Hotels near Leith, Edinburgh

In August, during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, all hotels are expensive. Especially for tourists from China, you can't compare the prices to what you'd pay back home. The hotel's biggest advantage is its location. If you consider the Scott Monument as the city's touring center, then this hotel has arguably the best location in the city. It's just a five-minute walk from the train station, directly opposite the monument. Right in front of the hotel is a large sunken garden at the foot of the castle, and the Scottish National Gallery is only a three-minute walk away. There's a bus stop almost right outside the hotel, making it convenient to get around the city. However, this street is only for buses and black cabs; Uber cannot access it. You can ask the front desk to call a taxi for you. Once called, they'll give you a code to confirm the vehicle, so not having a UK mobile number isn't an issue, which is quite convenient. The front desk service was decent, and the breakfast restaurant staff were very warm and welcoming. The service staff on all floors were excellent; housekeeping was prompt and enthusiastic, which is why we left a tip when checking out. The breakfast was very rich and diverse. Of course, you can't compare it to breakfasts in China, which probably offer the most extensive hotel breakfasts in the world. The restaurant's view is unbeatable. At 8 AM, you can easily pick a window seat. Next to the hotel is an M&S Food, which is very convenient for buying groceries. The room was small and had air conditioning. We booked the most basic room type, which overlooked a construction site in an internal courtyard. However, the advantage was that the room was exceptionally quiet. Given that we were out and about visiting attractions all day, and summer days in Edinburgh are long, the room's main function was just for rest and sleep. The main issues were the lack of a refrigerator and that the window could only open a tiny crack, leading to a noticeable odor. Regarding dining around the hotel, we tried two places; they were expensive and the food wasn't great. Taking a few bus stops to Haymarket, however, offered cheaper and tastier options with fewer tourists. Italian, Greek, and Vietnamese pho restaurants there were outstanding. Overall, for a first-time visitor to Edinburgh, staying here is a viable option.

Stayed for 2 nights. Very quiet hotel in a great location right outside tramstop from airport. Didnt eat in restaurant or have breakfast there, staff were lovely, bed very comfortable, Only issue i had was that i would like to have been able to open a window for fresh air. Would definately stay here again, cant wait.

Without doubt, this was one of our finest hotel stays in recent memory. From the moment we arrived, Novotel Edinburgh set the tone with a level of warmth and professionalism that genuinely stood out. The staff were incredibly helpful throughout and what really demonstrated this was a small but telling moment: we lost our key card during the stay, and it was replaced immediately, without any fuss or inconvenience whatsoever. It's the kind of effortless service that puts you completely at ease, and it's something you remember long after checkout. The breakfast deserves a special mention — it was simply top notch. The spread was so good that holding back was near impossible, and it's the kind of breakfast that makes you actually look forward to the morning. Freshly prepared, well-stocked, and served with care — it's one of the best hotel breakfasts we've had. The location is outstanding. Sitting just a mile from Edinburgh Castle, you're right in the heart of one of the most iconic cities in the UK. Public transport couldn't be more convenient either  buses are accessible right behind the hotel, making it incredibly easy to get around the city without needing a car at all. The one area that needs addressing is parking. The hotel's own car park is frequently full, which meant we had to use the nearby NCP instead. To the hotel's credit, they did provide a discount for the NCP - a thoughtful gesture that softened the inconvenience. However, it's worth noting for electric vehicle drivers: the EV charging at the NCP is painfully slow, so factor that into your plans if you're arriving in an electric car. A heads-up from the hotel at check-in would go a long way. Parking frustrations aside, Novotel Edinburgh is a brilliant base for exploring the city - exceptional staff, an unmissable breakfast, and a location that's hard to beat. We'd return without hesitation.

I booked a room without window without realising! It was already over priced! I tried to change room but they didnt fulfil my request! So when I entered my room I realised is very small and it lacks basic amenities like fridge wardrobe enough space on both sides of the bed and plus I didnt have anything to put my things near my side of the bed as well... bathroom was also small no window i also had to buy my own conditioner cause hotel couldnt provide it for me... im really dissappinted... I already paid enough money and breakfast was not included in the price! Check in was also late i had to pay extra for early check in which is outrageous! And if I wanted late check out I also had to pay extra money for this... For the money I paid i could easily book a luxury air bnb and I could have my comfort as well! Plus at night there was too much noise outside our room which made us very uncomfortable! Sometimes we were thinking that someone entered our room due to the loud noises outside... I stayed one night and it was one of my worst hotel experiences... im really dissapointed... the only thing I liked was the cleanliness... we were told by one staff member that someone would call us to discuss our experience and offer us some money back if possible but no one called us! I wont book again any room in this hotel! Thats for sure! Very dissapointing experience...

