A Seven-Room Budget Guest House on Pilrig Street
Pilrig Street sits on the historic seam between Edinburgh's New Town and the old port-burgh of Leith, close enough to walk down to Waverley in 20 flat minutes and to reach the bars and delis of Leith Walk in five. Mayfair Guest House keeps seven independently run rooms here at number 76, a period sandstone Victorian terrace inside the Pilrig Conservation Area, trading on price and location rather than frills. Pilrig Street itself marks the boundary between the EH6 (Leith) and EH7 (Edinburgh) postcodes, and the local pub directly opposite is still called "the Boundary." The property holds City of Edinburgh short-term let licence EH-70351-F, registered under Scotland's STL regime introduced in October 2022.
Guests consistently rate this a solid budget base, on a large enough body of feedback that the picture is dependable, not anecdotal. The pattern tells you what kind of stay this is: the free Wi-Fi draws the warmest praise of anything here, the central, walkable location and the helpful staff come next, and facilities are the weakest-reviewed part, reflecting the simple, good-value spec. Couples particularly like the location for a two-person trip. This is a stay that trades on price and walkability rather than amenities; the trade-offs are real, and we list them honestly further down.
A 20-Minute Walk to Waverley and a Tram to the Airport
What looks on a map like "outside the centre" is in practice a flat, gentle stroll down Leith Walk to the Old Town. Edinburgh Waverley station is roughly 1.1 miles south, about a 20-minute walk along the Old Town's lower edge, one stop on the tram, or a short Lothian 11/16/22/25/49 bus ride up Leith Walk. Edinburgh Castle is 1.7 miles away; the Edinburgh Playhouse is the closest major venue at 0.8 miles, with Calton Hill, Holyroodhouse and the Scottish National Gallery all sitting inside a comfortable 25-minute walk.
The new Balfour Street tram stop on Leith Walk (opened June 2023) is four or five minutes east of the front door, which gives you a single-seat tram run to St Andrew Square, Princes Street and Edinburgh Airport in about 40 minutes; useful at six in the morning when no other transport is open. Lothian Bus 11 runs along Pilrig Street itself, connecting through the New Town and on to the south side. Walking down to the Old Town is far easier than walking back up: the Pilrig Street incline is gentle but it's there, and a late-afternoon return by bus or tram is the move most of our readers settle into.
Photo: Peter Stevens, CC BY 2.0
Free Wi-Fi, Shared Bathrooms and Honest Trade-Offs
Honest first: every room shares a bathroom. Three rooms share the downstairs bathroom and four share the upstairs one (per the operator's own answer in the property Q&A). There are no TVs in any room, no breakfast service, no on-site restaurant or guest kitchen, and no private parking. Cots and extra beds are not available. These are the trade-offs that keep the room rate this low; if any of them are deal-breakers, that information is more useful before you book than after.
What does work, and what guests reliably praise, is the Wi-Fi (the property's highest-rated feature), the room size in the larger doubles and triples (period-property high ceilings, big sash windows), and a relaxed self check-in process with clear pre-arrival messaging once you've booked. Reception is staffed from 14:00 to 22:00 for arrival; once you have your key you can come and go around the clock. Every room has tea and coffee facilities and a wardrobe, with independent cafés The Better Beverage Company, Robbie's and Kukina all inside a five-minute walk for breakfast.
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Interesting Points About Mayfair Guest House
- Pilrig Street marks the EH6 (Leith) / EH7 (Edinburgh) postcode boundary, and the pub directly opposite the guest house is still called “the Boundary”
- The Balfour family of Pilrig House, in the next street over, were ancestors of Robert Louis Stevenson, who names the house in his novel Catriona
- Somerset's Battery in adjacent Pilrig Park is believed to be Britain's only surviving 16th-century siege earthworks, built for the 1560 Siege of Leith
- Holds City of Edinburgh short-term let licence EH-70351-F, registered under Scotland's STL regime introduced in October 2022
- The Balfour Street tram stop opened in June 2023 a 4-5 minute walk away, giving a single-seat tram to Edinburgh Airport in about 40 minutes
Rooms & Accommodation at Mayfair Guest House
Double Room with Shared Bathroom
Sleeps 2 · 1 double bed · Shared bathroom · Free Wi-Fi · Non-smoking
Entry-level double in the period townhouse: heated, carpeted, with a wardrobe, an iron and an in-room hospitality tray. The shared bathroom is on the same floor (three rooms share downstairs, four share upstairs). No TV and no en-suite; this is the spec that keeps the rate low for two on a city stay.
