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 shared 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 socialising. Our café bar is open from 7am to 11pm daily offering a selection of assorted teas/coffees cakes and cookies and alcoholic beverages. If you wish 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, a small meeting room is 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?
- Great Central Location
- Comfortable Private Rooms
For information on our COVID-19 practices and what to expect when staying with us please visit the FAQ’s section. Please also be aware of Scottish Government guidance when making your booking.
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. Subject to availability: early check-in and late check out may be available for an extra £10 per room.
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
6/29/2022 12:00:00 AM
The hostel is ideally situated part way down Leith Walk / Elm Row, a short stroll from Princes Street. The foyer resembles a hotel and the rooms are clean and tidy, the linen is beautifully white. The staff are polite and helpful and there are quiet hours, which seem to be observed. The only downside, and not only for this hostel, is that you can't get a tea / coffee inhouse or anywhere near before 8.30am unless you bring your own. Otherwise a great stay.Andrew Muirhead
6/27/2022 12:00:00 AM
good and central location, friendly staff. Great lobby with hotel charakterRuediger
6/25/2022 12:00:00 AM
Great place to stay, friendly & helpful people on the desk. Loved staying at Edinburgh Central.MrsP
6/21/2022 12:00:00 AM
Friendly welcome, even at 2 am in the morning. Beds nice and comfortable, our room was sparkling clean, quiet and even had a lovely view which we discovered in the morning.Antje
6/20/2022 12:00:00 AM
Nice and really helpful staff, great sized rooms! :) Only 15 minutes away from the old city, it's a nice walk, and perfect for spending the evening at the Calton Hill!me.in.UK :D
6/8/2022 12:00:00 AM
Excellent on all accounts of cleanliness, helpful staff, easy check in and out. Location was great and transport from door to door was very pleasant and easy. I have no hesitation in recommending this 5 star hostel to anyone visiting Edinburgh. Grace Shirreffs AberdeenGrace Shirreffs
6/5/2022 12:00:00 AM
Excellent all round and superb staffMaisy
5/30/2022 12:00:00 AM
Well-position and equipped hostel, with good rooms. The only two things I would suggest are, firstly, to offer breakfast a bit earlier and secondly (more difficult) to have a different location for bike storage (the current location is difficult to access). However, overall this is a great hostel.Sam
5/28/2022 12:00:00 AM
The hostel was perfect for our school group. I've been running trips for almost 20 years, and this hostel is the best one I've been in. Great facilities - modern and clean. Breakfast arrangements are perfect for the kids. Staff were helpful and cheery. Highly recommended!Yes
5/23/2022 12:00:00 AM
Excellent all round - helpful staff, comfortable room, great location. Thanks!John
5/20/2022 12:00:00 AM
Great place to stay in the Scottish capitalPHIL LONG
5/17/2022 12:00:00 AM
We spend a few nights in this hostel in a private room. We slept absolutely very well and didn't hear any noice from other rooms. It is located not too far from the city center, so we walked everywhere. In the evenings we spent some time in the cosy lobby.Ingrid, Belgium
5/16/2022 12:00:00 AM
After a three-year break on account of Covid we were very happy to return to Edinburgh Central and find that this venue was still the welcoming and relaxed base we remembered of old. Many thanks to Janet and her team, especially the hard-working kitchen staff.Lawrence Sutherland
5/15/2022 12:00:00 AM
Modern and up to date hostel, with places to sit and have a coffee etc. It felt a very relaxed place. Secure access to corridors and rooms: lovely room (for 4) with facilites en-suite. Members kitchen with everything you might need, and dining area with TV. Continental breakfast in the dining room was just right, and included everything you might expect. Staff were friendly and helpful. It was a comfortable, relaxed, no-pressure place to stay. I will come back.....Janice A
5/12/2022 12:00:00 AM
