1 Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 2EQ, United Kingdom
The luxurious five-star The Balmoral hotel, built in the Victorian style, opened more than 100 years ago. Originally constructed as the North British (station) hotel. It is located in the very center of the city at the eastern end of Princes Street, the main shopping street beneath the Edinburgh Castle rock, and on the southern edge of the New Town.
In 1895, a competition was held for the best design, which was won by William Beattie. The hotel was built as a hotel for wealthy travelers arriving or departing from Waverley Station. This explains its convenient location in the southern part of the New Town at the intersection of the main shopping street Princes Street and the North Bridge, under which the station spreads out. The first name, North British Hotel or simply N.B., was given to the hotel after the name of the railway operator North British Railway. The new name The Balmoral was given to the hotel after modernization in the late 1980s, named after the eponymous castle.
Located near Edinburgh's main station, the Balmoral hotel remains popular with travelers. To ensure they arrive on time for train departures, the clock on the hotel tower, visible from a great distance, traditionally runs two minutes fast. The tower height is 58 meters. The hotel building is designed in the Victorian style with touches of Scottish Baronial style. During modernization, almost all decorative balconies were removed from the building's facade.
The door of room 552 is decorated with an owl and a small golden plaque – this suite bears the name of J.K. Rowling. It was here that the author finished the novel "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" in 2007. It is said that she secretly came to The Balmoral in 2006 and wrote the novel over six months. Only the hotel staff knew of her presence, but they kept it a secret.
The writer’s stay is commemorated by the owl-shaped door knocker of the room and the inscription in marker: "J.K. Rowling finished writing 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' in this room on January 11, 2007" on a marble statuette of the god Hermes, a table with seven Harry Potter books, a chair and desk where the famous author worked. Suite No. 552 remains very popular among Harry Potter fans to this day.
Sources:
https://tass.ru/opinions/9095897
