UK Getaway: The Knight Residence by Mansley, Edinburgh

Words Jasmine Robertson

What is it?

The Knight Residence by Mansley is a block of five-star serviced apartments in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town in the shadow of the world-famous Edinburgh Castle and a stone’s throw from the city’s best shops and restaurants.

The one, two and three-bedroom apartments are designed as a home-from-home whether you are visiting for work or leisure. The apartments have everything you need from wi-fi to a movie selection plus essentials such as fresh milk, breakfast cereals, bread, butter and tea and coffee all waiting for you. The concierge was brilliantly attentive, we had recommendations on where to dine and in the morning stepped straight from the front door and into a taxi without a moment’s wait. There is also private secure parking for guests that costs £9 a night with profits being used to plant native trees in Perthshire and the Cairngorms.

The rooms

The rooms are all individually designed with a modern palette: modest greys and blues and glass fronted wardrobes. The beds were very comfortable and there was a large central sitting room with sizeable television. The décor was functional rather than funky but the point of the apartments is not to sit around in them but get out and explore the city.

The city

Edinburgh is one of the world’s most beautiful cities, from the volcanic splendour of Arthur’s Seat to the cobbled Royal Mile running from the Castle all the way down to Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament, to the grandeur of 18th century New Town. It also a thoroughly modern European cultural destination. There are galleries, museums, great restaurants and shops, from department stores such as Jenners and Harvey Nichols to great independent gift shops in places such as Broughton Street and Stockbridge.