PREMIER INN EDINBURGH CENTRAL, Edinburgh

The location is highly walkable for sightseeing: Edinburgh Castle is a 10-15 minute walk, the Grassmarket and Royal Mile are 11-14 minutes away, and Waverley Station is about 20 minutes on foot. Buses and trams are also nearby, with a tram stop a 10-minute walk away. Independent coffee shops and a Sainsbury's Local are within a minute's walk. Parking is challenging: the nearest car park is the NCP Castle Terrace multi-storey (an uphill 8-minute walk), with a hotel-discounted rate of £16 per day. The area is central but the hotel sits on a busy crossroads, so road and refuse collection noise can be audible in rooms, particularly those facing the road.

Standard Premier Inn rooms with a private bathroom (some with a bath), tea/coffee making facilities, a television, a telephone, and a hairdryer. The beds use Silent Night mattresses, which are firm rather than the previous Hypnos ones. Room sizes vary: some are spacious, others quite compact. Family rooms are available but may have limited space; sofa beds may be a thin mattress on the floor rather than a proper single bed. Storage is minimal - often only a few hangers and no drawers. Lighting can be dim, especially in rooms with small windows. Road-facing rooms can suffer from traffic noise; refuse collections also cause early-morning disturbance. Rooms are serviced only on request (before 12:00), and cleaning standards have been inconsistent - some find the rooms clean and quiet, others report dust, stains, or maintenance issues.

Breakfast is a self-service continental and cooked buffet. The quality varies: some find it good value with plenty of choice, while others report lukewarm food, limited selection (e.g. no scrambled eggs at times), and slow replenishment due to understaffing. The bar and restaurant are run by the same small team that manages reception, so service can be slow and walk-in bookings may not be accepted during busy periods. Dinner includes standard Premier Inn pub fare with a meal deal (two courses, a drink, and unlimited breakfast). The restaurant is small and often very warm, with limited table capacity. For those wanting a reliable alternative, there are numerous cafés, pizza vans, and pubs within a 5-minute walk. The hotel also has vending machines for drinks and snacks.

Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel but can be slow and unstable - the standard free tier may be barely usable for email; a paid 'Ultimate' Wi-Fi upgrade is available but has also been reported as slow. The 24-hour front desk can store luggage on check-in and check-out days. A lift serves all floors, and the hotel has facilities for disabled guests. There is no on-site parking, but discounted NCP parking is available. Safety deposit boxes are offered. Vending machines for drinks and snacks are present. Staff are generally described as friendly and helpful, though the hotel is consistently understaffed, which means receptionists also serve the bar and restaurant, causing waits.

The hotel does not offer a gym, pool, spa, or leisure facilities. The leisure activities revolve around the central city location: Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Princes Street, museums, and the Grassmarket are all within a 10-15 minute walk. The hotel's bar serves drinks and has a seating area, but it is not a dedicated leisure space.