✦ The Property
The Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre occupies a compact but strategic perch in Scotland's capital, offering no-frills, functional comfort in a tightly curated mid-range formula—stripped of restaurant and lounge distractions, optimised for swift check-in and clean beds. The lobby feels businesslike and efficient rather than atmospheric; you're here for proximity to the Royal Mile and Princes Street, not architectural theatre. It suits time-pressed leisure travellers, conference attendees, and budget-conscious couples who value location over indulgence—a reliable overnight base where the city itself is the amenity.
🏛️ Chronicles of Edinburgh
Edinburgh emerged from a volcanic plug in the 7th century as a Pictish stronghold and consolidated as Scotland's royal capital under David I (12th century), anchored by the fortress castle that still dominates the skyline. The Georgian New Town (1767 onwards), planned by James Craig, established Edinburgh as a beacon of Enlightenment architecture and intellectual ambition, earning its epithet 'Athens of the North'. Medieval closes and wynds tumble steeply from the castle down to Holyrood, whilst the neoclassical crescents of Stockbridge and Morningside exemplify 19th-century ambition. Today, Edinburgh balances UNESCO World Heritage status (Old and New Towns) with a thriving cultural identity—home to the world's largest arts festival (August), cutting-edge tech and fintech sectors, and a fiercely independent Scottish outlook.
🗓️ Best Time to Visit
Full Edinburgh guide →✅ Best months
May and September offer the sweet spot: average highs of 15–17°C, long daylight (nearly 17 hours in May), manageable crowds before the August festival crush, and wildflower colour on Arthur's Seat and the Pentland Hills. June (your visit month) sits just beyond peak, with warm, lingering light ideal for walking the Water of Leith and exploring Leith dockside, though prices remain elevated and some venues grow busier.
🔥 Peak / festival surge
August is the undisputed peak: the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Military Tattoo, and International Festival draw over 2 million visitors, hotel occupancy soars above 95%, rates treble, and every café table becomes a struggle. July also swells as families holiday; June edges towards saturation as schools break and festival season rehearsals begin.
💷 Budget shoulder season
April and early May, or post-festival September through October, deliver the best value: discounts of 20–40% off peak rates, manageable foot traffic, and crisp but comfortable conditions (8–12°C). October rewards with amber woodland light and harvest restaurants.
🧳 Weather & packing
Edinburgh's maritime climate is notoriously mercurial—rain can arrive in minutes even on a sunny morning, and the Castle winds can cut through warm layers. Pack a lightweight, packable waterproof shell and layers (merino wool base, fleece mid-layer) in June; expect 12–15°C highs but warm afternoons, and always carry an umbrella.
📰 Live City Briefing
- The Edinburgh Tram network (Phase 1, Newhaven to the Airport) opened in May 2014 and continues to define visitor mobility; confirm tram-stop proximity to your hotel for swift airport transfers and city loops—reducing reliance on taxis and buses.
- Leith Docks and the waterfront have undergone major regeneration with new restaurants, galleries, and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery annex (2023); June is ideal for strolling the quays and catching new openings before peak summer.
- The city experiences the 'simmer dim' phenomenon in June (near-continuous twilight with only 4–5 hours of darkness), extending evening exploration and al fresco dining—but also disrupting sleep for light-sensitive visitors; blackout blinds in your hotel room are essential.
🌤️ Your stay
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Edinburgh.
🏨 Room Intelligence
Insider tipsBefore you check in to Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Rooms on floors 4-6 facing Picardy Place or Broughton Street offer good views with reasonable noise isolation. Corner rooms (e.g., 401, 501, 601) provide quieter positioning away from main street frontage.
Rooms to avoid
Ground and 1st floor rooms facing Broughton Street experience significant traffic noise and street-level disturbances. Avoid rooms directly above the bar/breakfast area (typically lower floors on street side).
Best views
Rooms facing Picardy Place or inner courtyard views (north/west aspects) offer Edinburgh's historic skyline views with fewer sight-lines to busy streets.
Quietest floors
Floors 5-7 are generally quietest, being removed from street noise and most internal activity.
🔊 Noise notes
City centre location means ambient urban noise is unavoidable. Peak traffic noise 7-9am and 5-7pm weekdays. Weekend nights experience some noise from nearby nightlife venues until late.
💡 Insider tips
Request high floor, courtyard-facing rooms when booking. Hotel's compact size means noise can travel between rooms; inquire about room positioning relative to lift/stairs. Front desk can often upgrade to quieter aspects mid-stay. Best time for peace: weekday mornings 10am-4pm.
- 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
Free high-speed WiFi (IHG Rewards members priority access); typical speeds 50+ Mbps; no login code required, auto-connect on IHG Guest network.
Lift serves all floors (ground to 5th); no stairs-only sections for guest use.
