of 5 bubbles
Service
3.7 of 5 bubbles
Sleep Quality
The Royal Highland Hotel is the oldest hotel in the centre of the Highland capital, Inverness. In 2000, the property was carefully restored, retaining its unique character associated with the bygone age. As soon as you enter the hotel you will appreciate this. In the foyer the grand staircase, the inspiration for the Titanic's staircase, leads to the 84 spacious refurbished bedrooms - all with very high ceilings. The decor is rich with traditional furniture and deep colours. The rooms all have soft furnishings and antique style furniture. The excellent bathrooms are generally medium to large in size. For over 151 years, the hotel has been looking after travellers from all over the world. Perhaps its popularity stems from the fact the hotel is a grand place to stay. Large bedrooms, large lounge areas, quiet meeting rooms, good food, prime location and friendly staff all play their part. All local amenities close to hand, but within a 5 minute drive you are out into the dramatic Highlands. Lochness is only 7 miles from the hotel.
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Property amenities
Parking
Free internet
Bar / lounge
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Taxi service
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Baggage storage
Wifi
Coffee shop
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
Meeting rooms
Newspaper
Non-smoking hotel
24-hour front desk
Laundry service
Ironing service
Room features
Desk
Housekeeping
Room service
Safe
Coffee / tea maker
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Complimentary toiletries
Telephone
Iron
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to TheAA: The Automobile Association.
3.0 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Quaint
Historic Hotel
Languages Spoken
English

Location

Station Square, Academy Street, Inverness IV1 1LG Scotland
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 100 out of 100
100
Inverness Airport
12.6 km
See all flights
3.5
3.5 of 5 bubbles2,870 reviews
Reviews summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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The Royal Highland Hotel basks in historical allure, with guests frequently applauding its prime location near key transport links and attractions. While the hotel's storied charm and cleanliness are highlights, opinions on service and room conditions vary, with reports of both warm hospitality and neglect. The value proposition is contentious, as reasonable rates are occasionally overshadowed by unexpected charges. Amenities like parking and breakfast receive mixed feedback, yet the hotel's ambiance retains a sense of grandeur despite needing updates.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Historic
Rooms
Inconsistent
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Mixed

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Detailed Reviews
Amstraveler wrote a review Jul 2024
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Great central location for train (and bus) travellers. Good value, old-fashioned charm with a few dated features which add to the character of the place.

Large bathroom, WiFi, room safe, iron/ironing board, unexpected free (included) supper + drink on a two day booking.com stay. Comfortable bed, a few dated bathroom features (low volume shower, barely adequately draining shower, toilet seat that won’t stay ‘up’, poor ventilation unless you open bedroom window). Some rooms need a few stairs to reach from the lift.

The restaurant offers a small tasty selection, continental buffet breakfast generous if in a rather cavernous room. The Scottish breakfast (small supplement) looked inviting if I had been more hungry.

