Five-Star Hostel at the Top of Leith Walk
Few Edinburgh addresses put you closer to the action for a hostel bed: the top of Leith Walk, ten minutes downhill from Edinburgh Waverley and three minutes from the Picardy Place tram stop, in the purpose-fitted modern building at 9 Haddington Place that locals still call SYHA Edinburgh Central. Rebranded as Edinburgh Central Accommodation, it is the largest and most central hostel in Hostelling Scotland's nationwide network, on the corner where Leith Walk meets Annadale Street.
There are 271 beds across single, twin, double, triple, family, premium and dorm rooms, every one of them en-suite, with individual lockers in the dorms. It is graded a five-star hostel by VisitScotland (2024/25) and has had its entrance, reception, lounge, café/bar and restaurant recently refurbished. Couples consistently single out the location, and the staff draw even warmer praise.
On the Doorstep of the Old Town and the Trams
Haddington Place sits on the eastern edge of the city centre, closer to the New Town and Calton Hill than to the Old Town, but with all of them inside a 25-minute walk. The Picardy Place tram stop is three minutes away on foot and connects directly to Edinburgh Airport in around 30 minutes. Edinburgh Waverley is a 10–15 minute walk down Leith Street, and the Royal Mile, Princes Street, Calton Hill and the Scott Monument are all comfortably walkable from the door.
The address also puts guests on one of Edinburgh's most distinctive eating-and-drinking strips. Valvona & Crolla, Scotland's oldest delicatessen, is two minutes away on Elm Row; the Edinburgh Playhouse is a few minutes south on Greenside Place; and the St James Quarter food and shopping district is at Picardy Place. For festival-goers the Royal Mile, the Castle Esplanade and the Pleasance courtyards are all in walking distance, a major saving on tram and taxi fares during August.
Café-Bar, Restaurant and a Self-Catering Kitchen
The recently refurbished public spaces are what guests remember. The on-site Restaurant and Café Bar serves cooked breakfasts, lunch and dinner, Hostelling Scotland recommends booking ahead during festival weeks and Hogmanay. The Haddington Place Café opens from 08:00 daily for snacks, coffee, drinks and a candidly Scottish breakfast (full English/Irish, buffet). A free chilled-water refill station sits in the lobby; coffee is consistently flagged as excellent in recent reviews.
For self-caterers there is a small but well-equipped guest kitchen, secure bike storage, complimentary bag drop both ahead of arrival and once you've checked out, a self-service laundry (£2 tokens at reception), a children's play area and a meeting/function room available for hire. Reception is staffed 24 hours; free Wi-Fi covers the whole building.
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Interesting Points About Edinburgh Central Accommodation
- Listed as a 5-star hostel on the VisitScotland grading (a Scottish-tourism quality grading system separate from the OTA platform stars), making the property one of only a handful of 5-star hostel-classified properties in Scotland; that grading is the reason a 271-bed hostel keeps winning over couples who would normally rule out hostels altogether.
- Operated by Hostelling Scotland, a registered Scottish charity rather than a commercial chain; non-members pay a small per-person nightly supplement on top of the published rate, an unusual booking-time pricing wrinkle that does not appear on the standard OTA listing's headline rate.
- Guests praise the staff even more consistently than the prime location, and the 24-hour staffed reception (rare for a hostel) is the practical reason couples and solo travellers choose this over the rest of the city's budget hostels.
- Picardy Place tram stop is three minutes' walk from the door, the closest tram-network stop to any budget hostel in Edinburgh; the same tram line runs direct to Edinburgh Airport in 35 minutes, eliminating the typical taxi-or-bus airport-trip cost from the total cost of stay.
Rooms & Accommodation at Edinburgh Central Accommodation
Single Room with Bathroom
Sleeps 1 · 6 m² · Private en-suite bathroom
Compact private room for one, single bed, en-suite shower room, heating and individual locker. The most affordable private option for solo travellers who want their own door, their own shower and the run of the lounge, café and restaurant downstairs.
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Twin Room
Sleeps 2 · 7.9 m² · Private en-suite bathroom · Two single beds
Practical twin with two single beds, an en-suite shower room, heating and a power socket beside each bed. Works well for couples and friends doing the city on a budget who want their own bathroom without paying hotel rates. A premium variant of the same room adds a TV, USB sockets and tea/coffee facilities.