Digital PressReader newsstand (100+ publications) available via guest portal; no complimentary physical newspapers.
Standard check-in 15:00, check-out 11:00; early check-in (from 12:00) subject to availability at no charge; late checkout until 14:00 costs £25, until 17:00 costs £40.
Complimentary storage available 24/7 before check-in and after check-out.
Step-free entrance via Picardy Place; accessible ground-floor rooms available; accessible toilet facilities; lift to all floors.
No on-site parking; nearest NCP car park (Greenside Place) 150 m away, £2.00/hour or £12.50/day; Street parking (permit zones P1–P3) requires valid Edinburgh parking permit; no EV charging on-site.
💷 Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: Edinburgh visitor levy 5% applied to accommodation cost per night (mandatory since April 2022).
Deposit & card hold: One night's deposit required at booking; £150 incidental card hold at check-in for damages/extras.
🍳 On-site Dining & Hours
🕌 Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: St Mary's Cathedral (Scottish Episcopal) (800 m north, 10-minute walk via York Place)
- Church: Broughton Street Baptist Church (250 m south-west, 3-minute walk)
- Mosque: Edinburgh Central Mosque (1.2 km south-west, 15-minute walk or 5-minute bus via Lothian Buses (Route 41))
Halal: Muhammed's Foods (halal butcher) on Broughton Street, 350 m walk; limited certified halal restaurant options; order ahead recommended.
Kosher: No certified kosher restaurants in City Centre; nearest Jewish community store (Turnhouse Terrace) approx. 3 km away.
Vegan/Vegetarian: Akva Aquavit (Scandinavian, heavy vegan options) 400 m away; Ketchup (vegan burger joint) 250 m south on Broughton Street; Lovecrumbs (vegan cafe) 600 m south.
🎯 Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Princes Street district (main high street) 500 m south with John Lewis, Waverley Shopping Centre; Broughton Street (independent shops, cafes) 150 m south; Royal Mile (tourist/souvenir) 800 m west.
Calton Hill (viewpoint, monuments) 350 m east via Regent Road; Holyrood Park (Arthur's Seat climb, 250 m terrain drop) 1 km south-west; Leith Links (flat waterfront walk) 1.5 km north via Leith Walk.
National Museum of Scotland (free admission) 900 m south on Chambers Street; Royal Scottish Museum (free) adjacent; Scott Monument (paid, £5) 600 m south on Princes Street.
Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre 600 m south on Greenside Place; Royal Lyceum Theatre 1 km west; Usher Hall (classical/concert) 1.2 km west.
Arcade at Waverley Shopping Centre (near Princes Street); no dedicated board-game cafes in immediate vicinity; closest is Urban Tavern (board games + drinks) 600 m away.
St Mark's Park (small playground) 400 m east; Calton Hill steps/slopes suitable for older kids; Princes Street Gardens (main park, no playground equipment) 500 m south.
🌡️ Environment & Health
☀️ UV index: Early June UV index typically 5–6 (Moderate); midday sun (11:00–15:00) requires SPF 30+ sunscreen; sunrise ~04:35, sunset ~21:35 on 4–5 June (very long daylight).
🤧 Pollen & allergens: Grass pollen high, tree pollen moderate in early June; hayfever sufferers should carry antihistamines; no severe weather warnings typical for this season.
📍 5-Minute Radius Essentials
RBS ATM in Waverley Shopping Centre (Princes Street area) 500 m south; multiple bank ATMs on Princes Street; Tesco supermarket ATM (Newington) 1.2 km south.
Boots the Chemist (Princes Street) 600 m south, 08:30–18:00 (weekday), 09:00–17:00 (Saturday), closed Sunday; Lloyd's Pharmacy (Leith Street) 1 km south, similar hours; 24-hour pharmacy: Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (emergency dispensary) 2 km south.
Tesco Extra (24-hour supermarket, limited pharmacy hours 07:00–22:00) 1 km south on Leith Street; convenience stores (Spar, Scotmid) on Broughton Street 150 m away, typically 07:00–23:00.
Waverley train station (mainline rail) 700 m south; nearest bus stop (Picardy Place / York Place, Lothian Buses) 50 m away; local bus fare: single journey £1.80, day pass £4.50, contactless/app payment.
💱 Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Pound Sterling, GBP (£)
Post Office (Royal Mile) fair mid-market rates, 09:00–17:30; avoid airport bureau and tourist-area exchanges (typically 5–8% markup); Travelex (Princes Street) inflated rates, not recommended.
Contactless/chip-and-PIN ubiquitous; Visa/Mastercard widely accepted; American Express less common in smaller shops; mobile pay (Apple Pay, Google Pay) standard in most venues.
Restaurants 10–15% (discretionary; added to bill or cash); taxis round up or 10% (e.g. £9.50 → £10); hotel housekeeping £1–2/night (discretionary); bar staff not typically tipped (rounding acceptable).