All in all a great location for city sights, train and bus; if you don’t mind a few outdated features to be recommended; if you want everything modern and perfect go elsewhere.
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Janice Smith, Revenue Management at The Royal Highland Hotel
Responded Aug 19, 2024
Thank you for the kind review and Team Royal Highland would look forward to welcome you back.
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Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
OldfashionedLondon wrote a review Sep 2024
London
4.0 of 5 bubbles
We were quite surprised to read some of the poor reviews, having enjoyed a perfectly acceptable one night B&&+dinner package. We pre-booked an early check in and were in our room by 11.30am. it was on the first floor and was large, clean and quiet, although a larger bed would have been nice. Continental breakfast was average, but served in the splendid ball-room. Dinner in the Ash Restaurant, with a £50 credit, was OK. Staff attitude and training was variable - you may need to speak to the senior members.
We were especially pleased when - a year ago - the hotel did not charge for our cancellation at one day's notice due to circumstances beyond our control. This year they also let us leave our luggage for a few hours when we were non-resident - we had lunch there.
Given the central location, its acceptable facilities and the grand lobby, we thought that this independently owned hotel is fairly priced and deserves support against the multinational hotel chains.
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Date of stay: September 2024
3.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
4.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
3.0 of 5 bubblesService
3.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Our room was quiet - it was away from the railway station
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Janice Smith, Revenue Management at The Royal Highland Hotel
Responded Oct 15, 2024
Thank you for the kind review and Team Royal Higland is delighted that you had an enjoyable stay experience with us and would look forward to welcome you back.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Irene T wrote a review Nov 2024
4.0 of 5 bubbles
A great value for money 2 day break deal in a ideally situated hotel. Just outside the train station and within walking distance of the city highlights. We stayed on the 2 night autumn saver deal and was very impressed with the extras included, lush cocktails, afternoon tea and dinner on the first night. My brother is a wheelchair user and this hotels wheelchair accessibility is very good, beautiful king size adapted room and plenty of space in the corridors and lift for manouving. The only concern is the ramp access which is very steep and misaligned but sure that this could be sorted. As others have commented the hotel is showing signs of its age and does feel a bit unloved but the friendliness and customer focus of the staff and the price paid made this a great wee break for us. The only thing we were particularly disappointed with was breakfast. Coffee machine, juice machine and stale food and limited choices was not appealing. The second day we went out instead. This is the reason for the 4 star review
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Date of stay: November 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Janice Smith, Revenue Management at The Royal Highland Hotel
Responded Dec 4, 2024
Thank you for the kind review - Team Royal Highland would look forward to welcome you back whenever you are in Inverness and wishes you a Very Merry Festive Season ahead.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
michieg121 wrote a review Dec 2023
Ayr, United Kingdom
3.0 of 5 bubbles
We have stayed in this hotel on a number of previous occasions and have always been most impressed. On this occasion, we did feel that some of the standards had slipped. The restaurant and bar were good for food but very expensive, and errors seemed to be par for the course when paying the bill. Staff at Reception were very pleasant and helpful and the room was clean although very noisy in the early morning.
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Janice Smith, Revenue Management at The Royal Highland Hotel
Responded Feb 10, 2024
Thank you so much for the review and we apologise for any inconvenience. We have noted your observations and will take corrective action wherever necessay. We would look forawrd to welcome you back.
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Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
These reviews are machine translated from their original language. Show machine translations?
MangiatoreEsperto-92 wrote a review Jun 2024
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Absolutely not. Unfriendly concierges, not available to explain things to us. Old room (like the whole hotel) but still comfortable. Breakfast good but nothing exceptional; seeing drinks served from a machine, as well as water in a hotel like this that behaves in a certain way, I didn't expect it. I understood that they changed the towels every two days but instead they didn't even make the bed or clean the room, which I think is the minimum given the price (>200€ per night)
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Google
Date of stay: June 2024
1.0 of 5 bubblesValue
2.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
2.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
1.0 of 5 bubblesService
2.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Char wrote a review Feb 2024
London, United Kingdom
5.0 of 5 bubbles
A very well appointed and comfortable hotel. Location is excellent- right next to the railway station and moments to the centre of Inverness. Seeing that iconic staircase upon arrival was a genuine pleasure!
The rooms are comfortable, warm, and clean. Walls are relatively thin but I slept well. It’s an old building so to be expected. Only minor issue is the price of the food in the Ash restaurant. But the price of the room itself for two nights was incredibly reasonable, so no real complaints. Staff were friendly and helpful. Biscuits in the room which were replenished by the very sweet cleaning crew was also much appreciated!
Overall a very pleasant experience and a hotel I would definitely recommend.
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip: Parking would be an issue if travelling by car (if coming by train it’s ideal).
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Janice Smith, Revenue Management at The Royal Highland Hotel
Responded Feb 17, 2024
Thank you for the kind review and we would look forward to welcome you back.
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Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sus wrote a review Dec 2023
2.0 of 5 bubbles
This hotel has been around since 1856 and unfortunately this is very obvious.
The grand staircase is truly amazing and I’m afraid that and the hotels location are the only positives.
My room was small, the bed was rock hard, the decor eye watering (bright yellow walls and red divan), the shower dripped all night I had to put a bath mat under the drip to dull the noise. The shower was also cold despite running it for a long time. Soundproofing was poor which is to be expected in an old building but I could hear everything including my neighbours mobile message alert tone, them filling a sink and then pulling plug.
At check in I was advised a hot breakfast would cost £16.95 so I paid in the hope that it would be worth it. Unfortunately not, I was told I couldn’t have a poached egg, the food was not cooked fresh to order and the quality was not what you’d expect for the price paid. On reflection I should off gone to a supermarket cafe I think it would off been nicer.
All in all it was a convenient place to stay as I was getting an early train the however I would not return.
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Janice Smith, Revenue Management at The Royal Highland Hotel
Responded Feb 10, 2024
Thank you so much for the review and we apologise for any inconvenience. We have noted your observations and will take corrective action wherever necessay. We would look forawrd to welcome you back.
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Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mark H wrote a review Sep 2024
Horsham, United Kingdom
2.0 of 5 bubbles
An old and historic hotel that has been allowed by its owners to decay. The older staff have a tendency to rudeness and lack of customer focus while younger staff are full of energy but do not have any apparent leadership from the owners or their line members. There is an obvious need to repair the fabric of the building with peeling wallpaper and broke tiles in bathrooms.

