Hotels near Traverse Theatre, 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.

Bureaucracy is everywhere. The only praise I have is for the front desk staff who handled check-in and check-out, and the chefs in the restaurant who worked hard every day to prepare delicious meals. Specifically: 1. On the first day, at around 9 AM for breakfast, a middle-aged man at the cafeteria entrance asked me to open two room card sleeves. Only after seeing the actual room cards did he say 'OK, please come in.' This scene reminded me vividly of high school dormitory supervisors in impoverished, non-coastal provinces of mainland China back in 1998, who would inspect students' IDs every night, demanding they be pulled out and shown before allowing entry. On the second day, a middle-aged woman, and on the third day, a young man at breakfast, simply waved us in after seeing the room card sleeves, which felt much more like a proper hotel. 2. On the second day at noon, we went to Arthur for lunch. We decided to go back because the 2-person set meal from Arthur the night before – an Arthur burger and fries, plus soup and another dish – was excellent. My child and I were looking at the menu near the bar to decide what else to order when a male bartender rudely shouted, 'Don't order here, go sit at a table to order!' He then pointed to a sign on the wall stating 'No one under 18 allowed.' What the hell? We weren't drinking or smoking, so what business was it of his? Just because my child was near the bar? I was furious at that moment and shouted back, 'Easy! Easy! OK?' This person was clearly working with a lot of emotional baggage and overreacting; he absolutely should not be in this job. For example, he was chatting with guests at the next table, saying things like, 'I can speak four languages, German, etc.,' acting overly energetic in a quiet restaurant with only four guests. 3. On the third day morning at 9 AM, which was also check-out day, I was in the bathroom. The cleaning staff knocked on the door, wanting to clean. I directly informed them through two doors, 'I am shitting! You got it?!' 4. Still about breakfast: at 10:10 AM, there were still people eating, and I went to get a coffee. The cafeteria lady immediately told me off, saying, 'No, we're off duty.' I just burst out laughing then. In summary: Due to financial constraints, various schools in the UK convert student dormitories into tourist accommodations during holidays to generate revenue, which significantly fills financial gaps and becomes a major source of income for the schools. Simply put, since you're making money from this, you should do a good job. I pay for it. Summer camps are purely superstitious money sinks; students are the best business. You don't learn much or make friends at these camps. You'd be better off backpacking and staying in an 8-bed dorm at a YHA youth hostel.

Great location at the top of the road from Ocean Terminal and the Royal Yacht Britannia. The tram stop to the city centre is here too. Staff were friendly and professional, the room was clean and comfortable. The buffet breakfast was okay, limited choice of hot food (bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, baked beans and tomatoes). It would have been nice to have some jam or marmalade to choose from as the only spreads were butter, margarine and marmite.

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.

The location is fantastic, right in Edinburgh's Old Town. Just a few dozen meters outside, there are restaurants, which is super convenient. The environment is also pretty good. I stayed in a mixed dorm for one night and an all-female dorm for five nights. The mixed dorm was incredibly cramped. My neighbor, an Indian guy, not only snored but also talked in his sleep (it felt like he was sleeping right next to me, that's how narrow it was!). And his sleep-talking wasn't even in English, haha! 😂 Anyway, I didn't sleep well all night and immediately switched to the female dorm in the morning. The bottom bunk space was a bit tight, and I sometimes bumped my head, but I think I can still manage. For the same price, it's much better than other places.

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.

Very very close to the Edinburgh Waverley train station! The location is really convenient, located in the heart of the city. Check in was quick, staff quite nice. Bed is comfortable, and good privacy with the curtains. However, there were hair on the bedsheet. Enough toilet and shower facilities, although some are broken, I had to take a cold water shower.