Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel
About About this youth hostel
We welcome the recent announcement by the Scottish Government on the gradual and responsible easing of restrictions from 19 July. Unfortunately due to continued requirement for social distancing, we are unable to open our self-catering kitchens at this time. We hope to provide a date for the opening of these facilities following the next Scottish Government update. The health, safety and wellbeing of our guests, employees and the communities in which we operate remains our main priority at this time. For more information on what to expect when staying with us please visit the FAQ's section of this website.
As you’ll appreciate, advice on Covid-19 is constantly changing and we would ask all our guests to continue to refer to Scottish Government guidelines and Transport Scotland advice on travel and social distancing when making their booking.
Edinburgh Central offers 5 star VisitScotland accredited hostel accommodation in the heart of the city, close to major transport links and ideally positioned for exploring Scotland's capital.
Various room types are available from singles and family rooms to dorms with individual lockers. All are en-suite and premium rooms come with a TV, USB sockets and coffee making facilities.
Relax in the hostel’s welcoming vibrant spaces - perfect for eating, drinking and socialising. Enjoy the delicious range of food and drink offered in the restaurant and café bar (food served from 07.00-21.00 / bar open from 11.00 to 01.00). If you prefer to self-cater, there’s the option of a small but well-equipped guest kitchen. Or, if you’re looking for a little more privacy, rooms are also available to hire for functions, meetings and special events.
WiFi is free for all guests and other amenities include a laundry, a secure bike store and luggage storage for anyone arriving early and eager to head off right away to explore the city!
The hostel is just ten minutes on foot from Waverley railway station, the bus station and close to York Place tram stop. Parking near Edinburgh Central is possible, with on-street Pay & Display spaces in the surrounding area and at nearby Greenside Car Park (contact the hostel directly for more information).
For information on hostel accessibility please click here
We’re committed to delivering the highest levels of cleanliness. To find out more about our Cleanliness Commitment please click here.
Book with Confidence. To find out more about our Covid-19 Flexibility Guarantee, please click here.
Please note, there are currently road restrictions in place on Leith Walk due to the ongoing tram works. As a result there is limited access to the hostel by car.
Why stay?
- Central Location
- Great Breakfast
- Comfortable Private rooms
Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel
Facilities & Services
Season
Open all year
Reception Hours
Open 24 hours
Check in
16:00 - 21.00
Check out
07.00 - 10:00
Access Hours
We are happy to welcome you at any time, though room access will only be available after 15:00. Early check-in and late check out available for an extra £10 per room (subject to availability)
Amenities
Free Wifi
Private Rooms
En Suite Rooms
Family Rooms
Suitable for Groups
Catering
Cafe
Alcohol Licence
Lounge/TV Room
Laundry Room
Secure Lockers
Luggage Store
Bike Store
Towel Hire
Shopping Nearby
Conference/Meeting Facilities
Free Tea and Coffee in Guest Kitchen
Suitable for Wheelchair Users
Access with limited mobility
Guest Reviews
23/07/21
A very enjoyable stay. Comfortable single room with view of Calton Hill. Very full breakfast. The hostel was a bit quiet and lacking in atmosphere but that was inevitable in the current situation.RB
16/07/21
Excellent. Very helpful staff, good local knowledge and activity suggestions. Clean, modern and spacious. Separate room,ensure and double bed.Mandn
06/07/21
The 6 bed dorm was affordable, clean and had adequate facilities. During check in the staff were helpful and we checked in quickly and easily. It is well situated to get into the centre of Edinburgh, I would stay here again.Scott
29/06/21
Very friendly and helpful staff.Bitsy von Muflin
28/06/21
Good location and good value.Kevin Hepple
21/06/21
Lovely hotel we will be back soonJoanna
08/06/21
Convenient location. Lots of eating places and shops nearby. Hot water available to make drinks but no kitchen at the momemtLaura
01/06/21
Brilliant location in central Edinburgh.Eleanor
16/10/20
Edinburgh Youth Hostel is a very good place to stay with excellent access to the surrounding sights to see in Edinburgh.William Johnson
12/10/20
Friendly and helpful staff even in this strange times. We enjoyed our stay in the youth hostel nearly on our own.Chris & Sylvio
19/09/20
An excellent hostel in a wonderful cityPeter
15/09/20
My second stay at Edinburgh Central. Friendly, efficient and a great place to stay. Incredibly quiet at the moment as people staying away due to pandemic. Hope it survives.Krishna
14/09/20
I used the hostle for a 5 night trip to Edinburgh. Lived up to all expectations. Home was nice and cosy. Beds were comfortable and pillows and quilts seemed new or newish. Staff were very helpful. Didnt get to use the self catering facility or public areas due to government guideline. Will be going back next time I'm in EdinburghDonna
