Ten Minutes from the Royal Mile, with a Parking Space at the Door
There aren't many central-Edinburgh guest houses where you can step out of the front door, walk one minute to a bus stop, and be on the Royal Mile in ten, but Arrandale is one of them. Pull off the A7 onto Mayfield Gardens and one of you gets to leave the car parked for free, a small miracle this close to the city centre. Open the curtains of a garden-view room and you'll be looking at the terrace the owners refreshed last season: sage curtains, French doors, the rear gardens of Newington beyond. Cross the road to the bus stop and the next Lothian 3, 7, 8, 29, 31, 37 or 47 will have you on South Bridge in ten minutes flat, Arthur's Seat a twenty-five-minute walk in the opposite direction.
That combination, central-bus-corridor address plus genuinely free parking, is why returning Fringe-week, Hogmanay and Six Nations visitors book Mayfield Gardens specifically rather than the Old Town hotels they could afford. Guest feedback returns to the same praise again and again: the cleanliness, the comfort of the recently renovated rooms and the dependable free Wi-Fi. Mandarin is spoken on site alongside English, which is unusual for a Newington guest house and a recurring positive in reviews from Chinese-speaking visitors. The property is independently run and quality-graded 3-star by VisitScotland.
10 Minutes to the Old Town on Edinburgh's Busiest Southern Bus Corridor
The address sits directly on the A7/A701 spine, Edinburgh's busiest southern bus corridor, with a combined daytime headway of every 2–3 minutes. Step out of the front door, walk to the Mayfield Gardens stop one minute away, and Lothian routes 3, 7, 8, 29, 31, 37 and 47 all head straight up Minto Street, Newington Road and Clerk Street to South Bridge. Door-to-Old-Town is typically 10 minutes; night services N3, N31 and N37 cover after midnight.
Within walking distance is the everyday character of Newington: Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat 1.1 mi away (the easiest 'mountain' hike in any UK capital), The Meadows 1.2 mi, the National Museum of Scotland 1.4 mi (free admission, holds Dolly the cloned sheep), the University of Edinburgh's George Square campus, and a strong row of independent restaurants, Haldi, Delhi Diner, Mango Tree, Wee Greek Kitchen, Leslies Bar. Edinburgh Waverley is 1.6 mi north; Edinburgh Airport is a 30-minute Airlink 100 from North Bridge.
Photo: Peter Stevens, CC BY 2.0
Free Parking, Refreshed Garden and Honest Trade-Offs
What is genuinely unusual for a guest house this close to central Edinburgh is the parking. There is one free on-site space (first-come, first-served, not bookable), supplemented by free side-street parking on neighbouring streets and free Saturday/Sunday parking directly in front of the property on Mayfield Gardens. The combination is rare on the A7 corridor and explains a notable share of repeat Fringe and Hogmanay bookings.
What is honest to say up front: this is a self check-in property. There is no staffed reception, arrival is by Ring doorbell and a key-code lockbox; you email or message your arrival time in advance. Breakfast is not served on-site, every room has an electric kettle and a tea, coffee and hot-chocolate tray, and five minutes' walk north on Clerk Street puts you among the cafés returning guests recommend (Love, Peace and Coffee for pancakes and waffles is the standout). The Victorian building has no lift; bedrooms are on the ground and first floor.
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Interesting Points About Arrandale Guest House
- VisitScotland 3-star quality-assured listing, confirmed on the official VisitScotland accommodation directory at visitscotland.com/info/accommodation/arrandale-guest-house-p2198131
- Mandarin spoken on site alongside English, unusual for a Newington guest house and a recurring positive in guest reviews from Chinese-speaking visitors
- Free Saturday and Sunday parking directly in front of the property on Mayfield Gardens, a Council-confirmed weekend exemption to the otherwise-metered A7 corridor parking that no other Newington guest house publicises
- Bathroom-out-the-door room configuration on the Large Double with Private External Bathroom, the bathroom is fully private with its own key, not shared, an honest legacy of the Victorian floor plan rather than a downgrade
Rooms & Accommodation at Arrandale Guest House
Large Double/Twin Room
Sleeps 2 · 15 m² · Double or twin · Garden view · Private en-suite
The top-of-house configuration at 15 m² with a garden view, bookable as either a double or a twin. Private en-suite with bath or shower, free toiletries and towels, hospitality tray, iron, kettle and a flat-screen TV with cable channels. Carpeted, non-smoking.
