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With its rich history, stunning architecture, and world-class facilities, Edinburgh is one of the UK’s most sought-after cities for conferences, meetings, and events. Whether you’re planning a high-level board meeting, a large-scale exhibition, or an incentive retreat, Scotland’s capital has the infrastructure, atmosphere, and accessibility to deliver a seamless experience.
From the moment you arrive, Edinburgh’s charm is unmistakable – cobbled streets, stunning architecture, and a vibrant atmosphere filled with culture and creativity. It’s also one of the UK’s most pedestrian-friendly cities, with top venues and attractions within easy walking distance.
Getting to Edinburgh is simple, whether you’re travelling from the UK or abroad. The city is well connected via excellent rail links and Edinburgh Airport’s global connections, making it a highly accessible destination for event delegates. With a wide range of accommodation, cultural attractions, and dining options, Edinburgh offers a memorable and well-rounded experience for both organisers and attendees.
At Inntel, our experts know the Edinburgh venue landscape inside-out and can help you find the perfect fit for your brief, budget, and sustainability goals.
I’m a big fan of Yotel as a brand, but their Edinburgh property especially as it has great event space called the Imaginex Screening Room, which is basically a screen that wraps around 360 degrees of the room and can take up to 150 theatre layout. They also have other smaller co-working and meeting spaces and are only around a 6-minute walk from the main station, so really centrally located.
This venue is located opposite Waverly Station. Not only is Brewhemia an award-winning and popular bar and restaurant, but they also hire out their spaces for events.
Their main space ‘The Beer Palace’ can take up to 800 standing and is fully equipped with staging, lighting and AV. In addition to this they have 4 other spaces across two floors which vary in sizes and are perfect for smaller meetings, networking or exhibitor space.
I attended ExperienceIT there at the beginning of the year and I personally really liked the atmosphere and experience of the venue.
A historical venue, I would recommend this for a private dinner or networking event. It can also be hired for meetings and conferences, but, it’s worth noting that the cave location means no natural daylight, limited mobile signal, and a cooler temperature. Having attended a conference here myself, I found it wasn’t the most comfortable for spending a full day there. However, the dinner following the conference was a standout experience and the atmosphere was fab.
This event venue lives up to its name and is one we often suggest to clients when they are looking for something a bit different. Additionally, they offer networking drinks in their Rainforest gallery which adds something special to an event. Not only unique but as a venue focused on the planet, they are also a super sustainable option!
Why not arrange for a guided walking tour company to meet your delegates at Waverley Station? Depending on your event location, the guide can lead delegates on a short walking tour to the venue, sharing local history along the way. I’ve done this myself and it created a memorable and engaging start to the event. While luggage requirements may need to be considered, there are practical workarounds available.
Some post conference activities in Edinburgh to try:
Edinburgh Zoo is always a fun, quirky option, as some of their event spaces overlook animal enclosures. It’s the perfect choice if you’re looking for a wildcard option (pun intended!).
The Royal Botanic Garden is also a beautiful setting in Edinburgh, with four unique event spaces across the site.
Andrea also suggests the following hotels for their impressive meeting and event spaces…
1. Apex Hotels (City, Grassmarket & Waterloo Place)
Centrally located with fantastic views, Apex venues are known for their stylish interiors, modern facilities, and quirky signature animal sculptures. The City Hotel (located just off the Royal Mile) boasts vibrant décor and bedrooms with fantastic city views, while Grassmarket and Waterloo Place offer versatile spaces for both meetings and social functions.
Best for corporate meetings, conferences, training days, celebrations.
Capacity: 11 spaces ranging from 15 seats in the suites to 200 seats in the theatre style rooms.
2. Leonardo Hotels (Haymarket & Murrayfield)
A winning mix of quality and value. the Leonardo Hotel Edinburgh City is a fantastic base – just a 10-minute walk from the International Conference Centre and close to Edinburgh Castle. Also check out their other hotels across the city to explore a range of rooms.
Capacity: 15 rooms across both hotels with a maximum capacity of 1,577.
3. The Glasshouse, Autograph Collection
A show stopping venue with a gothic-meets-modern design. The rooftop garden and luxurious interiors make it ideal for standout occasions. It’s ideal for executive meetings, networking events, rooftop receptions.
Capacity: 3 executive suites ranging in size from 8-100 guests.
This bold, relatively new luxury venue offers stunning views, a deluxe spa, and the globally renowned SUSHISAMBA restaurant. The rooftop domes are perfect for hosting unforgettable small events. This venue is also great for VIP gatherings, festive parties and product launches.
Capacity: 5 exclusive meeting spaces (up to 100 guests), plus unique rooftop domes.
Dana adds: “There are some really cool and quirky event spaces here. When I visited they had a florist onsite, which made the place smell amazing! They are also pet friendly, and the hotel manager often brings their dog in, which I got to pet whilst I was there.”
Opened in 2022, the Virgin Hotel blends history with innovation. The Scarlet Lounge (karaoke included!) and onsite bar make this venue ideal for informal networking or festive gatherings. Plus, with 222 rooms, it’s perfect for multi-day events.
Capacity: 4 spaces seating between 8-150 guests.
Whether you’re planning a strategy day, a celebration, or a multi-day conference, Inntel’s M&E experts are here to help source, plan, and deliver the perfect event experience in Edinburgh – or anywhere else across the UK or internationally.
Contact us today to find out more about the Inntel difference when it comes to meetings and events.