Motel One Edinburgh
2 Hotels in Edinburgh
What our guests say
Very good
Overall rating from 5,340 ratings
Friendliness 9.3 of 10
Cleanliness 9.2 of 10
Reception 9.3 of 10
Lounge & Bar 8.9 of 10
Location 9.8 of 10
Room 8.5 of 10
Bathroom 8.6 of 10
Free WiFi 9.1 of 10
Value for money 8.3 of 10
Breakfast service 8.4 of 10
Recently stayed at Motel One Edinburgh and had a great experience overall. The service was excellent — all of the staff were incredibly friendly, helpful, and accommodating. We arrived early after travelling on the sleeper train, and they kindly managed to arrange an early check-in for us, which was hugely appreciated. Nothing ever seemed too much trouble for the team. The only downside was how busy the hotel was. There were constantly lots of people coming and going, and breakfast was often so busy that it was difficult to find a seat. That said, the fantastic staff really made the stay, and we would happily return.
It is very comfortable, clean, conveniently located and with amazing staff!
Very clean room. Great facilities for a city hotel and brilliant, central location.
Below average stay - blind on bedroom window let light in early morning, the shower barely worked - when I eventually got it warm enough it was a trickle. Poor breakfast options little to now warm unless you count toast? Also area not big enough for the number of guests
As usual I've enjoyed the stay very much. The room had a perfect view of the Princes Street and the Castle. It was tidy and had the usual 'Motel One' setup, which is a plus. Hotel service was always very nice and helpful. There are three things that could be improved: 1. The room was directly above the speaker from the main hall, so whenever the music was playing there, it was noticeable in the room, but not annoying. 2. The breakfast menu could be more extensive, with scrambled eggs or sausages from water or grilled. 3. The broadcast quality of some channels in the TV, some of them had a low video quality like less than 720p and some were perfect.
Exceptionally clean and comfortable hotel in a great location -- would highly recommend it!
Perfect zone to visit Edinburgh
Location was fantastic and the staff was extremely accommodating
Room a tad smallish and it backed onto a neighbouring backyard pub which was not great later at night …however….overall a good place great location for walking and staff was super friendly!
Excellent location directly across from Waverly Station and a small grocery right down the street. Hotel was lovely and spotless, staff were very kind. Very central location and walkable to many historic sites.
Great location, friendly staff would recommend for business and pleasure
We had a fantastic stay.The only issue was when we arrived,we'd booked a room with a city view,but allocated a room without a view. This was prompty rectified and the lovely front desk reception staff apologised, so we were happy. The room was lovely and clean and the bed so comfortable.Everything was as it should be and what you expect.The view was breathtaking over the city,so central on princes street. We especially enjoyed the bar/lounge area where breakfast is served, also a comfortable place to chill in the evening and have a drink. Buffet breakfast was great and catered for all tastes and plenty of it! Very impressed overall 🙂
Loved our stay at Motel One. Blessed to have a fantastic view from Scott Monument to Waverley Bridge, the Balmoral and Calton Hill. The stars were friendly and helpful. Top rate stay!
Hailey made our stay incredible from the start! We really enjoyed this spot and the hospitality of the staff
Location was amazing, facilities were lovely. Perfect for our stay. Only negative is the noise from the closes out the window and we found it warm most nights, even with the windows open
Clean bed and towels , bathroom would need some good scrubbing , there is a gap between the door and frame big enough to see the corridor , had to hand clothes over it . Simple breakfast but good choice . I like how the food: bar area was rewamped since I was there last year . Friendly people working there . Fab location .
Excellent staff, very clean.
Very nice rooms & reception/bar area. Staff very friendly & helpful. Nice location, The tea & coffee station access is a very welcome offering. I do find using the App is not very user friendly, was unable to check in online as it kept changing all the information I was trying to complete, would not accept the telephone area code or address i was trying to input. So we had to queue for a little while to check in when we arrived at the hotel, but it was not too long.
We have stayed at the Motel One previously and like its location. Had a couple of minor issues which Hayley dealt with making our stay enjoyable. Breakfast is pricey for what is available.
Lovely as usual. Helpful staff. Very central.
The rooms are clean, functional and very good value for money but the staff are what really makes the place! Friendly and helpful and always a ready smile.
Great location. Nice styled room. Airconditioning was not working, the room was too warm. The beds where too hard and there were no matrass toppers available. It was odd that the price at the reception was higher than online prices, so we booked via the website in the reception. This is bureaucratic nonsense.