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Large Family Room
Sleeps 4–5 · 28 m² · Largest room · Private en-suite
The largest room at Arrandale at 28 m², a family room with private en-suite, free toiletries and towels, in-room hospitality tray and the full kettle / iron / hairdryer set. Sleeps four to five depending on configuration; ask for current availability when you book.
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Comfort Triple Room
Sleeps 3 · 18 m² · Private en-suite
Three-bed configuration at 18 m², practical for friends sharing or a small family. Private en-suite, hospitality tray, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV with cable channels, iron and ironing board. Carpeted and non-smoking, with beds guests consistently describe as comfortable.
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Deluxe Double Room with Shower
Sleeps 2 · 16 m² · Garden view · Private en-suite (shower)
Mid-range double at 16 m² with a garden view and a shower-only en-suite, the value-leaning option of the garden-view doubles. Hospitality tray, kettle, free Wi-Fi, iron and ironing facilities. Carpeted, non-smoking.
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Large Double Room with Private External Bathroom
Sleeps 2 · 14 m² · Private external bath + shower (own key)
A 14 m² double with a fully private bathroom one step outside the bedroom door, you have your own key, it is not shared with other guests. The configuration exists because the Victorian building was never laid out for in-room en-suites on every room. The bathroom has a full-size bath and a separate shower.
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Single Room with Bathroom
Sleeps 1 · 14 m² · Single bed · Private en-suite
The lowest-priced configuration at Arrandale: a single bed in a 14 m² room with its own private en-suite. The room has a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a hospitality tray with kettle, tea, coffee and hot chocolate, free Wi-Fi, an iron and ironing board, hairdryer, free toiletries, fresh towels and linen. Carpeted, non-smoking, on either the ground or first floor depending on the night.
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Best Suited For
- Drivers: one free on-site space + free side-street + free Saturday/Sunday parking out front. Rare this close to central Edinburgh.
- Couples: a consistent favourite with two-person bookings; bus stop a minute from the door
- Solo travellers and academics visiting the University of Edinburgh's George Square campus, 10–15 min walk
- Fringe-week, Hogmanay and Six Nations guests who refuse to pay Old Town rates and are happy with a 10-minute Lothian bus into town
- Independent travellers who prefer a self check-in guest house to a polished hotel reception desk
- Mandarin-speaking guests: Mandarin is spoken on site alongside English
Worth Considering Alternatives If
- You expect a 24-hour staffed reception: the property is contactless self check-in via Ring doorbell and key-code lockbox; no on-site reception team
- You need a hot breakfast included: breakfast is not served or included; every room has a kettle and hospitality tray, with cafés five minutes' walk north on Clerk Street
- You need a lift: the Victorian building has stairs only; bedrooms on the ground and first floor
- You're travelling with a dog: pets are not allowed
- You're noise-sensitive: Mayfield Gardens is on the A7/A701; front-facing rooms can hear traffic. Request a garden-view room when you book
- You expect a swimming pool, spa, gym, on-site bar or restaurant: none are present
Amenities & Facilities
In-Room
- Free Wi-Fi (a consistent guest favourite)
- Flat-screen TV with cable channels in every room
- Heating throughout
- Hairdryer, hospitality tray with kettle, tea, coffee and hot chocolate
- Iron and ironing facilities, desk, wardrobe, clothes rack
- Free toiletries, towels, fresh bed linen
- Carpeted floors
- Non-smoking throughout
Bathroom
