Premier Inn Edinburgh

The gorgeous Scottish city of Edinburgh is famous for many reasons, but the most popular are likely its historic castle, impressive architecture, and the month-long Edinburgh arts festival and Edinburgh Fringe that draw visitors from all over the world.

Locals from the city of Edinburgh are often referred to as Edinburghers (pronounced ‘Edin-burgers’).

Edinburgh regularly tops studies as one of the world’s most beautiful cities, thanks in no small part to its stunning mix of old and new architecture, its stunning position surrounded by green hills and blue sea, and the imposing castle that towers over the cityscape. It’s no wonder the city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995.

With a low crime rate and welcoming locals, Edinburgh is very safe to visit, even walking around at night. As always, pay attention to your own personal safety and ensure your possessions are safe at all times, but as a popular tourist destination, you don’t need to feel overly concerned in the city.

There’s so much to enjoy in and around the city, you could easily spend weeks discovering everything Edinburgh has to offer or whisk away on a quick weekend getaway. We’d recommend at least a couple of nights to really experience some of the city’s highlights.

There are no real restrictions on what you can and can’t wear in Edinburgh, so when packing you can make sure to simply match the weather and activities you’ll be enjoying. As the Scottish weather can be typically unpredictable, it’s worth bringing plenty of layers and some comfy shoes for exploring the city. Of course don’t forget your glad-rags if you’re planning to make the most of the city’s wonderful nightlife.

Edinburgh’s dining scene is deliciously diverse, with an eclectic mix from Michelin-starred restaurants to curry houses, pubs and cafes. You can try many Scottish delicacies in and around the city, including traditional haggis, cranachan pudding, Aberdeen Angus beef and the controversial deep-fried Mars bar. But it’s with seafood that the city truly shines, thanks to the abundance of fresh Scottish waters on the doorstep. Oysters, mussels and lobster are fresh and fantastic here, or you can try traditional Cullen skink, a thick smoked-fish soup. 

Most of Edinburgh is easy to explore either by foot or public transport, so you can stay in one part of the city and easily travel around. Some areas you might want to consider staying in include:

• The Old Town/The Royal Mile – ideal for sightseeing, with cobbled streets linking Holyrood House and the Castle
• New Town/City Centre – perfect for shopping and dining and home to some of the city’s most iconic streets
• Leith – the old maritime centre of Edinburgh, offering dockside dining, shopping and nightlife options
• Stockbridge – the coolest part of the city with a bohemian vibe, independent shops and eye-catching architecture

The most popular months to visit Edinburgh tend to be over summer with August in particular drawing crowds for the world famous arts and culture festival. If you’d rather avoid the crowds and don’t mind the weather being a little cooler, then autumn and spring offer a quieter experience with all of the same wonderful tourist attractions. And of course, who could forget the wonderful Hogmanay celebrations over New Year? Along with the dazzling Christmas lights, even winter is a fun and fabulous time to explore the city.

Yes, the tap water is safe to drink in Edinburgh. As the water is soft and comes from the nearby mountains, it’s arguable tastier in Scotland than in many other parts of the UK.

The average cost of a pint of beer in Edinburgh is around £4.19, according to a 2019 study.

Flex – Pay now or on arrival, fully refundable with free cancellation up to 1pm on the day of arrival. Our most flexible rate – you can cancel and get a full refund up to 1pm on the day of arrival. You can also amend your booking at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival (additional room rate charges may apply depending on your new stay date).

Semi-Flex – Pay now, fully refundable with free cancellation up to three full days before arrival. Fairly flexible rate – you can cancel and get a full refund up to three full days before arrival. No refunds after that date. You can also amend your booking date at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival (additional room rate charges may apply depending on your new stay date).

Advance – Pay now, fully refundable with free cancellation up to 28 full days before arrival, free to amend thereafter until the day of arrival. Fairly flexible rate – you can cancel and get a full refund up to 28 full days before arrival. No refunds after that date. You can also amend your booking date at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival (additional room rate charges may apply depending on your new stay date).

Standard – Pay now, non-refundable. Free to amend booking at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival. Slightly flexible rate – you won’t be able to cancel and get a full refund, but you can amend your booking at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival (additional room rate charges may apply depending on your new stay date).

Non-Flex – Pay now. No amends or refunds. Our least flexible rate – you won’t be able to cancel or amend your stay after booking.

Our standard check-in time is 3pm. For an additional fee*, you can start your stay sooner with early check-in from 11am. Add early check-in to your stay while making your booking, or afterwards by managing your stay in your Premier Inn account. Early check-in is subject to availability and not available at all Premier Inn hotels. 

Checkout is by 12 noon on your departure date. If luggage storage is available, our teams will be happy to store any bags for you if you’d like to check out before 12pm.

*Prices and times will vary depending on date and location. 

For an additional fee*, you can start your stay sooner with early check-in from 11am. Add early check-in to your stay while making your booking, or afterwards by managing your stay in your Premier Inn account. Early check-in is subject to availability and not available at all Premier Inn hotels. 

*Prices and times will vary depending on date and location. 

In 2020 we launched Premier Inn CleanProtect™, our rigorous, daily cleaning method that’s used throughout our UK & Ireland hotels. Developed in partnership with Diversey, a global leader in cleaning and hygiene products for the healthcare and hospitality industries, our promise seeks to give you extra peace of mind so you can always book and stay with confidence.

Check-in - minimising contact at reception and providing hand sanitiser in most public areas for peace of mind. 

Bed linen and towels - laundering all our linen and towels at over 60°C to thermally disinfect them, so you can enjoy a great night’s sleep. We’ve also placed spare pillows in a zip-up bag, for extra peace of mind.

Equipping our teams - providing our team members with all the equipment and sanitisers they need, as well as always operating in the safest way possible for our teams and guests.

A generous serving of safety - you can relax knowing that enhanced cleaning measures are in place throughout our restaurants. Tables are cleaned between visits and contactless payment is in place too, so you can dine safely and comfortably with us every time.

Clean on request - if you'd like your room cleaned during your stay with us, just let us know at reception and use the handy door hanger on the back of your door by 12pm each day.

Most Premier Inns have specially-adapted rooms allowing easier access for customers with disabilities. If there is no specially-adapted room available at the hotel of your choice, we will be happy to offer you alternative accommodation at a nearby Premier Inn. If you have difficulty walking, but do not need a specially-adapted room, please feel free to request a room near reception on the ground floor for easy access. 

If you'd like get in touch, you can reach out to our specialist team via email at pi.accessible@whitbread.com or call us on 0333 0919 817 between 9am and 5pm Monday-Friday (calls charged at local rate).

Unfortunately, with the exception of trained assistance dogs, we don't allow pets to stay at our hotels.