Your stay — Braveheart
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The Property — Braveheart
The Braveheart is a solid, no-frills 3-star on the southern edge of the city centre, a ten-minute walk from the Royal Mile. The lobby is small and functional, with a reception desk that gets straight to business, a small seating area, and a noticeboard promoting local tours. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want a clean, quiet base and don't need a restaurant or bar on site; the USP is straightforward value and a location that's walkable but away from the noisy festival crowds.
Chronicles of Edinburgh
Edinburgh grew from a castle-topped volcanic rock, with the medieval Old Town packed tight between the castle and Holyrood. The 18th-century New Town was a planned grid of Georgian terraces built over drained marshland, a huge engineering project that doubled the city. The Victorian era added grand civic architecture, including the Scott Monument and the National Gallery. Today, Edinburgh is a compact, walkable capital that mixes banking and tech with a fierce literary and festival culture.
Best Time to Visit
Full Edinburgh guide →Best months
May and September offer the best balance: mild weather (12-17°C), long daylight, and smaller crowds than August. Late June is good too, before the festival surge.
Peak / festival surge
August is peak, driven by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and International Festival. Hotel prices can double or triple; rooms book out months ahead. The city's population swells by over a million visitors, so restaurants and transport are packed.
Budget shoulder season
April and October are the best shoulder months: cheaper rooms, quieter streets, and still reasonable weather (7-14°C) for walks. Many attractions run winter hours from November, so October is a sweet spot.
Weather & packing
Edinburgh's climate is famously variable — you can get four seasons in a day, and July averages 15°C with rain on half the days. Pack a waterproof jacket and a light jumper; leave the umbrella (too windy) and bring a fleece for evening chill.
Live City Briefing — Edinburgh
- The tram extension to Newhaven opened in 2023, making Leith much easier to reach from the city centre; line continues past the airport and through Princes Street.
- The Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood is fully open again after post-Covid restrictions, with free guided tours that still need advance booking.
- Edinburgh's Low Emission Zone (LEZ) is now enforced: older petrol and diesel cars cannot drive in the city centre without a daily charge. Check your car's compliance before arriving.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Braveheart, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third or fourth floor facing the rear courtyard. These are far enough from street level to reduce pavement noise, and the rear aspect avoids the constant hum of Gilmore Place traffic. If available, a room at the end of a corridor (east or west wing) may have fewer neighbouring doors slamming.
Rooms to avoid
Skip ground-floor rooms or any room facing Gilmore Place directly — particularly the front first floor (numbered in the teens if consecutive). These catch early-morning delivery trucks, pedestrian chatter from the pub across the street, and traffic from the nearby Tollcross junction. Also avoid rooms next to the internal stairwell or the single lift shaft — lifts in older conversions can be rattly and audible all night.
Best views
Rear courtyard rooms on floors 3 and 4 look out over the shared gardens typical of Edinburgh south-side tenements — greenery and washing lines, not glamorous but peaceful. A high front-facing room on floor 4 might glimpse the Castle if you lean out, but it’s a narrow, traffic-busy street so the trade-off in noise isn’t worth it.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest. Edinburgh tenement buildings often have thicker stone walls on middle-to-upper floors, and these sit above the street noise while avoiding any roof-top plant machinery that might be on floor 5+.
🔊 Noise notes
Gilmore Place is a main residential artery with buses (routes 10, 11, 16), delivery lorries to the Budget Backpackers hostel four doors down, and student footfall from nearby Napier University. Weekend evenings bring taxis dropping drinkers off at the Fountainpark complex. The property’s lift is likely an aftermarket installation in a Victorian building — can be clunky and audible from adjacent rooms.
Insider tips
1. If driving, ask reception about on-street parking permits — Gilmore Place has paid bays 8am–6pm Mon–Sat, but the info desk may sell visitor scratch cards cheaper than parking apps. 2. Request a room on the quiet side at booking, then call the hotel 48 hours before arrival to confirm — 3-star front desks often ignore online requests unless you follow up by phone.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Braveheart
Free standard WiFi included; speed approx 10 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up. No login needed.
No passenger lift (historic townhouse). All rooms accessed via stairs only, no ground-floor bedrooms
No complimentary newspaper service; property is a converted Georgian terraced house with period cornices and fireplaces
Check-in 14:00–22:00 (reception may close earlier weekends; call ahead). Early bag drop possible on request. Late check-out fee £20 per hour after 11:00
Available free of charge during reception hours only
No step-free entrance or wheelchair access. Stairs to all floors, narrow doorways. Not suitable for mobility-impaired guests.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park: Lauriston Terrace NCP (15-minute walk), approx £12 for 24 hours. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no city tax in Edinburgh for hotel stays)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; £100 incidentals hold on card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Bruntsfield Evangelical Church (133 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Gilmore Place Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland (289 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Barclay Viewforth Parish Church (386 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: Barclay Viewforth Parish Church (386 m · ~5 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Waverley Market — 2.4 km · ~30 min walk
Bruntsfield Links — 524 m · ~7 min walk
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk
King's Theatre — 569 m · ~7 min walk
Football area — 587 m · ~7 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 309 m · ~4 min walk
Bruntsfield Pharmacy — 347 m · ~4 min walk
Londis — 302 m · ~4 min walk
Haymarket — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →British Pound, GBP
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid airport and tourist bureau exchanges which charge poor rates and fees.
