Motel One Edinburgh
2 Hotels in Edinburgh
What our guests say
Very good
Overall rating from 5,312 ratings
Friendliness 9.3 of 10
Cleanliness 9.2 of 10
Reception 9.2 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
Great location for everything I needed. Property was clean, easily accessible and very friendly staff.
We really like Motel One, Princes St for the convenience. Staff very pleasant too. This time we were offered our room when we arrived a bit earlier than check in time which was great, however we were given a disabled room. I found the height of the sink and lack of shelving in the bathroom a bit low for me.
Our 2nd stay here.Excellent location opposite Waverley Bridge. Lovely staff. Big clean room. Very quiet. Everything you could want from a nice hotel. I would highly recommend this hotel.
Price, cleanliness and no noise whatsoever during our stay.
The hotel was really convenient to princess street n Cockburn road to the right of hotel takes you to the royal mile Also a short walk to get airport bus Staff were very friendly and helpful The drinks are very reasonable compared to other hotels prices Rooms were clean n bed was very comfortable We enjoyed our stay for one night
An outstanding experience. Firstly, the staff each were fabulous. Friendly, helpful, accessible. The design of the hotel was terrific. It felt casual yet comfortable and not at all 'cheap'.
Another great stay although disappointed that the "free breakfast" reward has been removed and replaced by a bottle of water! Room was very clean and comfortable.
Solid and simple hotel with good staff
Great location and spacious room. A lot of street nouse and no heating on even though it was November. Very little storage.
I would highly recommend the hotel the rooms were spotless great location and the staff were lovely would definitely stay again
Stayed 1st time for 2 nights with my husband, on checking in your given one voucher to get one complimentary bottle of water which we didn't use as if your staying either 1 or 2 nights and have 2 people don't know why the hotel wouldn't give you 2 vouchers so wasn't impressed. The room had a good view off princess street but apart from that wouldn't stay in "THE ONE WITH A VIEW" again as not spacious, no wardrobe just a rail to hang clothes, shower with tiles but no non slip mat to stop you slipping on these tiles so had to put towel down. Stay in hotels a lot which have been cheaper than I paid for this and they provide complimentary items in the room and rooms are bigger, don't think I would stay at this one again but location is good.
A Perfectly Adequate Base, If You're a Heavy Sleeper Motel One on Princess Street is the very definition of a mixed bag. We stayed for a weekend city break, and the experience was a real rollercoaster of pros and cons. Let's start with the positives, because they are significant. The location is absolutely unbeatable. Stepping right out onto Princess Street puts Edinburgh's main shopping, trams, and stunning views of the castle right at your fingertips. It’s the ideal base for explorers who plan to spend very little time in their room. The lobby is also stylish and modern, with a cool, trendy bar area that’s a nice spot for a pre-dinner drink. The staff we encountered were friendly and efficient during check-in and out. However, the issues began the moment we got to our room. We were assigned a room on the first floor, alarmingly close to the main reception. This proved to be a major problem. The soundproofing, particularly for the heavy fire doors that line the corridors, is virtually non-existent. Every time a guest returned to their room or left, we were subjected to a loud BANG-CLUNK that echoed down the hall. This wasn't just an occasional nuisance; it was a constant soundtrack from late evening until the early hours, and then starting up again at 6 am. It made getting a full night's sleep a real challenge. The room itself was compact, which we expected from a Motel One, but the proximity to the busy lobby and lift area amplified the noise. The design is functional and clean, but the lack of any real sound insulation lets it down badly. In summary, Motel One Princess Street gets the basics right: it's clean, well-located, and has a great vibe in the common areas. But the noise from the slamming doors is a critical flaw that can genuinely ruin your stay if you're a light sleeper or unlucky enough to be placed near a high-traffic spot. It is fine for a single night if you’re out late and desperate for that prime location, but don’t expect a peaceful retreat.
The hotel is very comfortable and it's location is superb for visiting Edinburgh
Good location, super friendly and knowledgeable staff. Rooms were comfortable and warm.
I was really impressed by the standard of the room, the comfort level of the bed and pillows, the quality and variety of the breakfast and the accessibility of the hotel from Waverly train station - exceptionally priced - will definitely use again. The reception staff were friendly and helpful and the room quiet which I was not expecting due to its proximity to the lifts. The room has ample sockets UK, USB and even European. I would have like a iron and ironing board in the room - but only as I was too lazy to go down and ask for one!
Very friendly welcome at check in, and delighted to receive an upgrade to a room with a view. Loved the new refresh the public areas have had.
Hotel's I'm great location, it's modern, relaxing, staff are helpful and the rooms comfortable and breakfast was spot on
My wife and I stayed for one night on a room only basis. Arrived early (2pm) but Reception were still able to accommodate us and provide a room to check into. Friendly Reception staff both on checking in and out of hotel. Room was clean and although basic, it met all our needs for stay. Chose not to purchase the continental breakfast. Newly refurbished bar/lounge area was comfortable.
Pleasant hotel in great location. My room-with-a-view was across from picturesque Balmoral hotel as well as the flat roof of Waverly station. Great people watching! Really nice staff, especially after I returned to hotel with bloody nose after falling. Staff supplied ice and bandaids. Breakfast is tasty but basic: rolls, sliced meats and cheese, boiled eggs and yogurt bar. No in-house restaurant for snacks or dinner. A few more food choices would be nice. Bath amenities are sparse — hand soap and body wash.
Fabulous location, we arrived by train and then easily took airport bus upon departure. Safely stored luggage at hotel until check in time. We were given numbered receipt for each luggage item. Walked to all the sights. Very modern bathroom and shower.
