The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte Hotel, is a grand railway hotel located at Edinburgh’s most prestigious address, No 1 Princes Street. A landmark in the city, it has been a home to illustrious figures for over a century. It was in room 552 of The Balmoral where JK Rowling completed the Harry Potter series. On finishing the seventh book she inscribed on a bust, “JK Rowling finished writing Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows in this room (552).”
This summer, Rocco Forte Hotels is marking its 20th year with the refurbishment of The Balmoral in Edinburgh, the hotel that signifies the beginning of Sir Rocco’s portfolio in 1997. The Balmoral has undergone a multimillion pound restyling in which the JK Rowling Suite has played a central role.
The restyled suite – and newly named Room 552 ¾ – showcases designer Olga Polizzi’s magical touch. Entering through a purple door complete with owl door knocker, guests are welcomed into a starry entrance, leading through to a light-filled living room with views over Calton Hill. The suite evokes the Scottish woodlands offset by touches of orange, afar cry from the ‘Forbidden Forest’ in Rowling’s books. The pièce de résistance: the bust stands proudly with the inscription legible from ten years ago.
The sylvan theme extends to the bedroom featuring trees and a starry night’s sky, while the carved mirrors and tables have bronze branch-like legs. The contemporary feel of the rooms is matched with luxurious and timeless furniture, such as handmade beds by Glencraft, suppliers to the Queen at Balmoral Castle. Many of the fabrics have been sourced from the Scottish company Isle of Mill and the cushions from the irreverent Scottish brand Timorous Beasties.
As part of its Rocco Forte Suite Experience, The Balmoral will unlock the hotel’s and city’s secrets for guests of the JK Rowling Suite with ‘The Magical Experience’. This spell-binding package includes a private Potter-inspired tour of Edinburgh that touches on
All the places that informed the book, followed by a magical trio of cocktail potions in The Balmoral Bar with more than a few extra magical touches along the way.