Hotels near Greyfriars Bobby, Edinburgh

Considering it was during the May Day holiday, two thousand plus for a room with breakfast is pretty standard for Edinburgh, especially given the hotel's excellent location. It's a maximum ten-minute walk to the train station and about fifteen minutes to Calton Hill, making it super convenient for all city attractions. I was genuinely surprised that hotels in Edinburgh are significantly more expensive than in London. As for facilities, there were no surprises there – it's basically on par with a budget hotel like Hanting in China, and the room was quite small. Cleanliness was just up to standard, nothing more. The breakfast, however, was surprisingly good! They had a decent variety of fruits, including strawberries and blueberries. Of course, 'good' in this context is judged by the standards of an economical chain hotel in Europe.

This hotel, nestled at the foot of Calton Hill, was the perfect summer escape. It's incredibly convenient for exploring Calton Hill and other attractions, including the train station. Just across the road, there's a John Lewis department store, making it a quiet oasis right in the heart of things. The rooms are spacious, and I loved that there were plenty of outlets for charging all my devices 😅. Before heading out for a Highlands tour, I grabbed some water, chocolates, and snacks from the small shop opposite the Reception, which was super convenient. The staff were patient and helpful, which I really appreciated. Next time I'm in Edinburgh, I definitely want to try the hotel's 1802 restaurant, I've heard good things about it. Plus, the seating area right outside the hotel entrance was great for resting and managing luggage. 👍

I rarely leave negative reviews, but I feel that other travellers should know what to expect. I stayed in a single room on the top floor and was very disappointed, especially considering the price. The room was much smaller than I had expected and felt rather cramped. I paid £136 through Trip.com, even with a discount, and I simply did not feel that the room offered value for money. The room looked tired and dated. The carpet did not look very fresh, the furniture was old-fashioned but not in a charming or historic way, and there were marks on the walls that could easily have been touched up. The bedside lamp also appeared to be damaged, as the lampshade was noticeably crooked and could not be adjusted. I would also like to mention that the room and bathroom were clean, and the bed linen was fresh and clean. I knew when I booked that the room did not include a safe or a fridge, as this was mentioned in the description. However, for a four-star hotel at this price, I still feel that a safe and at least a small fridge should be provided. The television was also very small, and overall the room felt very basic for the price and hotel rating. The bathroom itself was a reasonable size, but it was not very practical. There was no shelf above the sink for toiletries, which was inconvenient. In the shower, the large shampoo and conditioner bottles were placed on the floor of the shower, meaning I had to keep bending down to reach them. I would also like to mention that access to the upper floors involves a very steep spiral staircase. I was aware that there was no lift, but I did not expect the staircase to be so steep and difficult to climb. As I was not comfortable in the room, I asked whether it might be possible to move to a different room. Unfortunately, there were no other rooms available. I had originally planned to stay in Edinburgh for another night, but I decided to move to a different hotel instead. The location of the hotel is good and convenient for Waverley Station, and the staff were polite and friendly. However, my overall experience did not meet my expectations for a four-star hotel, especially at this price. Unfortunately, I would not choose to stay at this hotel again.

The room was well-equipped with all the essentials, including toilet paper, shower gel, and soap. A hairdryer could be borrowed from the front desk. Breakfast was plentiful, featuring baked goods, fruit, sausages, milk, eggs, and various beverages. The front desk staff were very helpful; they provided a detailed map and answered all our questions when we asked for directions to Arthur's Seat. Getting to the main attractions was easy: you could take a bus (20+ minutes), a taxi (8 minutes), or walk (20+ minutes), making it very convenient for getting around. The campus itself was beautiful, with lush green trees, castle-like buildings, and a variety of flowers. It was also quiet at night, ensuring a good night's sleep. For food delivery, you can use the address 19 Holyrood Park Road. Overall, I was quite satisfied with everything.

Very nice stay near the bus stop, with many supermarket options and halal restaurants nearby. I came for a visa appointment, and the location was very convenient, close to photo and printin services and other essentials as well.

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.

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.

Great accommodation for solo travellers. When I arrive I was met with a very friendly receptionist who briefed me on the stay. The reception and the bedrooms were in separate buildings for me (Old Town) but only across the road. The beds was comfortable and I was fortunate enough to have roommates who were quiet. Toilets and showers are separate, and it is clean every now and then. 4 stars because it is quite tight inside the shower the overall really good for what price you pay and would definitely come back again.

The room was clean; however, it was poorly lit, and the dark wall colors did not help at all. Although we chose a room without windows, we did not expect such poor ventilation or effectively none at all. Our room was located on the ground floor, and there was no reception, while the hotel Wi-Fi also did not work downstairs. Soundproofing was very poor, which contributed to a situation that left us quite dissatisfied. While my friend was in the common area trying to get a connection, she was disturbed by guests who were clearly intoxicated and were rude and abusive towards her. When I went to get her, I was also sworn at, and we quickly returned to our room to avoid the situation. She also noticed that several people passing through seemed to be familiar with these guests and did not acknowledgethe ongoing situation. Later in the evening, around 21:00, one guest began crying loudly and there was a heated argument between them and another guest. Due to the poor soundproofing, we could hear everything clearly. We tried contacting reception about the situation, but they did not answer our calls. We felt unsafe leaving the room. Eventually, someone came down and only asked the guests if they were okay, and the situation was left unresolved. The noise continued for quite some time, and our sleep was significantly disturbed. Overall, we felt unsafe staying here.