We do not take bookings directly for December 30, 31 and January 1st.

If you want to stay with us you will need to contact First Festival Travel in London who bring a whole gang of people up every year, and have a lot of fun.

They sell packages including coach travel, street passes and parties and excursions for the period. You can call them on 0208 896 6070.

Every day, 3 times a day, at 11am, 1pm and 3pm you can join a walking tour which costs absolutely nothing, except maybe a tip for the guide. The tours are run by Sandemans Tours, who are Europe’s leading walking tour company.

The walking tour takes about 3 hours, and you will see all of the main sights of the Old Town of Edinburgh.

• Edinburgh Castle
• St Giles’ Cathedral
• The Royal Mile
• Old & New Towns
• Mercat Cross
• Greyfriars Kirkyard (cemetery) and Greyfriars Bobby
• Scott Monument
• Princes Street Gardens
• Grassmarket
• Site of Witch Burnings
• The original ‘Hogwarts’
• William Wallace and the Stone of Destiny
• National Museum
• Edinburgh University
• Covenanters’ Prison
• Martyrs’ Memorial
• The Mound
• Tron Kirk
• Burke and Hare, bodysnatchers
• The real Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
• The Scottish Enlightenment

…and more!

The tours are on everyday at 11 am, 1 pm and 3pm and start from the front of the Starbucks Café by the Tron Kirk on the High Street(Royal Mile). The tour ends in Princes Street Gardens, which is only minutes walk back home to the hostel.

The tours run in all weather and rain gear is available at the beginning of the tour.
No reservations are necessary. Just show up. Ask at reception for directions to the start point.

The tours are free, and there is no pressure, but it is always nice to give the guide a tip, as that is their only source of income, and their tours are so good, they seem to be able to get enough tips to survive.

Parking in Edinburgh can be challenging, so we have researched some options for you.
First, the good news.
You can park on the street for free after 6:30pm each night until 8:30am, Monday to Saturday.
And the bad news….after those times it’s expensive and a hassle.

Edinburgh has been divided into zones by the council, and the on street parking prices are dependent on the zones. The council has a FAQ page here.

We are in the “Central Controlled Parking Zone”, and parking here is controlled from 08.30 to 18.30 Monday to Saturday. The cost to park is £2.20 per hour, and the maximum time you can park in any bay is 4 hours. What is interesting, however, is that if you buy a ticket after 18.30, then the time you purchase will be for the next day. So, if you park at 7pm in the evening, and pay £6.60, you will be able to stay until 11.30am the next morning. If you park at 18.30 Saturday night, you should be fine until 8.30am Monday morning, or later if you pay. The closest on street parking near us Melville Street.

Melville St - The closest place to park on the street near the hostel.

For cheaper parking, you can continue down Queensferry Rd.
If you travel about 1km away, the parking becomes cheaper, £1.40 per hour.
If you travel about 2km down the road, then the parking is free.
A bus back, should you require it, (Route 41 from Queensferry Rd) will be £1.20 each way, and it stops outside our front door.

To use the machines, you need to insert coins and press the green button, then display the ticket on your window.

Naturally, you must always check the signs wherever you want to park. Do not park on double yellow lines, resident permit bays or in disabled bays. Some information about parking rules can be found here.

Here are some of the reviews we have been receiving. (These are direct from Hostelworld, so we haven’t edited them.)

We work hard to try to provide the best facilities for you we can. If you have enjoyed what we offer, and you would like to let other people know, then please take a minute to review us.

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