Observatory Apartment

Observatory Apartment is a compact self-catering apartment incorporating the lower ground floor of Observatory House. Perched above the city centre, it provides a quiet haven within walking distance of the bright lights, but nestled high above them amongst the crags and wildlife of Calton Hill.

The House has a rich history, with the oldest tower section dating back to 1776 and the first attempt to build an astronomical observatory for Edinburgh. Recently Collective embarked on an ambitious project to restore the interior and transform it with a sophisticated and contemporary renovation mixing warm, natural materials and colours with a suite of new feature artworks specially commissioned from artists close to our heart.

With a fully equipped kitchenette and combined living/dining room, Observatory Apartment provides a perfect self-contained base for two to explore the city from.

Enjoy coffee on the terrace looking out to the nearby National Monument, and watch the sun set over the city from your bed in the Chartmaker’s Room.

Observatory Apartment (sleeps 2)

*Please note that Observatory Apartment is a lower ground floor apartment with a reduced ceiling height of 2 metres.

Chartmaker’s Room

The Chartmaker’s Room is the main bedroom of Observatory Apartment, with a super king-sized bed that can be split into a pair of twin beds if required. The bathroom, featuring a freestanding bath, is located next door in what was once a courtyard and coal shed.

Living/Dining Room

The living room of the Apartment is located on the lower ground floor of the Gothic Tower, with spectacular views out across the city on all sides. A dining table seats 4. This room features an original ‘Starman’ wallpaper designed by Edinburgh artist Rabiya Choudhry.

Kitchenette

A compact but fully-equipped kitchenette for self-catering.

Snug

The Snug provides a small additional space for reading, quiet retreat, or luggage storage.

Terrace

A small east-facing outdoor terrace area with seating.

Access

Observatory House was built over 200 years ago and although the City Observatory site itself is wheelchair accessible, unfortunately the House/Apartment are not due to steps and staircases which cannot be ramped.

The House is located on the summit of Calton Hill (105m above sea level). Drop-off by car or taxi is permitted via the Calton Hill access road; however, due to its unique location there is no resident parking on the Hill for House/apartment guests.

Observatory Apartment is self-contained on one floor without stairs, however a small flight of stairs is used to reach the entrance.