---
title: "Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh vs Four Points Flex by Sheraton Edinburgh"
description: "Old Town doorstep against West End practicality — four-star Jeffrey Street pin with Royal Mile at 0.1 km versus three-star Shandwick Place with Haymarket at 0.4 km."
url: "https://travelshifu.com/hotels/edinburgh/compare/leonardo-royal-hotel-edinburgh-vs-four-points-flex-by-sheraton-edinburgh/"
type: "hotel comparison"
reviewed_on: "2026-08-06"
source: "TravelShifu"
---

# Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh vs Four Points Flex by Sheraton Edinburgh

Old Town doorstep against West End practicality — four-star Jeffrey Street pin with Royal Mile at 0.1 km versus three-star Shandwick Place with Haymarket at 0.4 km.

## Why this pair

Both carry POI rows and both score well on location — 9.59 against 9.09. One sells Royal Mile and Waverley walks; the other sells Haymarket and a closer airport pin. That is a real either/or for first-time Edinburgh.

## Verdict

Leonardo if Royal Mile at 0.1 km and four-star restaurant kit matter; Four Points if Haymarket at 0.4 km, cleaner cleanliness scores and no breakfast-included disappointment win — accepting Royal Mile at 1.5 km.

Position splits Old Town from West End. Leonardo puts Royal Mile at 0.1 km, Waverley at 0.2 km and castle at 0.8 km. Four Points puts Haymarket at 0.4 km, Princes Street Gardens at 0.6 km, castle at 1.1 km and Royal Mile at 1.5 km. Airport is 12 km against 9 km.

Headline supplier ratings: 8.5 from 13,325 at Leonardo against 8 from 11,663 at Four Points, captured 10 and 7 January 2026. Leonardo leads on amenities (9.07 against 7.57) and value (9.03 against 8.03); Four Points leads on cleanliness (8.08 against 6.58). Service is high at both (8.55 each).

Facilities decide the band. Leonardo lists fitness centre, restaurant, bar and room service. Four Points lists family rooms and laundry without restaurant, fitness or included breakfast — a named con.

**Best for:**
- Choosing between Old Town doorstep and West End train access
- First-time visitors weighing Royal Mile walks against Haymarket practicality

**Not for:**
- Budget travellers — see Britannia or ibis budget on this page
- Anyone who needs a spotless-room guarantee at Leonardo — cleaning cons are named

## Head to head

| Criterion | Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh | Four Points Flex by Sheraton Edinburgh | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Official classification | 4-star | 3-star | Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh |
| Position | Jeffrey Street. Royal Mile 0.1 km, Waverley 0.2 km, castle 0.8 km, airport 12 km. | Shandwick Place. Haymarket 0.4 km, Princes Street Gardens 0.6 km, Royal Mile 1.5 km, airport 9 km. | Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh |
| Supplier rating (our hotel data provider, /10 — display only) | 8.5 from 13,325 reviews, as of 10 January 2026 | 8 from 11,663 reviews, as of 7 January 2026 | Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh |
| Location (third-party guest score, /10 — display only) | 9.59 — Royal Mile and Waverley doorstep | 9.09 — centre and airport bus access | Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh |
| Cleanliness (third-party guest score, /10 — display only) | 6.58 — poor cleaning service named | 8.08 — clean well-maintained premises named | Four Points Flex by Sheraton Edinburgh |
| Service (third-party guest score, /10 — display only) | 8.55 — friendly staff; complaint handling mixed | 8.55 — friendly welcoming staff named | tie |
| Restaurant / fitness | Restaurant, bar, room service and fitness centre listed | No restaurant or fitness in cited facts; no breakfast included | Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh |
| What guests complain about | Poor cleaning service; noise; inadequate breakfast | Uncomfortable beds; heating/plumbing; no breakfast included | tie |
| Edinburgh Airport (POI) | 12 km | 9 km | Four Points Flex by Sheraton Edinburgh |
| Review sample size | 13,325 reviews | 11,663 reviews | Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh |

## Which is closer to the Royal Mile?

Leonardo Royal — the Royal Mile is 0.1 km against 1.5 km at Four Points Flex on our hotel data provider's figures. Four Points puts Haymarket Station at 0.4 km and Edinburgh Airport at 9 km. We have not stayed — this is a desk assessment from our hotel data provider’s dated guest analysis on the page.

## Which has cleaner rooms on guest scores?

Four Points Flex — cleanliness scores 8.08 out of 10 from 11,663 reviews as of 7 January 2026 against Leonardo's 6.58 from 13,325 as of 10 January 2026. Leonardo wins on Royal Mile proximity and amenities. We have not stayed — this is a desk assessment from our hotel data provider’s dated guest analysis on the page.

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