- Private bathroom with every room (en-suite on most; fully private external bathroom with own key on the Large Double with External Bathroom)
- Bath or shower depending on room type
- Free toiletries, towels, hairdryer, toilet paper
Food & Drink
- In-room hospitality tray with kettle, tea, coffee and hot chocolate
- Delhi Diner, modern Indian, 50 yards (~1 min walk)
- Mango Tree and Fat Tony's Takeaway, both ~450 yards
- Love, Peace and Coffee on Clerk Street, pancakes and waffles, returning-guest favourite (~5 min walk)
- Haldi (38 Mayfield Gardens) and Wee Greek Kitchen on Causewayside, ~5–10 min walk
- Leslies Bar, Victorian real-ale pub on Ratcliffe Terrace (~5 min walk)
- Not available: Breakfast on-site
- Not available: On-site restaurant or bar
Parking & Transport
- Free on-site parking, one space, first-come, first-served, not bookable
- Free side-street parking on neighbouring streets (no permit required)
- Free Saturday and Sunday parking directly in front of the property on Mayfield Gardens
- Lothian Buses 3, 7, 8, 29, 31, 37 and 47 stop at the Mayfield Gardens stop one minute away, ~10 min to South Bridge
- Night bus services N3, N31 and N37 cover after midnight
- Edinburgh Waverley station, 1.6 mi · ~15–20 min door-to-door by bus
- Edinburgh Haymarket station, 2.8 mi
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI), 10 mi · Airlink 100 from North Bridge ~30 min, then any 3/7/8/29/31/37/47 south
- TapTapCap your contactless card on board to cap your daily Lothian fare automatically
Property-wide
- Free Wi-Fi in all areas
- Recently renovated terrace garden, visible from garden-view rooms
- Family rooms with cot 0–2 available free of charge
- Luggage storage during the day before / after check-in window
- Not available: Lift to upper floors
- Not available: Swimming pool
- Not available: Gym / fitness centre
- Not available: Spa / wellness
Services & Policies
- Self check-in 14:00–23:30 via Ring doorbell and key-code lockbox
- Checkout window 07:30–10:30
- Advance notice of arrival time required
- Quiet hours 22:00–07:00
- Bankcard and cash accepted; payment typically charged before arrival
- Photo ID + credit card required at check-in
- Minimum check-in age 18
- VisitScotland 3-star quality-assured listing
- Non-smoking throughout
- Not available: Pets
- Not available: Hen / stag parties
- Not available: Extra beds
28 Mayfield Gardens, Newington, A Victorian Villa 1.4 Miles South of the Royal Mile
Mayfield Gardens sits in the heart of Newington, the mid-Victorian residential quarter that begins where the Old Town's South Bridge runs out. The terraces here are mid-19th-century sandstone, lining the A7/A701 from the Meadows down to Mayfield Gardens. Local landmarks include the prominent spire of Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church and the National Library of Scotland's Causewayside building. Arrandale Guest House is at 28 Mayfield Gardens, EH9 2BZ, about a mile from George Square and the University of Edinburgh's main library.
What looks on a map like 'outside the centre' is, in practice, closer to the Royal Mile by bus than most New Town hotels are on foot. The A7/A701 spine outside the door is Edinburgh's busiest southern bus corridor with a daytime headway of every 2–3 minutes. Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat are 1.1 mi away (a 25-minute walk or about seven minutes by bus). The Meadows, the National Museum of Scotland, the Old Town and Edinburgh Castle all sit within a 10-minute Lothian bus ride. Edinburgh Waverley is 1.6 mi north; Edinburgh Airport is a 30-minute Airlink 100 from North Bridge plus a short 3/7/8/29/31/37/47 south.
Newington's day-to-day character is residential and student-flavoured: a strong row of independent restaurants and curry houses along Mayfield Gardens and Causewayside (Delhi Diner, Mango Tree, Haldi, Wee Greek Kitchen, Leslies Bar), student halls at Pollock, and the calmer, more lived-in feel that separates the south side from the Royal Mile's tourist density.