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2 Person Private Double Room
Sleeps 2 · 7.9 m² · Private en-suite bathroom · Double bed
Compact private double for two with one double bed (note: recent guests have flagged the bed as a slightly smaller double, fine for a city break, less ideal for tall guests). En-suite shower room, heating, individual lockers, lift access to upper floors. The Premium tier of the same room adds TV, USB sockets and tea/coffee facilities.
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Triple Room
Sleeps 3 · 10.7 m² · Private en-suite bathroom
Three beds in a 10.7 m² private room with its own en-suite shower room, a practical three-friends option, or a parent-and-two-children option (under-12s only in private rooms). A wheelchair-accessible Triple variant is available; book the 'Triple Room with Private Bathroom' inventory or call the hostel direct on 0131 524 2090.
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Standard Family Room
Sleeps 4 · 10.7 m² · Private en-suite bathroom · Family-friendly
The family-friendly option: 10.7 m² private room with its own en-suite, big enough for two adults and two children. Under-12s are accommodated only in private rooms, never dorms, book this if you're travelling with kids. No cots and no extra beds available; book a larger private room if you need more sleeping space.
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Bed in 6-Bed Female Dormitory Room
1 bed in a 6-bed female-only dorm · 19 m² · En-suite bathroom
A per-bed berth in a 19 m² six-bed female-only dorm with en-suite shower room and individual lockers. The cheapest way to stay in Edinburgh city centre; popular with solo female travellers and Hostelling International members.
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Bed in 6-Bed Male Dormitory Room
1 bed in a 6-bed male-only dorm · 19 m² · En-suite bathroom
A per-bed berth in a 19 m² six-bed male-only dorm with en-suite shower room and individual lockers. The cheapest way to stay in Edinburgh city centre; popular with solo male travellers and Hostelling International members.
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Quadruple Room
Sleeps 4 · 10.7 m² · Private en-suite bathroom · Friends or family
Four-person private room with its own en-suite, booked as a private room of friends or family rather than as individual dorm beds. Lift access to upper floors, individual storage, and the same warm carpet, heating and en-suite as every other room in the building.
Check PricesIs Edinburgh Central Accommodation Right for You?
Best Suited For
- Solo travellers and couples wanting their own en-suite door at hostel prices in the city centre
- Festival visitors during August (Edinburgh International Festival, Fringe, Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo): the Royal Mile and Castle Esplanade are walkable
- Hogmanay travellers: Princes Street is 12 minutes' walk for the street party and torchlight procession
- School groups and youth groups: explicit group-booking infrastructure and 24-hour reception
- Families with under-12s: private rooms only, but plenty of family and triple inventory
- Carers and members using Hostelling Scotland's respite programme
- Budget-conscious city-breakers who would otherwise pay New Town hotel rates
Worth Considering Alternatives If
- You want a swimming pool, spa, gym, balcony or in-room kettle in a standard room: none of those are on site (only Premium rooms have tea/coffee)
- You want on-site parking: there isn't any; Q-Park / Greenside Car Park is a 5-minute walk
- You're booking a stag or hen party: youth hostels in the network do not accommodate parties
- You want American Express to be accepted: only Visa, Mastercard, debit cards and cash; no AmEx
- You're sensitive to noise from school or youth groups on shared floors: book a private room on a higher floor
- You want a cot or extra bed: neither are available
Amenities & Facilities
Food & Drink
- Restaurant and Café Bar, cooked breakfasts, lunch, dinner
- Haddington Place Café, open from 08:00 daily
- Full English/Irish breakfast, buffet (£5.95 continental, £7.50 cooked, prices vary)
- Excellent coffee, repeatedly singled out in recent guest reviews
- Free chilled-water refill station in the lobby
- Self-catering guest kitchen (small, well-equipped, not suitable for groups)
- Bar with snacks and drinks all day
Room Amenities
- En-suite shower room in every room (private and dorm)
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the building
- Linen, towels and bedding included
- Heating and carpet in all private rooms
