STAY CENTRAL HOTEL, Edinburgh

The hotel is a 7-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley Train Station and a 10-minute walk from Princes Street. Edinburgh Castle is a 5-minute walk away. From the airport, take the tram to St Andrew's Square (tickets £5.50-£9) and walk 15 minutes across North Bridge, or use the Airlink 100 bus. The building itself is on a pedestrian-heavy street, so arriving by car requires planning: there is no on-site parking. The immediate area is packed with bars, clubs and live-music venues, with dozens of restaurants and pubs within a 2-minute walk. The hotel is also a 25-minute bus ride from BT Murrayfield Stadium.

Rooms are arranged by size: S (double for two), M (double or twin), L (double with sofa, SMEG fridge, SEGA Megadrive), XL (sleeps four), XXL (sleeps six) and the Dorm (sleeps up to nine with bunk-style beds). All rooms have en-suite bathrooms, flatscreen TVs, Bluetooth speakers, USB charging, hairdryers and tea/coffee facilities. Larger rooms include extra amenities such as SKY TV, GHD straighteners, Nespresso machines and board games. The building dates from 1621, so room layouts vary and no two are identical. The property is attached to The Three Sisters pub, which operates a large outdoor courtyard with live events and DJ sets. Rooms overlooking this area can experience significant noise, especially on Friday and Saturday nights, with loud music continuing until 3am. Some rooms on the quieter side of the building (further from the courtyard) are reported to be reasonably peaceful. All rooms have windows, though some are sealed shut for safety, and air conditioning in some rooms is locked at 21°C. A lift provides access to all floors.

Breakfast is served daily from 7:30-10:00 and includes a continental buffet with fresh pastries from Company Bakery, fruit, cereal, yoghurt and a hot menu (eggs Benedict, pancakes, porridge). Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are available on request. Coffee, tea and soft drinks are available in the lobby, and the bar serves a selection of wines, beers and cocktails. There is no full restaurant, but guests can order from The Three Sisters pub menu and have food delivered to their room or the lobby. Packed lunches can be arranged at reception. The immediate area is packed with cafés and restaurants, including BrewDog, The Elephant House and Angels with Bagpipes within 0.5 km.

The hotel offers a 24-hour front desk, free luggage storage before check-in and after check-out, and a secured bicycle storage area. Daily housekeeping is provided only if the door hanger is displayed. Laundry and dry cleaning are available for an additional charge. The lobby is a large social space with board games, video games and a pool table. Free high-speed WiFi is available throughout the building. Safety features include 24-hour security, CCTV, key card access and a safe deposit box. The property is wheelchair accessible, with a lift serving all floors and one accessible bathroom on the ground floor. Express check-in and check-out are available. The hotel is entirely non-smoking, with a designated outdoor smoking area.