Hilton Edinburgh Carlton

The beautiful Hilton Edinburgh Carlton was once a renowned Scottish department store called the Patrick Thomson. It first began in 1889, when an aspiring haberdasher by the name of Patrick William Thomson opened a small storefront near Edinburgh’s South Bridge. Naming the store after himself, he rapidly emerged as one of the city’s leading textile distributors. Capitalizing upon its burgeoning popularity, Thomson moved his operation into a stunning four-story structure next to the nearby North Bridge in the early 1900s. Here, the Patrick Thomson blossomed into one of the country’s preeminent shopping centers. By the middle of the century, the Patrick Thomson was a household name throughout Edinburgh. But the store fell on hard times when the famous British retailer, the House of Fraser, acquired the business. Opting to take it in a new direction, the House of Fraser renamed the Patrick Thomson during the 1970s. It was a widely unpopular decision. As such, the store closed shortly after the rebranding. Yet, enterprising hoteliers purchased the erstwhile department store in 1984, who subsequently transformed it into a glamorous hotel. Set snugly in Edinburgh’s historic Old Town, the Hilton Edinburgh Carlton overlooks much of the inner city. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, Old Town and the neighboring New Town are replete with countless cultural destinations that epitomize Scotland’s amazing heritage. Within walking distance of the hotel resides numerous Scottish landmarks that have stood in the city for centuries, like the Edinburgh Castle and St. Giles’ Cathedral. Guests can also catch a rare glimpse into the daily lives of the British Royal Family by traveling to the Holyrood Palace just a mile away. More modern attractions surround the hotel as well, like the Camera Obscura and Dynamic Earth. Both locations feature spectacular exhibitions that can excite the imaginations of single adults and families alike. And the hotel’s proximity to the Royal Mile and Georges Street places guests at the epicenter of the city’s outstanding shopping districts. Hundreds of years’ worth of Scottish culture unfolds right before the doorsteps of the Hilton Edinburgh Carlton, granting guests a unique opportunity to experience the resplendent city of Edinburgh.