Where to stay in Edinburgh? That’s not a crucial decision when booking accommodation in Scotland’s capital. The city is very small compared to other European capitals and everything in the City Centre — from shopping, attractions, restaurants and pubs — is literally within reach.
Edinburgh’s very compact City Centre allows for easy access by public transport from most areas of the city. This gives you greater flexibility when choosing hotels and other types of accommodation because you can focus on finding the best accommodation deals on good places to stay and not worry too much about the location.
What Area To Stay in Edinburgh?
Staying in Edinburgh City Centre
The centre of Edinburgh is Princes Street, the renowned shopping street and its surrounding area to the North (the New Town), and the South (Old Town). There are many hotels on Princes Street and accommodation can also be found very close to Edinburgh Castle on the Royal Mile.
If you choose to stay in a place in Edinburgh City Centre be aware that, as with any city centre, it can be quite noisy at night especially around the most popular areas such as Princes Street, the Royal Mile, George Street and the Grassmarket. Many of the hotels have double or triple glazing but if noise is likely to bother you then either ask for a room which faces away from the main street or look for a hotel in one of the quieter back streets.
Staying in Edinburgh City Centre but Away from Princes Street
Whether you stay in Edinburgh’s Old Town or New Town you are still very close to Princes Street and within walking distance from the city’s main tourist attractions, train station, coach station and airport shuttle. These are very good and safe areas to stay in and also full of charm.
You won’t need taxis for such short distances which will partly compensate for the expensive Edinburgh accommodation and will make your holiday cheaper on the whole. Remember, though, that although very compact, Edinburgh is quite a hilly city, so expect some fairly steep hills on your walks around the city.
Accomodation in Edinburg New Town
Another central area to stay in Edinburgh is the fashionable New Town. Just north of Princes Street are George Street, which is very popular with travellers looking for a vibrant nightlife scene, and Queen Street, which overlooks Queen Street Gardens, two of the finest streets in Edinburgh. Accommodation in this area ranges from excellent hotels and apartments to guest houses and hostels.
Most accommodation in the West End and New Town is Georgian or Victorian-style accommodation located in tastefully restored mansions and apartments featuring high ceilings and many of the original period features.
The New Town has a character of its own, historic and elegant, yet vibrant and stylish and there are many fashionable clubs and restaurants in the area.
As many of the buildings in the New Town are converted old townhouses, there are many listed buildings. While this means that they have been tastefully restored, with most offering elegant and stylish accommodation, it does mean that many of the Georgian townhouse hotels do not have lifts due to planning restrictions and some of the guest rooms can vary in size and shape.