This is a new addition to the luxury destination
I might look as wrinkly as a sultana, but inside I’m only 10-years-old-ish.
Thus, I was the perfect candidate to try the new Spellbound Suite at Edinburgh’s four-year-old and five-star Virgin Hotel.
The room is part of the original India Buildings, on Victoria Street, rather than the hotel’s more modern Cowgate quarters.
To get to room 910 from that entrance, you pass the loveliest parts of the hotel, like the Funny Library, with its shelves of curiosities, and that red corridor that makes you feel as if you’re entering a disco spaceship. Then, there’s the gorgeous Oculus afternoon tea area, with its cupola.
We giggle with childish excitement as we count down to our door and swipe our keycard. Ta-da. I wave my invisible magic wand.
Our suite is split into two levels. Downstairs, you have the very grown-up and neutral main boudoir, with its king-sized bed, Smeg red mini fridge, curvy and plush seating area, as well as a swish dressing table, and the clever wet room and WC wood-panelled units that have been cleverly designed not to interfere with the original Victorian high-ceilinged proportions.
The only clue as to what’s waiting for you on the next level are two framed pictures, which feature dark Medieval inspired forest scenes of unicorns and doves.
Upstairs, is the spellbinding bit. Past the mirror that’s framed by entwined snakes, via the faux bookcases, then up the narrow carpeted staircase where the walls have been painted by local artist Lynsey Jean Henderson with murals of griffons, winged hares, trees and forest creatures, and you’re up to the kids (or big kids) attic room.
This is more than just interior design, it’s like an immersive film set, which has been created in conjunction with Henderson and others from family arts collective The Marangerie as part of the hotel’s Artist in Residence programme.
Harry Potter isn’t really my era, but there are also CS Lewis and Jill Murphy’s The Worst Witch vibes.
Up here, you’ll find two cute built-in beds, and midnight blue walls that are decorated with zephyrs, lightning bolts and gilded constellations.
Plus, a very cool floating candle light feature, and Hedwig the Harry Potter owl perching on a window seat that overlooks Victoria Street and Victoria Terrace.
On a bookcase, there are jars of Haribo and bottles of butter beer from The Elephant House. Another features actual books - Harry Potter, of course, but also ones about legend and lore.
My inner 10-year-old is leaping with joy.
However, as my husband is over six foot and would probably have to concertina himself to fit into one of the beds up here, we’ll probably be sleeping downstairs.
Despite this, we decide that we have to spend some time in the bewitched attic, and use the projector screen to watch Netflix on a comfy couch, while the fluffy Hedwig looks on.
We don’t want to leave, but one cannot survive on Haribo alone.
The last time I was at the Virgin Hotel I was trying their Long Italian Lunch in their Italian restaurant, Eve. Tonight, I’m booked into their slightly smarter Commons Club restaurant, where there isn’t any griffon on the menu. However, there are alchemic cocktails.
I try the amber-hued Maritime Sour, which contains Aberfeldy 12, Laphroaig 10, sea buckthorn and wildflower honey.
His potion is the Bell Pepper Martini, with Yellow Bell Pepper Grey Goose Vodka, Patron Reposado, Dolin Blanc Vermouth and, intriguingly, feta brine, for a salty savoury edge.
Then, we scoff langoustine and tuna tartare, followed by more fishy delights - a set of four Orkney scallops for me, and Loch Duart salmon on the bone, with sides including honey roast carrots with dukkah, and greens beans with garlic oil and toasted almonds. For pudding, there is pavlova for your truly, and cheese and oatcakes for him.
We head back to our room, and have one last peep at the attic space, which seems even more magical after dusk, with its moon night light glowing.
The next day, breakfast is served in Eve, where, as well as a From the Kitchen menu that features waffles, porridge and an intriguing-sounding ‘compressed croissant’, there’s a buffet.
It features a special breakfast cake - well, why not? - a Continental selection, pancake and omelette stations, pastries, smoked salmon and cooked staples, like scrambled egg and Cumberland sausages.
We fill our boots, and take our time, as there’s a very civilised check out time of noon.
That’s useful as, even though I know it’s time to go, the 10-year-old me is not quite ready to budge.
A night in the Spellbound Suite (sleeping two adults, two children) starts from £1200, virginhotels.com