- Holyrood Park & Arthur's Seat: 1.1 mi · ~25-min walk or ~7 min by bus · An extinct volcano in the middle of the city, 251 m up, 360° views of Edinburgh for the price of a pair of trainers.
- The Meadows: 1.2 mi · ~20-min walk · Edinburgh's main south-side green lung, framed by the University and the Sick Kids' campus.
- National Museum of Scotland: 1.4 mi · ~10 min by bus · Free admission; the only place in Scotland that holds Dolly the cloned sheep.
- Edinburgh Castle: 2.0 mi · ~10 min by bus · The dominant skyline silhouette, home of the Scottish Crown Jewels and the One O'Clock Gun (daily except Sunday).
- Palace of Holyroodhouse: 2.0 mi · ~12 min by bus · The King's official Scottish residence; the Royal Mile ends here.
- The Real Mary King's Close: 1.6 mi · ~12 min by bus · Costumed-guide tours of preserved 17th-century underground streets beneath the Royal Mile.
- Camera Obscura & World of Illusions: 1.8 mi · ~12 min by bus · Edinburgh's oldest purpose-built tourist attraction, on Castlehill since 1853.
- Portobello Beach: 4.1 mi · ~30 min by bus · A two-mile sand beach with a Victorian promenade, Edinburgh's seaside.
Getting to Key Locations
Photo: Peter Stevens, CC BY 2.0
Edinburgh Castle
Two miles north of Arrandale and reachable in ten minutes on any Lothian 3/7/8/29/31/37/47, Edinburgh Castle is the city's defining silhouette and home of the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny. Book a timed ticket online before you go, castle slots routinely sell out on Fringe and Hogmanay weekends. The One O'Clock Gun fires from the ramparts every day except Sunday. Pair the visit with the Royal Mile descent toward Holyroodhouse for a half-day from Mayfield Gardens.
View on Map
Arthur's Seat & Holyrood Park
25 min walk
About a mile from the front door, a 25-minute walk or seven minutes by bus, Arthur's Seat is the extinct volcano at the heart of Holyrood Park and gives you a 360° view of Edinburgh from 251 metres up for the price of a pair of trainers. The full loop with the Salisbury Crags ridgeline is roughly two hours; sunrise and the hour before sunset are the photogenic windows. Holyrood Park itself contains Dunsapie Loch and the ruined St Anthony's Chapel.
View on Map
Photo: Maccoinnich (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA 3.0
National Museum of Scotland
10 min bus
Ten minutes by bus from Mayfield Gardens, the National Museum of Scotland is free to enter and runs from Iron Age torcs through to Dolly the cloned sheep across seven floors of galleries. Budget two to three hours and grab the rooftop terrace view of the Old Town on the way out, one of the best free vantage points in Edinburgh.
View on MapHow to Get to Arrandale Guest House from Edinburgh Waverley
- Leave Waverley via the Waverley Steps: Exit Edinburgh Waverley via the Waverley Steps escalator up to Princes Street, about two minutes from the platform to the street.
- Walk south across North Bridge: Cross Princes Street and walk south over North Bridge. At the South Bridge or Nicolson Street stops, board any Lothian Buses 3, 7, 8, 29, 31, 37 or 47 heading south. Combined daytime frequency on this corridor is every 2–3 minutes; night services N3, N31 and N37 cover after midnight.
- Stay on for ~11 minutes through Newington: The bus runs through South Bridge, Nicolson Street, Clerk Street, Newington Road and Minto Street. Tap a contactless card on board, TapTapCap caps your daily Lothian fare automatically at £5.70 per day, £26.50 per week.
- Alight at the Mayfield Gardens stop: Alight at the Mayfield Gardens stop, between Salisbury Place and East Savile Road. Arrandale Guest House is one minute on foot from the stop, at number 28. Total door-to-door from Waverley is 15–20 minutes.