I paid extra for a room with a view, and I did get a reasonable view to the north over the railway station but the window was much smaller than I expected according to the photos online. The only other slight annoyance was that the bathroom door wouldn’t stay open on its own, thus making it necessary to turn the light on every time I wanted to duck in for a few seconds to get an item or rinse my hands, etc. If I didn’t pay attention it would bang shut behind me. Location was unbeatable for access to the railway station, the old town, and most of the points of interest being just a short walk away. Cleanliness good, and the bed was comfortable. Breakfast was adequate.
Nice and clean,all you need for a holiday
Generally good apart from the constant sound of running water - room 421, this made sleeping very difficult
Great location, friendly staff, clean room. I will definitely book again when returning to Edinburgh.
Absolutely lovely our stay at Motel One Princes St, Edinburgh. The location, the staff, the bar, the room, the bed were all excellent. Will definitely stay here again next time we're in Edinburgh.
We were very impressed with this Hotel. Staff were very friendly and professional. The room was lovely,comfortable bed and very clean, and you can tell staff take pride in this. Met domestic staff on the corridors who continually asked if everything was ok in our room. Location was ideal on princes street,right at the heart of everything. Breakfast was great,every taste catered for.We were so impressed,we've booked another break at this hotel next year!
We always use this hotel when staying in Edinburgh & usually have no problems but this time the room was cold & very noisy. We told reception about the room being cold. They gave us a heater which did heat the room quickly. The noise was coming from the street most of the night. So annoying. We have never had problems like this before. The staff were helpful though.
nice room, maybe a little more space next to the bed as a bedside table would be appreciated
Conveniently situated but really only suitable for a short stay - not one where one wants to unpack. In my first room the only shelves were above my head height. The second room did have accessible shelves but they were in a very dark alcove. I needed my phone torch to see what I placed on the shelves.
Great location, friendly staff and comfortable room
First and foremost, the staff and facilities are top-notch. Each time we had a question or needed help, someone was always there to happily help us out. The location speaks for itself. Motel One is situated such a convenient location for everything you want to do in Edinburgh. I could not recommend the hotel more and hope to be back someday. Cheers for a fantastic stay!
The room was clean and the bed comfortable. The king bed made the compact space very tight, a queen bed might have fit better. The staff was friendly and helpful.
We loved our stay. Great location, good breakfast options, and nice bar in lobby. We recommend to anyone going to Edinburgh.
You are number One
Everything was excellent. Amazing staff.but would have preferred the room to be a little larger and given the option of a cooked breakfast
This place was clean and kind of fancy looking, like, a nice room. They provided toiletries. They take a £50 deposit from you when you arrive, on top of the room fee, so heads up on that. I bought a bottle of sparkling water from them which turned out to cost £4.50. The thermostat was hard to control in the room and it was far too hot, the default setting should be much lower. There was a huge mirror right next to the head of the bed, a bizarre design choice which meant you could see your creepy reflection in the dark. So some good things and some uncomfortable things.
We recently stayed at Motel One on the Royal Mile for my partners birthday overnight stay away! What a wonderful hotel with beautiful decor! Our room was so comfy and the perfect location for a night out on the town! Would definitely stay here again next time we're up in the Capital! Thank you for an amazing stay!!!
Perfect location. Nice clean rooms. Good beds. Easy check-in and check out
Really very good indeed. Amazingly convenient location. Loved that I could be on a train platform in 5 minutes from my room. Decoration was cool, staff always friendly and helpful. Quiet. All perfect
Very enjoyable stay. Could have done with a light by the cupboard shelves, too dark to see our clothes, needed a second chair in the double room, and a bin by the tea and kettle for used teabags etc instead of taking them into the bathroom.
Great location… no room service .. no bottled water in rooms..
From check in to check out excellent, guy on bar could have been a bit more friendly .
I have used this hotel on many occasions, for convenience, central location and cost. The staff are always friendly, helpful and professional. The rooms are warm, comfortable and very clean. I have no hesitation when choosing Motel 1 for my stays in Edinburgh.
Great location for city break in Edinburgh. Great sleep had in clean, smart room. Bed a little on the hard side for my wife’s liking. Bar area newly refurbished and welcoming.
The staff were very friendly and smartly dressed. The room was clean and comfortable. Very nice lounge and bar to sit and relax with a drink. Great location.
We had a stay for 2 nights, and absolutely loved it! The location was perfect, just a short walk to Princes Street. The room was spotless, clean and comfortable with the beautiful view of Calton Hill. The staff was laudable too from the manager, front desk, waiter, room attendant. Kudos to Erwin Tolentino who went above and beyond to make our stay special and Tom who assisted us even when not asked. Everything was excellent, great value for money. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Edinburgh.
A very centrally located hotel with great reception staff. The room was comfortable however lighting was poor as was clothing storage Lovely view of Edinburgh Breakfast was lovely as was the bar dining area
Enjoyed our short stay with Motel One
Amazing location and the staff is so friendly! 10/10 would recommend
We have stayed at this hotel several times. We particularly like its location so close to Waverley station. The recent renovation of the lounge reception areas and the rooms is very impressive and the staff were helpful and friendly as usual. Unfortunately on our first night we didn’t get much sleep due to a constant low level thumping bass and drums all through the night. At breakfast we realised there is a speaker in the lounge ceiling which is the floor of our room. We reported this to the reception staff who apologised saying the night staff sometimes forget to turn the music off at midnight. This is a very poor design since modern sound systems can easily be installed with adequate sound proofing. I wouldn’t accept a room on the second floor in future. The bathroom still doesn’t have a heated towel rail so you have to use fresh towels every day which isn’t very environmentally friendly. I also find it disappointing that motel one uses “dynamic pricing” meaning we unwittingly paid more for our room than if we’d booked on the day we arrived.
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.





