Scotland’s crowning glory

11:15am Tuesday 9th October 2007

Win a luxury two-night break at one of Edinburgh's top hotels. Words by Alice Eaton

THERE is something undeniably romantic about Edinburgh. Its cobbled streets, numerous grand, old buildings and the castle ruins standing majestically over the city make it a truly beautiful destination to visit. And right in the heart of all this sits The George Hotel, a stunning four star location that has recently undergone a cool £12m refurbishment courtesy of new owners, the Prinicipal Hotels group. And it's here one lucky reader could be heading.

The recent cash injection has clearly been well spent, with many of the original architectural features being carefully retained (the Grade II listed building is more than 200 years old) while the interiors have been brought bang-up-to-date with a smattering of striking contemporary paintings and luxurious soft furnishings in all the rooms.

There are 195 en suite bedrooms in total, many with views over the bustling metropolis or, by contrast, the sparkling waters of the nearby Firth of Forth. The hotel's new Tempus bar is open all day, serving coffee and pastries from 11am, transforming into a lively venue for cocktails in the evening. The adjacent Tempus restaurant is a wonderful mix of huge chandeliers and comfy leather booths, and offers classic dishes cooked to perfection - we enjoyed delicious servings of beef wellington and steak and chips on our visit - served in style and, most importantly, with a welcoming smile.

We flew to Edinburgh from Stansted courtesy of easyJet, taking a speedy one and a quarter hours so we were able to get checked in at the hotel fairly early with plenty of time left to explore the city. There is certainly plenty to keep you amused, and we spent a happy weekend mooching around the art galleries and shops, and watching the world go by at various pubs and cafés.

Don't come to Edinburgh without making the trip along the Royal Mile to the castle where glorious panoramic views over the city await. The same goes for the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre where you can sample what runs through the blood of all true Scotsmen.

To find out what else Edinburgh has in store for the visitor, go to www.visitscotland.com/citybreaks. For more information on the hotel, visit www.principal-hotels.com. For flight information, visit www.easyjet.com

We have teamed up with The George Hotel to offer one reader the chance to win two nights bed and breakfast for two, plus dinner and a bottle of house wine at the Tempus restaurant on one of the nights. For your chance to win, simply answer the following question and fill in the form below.