Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel
About About this youth hostel
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).
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.
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
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
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
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).