We had two positives to report. The afternoon tea was very good with sandwiches made to order and great scone and cream etc. The staff in the cafe were terrific .The other positive is the position right next door to the station.

Booking in was disgraceful. My wife walks with a stick and we had emailed in advance to enquire if we could book in early. The email response was that we could book in as soon as the room was ready. That was not correct. The older member of staff on reception seemed put out by our early arrival and did not progress our booking in. Some ten minutes later a big group arrived and she promptly booked them in but did not give them keys which was quite right. Having seen this I asked a younger member of staff if she could do our paperwork and she did this immediately which gave us our room number and our voucher for complimentary afternoon tea.

The older member of staff failed to let us know our room was ready despite us sitting in the reception in her full view. When we asked another staff member if our room was ready she turned to her and said ‘the room was ready’.

Whether my wife’s disability was seen as not worth attention I could not say. However, our impression was that mature staff did not ‘get it.’

Breakfast was in a bare room that lacked any sense of the history of the hotel. I have had more welcoming environments when I was in scout camp under canvas. It was so sad and goodness knows what our foreign visitors must think.

In summary it was a great location being just two minutes from platform one for the 7.55 Inverness to Kings Cross . However I would never repeat the experience. The emptying of bottles into skips by our bedroom during the night did not help a good night sleep. The hotel itself is jaded and staff do not appear happy. This may have been a great hotel in the 1870s but it is now just a mirage of its old grandeur.
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Date of stay: September 2024
3.0 of 5 bubblesValue
2.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
2.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
1.0 of 5 bubblesService
1.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Janice Smith, Revenue Management at The Royal Highland Hotel
Responded Oct 15, 2024
Thank you for the review and we apologise for any inconveneince. We have noted your observations very carefully and will inititate corrective actions wherever necessary. We also hope that we will get another opportunity to serve you in the near future.
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Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rachel E wrote a review May 2024
+1
1.0 of 5 bubbles
We were very disappointed with this accommodation. Old, ugly, worn, expensive(!) and the service was also rather mediocre. Our room was incredibly small, you couldn't even open the suitcases properly. We also had a terrible view of the back yard, which was full of pigeons and their droppings. There was a small selection for breakfast, with hot meals only costing an extra £7 per person. Unfortunately, the price-performance ratio is not right at all. We can only advise anyone not to book here.
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Google
Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rover022 wrote a review May 2024
Dublin, Ireland
4.0 of 5 bubbles
I find some of the reviews here very strange as I certainly didn't find the hotel dirty or smelly. The room I had was perfectly clean and comfortable, and I had a great night's sleep. The staff were courteous.

