Southside Guest House
Newington Road, Edinburgh Southside · Guest House
View on Google MapsPhoto: David Borja
Eight-room guest house in an 1867 Victorian townhouse on Newington Road, a short walk from Arthur's Seat and the University.
Photos
Photos via Google
About Southside Guest House
Southside Guest House is a Victorian townhouse at 8 Newington Road, built in 1867 and run as a small bed and breakfast for many years. It has eight en-suite bedrooms, which puts it firmly in guest-house territory rather than hotel, and the owners are on site and hands-on. It holds four gold stars from the AA and has picked up a run of excellence awards from the review sites, which for a property this size says more about consistency than marketing budget.
Rooms are individually decorated and include a couple of four-poster options, which get booked well ahead for anniversaries. All are en suite, with flat-screen televisions, tea and coffee, hairdryers and free wi-fi. Ceilings are high and windows large, as you would expect from the period; the rooms at the back are quieter, the front ones brighter. Some are up a flight or two of stairs and there is no lift, which is normal for a building of this type.
Breakfast is the thing people write about. It is cooked to order, uses Scottish suppliers, and runs well beyond the standard fry-up — smoked salmon, porridge with whisky, vegetarian options and good coffee. The dining room is small and sociable. There is no bar or restaurant for the evening, but Newington and the Southside are full of places to eat within a few minutes' walk.
Newington Road is on a main bus route, so the city centre is a fifteen-minute walk or a five-minute bus ride. Arthur's Seat and Holyrood Park are close enough to walk before breakfast, and the University's George Square campus and the Festival Theatre are nearby. It suits couples and independent travellers who prefer a small, personal place with an excellent breakfast to a large hotel, at a considerably lower price than the centre.
What guests say
It was ok, not great if you are a light sleeper as you can hear people outside of the rooms. Beds are small and could be a bit uncomfortable. Other than that, the hotel is well located (20 mins walk from city center) and has plenty of cafes, supermarkets and restaurants around
4 weeks ago · via Google
Stayed in the single room - great for solo travelers who don’t want to pay the expensive Edinburgh prices. The house is old and charming, very clean. The room was small which was perfect for just me. It was quiet. I never saw staff besides when I checked in. Did not get breakfast since it was an additional fee. Very close to multiple bus stops.
a year ago · via Google
Stayed here for Fringe Festival. It seemed it was just outside most of the venues which was great because we didn't have loads of loud tourists outside the room. It was very close to venues in general though which was perfect. The room was adequate though the bed frame was somewhat creeky. The bathroom was fantastic but the floor tiles would move slightly when stood on. It was warmer than usual and it would be nice if the hotel would do as others I stayed at and include a small fan in the room. Can really help cool a place down. Service was interesting. I almost never saw anyone present at the front desk. Notes on the front door have you all the info needed, but I always enjoy interaction with the staff. Had I needed anything, I'm sure I could have obtained help. It was just very different from what I've experienced. But a nice stay overall
2 years ago · via Google
Great hotel, very close to where I was needed as well as to shops & restaurants. 4 stars due to how absolutely roasting the room was with little to no ventilation or air-conditioning. Despite that I still enjoyed my stay!
a year ago · via Google
Elegant rooms in a Victorian lodging with a garden, plus free Wi-Fi and full English breakfast.
Summary via Google
At a glance
- Address
- 8 Newington Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1QS Get directions
- Property type
- Guest House
- Location
- Newington Road, Edinburgh Southside
- Star rating
- 4 star
- Guest score
- 9.2 / 10 (700 reviews)
- Prices from
- £95 per night
- Good for children
- Yes
- Destination
- Edinburgh