- Power socket beside every bed
- Individual lockers in shared dorms
- Lift access to upper floors
- Hairdryer and iron available at reception
- Not available: In-room kettle, tea & coffee in standard rooms
- Not available: Mini-fridge in standard rooms
- Not available: TV in standard rooms (Premium rooms only)
Property-wide
- 24-hour reception
- Free bag drop, both pre-arrival and post-checkout
- Self-service laundry (£2 tokens at reception)
- Secure bike storage
- Children's play / arcade-game area
- Meeting / function room available for hire
- Refurbished lounge, café/bar and restaurant
- Not available: Swimming pool
- Not available: Spa / wellness
- Not available: Gym
Parking & Transport
- Picardy Place tram stop, 3 min walk (T50 line direct to Edinburgh Airport)
- Edinburgh Waverley railway station, 10–15 min walk
- Lothian Buses Airlink 100, frequent express bus from Edinburgh Airport to Waverley
- Q-Park / Greenside Car Park, 5 min walk (paid)
- Free on-street Pay & Display on Pilrig Street (5 min walk down Leith Walk)
- Not available: On-site parking
Accessibility & Policies
- Three wheelchair-accessible rooms; all public areas accessible
- Lift to all upper floors
- Non-smoking throughout
- Children of any age welcome, under-12s only in private rooms
- Visa, Mastercard, debit cards and cash accepted (no American Express)
- Photo ID + credit card required at check-in
- Hostelling Scotland membership supplement for non-members (small per-person, per-night fee)
- Not available: Pets
- Not available: Cot or extra bed
- Not available: Stag / hen groups
At the Top of Leith Walk, Walkable to Everything
Edinburgh Central Accommodation sits at the corner of Haddington Place and Leith Walk, on the eastern edge of the New Town in Edinburgh's UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Picardy Place tram stop is three minutes' walk south, with a direct T50 line connection to Edinburgh Airport in around 30 minutes; Edinburgh Waverley railway station is a 10–15 minute walk down Leith Street, mostly downhill. From the door, every major Old Town landmark is comfortably walkable inside 25 minutes, the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, the Scott Monument, Princes Street, Calton Hill, the National Museum of Scotland and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The address also puts guests on one of Edinburgh's most distinctive eating-and-drinking strips. Valvona & Crolla (Scotland's oldest delicatessen, established 1934) is two minutes away on Elm Row; Joseph Pearce Bar & Kitchen, the Edinburgh Playhouse, and the St James Quarter food and shopping district are all a short walk through Picardy Place. The block sits one tram stop from St Andrew Square and two from Princes Street.
For hill-walking, Holyrood Park, and the 251 m volcanic peak of Arthur's Seat, is a one-mile walk south-east. Portobello Beach is 2.9 mi east on the Lothian Buses network. The wider New Town is the world's most complete surviving example of late-18th and early-19th-century Georgian urban planning, all crescents, terraces and gardens; explore it on foot in any direction from Picardy Place.
- Calton Hill: 850 yd · ~10 min walk uphill. Edinburgh's hilltop 'Acropolis', the National Monument, Nelson Monument, Dugald Stewart Monument and one of the city's most-photographed skyline panoramas.
- Edinburgh Waverley railway station: 1,050 yd · ~10–15 min walk. The city's main terminus, LNER, ScotRail, Avanti West Coast, Caledonian Sleeper and CrossCountry services.
- Picardy Place tram stop: 3 min walk. Direct T50 line to Edinburgh Airport in ~30 min, every 7 minutes most of the day.
- Scott Monument & Princes Street: 0.7 mi · ~12 min walk. Victorian Gothic monument on the city's main shopping street, alongside East Princes Street Gardens.
- The Real Mary King's Close: 0.9 mi · ~18 min walk. Underground 17th-century street preserved beneath the Royal Exchange, one of the city's most distinctive paid attractions.
- National Museum of Scotland: 1 mi · ~20 min walk. Free national museum spanning Scottish history, science, technology and natural world.
- Palace of Holyroodhouse: 1 mi · ~20 min walk. The British monarch's official residence in Scotland, at the foot of the Royal Mile.
- Edinburgh Castle: 1.2 mi · ~25 min walk. UNESCO-listed royal fortress on Castle Rock with the Honours of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny.
- Arthur's Seat (Holyrood Park): Park entrance ~1 mi; peak ~2.1 mi. The 251 m extinct-volcano summit, the city's most rewarding short hike, around 1.5 hours return.
