Hotels
Where to stay in Edinburgh: the best neighbourhoods explained
Edinburgh is two cities in one: the medieval Old Town and the Georgian New Town. These are the areas we would choose between, who each suits and the hotel we would book.
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Climb the steps out of Waverley Station and you are suddenly standing between two cities. To one side the dark stone tenements of the Old Town climb towards the castle. To the other run the broad, straight streets of the New Town, built in the eighteenth century for those who wanted to escape the crowding. Where you stay in Edinburgh comes down to which of the two you want to wake up in.
The centre is compact and most sights lie within half an hour on foot, but the city is steep, so think about the hills. We have chosen the neighbourhoods we would stay in and explain who each suits. The hotels themselves are in our guide to the best hotels in Edinburgh.
Short answer: where should you stay in Edinburgh?
For a first visit, the New Town around Princes Street and St Andrew Square is the best choice: central, flatter than the Old Town and close to the station. The Old Town suits those who want to be on the Royal Mile, and Leith or Southside offer calm and lower prices.
Best for a first visit: the New Town
Best for history: the Old Town
Best for castle views: the West End
Best for food and the waterfront: Leith
Best for a romantic weekend: near Arthur’s Seat
Gleneagles Townhouse
Gleneagles Townhouse in the New Town.
The New Town: Georgian and central
The New Town was built from 1767 as a planned district of straight streets, grand squares and elegant townhouses, and shares UNESCO World Heritage status with the Old Town. Princes Street, St Andrew Square and George Street are the shopping and dining streets, and the station is close by.
It suits first-time visitors and anyone who wants things easy. The catch: the streets around Princes Street are busy, and hotel prices soar in August.
Gleneagles Townhouse: a roof terrace on St Andrew Square
Gleneagles Townhouse occupies a former bank on St Andrew Square, with a roof terrace above the New Town and deep baths in the rooms. Breakfast is included, and the Royal Mile is a few minutes' walk away.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Gleneagles Townhouse
Kimpton Charlotte Square
Kimpton Charlotte Square in the New Town.
Kimpton Charlotte Square: townhouses on the quiet square
Kimpton Charlotte Square fills a row of Georgian townhouses at the western end of the New Town, with a bright glasshouse at its centre where breakfast is served. Princes Street Gardens are a few minutes away, but the square is calmer than the streets to the east.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Kimpton Charlotte Square
The Old Town and the Royal Mile: the medieval city
The Old Town runs along the Royal Mile from the castle down to Holyrood Palace, with narrow alleys called closes dropping steeply on both sides. Here are St Giles’ Cathedral, the Grassmarket and many of the city's pubs.
It suits travellers who want to sleep in the middle of the history. The catch: hills, daytime crowds on the Royal Mile and noise from the pubs at night, especially during the festivals in August.
The Caledonian
The Caledonian in the West End.
The West End: the castle in your window
The West End is the western edge of the centre around Lothian Road and Haymarket, with the Usher Hall and the theatres. From here you see the castle from the other side, with a short walk to both the New Town and the Old Town.
It suits travellers who want to be central but just off the busiest streets. The catch is that evenings are quieter here than in the Old Town.
The Caledonian: the old railway station
The Caledonian occupies the old red sandstone railway station at the end of Princes Street, and rooms facing the castle look straight up at the fortress. It has three restaurants and a spa.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Caledonian
Leith: the harbour and the restaurants
Leith is Edinburgh's old port, a couple of kilometres north of the centre, and now has several of the city's most acclaimed restaurants along the water. The Royal Yacht Britannia is moored here, and the tram runs into town.
Choose Leith to eat well and stay a little more cheaply. The catch: you will need the tram or a bus for the sights in the centre.
Prestonfield House
Prestonfield House near Arthur’s Seat.
Near Arthur’s Seat and Southside: green and calm
South of the Old Town lies Southside, a student-flavoured area with affordable cafés, and Holyrood Park with Arthur’s Seat, the old volcano you can climb before breakfast. You stay close to nature, a short taxi ride from the centre.
Prestonfield House: a country house below the hill
Prestonfield House is a seventeenth-century house with its own parkland at the foot of Arthur’s Seat, with peacocks on the lawn and drawing rooms in deep red and gold. Breakfast and parking are included, and it is the place for a romantic winter weekend.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Prestonfield House
Good to know before you book
August is expensive: during the festivals hotels fill up and prices peak. Book early.
Steep hills: the Old Town sits on a ridge. Choose the New Town if you want to avoid the steps.
Hogmanay: the New Year celebrations fill the city in the days around 31 December.
Tram from the airport: the tram runs from the airport to the centre and on to Leith.
Where to stay in Edinburgh: frequently asked questions
Is it better to stay in the Old Town or the New Town?
The New Town is easier and flatter for a first visit, while the Old Town suits those who want to sleep in the historic centre and do not mind hills and crowds.
Where should I stay in Edinburgh during the August festivals?
Book early and consider the New Town, the West End or Leith, which are quieter at night than the Royal Mile.
Is Leith a good place to stay?
Yes, if you enjoy food and want slightly lower prices. The tram takes you into the centre.
Where is quiet to stay in Edinburgh?
The areas around Charlotte Square, Southside and Arthur’s Seat are calm in the evening.