23 Mayfield Guesthouse, Edinburgh

We love Summerhall, the veterinary school turned arts venue just up the road, has a great bar stocked with gin and beer made on the premises.

The guesthouse is situated slightly out of the hustle and bustle of the city, but along the main bus route, just a 30-minute walk to Edinburgh Castle.
By car: from Glasgow around 1 hour, from Newcastle around 2 hours 40 minutes and from Manchester just over 4 hours. Parking is available at the hotel.
By train: from Glasgow Queens Street around 50 minutes, from Manchester Picadilly around 3 hours and from London Kings Cross around 4 hours 45 minutes. Edinburgh Waverley station is a 10-minute taxi ride from the hotel. thetrainline.com

With four poster beds and all that candlelight, it's made for romantic getaways, but with two family rooms available, equally good for kids. Getting lost in the impressive collection of period-appropriate pictures and books is wonderful.

We love watching old black-and-white films curled up on the Club Room sofa on a rainy afternoon.

• Parking
• Bar
• Club Room
• Family rooms
• Free breakfast
• Free Wi-Fi

Finding homemade fudge waiting in the bedroom on arrival is a welcoming touch that sets the tone for your stay. We love the Grand Tudor Room with views of Arthur's Seat, a telescope and a Nintendo Wii.

Grand Jacobean, Grand Colonial, Premier Jacobean Four Poster, Premier Colonial Room, Grand Tudor, Deluxe Tudor
Facilities include: raindrop shower, ambient lighting, tea and coffee-making facilities, handmade furnishings, heated mirror, Penhaligon toiletries

After eating 23 Mayfield's gourmet take on an egg McMuffin you'll never darken the door of a McDonald's at breakfast-time again. We love that every breakfast table comes with a candelabra; not just romantic, but wonderfully cosy on a cold winter's morning.

Breakfast: 5 AA Egg Cup Awards for their breakfast. Traditional Scottish fare, vegetarian options.