- Portobello Beach: 2.9 mi · 25 min by Lothian bus. Sandy Victorian-promenade beach east of the city, popular for sea-swimming and weekend brunch.
Getting to Key Locations
Photo: Sean-sabhaois, CC BY-SA 4.0
Calton Hill
10 min walk
Ten minutes' walk uphill from the front door, Calton Hill is Edinburgh's hilltop 'Acropolis', the National Monument's unfinished colonnade, the Nelson Monument, and one of the most-photographed skyline panoramas in Britain. Sunset is the headline; the climb is short and step-free along Regent Road.
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Photo: Andy Farrington, CC BY-SA 2.0
The Royal Mile & Old Town
The mile-long string of medieval closes that runs from Edinburgh Castle down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the cinematic spine of the UNESCO Old Town, with St Giles' Cathedral, The Real Mary King's Close, Camera Obscura and the Scotch Whisky Experience along the way. About 20–25 minutes' walk south-west of the hostel.
View on Map
Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0
Princes Street & New Town Shopping
Twelve minutes downhill on Leith Street brings you onto Princes Street, the city's main shopping street with the Scott Monument, the National Galleries of Scotland, East Princes Street Gardens, and the floodlit Castle on the skyline. The St James Quarter food and shopping district is at Picardy Place itself.
View on MapHow to Get to Edinburgh Central Accommodation from Edinburgh Waverley
- Exit Waverley Station onto Princes Street: Leave Edinburgh Waverley by the main Princes Street exit and turn right (eastward) along Princes Street.
- Walk past St James Quarter to Picardy Place: Continue along Princes Street, then turn left along Leith Street past the St James Quarter to the Picardy Place roundabout. The Picardy Place tram stop is here if you'd rather take the tram one stop.
- Walk along Leith Walk to Haddington Place: From Picardy Place, walk onto Leith Walk for around 400 m. Edinburgh Central Accommodation is on the corner at 9 Haddington Place, sandstone facade with Hostelling Scotland signage. Total walk: 10–15 minutes, mostly downhill.
Edinburgh at a Glance
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and one of only two UK capitals with UNESCO World Heritage status, the designation covers both the medieval Old Town and the planned Georgian New Town. The Royal Mile threads from the basalt plug of Castle Rock down through medieval closes to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, with the 251 m extinct volcano of Arthur's Seat looming directly behind. The New Town, where Edinburgh Central Accommodation sits, is the world's most complete surviving example of late-18th and early-19th-century Georgian urban planning.
It is also Britain's busiest summer cultural city. August brings the simultaneous Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (the world's largest arts festival), the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and the Edinburgh International Book Festival, book accommodation 6+ months in advance. Late December into 2 January brings Edinburgh's Hogmanay, the city's three-day New Year celebration with a torchlight procession, street party and the Loony Dook. Outside those weeks, late spring (May–June) gives long daylight, festival-free pricing and the Royal Botanic Garden in full bloom.
Many of Edinburgh's headline museums and galleries are free, the National Museum of Scotland, the Scottish National Gallery, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. Buy tram and Lothian bus tickets before boarding from the machines at every stop (or use contactless on buses), the on-board fare is higher.
What Guests Say About Edinburgh Central Accommodation
Scores and review counts are aggregated from verified guest bookings on major travel platforms.
Good
Edinburgh Central Accommodation lands consistently as a high-trust, well-located, well-staffed budget option that punches above its hostel category for its public spaces, breakfast and proximity to Waverley and the trams. Recurring praise centres on the staff, the location and the recently refurbished lobby, café/bar and restaurant, guests repeatedly say the inside feels closer to a hotel than a hostel. The criticisms are the kinds you would expect from a 271-bed hostel hosting school groups: bed firmness, occasional noise from groups on shared floors, and the absence of in-room kettles or fridges in standard rooms (only Premium rooms include those). Overall guest sentiment is steady rather than slipping, and the same strengths come up year after year.
Affordable and central, excellent group stay.
Federico
Affordable and central, excellent group stay.
2026-05-04Great staff, good location, nice bar and lounge.
2026-05-02Every staff member was friendly.
2026-04-29Great location with convenience store and bus stops nearby; pleasant, helpful staff.
2026-04-29Perfect one-night stay before flying out, great value, location and clean rooms.
