Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel
About About this youth hostel
Five star VisitScotland accredited hostel accommodation in the city centre, close to major transport links and ideally positioned for exploring Scotland's capital.
Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel is a popular choice for individual travellers, backpackers, families and groups travelling on a budget. Guests can choose from a wide range of accommodation - from spacious shared rooms with individual lockers to private and premium rooms. All rooms in the hostel are en-suite and premium rooms come with a TV, USB plug sockets and coffee making facilities.
Guests can opt for continental breakfast served daily in the dining room or take advantage of the small but well equipped self-catering kitchen. Lunches and evening meals are also available and our licensed café is open all day, offering guests a range of hot and cold drinks, cakes and snacks. Please remember to pre-book your breakfast, lunch and dinner*.
WiFi is free for all guests and other facilities include a laundry, secure bike store and luggage storage for guests arriving early and wanting to explore the city.
The hostel also offers meeting facilities for up to 40 with flexible catering packages available; ideal for groups and organisations looking to meet in central Edinburgh.
Parking near to Edinburgh Central is possible with on-street Pay & Display spaces in the surrounding area and parking at nearby Greenside Car Park. Please contact the hostel directly for more information.
Reception is open 24 hours and the youth hostel is just ten minutes on foot from Waverley railway station, the bus station and close to York Place tram stop. It’s within walking distance of Edinburgh's main attractions. And, of course, Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel is perfectly positioned for anyone looking for great value accommodation during the Edinburgh Festival and Fringe Festival.
If we’re fully booked in July and August, please check out our Edinburgh Metro seasonal youth hostel located in the busy Cowgate area - a popular choice with backpackers looking to discover Edinburgh on a budget.
*Please note that between 11 November 2019 and 5 February 2020, refurbishment work will be carried out on the ground floor of Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel. Our restaurant is being redesigned as part of the refurbishment, but we’ll still be able to offer a full continental breakfast during this period. Unfortunately, we’re unable to extend the use of the self-catering kitchen during this time. There will be no disruption to bedrooms. If you have any questions, or if we can be of any help, please contact us by email on reservations@hostellingscotland.org.uk
For information on hostel accessibility please click here
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
15:00
Check out
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
Guest Kitchen
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
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
22/12/19
Super stay, pleasant staff, clean room and a great price!John Bain
19/12/19
It was pleasant and very cleanPM
16/12/19
Great Hostel, friendly staff. Brilliant facilities, clean, very good value for money.Walkingnomad
08/12/19
My wife and I have just had 3days in Edinburgh, We stayed at Edinburgh central which we are familiar with. It seems to get better each time we stay. We are looking forward to the refurbished Hostel.tickey
02/12/19
Edinburgh Central Hostel is a great place to stay. Its on a bus route into town, there are smaller cafes nearby and a cash machine across the road. The staff are all friendly and very helpful and I love the fact there was free tea and coffee 24 hours a day. Thank you.Kathleen Bland
02/12/19
Friendly staff right from start to finish, very clean rooms and linen, very informative staff. Nothing was to much bother.Mrs C Shaw
22/11/19
Great place to stay while attending a conference.Liz
11/11/19
Stayed here for two nights either side of a trip to Inverness . Centrally located, friendly staff.Peter
09/11/19
Have stayed here before and remains a favourite choice for cheap, central, comfortable and clean accommodation in the heart of Edinburgh meaning your money can be spent on more important things during your visit. Always a YHA fan.Jamie
04/11/19
Great location for a city break, really close to Waverley Railway Station. Plenty of good eateries and services on the doorstep. We would use this hostel if we return to Edinburgh.David
03/11/19
Overall I had a very pleasant stay. Edinburgh is a lovely city.Victor Ho
03/11/19
Private room was very comfortable and everything was made very easy.Nicholas
03/11/19
Very good price, and a decent location.Tom
31/10/19
I visit Edinburgh every seven weeks to see family and, as I always stay at the Youth Hostel, it feels like my second home. The staff are friendly and welcoming - nothing is too much trouble, and the rooms are comfortable and super clean. Thank you to all of you who make me feel so welcome.Annie
