The world’s 50 best places to stay – and one of them is in Scotland

TIME Magazine have revealed their choice of the 50 World’s Greatest Places to Stay list for 2024 – with just one Scots hotel making the list.

Joining the likes of posh Raffles in London, the swanky Fountainbleau in Las Vegas and the fabulous Four Season in Koh Samui in Thailand is 100 Princes Street in Edinburgh.

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Opened only in April this year as the first property in Scotland for the family-owned Red Carnation Hotels, the 30-room boutique hotel has quickly become an icon.

Inspired by the adventures of the Scottish explorers who frequented the building when it was used as the headquarters of the Royal Overseas League, 100 Princes Street promises a journey into Scotland’s rich cultural, historic and nautical legacy.

The hotel is just a stone’s throw from Scotland’s National Gallery and directly faces Edinburgh Castle with many of the rooms and suites having bird’s eye views.

A vast, hand-painted mural celebrating pioneering Scottish globetrotters covers the length of the five-story lobby staircase, and is crowned by a chandelier of a hot-air balloon.

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TIME Mag’s experts said: “Suites are named after Scottish adventurers Isobel Wylie Hutchison and Archibald Menzies and you can even design your own Scottish gin, create a signature scent, or commissiona custom tartan or kilt.

“Cap off your day with a whisky tasting at The Wallace, a liquid expedition from the sea-lashed shores of the Orkney Islands to the heather hills of Speyside, while taking in the panoramic vistas Edinburgh Castle looming just beyond.”

To compile the 2024 list, TIME asked for nominations of places—including hotels, cruises, restaurants, attractions, museums, parks, and more—from its network of correspondents and contributors, as well as through an application process, with an eye toward those offering new and exciting experiences.

They said: “While last year’s list featured 50 cities, this year we decided to explore even more—and more specific—establishments that stand out in their field, and the world. The result: 100 extraordinary destinations to visit and stay this year.”

TIME also revealed their World’s Greatest Places to Visit list for 2024 – with an unusual entry in the UK.

Joining the likes of the Kamba African Rainforest and the Diyarbakir Express train in Turkey, the Aviva Studios at Factory International in Manchester also made the cut.

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The £186million venue, dubbed the Barbican of Manchester, is the home of Factory International, a culture space with live music and art shows and is the home to the Manchester International Festival.

For example, there is Sweet Dreams, a “visual feast for the senses” as well as adidas’ Skateboarding event Build Manchester.

Art from David Hockney and music from Ben Howard are also some of the other events.

TIME said: “The long-anticipated performing arts campus on the grounds of the former Granada Studios had star power behind it long before its first show premiered last October.”

See here for more of the best places to visit and stay.