2026-04-27Excellent location, comfortable bed, very good value for money.
2026-04-26One of the best locations in Edinburgh. Café, laundry, self-catering, luggage storage, free water refill in the lobby, excellent coffee, very good value. Would prefer a slightly larger double bed and a small in-room fridge.
2026-04-23Clean and friendly with a great location; the beds felt a little tired and there was no in-room tea or coffee.
2026-04-20Good to Know Before You Book
Hostelling Scotland membership supplement
A small per-person, per-night temporary membership fee is added to non-members' rates. Existing Hostelling Scotland or Hostelling International members are not refunded the supplement when booking through these channels, bring your membership card to check-in if you have one.
No American Express
All major credit and debit cards are accepted, and cash, except American Express. Full payment is taken at the time of booking.
Family policy: under-12s in private rooms only
Children under 12 are accommodated only in private rooms, subject to availability. There are no extra beds and no cots, book a triple, family or larger private room for parties with kids.
Restaurant reservations recommended in peak weeks
The on-site restaurant fills up quickly during festival weeks (August) and Hogmanay; Hostelling Scotland advises booking ahead. The café/bar takes walk-ins all day from 08:00.
No on-site parking, no pets
Drivers should plan for Q-Park / Greenside Car Park (5-minute walk) or free Pay & Display on Pilrig Street. Pets are not allowed (assistance dogs aside). Photo ID and a credit card are required at check-in.
Photos of Edinburgh Central Accommodation
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Edinburgh Central Accommodation is the rebranded name for the property locals still call SYHA Edinburgh Central or Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel. Same building at 9 Haddington Place, same operator (Hostelling Scotland, the Scottish HI affiliate, founded 1931), same 271 beds, same 24-hour reception. The property's listing URL still uses the original 'edinburgh-central-youth-hostel' name in its address.
Edinburgh Waverley railway station is roughly 1,050 yards from the front door, a 10–15 minute walk down Leith Street, mostly downhill. The Royal Mile is about 0.9 miles away, a 20–25 minute walk through the Old Town. The Picardy Place tram stop is just 3 minutes' walk away with a direct T50 service to Edinburgh Airport in around 30 minutes.
Membership isn't required, non-members simply pay a small per-person, per-night temporary membership supplement on top of the published rate. Existing Hostelling Scotland or Hostelling International members aren't refunded a membership fee for booking through these channels, so bring your membership card to check-in if you have one.
Both, and every single room in the building is en-suite. Private inventory includes singles, twins, doubles, triples, family rooms and Premium rooms; shared inventory includes 6-bed female-only and male-only dorms with en-suite shower rooms and individual lockers. Premium rooms add a TV, USB sockets and tea/coffee facilities (these are not included in standard rooms).
Check-in is from 16:00 (with the desk open until 23:00 for arrivals). Check-out is until 10:00. Reception is staffed 24 hours, so late or middle-of-the-night arrivals can be checked in by the night team. Free luggage storage is available before check-in and after check-out.
Breakfast is not included by default but is available daily. Continental breakfast costs around £5.95 and a cooked breakfast (Full English/Irish, buffet) costs around £7.50, prices may change. Guest feedback on the breakfast is solid if unspectacular. The Haddington Place Café opens from 08:00 daily for snacks, drinks and excellent coffee.
No, there's no on-site parking. The closest paid car park is Q-Park / Greenside Car Park, around five minutes' walk away (typically about £1 per hour). Free on-street Pay & Display parking is also available on Pilrig Street, a five-minute walk down Leith Walk.
Children of any age are welcome, but under-12s are accommodated only in private rooms, never in shared dormitories. There are no cots and no extra beds available, so book a triple, family or larger private room if you're travelling with kids. Hostelling Scotland recommends giving advance notice for family bookings to make sure suitable accommodation is available.
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Haymarket Station Rooms
Self check-in rooms at 84 Haymarket Terrace on the West End side of the centre, for travellers who want somewhere quieter than Leith Walk with Haymarket Station and the airport tram on the doorstep.
New Town Rooms, Edinburgh
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Ready to Book Edinburgh Central Accommodation?
271 beds, 24-hour reception, every room en-suite, 10 minutes' walk from Edinburgh Waverley. Consistently praised by guests for its staff and location. VisitScotland 5-star hostel.
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