One week’s accommodation in Edinburgh for new PhD student

[MilanAndChrissie]

My DS is starting a Physics PhD at the University of Edinburgh in September. The first six months of the programme will be based in York, so he will not need permanent accommodation in Edinburgh until March.

However, he needs to be in Edinburgh for an induction from 6 to 12 September, and we're trying to find reasonably priced accommodation for those six nights.

It does not need to be anything fancy, just clean, safe and reasonably accessible to the university (King's buildings). I'd appreciate any recommendations please, obviously we're looking at airbnb, but Edinburgh prices are rather alarming, and the university doesn't offer any support whatsoever.

Any specific recommendations would be very welcome. Thank you.

Look outside the city
Inverkeithing, it's on the fife train line north of Edinburgh and will take him to Haymarket or Waverley station then a bus to uni. Bit of a trek but will be a lot cheaper than the city centre.
Or look near Napier uni on the city bypass, balerno, south gyle etc, not sure what sort of accommodation there is out there way.
Or east Lothian - Portobello, Musselborough
Midlothian - Straiton, Loan head, Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg - all have buses into the city

How odd. Shows at 750 for me!

There are loads of cheap hotels in the Livingston / Broxburn / Linlithgow areas with god bus and rail links into the city - Travelodge, premier inn etc

A problem is that all the first year students are arriving first move in day on 12th September so lots of short term places are full on Friday 11th. Could he stay once place 6th-11th and then move for the last night? A pain but maybe he could find somewhere a bit more affordable for the first 5 nights.

https://www.booking.com/Share-VLJuDn

This?

The best option is a bed in a dormitory with a shared bathroom. That’s around £220 for the days he needs. There are other options like a one bed small flat £500 both within very easy walking distance. Go on booking.com to see the dormitories.

https://www.booking.com/Share-nFo3KE

www.hostelworld.com/hostels/p/16747/edinburgh-central-youth-hostel/?source=ppc_gooads_nonbrand_dsk_search_pn_en_uk&network=g&campaign_id=20131704601&adgroup_id=155238702453&criteria_id=kwd-1727985560&creative_id=791844180441&location_physical_id=9195647&location_interest_id=&adposition=&uniqueclickID=12553166425880000610&sub_keyword=edinburgh+central+youth+hostel&sub_ad=e&sub_publisher=ADW&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20131704601&gbraid=0AAAAAD9QXQa3C8_MwO_-RIyDxHpAgoW2e&gclid=Cj0KCQjw16_UBhCqARIsAIdOaXzSKlLmNAloEfG3iJrTDDVQXohG--DYcMvI9GBldqYjDOlC6J8vuG8aAqPbEALw_wcB

Bit far, perhaps, but there might be decent transport options (it's right on Leith Walk). Nice cafe, friendly staff. Good luck to your son!

Here's a link to some King's Buildings transport options, including tram (which goes right up Leith Walk where Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel is located) and bus:

transport.ed.ac.uk/travelling-here/kings-buildings

Would this work? https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/for-students-only-the-keel-houses-in-edinburgh.en-gb.html?aid=311076&label=edinburgh-first-at-the-university-of-edinburgh-sLJekghKurF_xnl5cqIxqAS630443165035%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2%3Aac%3Aap%3Aneg%3Afi%3Atikwd-55380081082%3Alp1006478%3Ali%3Adec%3Adm%3Appccp%3DUmFuZG9tSVYkc2RlIyh9YVujEjbMrKBVEQO8hCDrg-c&sid=4b62fe0a59a7427994dffefefa47dc3e&all_sr_blocks=1711046001_442768330_1_0_0&checkin=2026-09-06&checkout=2026-09-12&dest_id=-2595386&dest_type=city&dist=0&group_adults=1&group_children=0&hapos=16&highlighted_blocks=1711046001_442768330_1_0_0&hpos=16&matching_block_id=1711046001_442768330_1_0_0&no_rooms=1&req_adults=1&req_children=0&room1=A&sb_price_type=total&sr_order=price&sr_pri_blocks=1711046001_442768330_1_0_0__50555&srepoch=1787565650&srpvid=65fe4625dce206f6&type=total&ucfs=1&

Edinburgh University freshers week isn't until the 12th September. There will be thousands of students with flats who's flat mates aren't coming back into town until that Saturday.

Join The Meadows Chat on Facebook (Meadows share is the selling site) and ask there.

Has he reached out to the uni though that would be easiest - they will be renting the halls out for the summer, as I said the students don't arrive in halls till Saturday 12th.

Sorry - I've just posted the same idea! I should have read all the previous posts. No. 7 bus is a great idea.

I hadn't seen your post when I posted the same! I didn't know about the self-catering kitchen. Great idea.

Have you checked out of there are any youth hostels near?

Looks like other people have put this suggestion before me

I agree with this suggestion! Get him to ask his supervisor to put him in contact with one of the other PhD students, they can surely put him on their floor for a week.

Honestly I have already asked him to do that, he says he has but no results.
The reason I am helping him with this is because he's in China right now. He comes back on the very same day he's supposed to travel to Edinburgh!

Never apologise for helping your son. Some on here think as soon as they leave we should just never lift a finger.!

https://staywithcode.com/

The team isn’t running along Leith Walk at the moment. It might be back by the beginning of September but I doubt it. It’s not really that useful for getting to KB compared to the bus.

The tram isn’t running along Leith walk, obviously 😂

Bit left field but would he consider doing a house sit or a pet sit?

Have a look at the House sitters UK website or trusted housesitters UK. The accommodation is free, you just have to genuinely love and look after pets and respect that you are in someone else's home. I'm thinking it wouldn't work for a dog who would require him to be home most of the day, but cats or chickens might work?

Otherwise take a tent and camp. It's only sept, not January. My DS did this a lot when he had medical placements.

Mortonhall campsite has availability for a tent pitch for one week at £253.50. For £40 more it includes electric hook up?

i think these expenses should be coming from
his PhD account. There should be funding to cover this sort of expense. If the PhD is set up so that he’s based in York but needs to go to Edinburgh, these should be covered as travel expenses against his account. He should check with the School of Physics and find either the graduate school admin or a student support officer or advisor. They should be able to answer or get the query to the right person.

I see someone has already suggested Mortonhall campsite (which is nice and on a bus route). If he’s not up for camping, they have shepherds’ huts and wooden ‘pods’ and availability for the nights in question. Start at less than £600 for 6 nights.
https://bookings14.rmscloud.com/Rates/Index/2168DFD37BAD6151/18?A=09/06/2026&D=09/12/2026&Dn=20260825150915&Rt=3&Ad=1&Mp=0&M=0&Y=0&Z=0#!/rooms