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Triple Room with Shared Bathroom
Sleeps 3 · 2 beds · Shared bathroom · Free Wi-Fi · Non-smoking
Larger period room for three sharers with two beds, a wardrobe, an iron and a hospitality tray. Some triples overlook the rear garden, glimpsed through the sash windows although the garden itself is locked to guests. Shared bathroom on the same floor; no en-suite, no TV.
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Single Room with Shared Bathroom
Sleeps 1 · 1 single bed · Shared bathroom · Free Wi-Fi · Non-smoking
Solo-traveller room for a single bed, with the same free Wi-Fi, heating, carpet and tea-and-coffee tray as the larger types. Bathroom is shared on the same floor. The Single Room price is date-dependent and was not displayed on a fixed schedule at the time of writing; current rates for your chosen dates are shown on the booking page.
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Deluxe Family Room
Sleeps up to 4 · 3 beds · Shared bathroom · Free Wi-Fi · Non-smoking
The biggest of the four room types, configured with three beds for a small family or four sharers. Carpeted, heated, with a wardrobe, iron and tea-and-coffee tray; bathroom is shared, not en-suite. Cots and extra beds are not available, so the booked configuration is the configuration. Children of any age are welcome.
Check PricesIs Mayfair Guest House Right for You?
Best Suited For
- Budget-conscious couples and solo travellers who want a clean, well-located base for two or three nights and aren't paying for facilities they won't use
- Festival-goers in August (Fringe, International Festival, Tattoo, Book Festival) who refuse to pay Old Town rates and are happy with a 20-minute walk in
- Couples: the central location is what two-person trips single out most here
- Hogmanay, Six Nations and short-stay overnighters making a one- or two-night Edinburgh trip
- Travellers catching an early Edinburgh Airport flight: the Balfour Street tram stop gets you to the terminal in about 40 minutes
- Guests who value Wi-Fi over decor: the connection is the property's highest-rated feature
Worth Considering Alternatives If
- You need an en-suite or private bathroom: every room shares (three rooms share downstairs, four share upstairs)
- You expect breakfast included or a guest kitchen: there is no breakfast service, no on-site restaurant and no kitchen for guests
- You want a TV in the room: no room has a TV
- You're driving and need on-site parking: there is no private car park; free on-street parking is available on Pilrig Street but spaces are not guaranteed
- You're travelling with a baby or toddler: cots and extra beds are not available
- You're travelling with a pet: pets are not allowed
- You want a 24-hour staffed reception: check-in is staffed 14:00-22:00 only; once checked in you have your own key
Amenities & Facilities at Mayfair Guest House
In-Room
- Free Wi-Fi (the property's highest-rated feature)
- Tea and coffee facilities in every room
- Heating throughout
- Iron and ironing facilities
- Wardrobe or closet
- Carpeted floors, linen, towels and toilet paper provided
- Non-smoking throughout
- Not available: TV in room
- Not available: En-suite bathroom
Bathroom
- Shared bathrooms: three rooms share the downstairs bathroom and four share the upstairs one
- Shower and bath in the shared bathroom
- Towels, toilet paper and basic toiletries
- Not available: Private en-suite
Food & Drink
- In-room tea and coffee facilities in every room
- The Better Beverage Company: speciality coffee, about 350 yards from the door
- Robbie's Bar: traditional Leith Walk pub, about 350 yards
- Kukina: café and restaurant, about 400 yards
- Boda Bar: Scandinavian-themed bar, about 0.2 miles
- Not available: Breakfast on-site
- Not available: On-site restaurant or bar
- Not available: Guest kitchen / dining room
Parking & Transport
- Free on-street parking on Pilrig Street (spaces are not guaranteed)
- Public off-street parking nearby at £3.10 per hour
- Balfour Street tram stop on Leith Walk: 4-5 minute walk; direct tram to Edinburgh Airport in about 40 minutes
- Lothian Bus 11 runs along Pilrig Street itself
- Edinburgh Waverley station: 1.1 mi · ~20 min walk or one tram stop