Friendly and clean
Thank you so much for your hospitality. My husband and I were so happy to celebrate his birthday in Edinburgh and of course stay at Motel One.
Excellent location. Very quiet room. Staff were friendly but professional, looked very smart. Free coffee in the bar was a lovely touch. The bar had a great view and was clean and relaxing. The bed was comfy.
The staff were welcoming throughout each day. So kind to stop what the were doing to assist with internet problems. The breakfast was inviting and delicious.
Above excellence, staff was amazing and food was awesome.
Very kind stuff. Good and tasty breakfast. Rooms clean and ok. But carpeted floors in the room are not ideal due to hygiene concerns. We had a pleasant stay.
For the cost of the stay, it was way below expectations. We paid $1k total and couldn't even get a bottle of water for the room. The towels were stained, the mattress and pillows were hard, the room was too hot, no shampoo or conditioner, and the hallways were dirty and dusty. Plus the TV was broken.
We had a very good time, everything is great, very clean, confortable, beautiful, great location, everyone was so nice and helpful… we will book in this fabulous hotel each time we come to Edinburgh, everything was perfect !
Hotel position is ideal and staff were great. Room was large but was sadly lacking in hanging and drawer spaces .. Continental breakfast was excellent but the seating and table arrangements are not very good. I want to eat my food from a table which is at the normal eating height and not a low lounge table height. There are not very many tables at the eating height. Otherwise a great stay.
Fantastic location, right opposite Waverly train station so everything was within walking distance. We unexpectedly had to take our little dog and the hotel was happy to accommodate her too. Room was small but had everything needed, bed was comfy, everything was clean.
Excellent location.
I loved the location, the size of the rooms and the service overall. It was in the heart of the city but not noisy at all. The breakfast was beyond my expectation and the all day long complemantry tea & (descent) coffee at the lobby was the cherry on the top! I had a great time and cam not wait to try this chain in other locations.
Wonderful, Helpful Staff. Comfortable Clean room. Great Location
From the moment we arrived, Motel One felt special. The lobby is absolutely beautiful—warm, stylish, and welcoming—and check-in was so easy that we immediately felt relaxed and taken care of. Our room was spotless, and the bed and pillows were incredibly comfortable, the kind that make you instantly sink in and feel at home after a long day walking through Edinburgh. I stayed on the 7th floor and never requested daily housekeeping, yet every day the housekeeper thoughtfully left a bag of fresh towels and supplies at my door. He even quietly asked if I wanted the room cleaned. It may seem like a small gesture, but it meant so much—it is those quiet acts of kindness that stay with you, and he truly represents the heart of this hotel. Even the little details were wonderful: the elevators were quick, and the coffee bar with two machines making lattes, cappuccinos, and other coffees was such a pleasure each morning—fresh coffee without ever waiting. Breakfast was another lovely part of the stay. There is a breakfast option each morning with a very nice variety, including lunch meats, cheeses, fresh fruit, cereals, and boiled eggs, along with other light choices that made for a perfect start to the day. The evenings became one of my favorite parts of staying here. The bar staff were so attentive and friendly, making excellent drinks, and there was something incredibly relaxing about sitting in that cozy lobby, sharing a drink with friends, talking, laughing, and simply enjoying the atmosphere. And then there is the location—which honestly feels magical. Step outside the front door and it is like walking straight into a Harry Potter scene. Waverley Station is right there, and the energy of the city surrounds you immediately. This hotel may be described as budget, but there is absolutely nothing budget about the care, comfort, and warmth you receive here. It felt first class in every way, and I would return without hesitation.
Not enough tablets for breakfast, eating stood up is not ideal. Friday night drunks coming in at 3.00am shouting and singing doesn’t add to a good nights sleep.
We stayed here for 5 nights in April and enjoyed everything about the hotel. Great great location. Two minutes frtom Waverly Station and right in the heart of Old Town.
The Motel One Edinburgh-Royal was in a great location, easy to find and everyone was super nice. Our room was clean and meet our needs quite nicely. The breakfast as well as the bar were well stocked and everything was great. We would highly recommend this establishment.