Cards and contactless are widely accepted; mobile pay like Apple Pay is common even for small amounts.
Not obligatory; round up taxi fare or leave 10% in restaurants if service charge not added, and tip hotel porters £1-2.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A filter coffee from a cafe or chain is around £2.50-3.
A sandwich or soup from a cafe or takeaway is about £5-7.
A main course at a pub or casual restaurant costs around £12-15.
Look for food stalls at local markets or along pedestrian streets for pies, pasties, or wraps for £5-8.
Common budget supermarkets include Lidl, Aldi, and Tesco Metro.
Princes Street and the St James Quarter host mid-range high-street brands; charity shops also have bargains.
A Lothian Buses day ticket costs £5 (adult) and covers all city buses; from the airport, take the Airlink bus 100 (£4.50 single) for lowest cost.
Walk or cycle as EH3 is compact; buy groceries from supermarkets for packed lunches; check for early-bird dinner deals in pub restaurants.
Good to know — Edinburgh
Type G · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ £0.75 · GBP
Emergency Contacts
Edinburgh999 (or 112 from a mobile phone)
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Edinburgh, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Braveheart
🕒 Check-in is from 15:00. Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 309 m · ~4 min walk — pharmacy · Bruntsfield Pharmacy — 347 m · ~4 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Waverley Station / City Centre → Princes Street / Royal Mile area
💡 Perfect for local transit once in city. Modern, accessible, connects main attractions. Hotel is walkable from tram stops.
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) → The Scotsman Hotel, Royal Mile
💡 Pre-book for better rates. Black cabs are iconic but metered taxis can be cheaper. Hotel can arrange pickups.
Edinburgh Airport → Waverley Bridge / City Centre
💡 Most economical airport transfer. Buy Ridacard for unlimited city bus travel. Buses to hotel area are frequent.
Edinburgh Airport (via airport link bus to Waverley) → Waverley Station (250m from hotel)
💡 Excellent for day trips (Glasgow, Stirling, Borders). Station is 5-minute walk to The Scotsman Hotel on Royal Mile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Braveheart?
Request a room on the third or fourth floor facing the rear courtyard. These are far enough from street level to reduce pavement noise, and the rear aspect avoids the constant hum of Gilmore Place traffic. If available, a room at the end of a corridor (east or west wing) may have fewer neighbouring doors slamming.
Which rooms should I avoid at Braveheart?
Skip ground-floor rooms or any room facing Gilmore Place directly — particularly the front first floor (numbered in the teens if consecutive). These catch early-morning delivery trucks, pedestrian chatter from the pub across the street, and traffic from the nearby Tollcross junction. Also avoid rooms next to the internal stairwell or the single lift shaft — lifts in older conversions can be rattly and audible all night.
Is Braveheart noisy?
Gilmore Place is a main residential artery with buses (routes 10, 11, 16), delivery lorries to the Budget Backpackers hostel four doors down, and student footfall from nearby Napier University. Weekend evenings bring taxis dropping drinkers off at the Fountainpark complex. The property’s lift is likely an aftermarket installation in a Victorian building — can be clunky and audible from adjacent rooms.
Which rooms have the best views at Braveheart?
Rear courtyard rooms on floors 3 and 4 look out over the shared gardens typical of Edinburgh south-side tenements — greenery and washing lines, not glamorous but peaceful. A high front-facing room on floor 4 might glimpse the Castle if you lean out, but it’s a narrow, traffic-busy street so the trade-off in noise isn’t worth it.
What are insider tips for staying at Braveheart?
1. If driving, ask reception about on-street parking permits — Gilmore Place has paid bays 8am–6pm Mon–Sat, but the info desk may sell visitor scratch cards cheaper than parking apps. 2. Request a room on the quiet side at booking, then call the hotel 48 hours before arrival to confirm — 3-star front desks often ignore online requests unless you follow up by phone.
What time is check-in at Braveheart?
Check-in at Braveheart is from 15:00. Check-out is by 11:00.
Does Braveheart have Wi-Fi?
Free standard WiFi included; speed approx 10 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up. No login needed.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Braveheart?
None (no city tax in Edinburgh for hotel stays)
Where can I eat cheaply near Braveheart?
A sandwich or soup from a cafe or takeaway is about £5-7.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Braveheart?
A Lothian Buses day ticket costs £5 (adult) and covers all city buses; from the airport, take the Airlink bus 100 (£4.50 single) for lowest cost.
When is the best time to visit Edinburgh?
May and September offer the best balance: mild weather (12-17°C), long daylight, and smaller crowds than August. Late June is good too, before the festival surge.
Top Attractions in Edinburgh
💡 Free guided tours run at 11am and 3pm. The basement cafe has the cheapest lunch on Princes Street.
💡 Head to the rooftop terrace for a clear view of the castle. The cafe does a decent bacon roll for under a fiver.
💡 Look for the grave of Thomas Riddell—J.K. Rowling borrowed the name for Tom Riddle. Ask at the art gallery next door for the map of notable graves.
💡 Start at the path behind Holyrood Palace. Avoid the grass if it's wet—it gets treacherously slippery.
💡 The glasshouses are free but ask at the ticket desk for a timed pass. The café does decent scones for under £3.