24/10/19
Best youth hostel in UK I ever have used...Ralph
21/10/19
I really enjoyed my stay at the Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel. The rooms were extremely clean and the facilities were nice, as were the bathrooms (which are attached to the rooms - nice!). The lobby has plenty of couches and seating if you come back late and want to chill and watch Netflix or something.brittanyisabroad
02/10/19
Great room at a very good price given location. Will stay again on our next visit to EdinburghColin
28/09/19
wonderful place to stay. It's located near the city very easy to get to. Place is clean and friendly staff are ready to help!Daniel
18/09/19
YHA and Hostelling Scotland have always been my preferred accommodation option. Convenient locations, uber-friendly and helpful staff and opportunity to meet fellow travellers from all parts of the world, makes staying at YHA & Hostelling Scotland an experience that is hard-to-beatSarang Mandke
16/09/19
We were a family of 5 in 2 rooms, staff could not have been more helpful and friendly. We booked breakfasts which were substantial and hearty. There was a big group of young people staying but it was quiet and night and we were well rested for the day walking around Edinburgh. Will definitely come again.Alix and family
13/09/19
The staff is welcoming and very friendly. The rooms where a good size and felt clean. Great value for the price!Emma from Sweden
02/09/19
Extremely friendly and helpful staff and very accommodating for safe storage of my bicycle. Nice clean en-suite room and practical self-catering facilitiesAnnick Rasquin
31/08/19
Amazing value and really lovely helpful staff, would definitely stay again.Shona
29/08/19
The check-in process was smooth and staffs were nice & friendly. Love the concept of letting more people to explore and stay in Scotland with accessible accomodation rate.Hannah
28/08/19
Great staff, Great Place, had a Great timeSister travellers
27/08/19
Very helpful staff, excellent room.John
26/08/19
Always stay here on my frequent trips to this lovely city. Always assured of a friendly welcome and excellent service.Annie
Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel is a popular choice for individual travellers, backpackers, families and groups travelling on a budget. Guests can choose from a wide range of accommodation - from spacious shared rooms with individual lockers to private and premium rooms. All rooms in the hostel are en-suite and premium rooms come with a TV, USB plug sockets and coffee making facilities.
Guests can opt for continental breakfast served daily in the dining room or take advantage of the small but well equipped self-catering kitchen. Lunches and evening meals are also available and our licensed café is open all day, offering guests a range of hot and cold drinks, cakes and snacks. Please remember to pre-book your breakfast, lunch and dinner*.
WiFi is free for all guests and other facilities include a laundry, secure bike store and luggage storage for guests arriving early and wanting to explore the city.
The hostel also offers meeting facilities for up to 40 with flexible catering packages available; ideal for groups and organisations looking to meet in central Edinburgh.
Parking near to Edinburgh Central is possible with on-street Pay & Display spaces in the surrounding area and parking at nearby Greenside Car Park. Please contact the hostel directly for more information.
Reception is open 24 hours and the youth hostel is just ten minutes on foot from Waverley railway station, the bus station and close to York Place tram stop. It’s within walking distance of Edinburgh's main attractions. And, of course, Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel is perfectly positioned for anyone looking for great value accommodation during the Edinburgh Festival and Fringe Festival.
If we’re fully booked in July and August, please check out our Edinburgh Metro seasonal youth hostel located in the busy Cowgate area - a popular choice with backpackers looking to discover Edinburgh on a budget.
*Please note that between 11 November 2019 and 5 February 2020, refurbishment work will be carried out on the ground floor of Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel. Our restaurant is being redesigned as part of the refurbishment, but we’ll still be able to offer a full continental breakfast during this period. Unfortunately, we’re unable to extend the use of the self-catering kitchen during this time. There will be no disruption to bedrooms. If you have any questions, or if we can be of any help, please contact us by email on reservations@hostellingscotland.org.uk
For information on hostel accessibility please click here
Why stay?
- Central Location
- Great Breakfast
- Comfortable Private rooms
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).
