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Original poster

Where should I stay in Edinburgh??

51 replies

Kitsmummy · 22/11/2021 08:44

We want to take a family half term break in Edinburgh (me, DH, DD 13 and DS 18) in February.

The main reason for this break is to show DS what a great city Edinburgh is (it's the top Uni for the course he wants to do).

I'm looking at hotels and apartments and am wondering if I should be aiming for the city centre or if there are specific areas (Haymarket???) which would be great?

Also, suggestions for places to see/things to do when we're up there would be great! Thank you

OP posts:
CormoranStrike · 22/11/2021 08:56

If all the things you want to do are in the city centre I would stick to there; unless you deliberately want to check out a student dogs type area, I wouldn’t opt for Haymarket myself.

I’m a big fan of the new town - quieter, but still city centre.

And your budget may dictate more than your preferences.

LiterallyKnowsBest · 22/11/2021 09:12

Honestly, anywhere! Edinburgh is tiny, walkable, with no shortage of taxis. (Your own car would be your biggest problem. I have no recent experience of the bus / tram network.) So, as long as you choose somewhere central you can’t actually go wrong.

Places to see/go:

Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat. Heart stoppingly, breathtakingly extraordinary. Across the road from:

Scottish Parliament building.

National Museum of Scotland.

Scottish National Gallery

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. Two galleries in spectacular landscapes.

The Traverse theatre. Various concert halls.

It’s a great place for just wandering and stopping for coffee.

I associate Edinburgh University with the Old Town - but Edinburgh has about 97 universities and I daresay there are academic institutions spread all across the city, so your location isn’t crucial as regards seeing what’s relevant to your son.

emmathedilemma · 22/11/2021 09:12

It's a pretty compact city with an excellent bus service. Anywhere between the meadows, Lothian road, queen street and Leith walk is very central but even outside that area is still walking distance to the main attractions.
The main factor will be if you need parking as few city centre hotels / apartments have on site parking.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Holidays
GoGoGretaDoll · 22/11/2021 09:13

Haymarket is super-central, it's a bit hotels/officey but it's definitely city centre and just a few moments from everywhere. Dalry Road (which starts at Haymarket) isn't particularly beautiful but has some really good food options, I think it's a very underrated part of town.

From Haymarket it's maybe a 20 minute walk (?) through to Tollcross then onto Bruntsfield/Morningside where a lot of students live.

But central Edinburgh is tiny, you'll be more or less fine wherever you are.

GoGoGretaDoll · 22/11/2021 09:14

Oh God, don't bring your car! Edinburgh is a nightmare for parking and driving. The buses are great.

Chemenger · 22/11/2021 09:22

Buses in Edinburgh are easy to use, they take contactless payments and cap the daily cost at £4 or so and the week at £20. It's more complicated if you want to pay for two tickets on one card, ask the driver. Apple maps or Google maps will tell you what bus to get or there is an app for Lothian buses where you can buy tickets and day tickets (or you cold the last time I looked). Parking is extortionate in the city centre, I wouldn't bring a car if you can avoid it.Haymarket is fine, central and easy to get to with plenty of places to eat.

Original poster
Kitsmummy · 22/11/2021 09:31

Thank you so much!

We'll be getting flights up so no car and it sounds like I just need to book central.

I'll have a look at that things to do list, thanks for all the suggestions x

OP posts:
GoGoGretaDoll · 22/11/2021 09:50

Oh and it will be cold in February - dreich and grey. Bring coats.

Nevermindthefurball · 22/11/2021 09:51

If your DS is looking at a science degree he’s likely to be based at Kings Buildings on the south side of town. There are some halls of residence there but most students still live in town. It’s easy to get the bus there from the centre if you wanted to check it out. I walked up that way from Princes St yesterday and it look me about 45 minutes.

Stockbridge is nice for a wander, go along the path at the Water of Leith. Go up Calton Hill and boggle at the monstrosity that is the new St James Quarter (big curly 💩). The Maytree in Bruntsfield does amazing hot chocolate and Project Coffee has the best scones. Any branch of 12 Triangles bakery will provide you with amazing pastries and Soderburgh has lovely cardamom buns.

If you have time, go to Cramond on the bus and walk out to Cramond Island - but remember to check the tide times first!

Princes St itself looks a bit sad at the moment as it’s lost all department stores and lots of other shops (pre and post pandemic plus relocation to SJQ). Hopefully the sheer level of vacancies means there’s space for the street to reinvent itself and nice things will happen.