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI): 10 mi · single-seat tram from Balfour Street
- Not available: Private / on-site parking
- Not available: Airport shuttle service
Property-wide
- Free Wi-Fi in all areas
- Family rooms available
- Rear garden visible from some ground-floor rooms (not accessible to guests)
- Children of any age welcome
- Not available: Lift
- Not available: Swimming pool
- Not available: Gym / fitness centre
- Not available: Spa / wellness
- Not available: Rooms with a balcony
Services & Policies
- Check-in 14:00-22:00; check-out by 10:00
- Reception staffed 14:00-22:00; once checked in you keep your key and come and go 24/7
- Card payment taken online when you reserve; cash accepted on site for any extras
- City of Edinburgh short-term let licence EH-70351-F
- Non-smoking throughout
- Not available: Pets
- Not available: Cots and extra beds
- Not available: Late check-out
76 Pilrig Street, Edinburgh: A Quiet Residential Base Between the New Town and Leith
Mayfair Guest House is in Pilrig, a residential pocket that sits on the historic boundary between the City of Edinburgh and the former independent burgh of Leith. Pilrig Street itself marks the dividing line between the EH6 (Leith) and EH7 (Edinburgh) postcodes. The streetscape of Victorian sandstone terraces, sash windows and iron railings is protected as the Pilrig Conservation Area, designated in 2013. This is one of the city's quieter neighbourhoods, with a strong literary heritage: the Balfour family of Pilrig House (still standing in Pilrig Park, the next street over) were ancestors of Robert Louis Stevenson, who refers to the house directly in his novel Catriona.
Step five minutes east of Pilrig Street and you're on Leith Walk, Edinburgh's densely populated and rapidly gentrifying high-street artery, which runs all the way down to the Leith waterfront. This is where the city's most interesting independent food-and-drink scene has settled over the last decade. Craft-beer bars, Italian delis, Vietnamese cafés, gin distilleries and bakeries occupy nearly every street-level unit. Leith proper, at the bottom of the hill, brings you to the Royal Yacht Britannia at Ocean Terminal, the Water of Leith Walkway, and the row of Michelin-listed restaurants along the Shore (including The Kitchin and Restaurant Martin Wishart).
Closer to the front door, Pilrig Park has its own quiet claim to history: archaeological digs in 2006-2007 uncovered the remains of Somerset's Battery, believed to be the only surviving 16th-century siege earthworks in Britain, built by Protestant forces during the 1560 Siege of Leith. Edinburgh Waverley is 1.1 miles south; Edinburgh Castle is a 30-minute walk or 10-minute bus; Arthur's Seat is 2.4 miles away, and it's the easiest 'mountain' hike in any UK capital.
- Edinburgh Playhouse: 0.8 mi · ~15-min walk · Scotland's largest theatre by capacity, the principal Edinburgh venue for touring West End and Broadway productions.
- Calton Hill: 1.0 mi · ~15-20 min walk · The neoclassical 'Athens of the North' skyline, topped by the Nelson Monument and the unfinished National Monument.
- Palace of Holyroodhouse: 1.3 mi · ~25-min walk · The King's official Scottish residence at the foot of the Royal Mile.
- The Real Mary King's Close: 1.4 mi · ~25-min walk · An underground 17th-century street preserved beneath the Royal Mile, run as a costumed history tour.
- Scottish National Gallery: 1.4 mi · ~25-min walk · Free national collection on The Mound, with Titians, Vermeer and Raeburn.
- Royal Yacht Britannia: 1.5 mi · ~25-min walk or short bus · The retired Royal Yacht permanently moored at Ocean Terminal in Leith.
- National Museum of Scotland: 1.6 mi · ~30-min walk · Free admission; the only place in Scotland that holds Dolly the cloned sheep.
- Edinburgh Castle: 1.7 mi · ~30-min walk or 10-min bus · The fortress on Castle Rock, home of the Honours of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny.
- Arthur's Seat: 2.4 mi · ~10-min drive or longer walk · The extinct volcano in Holyrood Park, a moderate hike that rewards with one of the UK's best urban panoramas.
- Portobello Beach: 2.7 mi · ~15-min drive or bus · Edinburgh's classic Victorian seaside promenade and sandy bay.
