Axel's take: 6.8/10
Helpful staff and a proper pool, but tired rooms weaken the four-star promise. A practical, older 4-star chain hotel outside central Inverness, scored for what it is.
Leonardo Hotel Inverness is an older four-star chain hotel that works better as a practical Highland touring base than a polished city break. Free parking and an indoor pool with gym, sauna and steam room are useful strengths. Expedia guests repeatedly praise helpful staff, comfortable beds and breakfast. We'd consider it for a short stay with a car, particularly if you'll use the leisure facilities.
The bedrooms are the sticking point: recent Tripadvisor and Expedia reviews describe dated bathrooms, worn furnishings and uneven housekeeping, although plenty of guests report clean, comfortable stays. Overheated rooms and road noise also recur. The location is outside the central sightseeing area, rather than the city-centre setting the marketing suggests. We'd skip it for a special occasion or if consistently fresh rooms and doorstep sightseeing matter most.
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Best for: Highland road-trippers; Short business stays; Travelers who will use the pool
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Watch out for: Dated rooms and inconsistent housekeeping; Overheated rooms and road noise; Outside the central sightseeing area
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Location: Practical for main-road access; allow roughly 20–30 minutes to walk into the centre.
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Rooms: Comfortable beds earn praise, but dated bathrooms, wear, heat and road noise recur.
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Cleanliness: Many guests find rooms clean, but recent housekeeping complaints appear on both Tripadvisor and Expedia.
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Service: Helpful staff are a consistent strength; Booking.com and Expedia both rate staff above the hotel overall.
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Amenities: Indoor pool, gym, sauna, steam room, restaurant and bar; the official site lists the pool as open daily.
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Fees and surprises: Officially, parking is free subject to availability; breakfast costs extra unless included in your booking.
Axel's opinion of Leonardo Hotel Inverness, from the hotel's website and recent guest reviews. Sources: Hotel website · Tripadvisor · Expedia · Booking.com. Reviewed Oct 10, 2026.