The hotel is very well located next to the railway station and city centre, yet I didn't experience an issue of noise from the street.

I didn't eat in the restaurant but did have a meal in the bar, which was a very generously portioned steak pie. The only slight disappoint was the breakfast, for which you pay extra for a Scottish cooked breakfast. I guess the breakfast is Continental to allow for quicker serving of the coat loads of tourists that seemed to make up the bulk of guests.

I like the quirky artwork in the hotel!
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Date of stay: May 2024
4.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
4.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
3.0 of 5 bubblesService
4.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Janice Smith, Revenue Management at The Royal Highland Hotel
Responded Jul 1, 2024
Thank you for the kind review and Team Royal Highland is delighted that you enjoyed the stay. We would look forward to welcome you back.
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Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Answer from Douglas Williamson
Clackmannanshire, United Kingdom197 contributions134 helpful votes
Yes
Ruth L asked a question Jul 2021
Glasgow, United Kingdom17 contributions2 helpful votes
Is there luggage storage available? im arriving by train and wanted to store luggage before and after check in/out
Answer from Slickymoss
Ayr, United Kingdom141 contributions91 helpful votes
Do yourself a favour and go to a different hotel. It’s not a nice hotel
Shannagh A asked a question Aug 2020
Glenrothes, United Kingdom
Is there any facilities for children aged 11 months to sleep?
Answer from Rachel S
Murton, United Kingdom24 contributions37 helpful votes
I’m not to sure, I didn’t see many children in the hotel
Answer from Sally R
221 contributions48 helpful votes
The hotel has an arrangement with the city car park which is to the rear of the hotel
Leisah Ayrshire wrote a tip Feb 10
12 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
"If not happy with your room ask to see another, there are plenty. "
Read full review
EdinburgLinda2002-13 wrote a tip Jan 2025
Edinburgh, United Kingdom7 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
"It's an old hotel so expect long corridors."
Read full review
bharatm12345 wrote a tip Jan 2025
8 contributions8 helpful votes
3.0 of 5 bubbles
"Look out for racist angles. don't condone or take s(hit) from anyone"
Read full review
isabell corbett wrote a tip Dec 2024
15 contributions4 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Book early and look for special offers."
Read full review
Jo W wrote a tip Oct 2024
East Riding of Yorkshire, United Kingdom5 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
"Don't expect a GF afternoon tea"
Read full review
Not the right property for you?
There are more places to choose from in the Inverness area.
PRICE RANGE
C$82 - C$155 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
royal highland inverness, hotel royal highland
LOCATION
United KingdomScotlandScottish HighlandsInverness
NUMBER OF ROOMS
86
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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The Royal Highland Hotel - UPDATED 2025 Prices, Reviews & Photos

Frequently Asked Questions about The Royal Highland Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to The Royal Highland Hotel?
Nearby attractions include Highland Malt Whisky Experience (0.3 km), Axe Throwing At Playback (0.06 km), and The Malt Room (0.2 km).
What are some of the property amenities at The Royal Highland Hotel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and breakfast buffet.
What food & drink options are available at The Royal Highland Hotel?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at The Royal Highland Hotel?
Yes, parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to The Royal Highland Hotel?
Conveniently located restaurants include Milk Bar, Playback Bar, and River House Restaurant.
Is The Royal Highland Hotel located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.7 km away from the centre of Inverness.
Are pets allowed at The Royal Highland Hotel?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Does The Royal Highland Hotel offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers meeting rooms, a banquet room, and conference facilities.
Are there any historical sites close to The Royal Highland Hotel?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Inverness Castle Viewpoint (0.3 km), Inverness Town House (0.2 km), and Market Cross (2.8 km).
Is The Royal Highland Hotel accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.
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