Getting to Key Locations
Photo: Peter Stevens, CC BY 2.0
Edinburgh Castle & the Royal Mile
About a mile and three quarters south-west of the door and reachable on a 30-minute walk or a 10-minute Lothian 11 down Leith Walk, Edinburgh Castle is the city's defining silhouette and home of the Scottish Crown Jewels. Book a timed ticket online before you go: castle slots routinely sell out on Fringe and Hogmanay weekends. Pair it with the Royal Mile descent toward Holyroodhouse for a half-day from Pilrig.
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Arthur's Seat & Holyrood Park
Two and a half miles south of Pilrig Street, 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.
View on Map
Photo: John Ferguson, CC BY-SA 2.0
Royal Yacht Britannia, Leith
A mile and a half down Leith Walk from Pilrig is the Royal Yacht Britannia, permanently moored at Ocean Terminal: the floating royal residence used by the Queen for 44 years and now Scotland's most-awarded visitor attraction. Allow two hours for the self-guided audio tour and add another hour for tea on the deck.
View on MapHow to Get to Mayfair Guest House from Edinburgh Waverley
- Exit Waverley via Princes Street: Leave Edinburgh Waverley Station via the Princes Street / Waverley Bridge exit. The walk from platform to street takes about two minutes.
- Walk up Leith Street and on to Leith Walk: Cross Princes Street, turn right, then take the first left up Leith Street past the Omni Centre. Continue straight down Leith Walk for about half a mile. If you'd rather ride: walk three minutes up to St Andrew Square and board any tram heading toward Newhaven, alighting at Balfour Street, the second stop after Picardy Place.
- Turn left into Pilrig Street: Turn left into Pilrig Street from Leith Walk. The walk from Leith Walk to number 76 is about four to five minutes; the street is gently uphill if you're walking back from the Old Town later.
- Arrive at 76 Pilrig Street: Number 76 is on the left, a Victorian sandstone terrace with iron railings and a black front door. Reception is staffed 14:00-22:00 for check-in; pre-arrival messaging from the property will confirm the exact arrival process for your dates.
Edinburgh and the Surrounding Area
Edinburgh is Scotland's capital: a UNESCO World Heritage city of around 465,000 people, defined by its Old Town and New Town, its volcanic Castle Rock, and an event calendar that genuinely sets a city's pulse. The Edinburgh Fringe (the world's largest arts festival), the Edinburgh International Festival, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Book Festival all overlap in a single August fortnight, and demand across the city is extreme. A budget guest house within walking distance of the action is gold-dust. The city then resets and runs straight into Hogmanay, Scotland's three-day New Year street party with a torchlight procession, concerts in Princes Street Gardens, and fireworks over the Castle.
For better value and calmer streets, the April-May and September-October shoulders offer the best balance of pleasant daylight, lower crowds and competitive accommodation rates. February-March brings Six Nations rugby weekends at Murrayfield, and central hotels book solid, which is when Pilrig Street earns its keep. Edinburgh's national museums and galleries are free, including the National Museum of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery, both excellent rainy-afternoon options.
What Guests Say About Mayfair Guest House
Scores and review counts are aggregated from verified guest bookings on major travel platforms.
Good
Mayfair Guest House reads consistently as a location-driven and price-driven stay. Guests overwhelmingly accept the trade-offs (shared bathrooms, no breakfast, no TVs, period-property quirks) in exchange for a clean-enough, well-located, budget-friendly base for exploring Edinburgh. Couples particularly like the location, the Wi-Fi draws the warmest praise and the location is a clear strength, while facilities are the lowest-rated part reflecting the simple, good-value spec.
Sensible distance from the centre and a comfortable short stay.
Liked how close to town it was. Facilities were perfect for one night and we'd book again. The bed was a tad uncomfortable.
Good location, about a 20-minute walk from the centre, and the room was big. Sound insulation could be better as we could hear traffic.
Comfortable stay, great location, spacious rooms.
The host was really good and not too strict about check-in and check-out, and everything was smooth. The heater struggled to warm the whole room in winter.
Liked the location and the price of the room. The bed and bathroom could have been a little better.
Clean room, clean towels, clean showers, tea and coffee in the room. About 20-30 minutes' walk from the centre, quiet, a hostel-like vibe. The garden door was locked which was a small shame.
Good location and no problems with the facilities. Could have been a little cleaner and you can occasionally hear guests from neighbouring rooms.
