8 Ness Walk, Inverness, United Kingdom | (251) 219-4428
Set in Victorian mansion with plenty of period
touches
Riverside setting in the center of Inverness
Some rooms feature river and castle views
River-view restaurant and brasserie with Starbucks coffee
Health center with lap pool, steam bath, sauna, and
whirlpool
Well-equipped fitness room and massage treatments
Free parking for up to 19 cars
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Some rooms are
tiny
Breakfast not
free of charge
Elevator is small and slow
Inverness Palace Hotel is a mid-range property housed in a handsome late 19th-century building on the bank of River Ness in the center of Inverness. While the hotel retains plenty of the Victorian mansion's period touches, much of the interiors have been given a fairly uninspiring chain-hotel makeover. The leisure facilities, however, are some of the best in town, and most riverfront rooms have fine views out to the castle. Overall it's a solid choice, especially for fitness enthusiasts. For a little more character check out the Royal Highland Hotel, right next to the train station, but lose the health center.
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Scene
Riverfront Victorian mansion built in 1890 undergoing upgrades
Set in a Victorian mansion dating back to the late 19th century, the Inverness Palace has an attractive facade with distinctive conical-roofed towers and a palatial symmetry. After stepping into the hotel's Scots Baronial-style entrance and through its old-fashioned revolving door, guests will find a fresh, modern lobby with airy tones. Renovated after our visit, the interiors retain a few period touches such as ornate coving and elegant arches, adding new modern furniture and carpeting in shades of brown and gray. The property includes a spacious leisure club and spa -- the only one found in a river-side Inverness hotel. The property also features plenty of space to unwind with many pleasant spots overlooking the flowing River Ness. A tiny and sluggish elevator transports guests to one of the original property's three floors.The property acquired a neighboring Victorian building in 2017, dubbed 10 at the Palace, which provides additional accommodation.
Location
Set on the south bank of River Ness in center of Inverness
The hotel is set on
a relatively quiet and pretty street on the banks of the River Ness in the
center of Inverness. Largely surrounded by other hotels and guesthouses, most
of the city's restaurant and bars are five to 10 minutes' walk away and across the
nearby bridge. Inverness Castle is directly opposite the hotel on the other
side of the river and around 10 minutes on foot, while the main train station
-- with connections to Glasgow and Edinburgh -- is a five-minute drive. The famous
Loch Ness is about a 25-minute drive away.
Rooms
Some rooms have river and castle views while all include a rubber ducky.
The hotel's 88 original rooms mix modern decor with antique wooden furnishings, high ceilings, and period touches, though the overall look can be a bit hodgepodge and chain-like. River-facing rooms are finished with Farrow and Ball paint in earthy tones. Standard amenities include free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and tea/coffee facilities, while bathrooms are clean and modern with decent toiletries and a rubber ducky called Duck Ness. Most have shower-tub combos, but the small Single Rooms have tiny stall showers. While front-facing rooms overlook the river and castle beyond and tend to be more spacious, rear rooms can be noisy and small. Lack of air-conditioning can also means some rooms can get stuffy during warmer weather.The hotel added 21 extra rooms in an adjacent building in 2017, called 10 at the Palace. These refurbished rooms match the look of the hotel's renovated lobby, and many retain original architectural elements like decorative molding and exposed wooden beams. Guests should note that there is no elevator in this building.
Features
Impressive health facilities include 50-foot pool and whirlpool.
The hotel
provides a decent buffet breakfast each morning that includes fruit, cereals, toast, and Scottish items such as haggis -- but it's not generally
included in the rate and is on the pricey side. The Eight on the River
restaurant is bright and spacious and makes the most of the riverside views,
while serving a la carte and set menus. The other eatery, Ness Brasserie,
serves Starbucks coffee and light meals and snacks for lunch. The hotel's on-site
leisure facilities are most impressive, featuring a 50-foot swimming pool with
poolside spa tub as well as a steam room and sauna. There's also a decent gym (machines aren't the newest, but there's an adequate selection for a hotel of this size), and a
good range of massage and beauty treatments available. Car parking for up to 19
vehicles is free of charge, while Wi-Fi is also free and available throughout
the hotel.
