Once "Grand"

One of the Conference Hotels - The Grand. A fine example of faded (very) Victorian elegance. The hotel was designed by the Hull architect Cuthbert Brodrick, and when completed in 1867 was one of the largest hotels in the world, as well as one of the first giant purpose-built hotels in Europe.

The building is designed around the theme of time: four towers to represent the seasons, 12 floors for the months of the year, 52 chimneys symbolise the weeks, and originally there were 365 bedrooms, one for each day of the year. The hotel itself is in the shape of a 'V' in honour of Queen Victoria.

Last full day and back to Edinburgh tomorrow.