The hotel room and bathroom were indeed too small; there wasn't even enough space to open a suitcase, so it had to be stored under the bed. The view outside the room was decent. The main advantage is the hotel's excellent location, right opposite Haymarket. You can walk almost anywhere, which is incredibly convenient, and there are bus stops right outside. The hotel breakfast was just so-so, with limited variety and options. It was a typical English breakfast, not bad. The reception service was mediocre, especially the male front desk staff who gave me the wrong room number twice, even though I showed him the room number written down. He seemed unbothered and unwilling to help.

everytg was amazing. we struggled to check in (after 5pm) and there was no staff. we reached abt 10pm at night and was left stranded at the door, no access code given at all to enter main gate … called and contacted property but no one picked up. if ur not going to have a 24/7 reception, at least make sure u hv someone tending to emergency help… after what was 30mins of waiting and calling did a guest walk down to open the door for us … horrible check in experience but everytg else was good

The hostel is in a great location, very close to the city centre and within easy walking distance. The cleanliness was okay overall, I stayed for four nights, and during most of my stay the room wasn’t thoroughly cleaned. The beds were made and the rubbish was removed, but the rest of the room didn’t seem to be cleaned. However, the day before I left, I wrote a short note for the cleaner and left it near the bin explaining my concerns. When I returned, the room was absolutely impeccable. I really appreciated how quickly and seriously they responded to my feedback. The staff are very friendly and welcoming, and the common area is comfortable. The main downside for me was the noise from the street. There was quite a lot of noise at night, sometimes continuing until late, so this is something to keep in mind if you are a light sleeper. Overall, despite these small issues, I had a good stay and would recommend the hostel, especially to women travelling solo. I felt safe and comfortable during my stay, and I particularly appreciated how responsive the staff were when I raised a concern.

Excellent Location, but Serious Security Lapses I recently stayed at this hotel and found it to be a bit of a mixed bag. While there are some undeniable perks to the property, a few significant service and security issues made for a rather unsettling experience. The Highlights Prime Location: This is easily the hotel's strongest suit. It’s situated right next to Haymarket station, and there is a bus stop literally just outside the front door. Getting into the city centre takes no more than 10 minutes, making it a perfect base for exploring. Commendable Service: The reception team provided a decent welcome. I’d like to give a special mention to Shreyas, who was incredibly helpful and professional throughout our interactions. Quality Dining: We ate at the on-site restaurant and were pleasantly surprised. The food was of a high standard, and the waitstaff were attentive and friendly. Room Maintenance & Tech Issues Unfortunately, the shine started to wear off once we settled into the room: Housekeeping Oversights: Despite this being a multi-day stay, the complimentary water bottles were never replaced after the first day. Faulty Tech: The in-room tablet was practically useless. It kept restarting due to a battery fault; ironically, it even cut out while I was trying to use it to contact reception. Privacy Concerns: When we requested extra toilet roll, the staff member who delivered it attempted to walk straight into the room using their key, rather than knocking and waiting for us to answer. It was a complete breach of basic hospitality etiquette. A Major Security Concern The most distressing part of the trip occurred on our second day. Upon returning to our room in the evening, we were shocked to find the main door open. It appears the cleaning staff had failed to secure the door after finishing their rounds. Finding your hotel room left open to the public is, quite frankly, scary. It’s a massive security fail that overshadowed the rest of the stay. While the location is brilliant, the hotel desperately needs to tighten up its staff training and safety protocols. Would I stay again? Only if I were certain that the security and maintenance issues had been addressed.

Fantastic experience! I stayed in a 10-person room, which was very spacious, and the bathrooms and toilets were all very clean! The staff provided excellent service, and I was able to store my luggage both before and after check-in. They even noticed it was my birthday and gave me a voucher! 🥰 Plus, the breakfast was great! Overall, a wonderful experience 🫶

The hotel's location is excellent, making it very convenient for getting around. The rooms are well-equipped, and the cleanliness is spot on. Although the hotel breakfast selection isn't extensive, it's sufficient for everyone's needs.