Edinburgh and the Surrounding Area
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, a UNESCO World Heritage city of around 530,000 people, defined by its medieval Old Town and Georgian New Town, its volcanic Castle Rock and an event calendar that genuinely sets the city's pulse. The Fringe (7–31 August 2026), the Edinburgh International Festival (7–30 August), the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Book Festival (15–30 August at Edinburgh Futures Institute) all overlap in a single August fortnight; the city then resets and runs into Hogmanay (29 December 2026 – 1 January 2027), with the torchlight procession on 29 December and the Princes Street Gardens fireworks on 31 December.
For better value and calmer weather, the May–June and September shoulders are noticeably quieter; April brings the Edinburgh Science Festival, and February–March sees the Six Nations rugby at Murrayfield, which books the Old Town solid. The Edinburgh Visitor Levy takes effect on overnight stays from 24 July 2026 and is collected by the property on top of the room rate.
Edinburgh first-timer's guide, 20 things to do
A three-day solo walk through the must-see Edinburgh sights, Castle, Old Town, Arthur's Seat, with practical city-navigation tips, the kind of orientation video first-time guests at Arrandale ask for.
What Guests Say About Arrandale Guest House
Scores and review counts are aggregated from verified guest bookings on major travel platforms.
Very Good
Arrandale Guest House reads consistently as a good-value, location-driven choice in Newington for travellers who plan ahead and accept self-service hospitality. Reviews skew positive, and couples particularly like the location, provided guests understand in advance that breakfast is not served and check-in is contactless. The strongest praise themes are cleanliness, recently renovated rooms, free parking and the bus stop at the door; the strongest watch-outs are A7 traffic noise on front-facing rooms and the one-space parking limit on busy nights.
Good choice for the money. Great location, bus stop at the door, walkable to the centre, smooth late-night check-in. Slightly slow on messages.
Mercédesz
Very comfortable and good value, will stay again. Clean, lovely location with buses, iron and ironing board included. Only one parking space, host told us in advance.
Great location for the price. Public transport on the door, nice shower and a very comfortable bed. A few cobwebs.
Bed was comfy and we had a restful night. Good facilities, clean functional room, good location.
Clean and comfortable and good for what we needed. Spacious room, hot shower, no traffic noise even at the front. No breakfast, but it's a guest house, not a hotel.
A really useful little place. Clean comfortable room with a view onto the terrace garden, easy buses and on-street parking nearby, secure and relaxed.
Superb, the room had been renovated. I had seen the 7.8 score, but for me it was at least a 9; perhaps before the renovation it would have been 7.8, but not now.
Good to Know Before You Book
Self check-in via Ring doorbell and key-code lockbox
There is no staffed reception. You will be sent door-entry instructions in advance, email or message your arrival time so the code lands in time. Check-in runs 14:00–23:30, and you should be packed up by 10:30 (vacating any time after 07:30). The code changes between guests, so keep your room key on you when you go out.
Breakfast is not served on-site
Every room has a kettle and a tea, coffee and hot-chocolate tray. For a cooked breakfast, walk five minutes north on Clerk Street, Love, Peace and Coffee is a returning-guest favourite for pancakes and waffles. Older online listings still mention 'delicious breakfast'. That is out of date, breakfast is not included.
Free parking is real, but only one on-site space
There is exactly one free on-site parking space, first-come, first-served, not bookable in advance. Plan B is free unrestricted side-street parking on neighbouring streets; Plan C is free Saturday and Sunday parking directly in front of the property on Mayfield Gardens. The combination is genuinely rare this close to central Edinburgh.
Mayfield Gardens is on the A7/A701
Front-facing rooms can hear traffic. If you are noise-sensitive, request a garden-view room when you book, most garden-view options look onto the recently refreshed terrace garden at the back of the building. The Victorian building has no lift; bedrooms are on the ground and first floor.
