Email Mingalar enquiries & reservations: bookscotland@madbookings.com
Other places to stay in and around Edinburgh
Mingalar
is a stone townhouse built at the end of the 18th Century Georgian development
of Edinburgh's "New Town".
It is within 10-15 minutes' walk of the city centre - Princes Street, Waverley ( the main railway station) - and from there to all the main tourist and business sites.
Mingalar Accommodation
The Rooms:
• Bathrooms: All rooms have en-suite bathrooms - with shower, toilet,
wash hand basin and shaver points.
• TV/Radio: All rooms have their own TV and a radio/alarm clock
• Tea/Coffee: There are tea/coffee making facilities in the rooms.
• Fridge: There is a small fridge in each room to hold fresh milk
and ice and to allow guests to store a small quantity of food or drink,
in case they wish to eat or have a snack in their room rather than always
to have to go out.
• Guest Kitchenette: There is a guest kitchenette on the first floor
for use by any guest who wishes to heat up food or do some simple cooking.
There is a freezer, microwave and two-burner electric ring.
• Hair Dryers: Hair dryers are available in each room for those
who need them.
• Irons: An iron and ironing board are available for loan on request.
• Telephone: There is a pay phone available for use in the downstairs
hall at any time.
All rooms are en-suite and have their own small fridge as well as the usual facilities.
There is also a guest kitchenette with freezer, microwave, electric hob,
and sink. The house will suit those staying longer and those with children
who sometimes wish to prepare their own food.
The house has been completely refurbished and offers the elegance of a
late Georgian building with all the modern conveniences visitors require.
The decoration throughout is light, clean, and simple - unfussy, in other words. Guests have their own keys to the front door and are encouraged to feel quite free to use the house as their own home.
We can help and assist as required but apart from being there to provide
a 'help-yourself' full Scottish breakfast, we prefer to remain in the
background and let guests enjoy everything that Edinburgh and the rest
of Scotland has to offer.
The House
• Architecture Mingalar (formerly called NumberTwo) is in the Georgian
‘New Town’ which was built between 1760 and 1850 - the first
real piece of town planning in Britain. Mingalar was built in the 1840's.
The ‘New Town’ is a World Heritage Site and the house itself
is a Grade II listed building which means that its appearance and structure
cannot be altered without planning permission, the aim being to preserve
the whole 'Georgian' appearance of this part of town. Mingalar is a Burmese
name meaning 'Good Fortune' (or probably more accurately 'good vibes'!)
and we hope that is what it can bring to visitors staying there (it won't
always work with the weather!).
• Position
Mingalar is on the North side of Princes Street and is within easy walking
distance - it is a genuine 10 minutes from Princes Street. However, Edinburgh
is a city of hills so allow 15 minutes going up FROM Mingalar to Princes
Street, the Tourist Information Centre and Waverley Railway Station! From
Princes Street all the major visitor attractions are within (walking)
reach: the Castle, Holyrood Palace, the Royal Mile, museums, galleries
and shopping areas. There are buses to the City Centre from outside the
house but walking is easier and often quicker. Taxis to/from the centre,
including the railway station cost £4 - £5 depending on traffic.
• Size
The house has three floors - with six/eight rooms, depending on the season.
There are four family rooms on the the top and ground floors, two double
rooms on the same floors, and two smaller double rooms on the lower ground
floors. There are no twin rooms as such but two of the smaller family
rooms can be used as twin rooms. (For details please see our information
on rooms and prices.)
• Non-Smoking
The house is completely non-smoking. We ask guests to respect the non-smoking
signs inside the house. If guests wish to smoke they can use the back
garden patio at any time.
Other Facilities:
• Children
Children are most welcome. The family rooms are well suited for children.
A high chair is available together with a portable cot/pen.
• Parking
There is metered on-street parking on roads adjacent to Mingalar. The
cost is 70p per hour. We can provide you with ‘visitor’ tickets
which cost 60p per hour and a half.
We ourselves only have 2 free parking spaces so if you want one of these
you must book it in advance and get a confirmation that we still have
one available.
In practice, guests will find they will not want or be able to use their
car in town at all. So we recommend that visitors only hire a car the
day they are leaving Edinburgh or else arrange to return the hire-car
the day they come to Edinburgh.
• Laundry
There is an efficient launderette 250 yards from the house where guests
can do the laundry themselves or leave it to be done by the staff.
• Internet / e-mail Facilities are now available
for guests to access e-mail and the web sites of Scottish Tourist attractions
and special events in Edinburgh.
Email Mingalar enquiries & reservations: bookscotland@madbookings.com