13/09/20
Had a grand 3 nights. Almost felt like a hotel. Very clean. Only thing that was very awkward for us was that the luggage storage was closed due to covid and we had to haul everything to the station and pay a considerate amount of money for the storage.Mattie
29/08/20
Really nice place and the room was comfortable, well fitted out, and clean. The staff were friendly and very helpful. The only downside was the difficult access to the bike shed.John
24/08/20
Great hostel and great location right between Edinburgh city centre and Leith Walk. Had a double ensuite which was perfect for what we needed. Room and hostel were super clean and staff were very friendly and helpful. The physical distancing for Covid was handled well and it felt safe and secure. And it was an utter bargin for Edinburgh in August!Julie
22/08/20
Really friendly and safe hostel in great location. Understandably limited facilities in current situation but excellent value for money and a good night's sleep.Julie Skelton
14/08/20
The room was excellent. Clean, enough space, quiet. The whole hostel felt good but obviously compromised because of the restrictions of coronovirus. The staff we met were friendly and courteous. The bike shed was a bit challenging with the steps, but it would be a shame to lose the ability to store bikes.Phil Whiting
02/04/20
My son and I stayed at the hostel in mid-March just before the COVID-19 shutdowns took effect. Staff were super friendly and helpful during a time where they were likely wondering if they would have jobs in the next few weeks. I highly recommend this hostel. Great room layout, very clean, comfy beds and perfect location for walking and exploring Edinburgh sights. We'll be back.Caroline Ponsford
15/03/20
Hostel was clean, welcoming and well-equipped. Well located for exploring Edinburgh. Staff were helpful and friendly.No
08/03/20
Always a great hostel for my needs throughout the year, excellent staff and location.macatae
08/03/20
I've stayed before, always excellent, this time surpassed excellent, loved the new uplift, friendly, welcoming ..a joy to stay there.Joan N
29/02/20
Overall an excellent experience and without doubt I would book in the future if/when back in EdinburghMichael
24/02/20
We were really impressed by the quality of our room and the size of the self-catering installation!10/10.Recommend to anyone!Catherine L.
21/02/20
The staff were very friendly and helpful, the cooked breakfast delicious and the hostel itself was a safe and friendly building in which to bring a group of young people.Guides
19/02/20
Straight-forward hostel experience for a really good price. The location is spot on, the weather was terrible when we went, so we didn't want to walk too far and everything was just on the same road, which we could need. Plenty of places to eat, pubs, shops to buy food to cook in the hostel. Staff were really helpful in guiding us to a free parking spot close by. Shared dorm beds were comfortable and clean and the en-suite showers were great. Definitely gonna stay here again next time.Scott Heleniak
15/02/20
Very good visit. The staff were very friendly and the hostel is currently having a refurbishment so it looks great too.Jo
05/02/20
Renovations were still taking place; I had been forewarned about that. It did not affect my stay much and we were actually allowed to use the self-catering kitchen. The only thing that was awkward was not having access to a fridge. But a great hostel. Would stay again. The mattresses are so comfortable!Helen Minnes
24/12/19
Great location clean tidy basic. But that's all we needBill
23/12/19
Great Hostel and very friendly and helpful staff. Comfy beds and great en-suite inside the rooms.Olivia
Reasons to visit
More than just Scotland's capital city, Edinburgh is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to one of the world's most famous summer festivals. One of the UK's most popular tourist destinations, Edinburgh boasts a plethora of world-class visitor attractions including a number which are free: the National Museum of Scotland, Royal Botanic Gardens, Scottish National Gallery, St Giles Cathedral, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and the Scottish Parliament Visitor Centre. Many attractions also offer regular free guided tours.
From film locations to museums and galleries, fantastic shopping, a vibrant nightlife and fine or relaxed dining - you can even climb Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano! Add to this the spectacular surroundings of the majestic Lothians, or the opportunity to take a rail trip to the Scottish Borders, and you've got a recipe for an unforgettable break.
Whatever you're looking for Edinburgh has it in bundles and will have you coming back for more!
Some experiences not to be missed:
- Sunrise from Arthur's Seat
- The Forth Bridges and the new Queensferry Crossing
- Underground streets of Mary King's Close
- The Old Town and Royal Mile
- Lunch in the Grassmarket
- Royal Yacht Britannia
- Palace of Holyrood
- The Elephant House Café (famous from the Harry Potter films)
- Take in a free performance at the 'Fringe Festival'
- Whisky tastings!
Look out for free walking tours including: 'Old Town Tour ' and the 'Potter Trail' (muggles welcome).