💸 Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Pret A Manger (multiple City Centre locations, Princes Street) coffee £2.15–£2.95; flat white £2.95; local favourite: Black Remedy Coffee Co. (Broughton Street) espresso £1.50, 3-minute walk.
Greggs Bakery (Princes Street or Leith Street) meal deal (sandwich + drink + snack) £3.50; Tesco meal deal (various locations) £2.50–£3.50; Starbucks lunch deal (sandwich + drink) £6.90.
Chinese takeaway on Leith Street (£7–£10 per main); fish & chips on Rose Street (£6–£9); Indian restaurant on Leith Walk (£8–£12 per curry); kebab shops Broughton Street (£5–£7).
Leith Walk street vendors (kebabs, pizza, Asian noodles) £5–£8; Waverley Shopping Centre food court (Pret, Tossed, M&S) £6–£9; Rose Street historic pubs (haggis supper £8–£12).
Tesco (Leith Street, 1 km) budget-friendly; Sainsbury's Local (multiple City Centre sites) slightly pricier; Lidl (Canonmills, 1.5 km) cheapest option; Asda (not in City Centre proper).
Zara, H&M, Uniqlo (Princes Street) mid-range; TK Maxx (Waverley Shopping Centre) discounts; Marks & Spencer (Princes Street) value items; Charity shops on Causewayside (south edge) for bargains.
Day ticket (Lothian Buses) £4.50 (unlimited buses); weekly ticket £17.50 better value if staying longer; from airport (Trams or buses): Tram Link £5.50 or Airport Express Bus £5.00 (single); avoid taxis (£20–£25 from airport).
1. Buy a Lothian Buses day pass (£4.50) if using more than 3 journeys; 2. Supermarket meal deals (Tesco, Sainsbury's) offer best lunch value; 3. Visit National Museum of Scotland (free admission) instead of paid attractions; book dinner reservations early for set-menu discounts (many offer 2-for-1 after 17:00).
ℹ️ Good to know
Type G · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ £0.74 · GBP
🚨 Emergency Contacts
EdinburghIn Edinburgh, UK, dial 999 for all emergency services (police, ambulance, fire). For non-emergencies, contact Police Scotland on 101. NHS 24 provides medical advice on 111.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
🍽️ Where to Eat
Reserve on OpenTable →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Edinburgh, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
🚌 Getting Around
Book trains →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 Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre?
Rooms on floors 4-6 facing Picardy Place or Broughton Street offer good views with reasonable noise isolation. Corner rooms (e.g., 401, 501, 601) provide quieter positioning away from main street frontage.
Which rooms should I avoid at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre?
Ground and 1st floor rooms facing Broughton Street experience significant traffic noise and street-level disturbances. Avoid rooms directly above the bar/breakfast area (typically lower floors on street side).
Is Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre noisy?
City centre location means ambient urban noise is unavoidable. Peak traffic noise 7-9am and 5-7pm weekdays. Weekend nights experience some noise from nearby nightlife venues until late.
Which rooms have the best views at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre?
Rooms facing Picardy Place or inner courtyard views (north/west aspects) offer Edinburgh's historic skyline views with fewer sight-lines to busy streets.
What are insider tips for staying at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre?
Request high floor, courtyard-facing rooms when booking. Hotel's compact size means noise can travel between rooms; inquire about room positioning relative to lift/stairs. Front desk can often upgrade to quieter aspects mid-stay. Best time for peace: weekday mornings 10am-4pm.
What time is check-in at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre?
Check-in at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre is from 15:00. Check-out is by 11:00.
Does Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre have Wi-Fi?
Free high-speed WiFi (IHG Rewards members priority access); typical speeds 50+ Mbps; no login code required, auto-connect on IHG Guest network.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre?
Edinburgh visitor levy 5% applied to accommodation cost per night (mandatory since April 2022).
Where can I eat cheaply near Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre?
Greggs Bakery (Princes Street or Leith Street) meal deal (sandwich + drink + snack) £3.50; Tesco meal deal (various locations) £2.50–£3.50; Starbucks lunch deal (sandwich + drink) £6.90.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre?
Day ticket (Lothian Buses) £4.50 (unlimited buses); weekly ticket £17.50 better value if staying longer; from airport (Trams or buses): Tram Link £5.50 or Airport Express Bus £5.00 (single); avoid taxis (£20–£25 from airport).
When is the best time to visit Edinburgh?
May and September offer the sweet spot: average highs of 15–17°C, long daylight (nearly 17 hours in May), manageable crowds before the August festival crush, and wildflower colour on Arthur's Seat and the Pentland Hills. June (your visit month) sits just beyond peak, with warm, lingering light ideal for walking the Water of Leith and exploring Leith dockside, though prices remain elevated and some venues grow busier.