a&o Edinburgh City
50 Blackfriars Street, Edinburgh · Hotel
View on Google MapsPhoto: a&o Hostel Edinburgh City
Budget-friendly hotel on Blackfriars Street, steps from Edinburgh's Old Town, with 132 rooms and easy access to transport links.
Photos
Photos via Google
About a&o Edinburgh City
Edinburgh's Old Town is well known for its closes, cobbled streets and easy walk to the city's main sights, and a&o Edinburgh City puts guests right in the middle of it on Blackfriars Street. With 132 rooms, including family and accessible options with en-suite bathrooms, it's set up for a wide range of travellers, from solo visitors to groups passing through on their way to the Highlands.
The property runs a restaurant, snack bar and drinks-in-room service alongside its own bar, plus breakfast and packed lunches for those heading out early. Practical extras include free WiFi, a lift, luggage storage and a laundry service, while the garden and outdoor seating offer a spot to unwind away from the street. Pets are welcome, which is useful for those travelling with animals.
Beyond the doors, the surrounding area gives easy access to pubs, restaurants and entertainment, as well as walking and cycling routes, with golf, fishing and watersports also nearby for those venturing further out. Rooms are generally comfortable and the staff are noted for being helpful, though some guests have found certain rooms noisy or in need of better upkeep, worth bearing in mind for anyone wanting a quieter stay.
Reception hours
- Monday
- Open 24 hours
- Tuesday
- Open 24 hours
- Wednesday
- Open 24 hours
- Thursday
- Open 24 hours
- Friday
- Open 24 hours
- Saturday
- Open 24 hours
- Sunday
- Open 24 hours
Current hours may differ from the usual schedule above (e.g. holidays) — check Google Maps for today's hours.
What guests say
Was great for us. We had expected twin beds but the bunk beds were sturdy and didn’t move too much when occupied so sleeping was comfortable. Would have been nice to be able To open the windows more to get fresh air. Lift wasn’t working on first day and lugging bags up 5 floors was a little tough. But we were away from the busy bar area and that was great - nice and quiet. Great location to get around and about on foot which was a big plus. Clean and well run.
a month ago · via Google
I had an amazing stay at this hostel and would happily give it 5 stars! Everything was just perfect. The location is excellent, making it easy to get around and explore the area. The accommodation itself was clean, comfortable, and very well maintained, which made my stay even more enjoyable. The bar had a great atmosphere, and the staff there were fantastic—friendly, welcoming, and always ready to help. A special mention goes to the reception team, who were absolutely wonderful. They were helpful, professional, and made me feel right at home from the moment I arrived. Overall, such a great experience I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a comfortable and enjoyable stay!
3 months ago · via Google
The only reason I can give this hotel any credit is its location. We booked a room with one double bed through Turna, but when we arrived, we were told that there were no rooms available and were instead given a room with bunk beds on the 5th floor. To make matters worse, the elevator was broken, and we had to carry our suitcases up five flights of stairs ourselves. The elevator remained out of service throughout our entire 3-day stay. The room was extremely hot, stuffy, and uncomfortable. On the first day, the room had clean sheets and towels. However, after housekeeping cleaned the room on the second day, they removed the bed sheets and only left towels. When we brought this to the staff’s attention, they simply said they were very busy and offered no solution. Considering how much we paid, this hotel did not deserve the money at all. It was a terrible experience from start to finish. Honestly, I wish there were a way to receive a full or at least partial refund, because the quality of service was unacceptable. I would not stay here again and would not recommend it to anyone. The location is the only positive thing about this place.
a month ago · via Google
Great price and great location, staff Are friendly and helpful. but holy hell, made the rookie mistake of coming in on summer. These rooms are unsleepable. Avoid in summer. These rooms are saunas. No air flow, stuffy as all hell. Personally got unlucky with a really loud sleep talker too. Would recommend for the winter season. But these rooms will suffocate you in the summer. Genuinely ruined my trip
a month ago · via Google
Reviewers consistently praise this hostel for its great central location, comfortable beds, and friendly, helpful staff.
Other reviews mention the rooms can be noisy and poorly maintained.
Summary via Google
At a glance
- Address
- 50 Blackfriars Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1NE Get directions
- Property type
- Hotel
- Location
- 50 Blackfriars Street, Edinburgh
- Good for children
- Yes
- Destination
- Edinburgh