Photos of Arrandale Guest House
Arrandale Guest House FAQs
Arrandale Guest House is at 28 Mayfield Gardens, Edinburgh EH9 2BZ, a Victorian sandstone villa in the Newington conservation area on the A7/A701 corridor, 1.4 miles south of the Royal Mile. The Mayfield Gardens bus stop is one minute on foot from the front door, with Lothian Buses 3, 7, 8, 29, 31, 37 and 47 reaching South Bridge in about ten minutes.
No, breakfast is not served on-site and is not included in the room rate. Every room has an electric kettle and a tea, coffee and hot-chocolate tray. A five-minute walk north on Clerk Street puts you among the cafés returning Arrandale guests recommend (Love, Peace and Coffee for pancakes and waffles is the standout). Older aggregator pages still mention 'delicious breakfast'. That is out of date.
Yes, one free on-site space is available on a first-come, first-served basis and is not bookable in advance. When that space is taken, free unrestricted side-street parking on neighbouring streets and free Saturday/Sunday parking directly in front of the property on Mayfield Gardens are the back-ups. The combination is genuinely rare this close to central Edinburgh.
Exit Waverley via the Waverley Steps to Princes Street, walk south over North Bridge, and at the South Bridge or Nicolson Street stops board any Lothian Buses 3, 7, 8, 29, 31, 37 or 47 heading south. Stay on for about 11 minutes and alight at the Mayfield Gardens stop, between Salisbury Place and East Savile Road. Arrandale is one minute on foot. Total door-to-door is 15–20 minutes; tap a contactless card on board for TapTapCap day-cap pricing.
Board the Airlink 100 at Stop A outside Domestic Arrivals, every 10 minutes 04:00–01:00, every 15–20 minutes overnight, journey about 30 minutes, and alight at North Bridge or Waverley Bridge. Cross to the southbound North Bridge stop and take any 3, 7, 8, 29, 31, 37 or 47 south to Mayfield Gardens. Total roughly 45–55 minutes. Airlink fares are £6.00 single or £8.50 open return (2025 rates).
Check-in is between 14:00 and 23:30 via a Ring doorbell and key-code lockbox. There is no staffed reception. Check-out is between 07:30 and 10:30. Email or message your arrival time in advance so door instructions land in time; the code changes between guests.
Yes, children of any age are welcome, the minimum check-in age is 18, and cots for 0–2 year-olds are available free of charge. Extra beds are not available, so the booked configuration is the configuration. Family rooms include a Large Family Room at 28 m² (the largest room) and a Small Family Room with garden view at 15 m².
Yes, Arthur's Seat is 1.1 miles away, about a 25-minute walk or seven minutes by bus. The Royal Mile is 1.4 miles north, roughly ten minutes on any of the 3, 7, 8, 29, 31, 37 or 47 bus services that stop one minute from the front door. The National Museum of Scotland (1.4 mi), Edinburgh Castle (2.0 mi) and the Palace of Holyroodhouse (2.0 mi) are all reachable in about ten minutes on the same bus corridor.
Other Great Edinburgh Stays from ShoutHotels
Allison House 16
A few doors along Mayfield Gardens at number 16, a family-run Georgian guest house with free on-site parking, free 24/7 Peel Terrace overflow and the same 10-minute Lothian bus into the Old Town.
Allison House 17
Another Mayfield Gardens neighbour, at number 17, in a B-listed Georgian townhouse: eight room types from a compact single to a Comfort Triple, every one with its own bathroom, free private parking and the same Lothian bus stop outside the door.
Bellevue Guest House Edinburgh
A wider Newington alternative when Mayfield Gardens itself is full, same neighbourhood character, same bus links into the Old Town, same independent-guest-house feel.
Ready to Book Arrandale Guest House?
Six bedrooms (sold as ten room configurations) in an independent VisitScotland 3-star Victorian villa on Mayfield Gardens, with one free on-site parking space plus free side-street and weekend overflow, contactless self check-in from 14:00 and a 10-minute Lothian bus to the Old Town. Guest feedback keeps coming back to the same strengths: cleanliness, comfortable recently renovated rooms and dependable free Wi-Fi.
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