Good to Know Before You Book
All bathrooms are shared, not en-suite
Three rooms share the downstairs bathroom and four share the upstairs one, confirmed by the operator. Bring a dressing gown and accept that this is part of the trade-off that keeps the room rate this low; no room in the property has a private en-suite.
No breakfast and no TVs in the rooms
Breakfast is not served on-site and is not included in the room rate. Every room has tea and coffee facilities, and there are three independent cafés (The Better Beverage Company, Robbie's and Kukina) all inside a five-minute walk for breakfast. No room has a TV.
Self check-in is firm: 14:00-22:00, check-out by 10:00
Reception is staffed 14:00-22:00 for arrival; late check-out is not available and check-out is by 10:00. Once you have checked in you keep your own key and can come and go around the clock for the rest of the stay.
Parking is on-street, free and not guaranteed
There is no private car park at the property; free on-street parking is available on Pilrig Street itself but spaces are not reserved. Paid public off-street parking nearby costs about £3.10 per hour. The Balfour Street tram and the Lothian 11 bus are both quicker into the centre than driving and parking.
Photos of Mayfair Guest House
Mayfair Guest House FAQs
Mayfair Guest House is at 76 Pilrig Street, Edinburgh EH6 5AS, a Victorian sandstone terrace in the Pilrig Conservation Area, on the residential boundary between the New Town and the former independent burgh of Leith. Edinburgh Waverley is 1.1 miles south (about a 20-minute walk), Edinburgh Castle is 1.7 miles and the Royal Mile is roughly a half-hour walk down Leith Walk.
From Edinburgh Airport, take an Edinburgh Trams service to Balfour Street stop on Leith Walk (about 40 minutes, direct, every 10 minutes) and walk four or five minutes west along Pilrig Street to number 76. From Edinburgh Waverley, it's a 20-minute walk via Princes Street and Leith Walk, or one tram stop from St Andrew Square to Balfour Street, or a short Lothian 11/16/22/25/49 bus up Leith Walk to Dryden Street.
No, every room shares a bathroom. The operator confirms that three rooms share the downstairs bathroom and four share the upstairs one. None of the seven rooms has a private en-suite, and that is the trade-off that keeps the rate this low.
No, breakfast is not served on-site and is not included in the room rate. Every room has tea and coffee facilities, and a five-minute walk gets you to The Better Beverage Company (speciality coffee), Robbie's (traditional Leith Walk pub) and Kukina (café and restaurant) for breakfast, brunch and an evening meal.
There is no private parking at the property. Free on-street parking is available on Pilrig Street itself, subject to standard residential controls, and a paid public off-street car park nearby costs about £3.10 per hour. Many guests find the Balfour Street tram or the Lothian 11 bus easier than driving and parking.
Check-in is from 14:00 to 22:00 and check-out is by 10:00. Late check-out is not available, but once you have checked in you keep your own key and can come and go around the clock. If you need a very early or very late arrival, contact the property before booking.
Yes, Wi-Fi is free throughout the property and it is the feature guests rate most highly, ahead of location, staff or anything else. Specific download speeds are not published by the operator, but the guest-reported experience is consistently strong.
Pets are not allowed at the property. Children of any age are welcome and the Deluxe Family Room sleeps up to four, but cots and extra beds are not available, so the booked configuration is the configuration. There are no TVs in any room and no on-site kitchen, so families relying on those should look elsewhere.
Other Great Edinburgh Stays from ShoutHotels
Allison House 16
A family-run Georgian guest house on Mayfield Gardens in Newington, with four en-suite room types, free on-site parking and a 10-minute Lothian bus straight into the Old Town. A like-for-like value-led Edinburgh alternative for guests who want a private bathroom and don't mind being on the south side.
Edinburgh House Hotel
A Victorian townhouse hotel further along Pilrig Street at number 90, with a walled garden out the back and the same short walk down Leith Walk into the centre. The closest like-for-like swap on this street if Mayfair is full.
Ivy Braveheart Guest House
A central Edinburgh guest house in a similar price band with the same check-in window: another budget-conscious option for couples and solo travellers who want a walkable base.
Ready to Book Mayfair Guest House?
Four room types in a seven-room budget guest house at 76 Pilrig Street, with free Wi-Fi that guests rate highly, a 20-minute walk to Edinburgh Waverley and a single-seat tram to Edinburgh Airport from Balfour Street. A well-reviewed, location-led budget base, with couples particularly fond of the setting.
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