Old Waverley Hotel

Hotels
7.9 (6468 reviews)
43 Princes Street , Edinburgh , GB
+44 131 556 4648
[email protected]

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Children allowed

Facilities

Breakfast available (surcharge)
Free full breakfast
Free breakfast
Free WiFi
24-hour front desk
Room service
Heating
Lift / Elevator
Luggage storage
Safety deposit box
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Excellent central location near the train station and attractions
Friendly and helpful staff (frequently praised)
Some rooms offer spacious layouts and strong views (e.g., castle)
Convenient transport links (tram/bus to airport)
Good breakfast for some guests
Cons:
Many stairs and limited elevator access — poor accessibility for mobility-impaired guests
Breakfast often limited in variety; few plant-based/dairy-free/gluten-free options
Rooms can be small, dark, noisy or suffer from condensation/humidity
Hotel feels dated in places and could use refurbishment
Perceived as expensive / not great value for money
Limited basic amenities or inconsistent handling of simple requests

Categories

Cleanliness
7.6
Mixed reports: some guests described rooms as clean, while others reported condensation, humidity and general wear that suggest cleanliness and upkeep are acceptable but not consistently high.
Service
9.6
Generally praised as friendly and helpful across multiple reviews; isolated negative incident (refusal of a specific Amex card and rudeness) noted but uncommon.
Location
10
Consistently highlighted as excellent — centrally located, very close to the train station, attractions and shops; several reviewers called the location a primary positive.
Room Quality
7.4
Variable: some rooms are spacious with excellent views (castle), while others are small, dark, noisy or suffer from condensation; beds and pillows were also reported uncomfortable by multiple guests.
Amenities
6.8
Limited amenities and accessibility noted: many stairs, only one lift in places, basic requests (e.g., tissues) not always handled smoothly; services described as minimal.
Value for Money
6.4
Perceived as relatively expensive by several guests given the dated aspects and limitations; multiple comments explicitly call the hotel pricey.
Food and Beverage
6.4
Breakfast received mixed-to-negative feedback: several guests cited limited choice, lack of plant-based/dairy-free/gluten-free options, poor bread/vegetable availability; a few found it acceptable.
Overall Experience
9
Overall positive stay for many due to outstanding location and friendly staff, with memorable views and good breakfasts for some; however, accessibility, room variability and breakfast limitations detract for others.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-10-12 14:54

Property Description

Nestled in the heart of Edinburgh, the Old Waverley Hotel seamlessly blends Victorian charm with modern comfort. Traditional décor creates an elegant retreat for leisure and corporate travellers, a short walk from the Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace and Waverley Station, with views of Edinburgh Castle.

Important information:

Due to location, there are no ground floor rooms available at the property.

Access to The Old Waverley requires climbing 27 steps to our first floor reception area. If you arrive with luggage there is a bell to call a porter to assist you.

The hotel has elevator access to every floor above reception, once you reach this level.

When booking more than 5 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply. Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: EDI

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed. A cot for children up to 2 years is free of charge.

  • Age restriction

    Guests must be at least 18 years old to check in.

  • Damage deposit

    A damage deposit of 25.0 GBP may be required.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available and is free of charge.

See all policies

Location

Guest Reviews

7.9
Based on 6468 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.6
Service: 9.6
Location: 10
Room Quality: 7.4
Amenities: 6.8
Value for Money: 6.4
Food and Beverage: 6.4
Overall Experience: 9
T
Tomas • solo_traveller • se
5
2026-10-24 • via Nuitee
R
Rosalind • couple • ca
8
2026-10-24 • via Nuitee
L
Luciana • couple • it
7
Migliorabile
Pros:

Posizione ottima

Cons:

Stanza molto rumorosa,non insonorizzata,finestre ke non chiudono bene,rumori notturni dalla strada

2026-10-23 • via Nuitee
R
Rhea • family_with_children • fi
8
Voisin majoittua uudelleen!
Pros:

Hotelli sijaitsi loistavalla paikalla aivan lentokenttäyhteyksien vieressä ja vanhan kaupungin tuntumassa, ilman että tarvitsi raahata matkalaukkuja portaissa tai ylämäissä. Aamupala oli suppeahko mutta riittävä.

Cons:

Meillä oli pieni huone, joka oli riittävä mutta 120 cm sänky oli kahdelle henkilölle kyllä liian kapea ja patja ei ollut tarpeeksi jämäkkä tukemaan reunalla nukkumista vaan tuntui siltä että putoaa lattialle. Kylpyamme ilman tukikaidetta poistumista varten ei sovellu liikuntarajoitteiselle, kuten ei sekään että hissiä ei tainnut olla pohjakerroksesta ykköskerrokseen, missä respa sijaitsi. Pienen ikkunan takana oli paloportaat ja seinä

2026-10-23 • via Nuitee
F
francesca • solo_traveller • us
8
Pros:

La camera pulita e ben tenuta ma la vista su princes st. Meraviglia

2026-10-22 • via Nuitee
A
Alain • solo_traveller • be
7
Agréable
Pros:

Le petit déjeuner - la situation en plein centre ville.

Cons:

Emplacement fort perturbé par les transports en commun sur Princes Street et tapage nocturne(fêtard(e)s)

2026-10-22 • via Nuitee
B
Barbara • family_with_children • de
9
Pros:

Nettes Hotel zentral gelegen. Gutes Frühstück, nettes Personal. Immer wieder gern!

Cons:

Obwohl die Heizung abgestellt war, war es uns zu warm im Zimmer.Das Fenster geht nicht zu öffnen. Die Tram macht Geräusche, muß man akzeptieren, dafür wohnt man im Zentrum..

2026-10-22 • via Nuitee
B
bruce • extended_group • ca
9
will be back
Pros:

location and comfy room

2026-10-22 • via Nuitee
F
francesca • solo_traveller • us
8
2026-10-22 • via Nuitee
P
Peter • family_with_children • nl
4
Goede locatie maar matig hotel
Pros:

Alleen de locatie

Cons:

Personeel onpersoonlijk, bar en restaurant outdated en weinig attractief, zeer luid ‘‘s nachts

2026-10-22 • via Nuitee
E
Elizabeth • solo_traveller • us
4
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Stairs, old, crowded room

2026-10-21 • via Nuitee
S
Stefania • family_with_children • it
10
2026-10-20 • via Nuitee
S
Sylvia • extended_group • gb
9
Fantastic stay would definitely stay again
Pros:

Location was brilliant, clean, food great and staff friendly

Cons:

The stairs from the street to reception. Although the staff were quick to help you lift your cases up.

2026-10-20 • via Nuitee
T
Thierry • couple • fr
7
2026-10-19 • via Nuitee
R
ron forster • family_with_children • gb
8
Pros:

Very central location. Just a skip and a hop from Waverley railway station.

Cons:

Nothing to complain about

2026-10-18 • via Nuitee
F
Fuad • solo_traveller • iq
10
It was a great stay
Pros:

The location is perfect and although the weather outside was cold, windy and rainy but inside it was warm in all the places of the hotel

Cons:

A bit pricey

2026-10-18 • via Nuitee
C
Christina • solo_traveller • gb
9
Friendly excellent staff. Room was better than I expected.
Pros:

Excellent position in Edinburgh. Food was good,

Cons:

Tea and coffee machine at breakfast. People had to queue,

2026-10-17 • via Nuitee
U
Ulrikke • couple • no
6
Cons:

The breakfast is terrible.

2026-10-17 • via Nuitee
A
Aayush • couple • ie
9
2026-10-16 • via Nuitee
G
Gunnel • couple • se
10
2026-10-16 • via Nuitee