Brilliant location... lovely rooms and breakfast was also brilliant
I very much enjoyed my stay thank you. The reception on arrival was welcoming. All staff were at all times welcoming. Excellent cleanliness and comfortable, well equipped rooms (hardly an issue but I did not like the plastic cup for tea and coffee in the room)
Reception Staff were friendly and efficient, bar staff mmm; The location as ever is fantastic; breakfast was very good with a good variety and plenty of it; our room with a view was on the top floor on this visit, not quite as spacious as ones we've had previously lower down but fine for one night. Ability to leave bags prior to and after check in/out is a huge bonus
Everything ok! Breakfast is wonderful, as room's view! Staff very kind!
Everything was great. Location, hospitality, breakfast, cleanliness... I can easily recommend to anyone who seek to travel Edinburgh as a tourist
Perfect location. Nice lobby. Comfortable bed. No view and rooms always roasting.
Very comfy room with amazing view. Very clean. Location. Location. Location.
Huge rooms, comfortable beds and very quiet. Nice breakfast
Found the mattress very hard and wifi not very good
Staff are so friendly and polite. Rooms are clean and nicely decorated. Bed is very comfortable. Location is excellent for travel, shopping and sight seeing. Breakfast was nice, continental and fresh. Bar opening hours were great, with a good selection of whiskey, gin and the odd cocktail! The only issue was the seats in the bar and lounge were very low (comfortable) and difficult to get out of.
What a find! This boutique like hotel could not be better positioned for exploring Edinburgh. The room was spacious, bathroom lovely and the bed very comfortable. All the staff we dealt with were super friendly and efficient and it was lovely surprise to get back from a day exploring to find the bed had been made. I looked at a lot of other hotels, of which all were more expensive, but in no way would I describe this as a budget hotel. The furnishings were tasteful and there was three lifts to service the upper floors, so no waiting around. Theres not really anything negative I can say. If I was really nit-picky, a shaver point in the bathroom would have been good to charge toothbrushes etc, but there was one by the bed. Don't expect a huge range of hot food for breakfast, but what was on offer in the buffet style layout was more than adequate - including the lovely sour dough bread. If we come back for another visit, this is the first hotel I'll try and book.
Switch on. beOne.


Your benefits at a glance:

Motel One Edinburgh – affordable designer accommodation in the capital of Scotland
Edinburgh: The capital of Scotland
Motel One has two locations in Edinburgh, ready to welcome you at both central, popular Design Hotels each with individual interiors, friendly service and free WiFi. Our affordable hotels are a great choice for your weekend away, special event, short stay or business meeting.
Formerly called “Auld Reekie” by locals, Edinburgh is no longer the grey, industrial stronghold of its reputation. Scotland’s capital has gradually transformed itself, and is now one of the UK’s most popular destinations.
Budget Design Hotels in Edinburgh – your Motel One
Scarcely half a million people call Edinburgh home, making it compacter and cosier than many other European capitals. Nearly all its sights are within walking distance of our centrally-located Design Hotels. Both the Edinburgh Royal with its view of the castle and the Motel One Edinburgh Princes right in the old part of town make great bases for your explorations.
Edinburgh is made up of contrasts: between the Old Town and Royal Mile and its modern counterpart, the New Town. The Royal Mile is lined with neo-classical frontages and imposing columns, testament to Edinburgh’s storied history, while the geometrically laid-out new town reflects the precise planning and development of the 18th century.
From either hotel, you’re just minutes away from the cobbled Royal Mile, which connects the Castle and the Palace. At in fact around a mile long, it’s peppered with impressive architecture, seamed by countless narrow alleyways and hidden passages. Robert Louis Stevenson, of “Treasure Island” fame, once said, "There are no stars so lovely as Edinburgh street lamps,” and you’ll quickly agree if you tour the town in the evening.
Edinburgh Castle, Camera Obscura and Princes Street Gardens
A key symbol of the city, Edinburgh Castle on Castle Hill towers over everything literally and figuratively. Inside, you can find out about the world of Edinburgh gone by, enjoy the view across Princes Street Gardens, and jump at the the One O'clock Gun.
Follow the Royal Mile a while to the Camera Obscura tower where a living image of the city is projected onto a table, and visitors can wonder at interactive optical illusions as well as the great views from the roof terrace.
Should you be in the mood for a shop, head to the boutiques and department stores of nearby Princes Street after visiting the Old Town. Weather permitting, the parallel Princes Street Gardens are a nice spot for a stroll and a sit down.
Our Design Hotels are also within close reach of other sights such as Holyrood Palace, the John Knox House and the Canongate Tolbooth.