Nevermindthefurball · 22/11/2021 09:55

It’s not really worth thinking of somewhere like Haymarket as a specific area. It’s not far from the centre so if a hotel has the best price there then take it but don’t single it out. There are a few big hotels now on Fountainbridge (Hilton and Moxy), about 10 minutes walk from Haymarket and similar to Princes St and Bruntsfield.

CraftyGin · 22/11/2021 09:56

You can't go wrong with Premier Inn. The one by Waverley Station is very good and close to everything.

CraftyGin · 22/11/2021 10:01

If is cold when you are there, get the No 10 bus to Bonaly for excellent views of the city.

What does your DS want to study?

ColinTheKoala · 22/11/2021 10:41

The Rutland Hotel is really nice, just off the castle end of Princes Street.

Original poster
Kitsmummy · 22/11/2021 10:47

It's Edinburgh Napier that he's looking at (to study Film) and he'd be on the Merchiston Avenue campus if that means anything to anyone

OP posts:
Lunificent · 22/11/2021 10:48

We stayed here. It was very handy for the sites, nice but reasonably priced and it has an underground indoor pool - good to relax there before going out in the evening.
www.apexhotels.co.uk/destinations/edinburgh/apex-waterloo-place-hotel/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Hotel+-+Waterloo+Place+-+Google+-+My+Business

adarkwhisperinthewoodwasheard · 22/11/2021 10:54

If it's the Merchiston campus then look at B and Bs on Gilmore Place/Leamington Terrace to stay. Some are quite cheap. There's also the Bruntsfield Hotel or Black Ivy, which are a bit more expensive but nice. You'll then be near Bruntsfield, which as a pp said has good wee shops and independent cafes, plus great views of the Castle and easy to walk to most things in town.

H1978 · 22/11/2021 10:55

We were there in august. We stayed at the Hilton. Great hotel and only 10 minute walk to city centre. They have a place when you can pay and park a few minutes walk from the hotel. We parked for the few days we were there and chose to walk. Traffic is a nightmare so if you’re able to walk is better.

Places to visit would be obviously Edinburgh castle, Edinburgh dungeons is brilliant and we visited the illusion museum which is next to the castle. There’s a nice high street and a few shopping centres. Dd wanted to visit a few famous bookshops so we did those for her. Make sure you pre book things, not sure what the rules are at the moment but it was quite restricted when we were there.

It’s a great city, I’m sure dcs will love it.

Nevermindthefurball · 22/11/2021 11:01

The Hilton and Moxy are just down the hill from Bruntsfield.

Nevermindthefurball · 22/11/2021 11:02

Which is where the campus he’ll be studying is

LizziesTwin · 22/11/2021 11:28

I don’t know about Napier but if you’re studying at university of Edinburgh it’s bad luck to visit the castle. Can’t remember whether you can go in your 4th year or have to wait until you’ve graduated.

CraftyGin · 22/11/2021 11:34

If you are going more for the city than the campus, you can stay anywhere. You don't need to be tied to Bruntsfield, although it is very nice (that where my DD stayed for the last two years). I imagine a quick walk by the campus will be enough.

There are two lovely restaurants in Bruntsfield that I have eaten at - Montpelier's and McLaren's.

The city stuff my DD did when she was there was Arthur's Seat, Portobello Beach and the Meadows. I think other than that, she did uni activities. She also did a bit of visiting places outside Edinburgh, eg North Berwick, St Andrews, Pitlochry.

footchewer · 22/11/2021 12:09

We stayed in an airbnb last year - recommend that rather than a hotel, so you can all come and go as you wish, and you can get a big living room for rainy afternoons; loads of restaurants are around the place for dinner (and many will deliver of course) and you can easily pick up some milk / bread / fruit etc for breakfasts.

Ours was in the same development as the one linked below (called the Quartermile) and it was a great location: easily walkable to the city centre, close to the Uni / student quarter, a Sainsbury's and a lovely Soderberg cafe round the corner; it was modern, spacious, warm (though sadly this one looks like it doesn't quite have the jaw-dropping views of the one we had; I think we got lucky tbh):

www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/38974911?adults=4&location=edinburgh&check_in=2022-02-14&check_out=2022-02-18&federated_search_id=1f904e1d-b0d9-416e-b3b7-3d9bb80261b6&source_impression_id=p3_1637581984_%2B3kRVHUnDNkdNs2F

Hope that's useful - love Edinburgh so much!