It wouldn't b a COMPLETE wonderful experience traveling in Scotland if I haven't had an accommodation at Youth hostel with such an amicable, cooperative and amazing staff. From the time we checked in until checked out, I must admit it was a HOME from home. Not only the room facilities but also the Kitchen services were superb. If anyone seeing my review I would recommend this place.ThanksPukhraj
5/10/2022 12:00:00 AM
The staff were accommodating. Me and family were arrived late (almost the middle of the night), but I gave them a call about this situation. They were welcome us at their best. We were staying for two nights. It was a nice experience for me and my family.Ananda Ananda
5/8/2022 12:00:00 AM
Fantastic hostel, clean, comfortable and brilliant value in a top locationJen O
5/4/2022 12:00:00 AM
Brilliant staff , facilities and general ambiance. ??We were 18 cyclists from Tynemouth and loved the fantastic showers and comfy beds. Also the staff were very helpful with our bikes.Laura Hancock
4/21/2022 12:00:00 AM
Clean, comfortable, central enough to walk to all tourist locations within central Edinburgh. Good value for money.Carole Finlay
4/14/2022 12:00:00 AM
Brilliant hostel. On the direct bus route from the Park and Ride at Hermiston where you can leave the car for 3 nights and bus into the city. Helpful staff. Great location; 5 minute walk from the National Portrait Gallery.Aileen Larsen
4/13/2022 12:00:00 AM
Excellent hostel. I checked in late with a laden bike and was led straight to the luggage room. The person who handled my check in was very attentive and friendly, and gave me the best directions to avoid the roadworks nearby to get to the railway station. When I left in the morning (05:30), they'd left an annotated map on the luggage room door to ensure I knew where I was going. 10/10 !Colin A
4/13/2022 12:00:00 AM
Our first experience in a hostel and we loved it. The staff were perfect. Quick check-in and very knowledgeable. The room was spotlessly clean and the sheets and towels were perfectly white. Had a good nights sleep in a comfy bed. Thank you for a lovely stay, we will be back.Debbie
4/13/2022 12:00:00 AM
Stayed for one night, staff were all very friendly and helpful, location was really convenient and easy to find, room was great, warm and comfortable with a good bathroom (it was slightly odd that there was soap by the sink outside the bathroom but not by the sink inside but it was completely fine), we had absolutely no issues whatsoever, would definitely go again and recommend to anyone looking for somewhere to staySam
4/11/2022 12:00:00 AM
Very efficient and at the same time friendly staff, everything is as you might expect or even better.Short but great stay!Do try the cooked breakfast, great value and very tasty.Arnaud
4/5/2022 12:00:00 AM
We were guests with a group of 15 Persons and made a 6 day workshop in the meeting room. The atmosphere and the staff was just brilliant. All we're so relaxed and cooperative, even they had a hard time and hard job (staff shortage). Thank you for that!Tanja
3/31/2022 12:00:00 AM
The hostel was really clean, and I felt very safe there (solo female traveller). The location was walking distance to a lot of great venues and things to see.Sara in Scotland
3/30/2022 12:00:00 AM
I had a great time in Edinburgh and at the hostel. Staff was friendly and always ready to help. The kitchen has everything one may need and the lounge is a nice place to sit after a long day of walking. The hostel is only a 15 minutes walk away from the city centre, so perfect for exploring the beautiful city of Edinburgh.Antonia
3/27/2022 12:00:00 AM
Exactly what it says on the tin :) unpretentious with a lot of ‘green' innovations eg the loo light automatically goes on and off by using the door so can not be left on. Liked the separate loo to shower in our own room.The hostel was spotless. If you just need a bed, then why go elsewhere. Good location, staff helpful and polite. Breakfast available, if needed.Veteran hostellers
3/26/2022 12:00:00 AM
Return visit excellent location and atmosphere rooms spacious and cleanGina
3/23/2022 12:00:00 AM
The hostel staff were really welcoming when we got in late and gave us great advice about the city. The hostel was clean and warm and the shower was fantastic. The communal sitting room was comfortable.Jo
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).
