Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
Picardy Place, Edinburgh EH1 3JT Scotland
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4.0
#93 of 162 hotels in EdinburghLocation
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HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Mid-range
Centrally Located
Languages Spoken
English
Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Free breakfast
Taxi service
Business Centre with Internet Access
Meeting rooms
Baggage storage
Non-smoking hotel
24-hour front desk
Wifi
Bar / lounge
Breakfast buffet
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
Express check-in / check-out
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Ironing service
Room features
Air conditioning
Desk
Housekeeping
Interconnected rooms available
Coffee / tea maker
Flatscreen TV
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Location
Picardy Place, Edinburgh EH1 3JT Scotland
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 100 out of 100
100
260 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
Reviews
4.0
2,712 reviews
Reviews summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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The Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre is favored for its prime location, providing easy access to public transportation and city attractions, a feature that guests often highlight. The hotel's cleanliness and comfortable, albeit basic, rooms garner positive remarks, as does the friendly service.
However, some travelers feel the hotel doesn't quite hit the mark on value, citing high prices and maintenance concerns. Amenities like the complimentary breakfast are a hit, but the lack of a fitness center and the small, underwhelming bar area leave some guests desiring more.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Uninspiring
Rooms
Basic
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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Detailed Reviews
Hotel's Favourite
One of the best things about Holiday Inn Express is the excellent value they provide accommodating a family of four in one room, and with daily breakfast and housekeeping.
This was a nice property in a heritage building.
Our experience of Holiday Inn Express is that they have been consistently spotlessly clean and well located.
Pros
1) Location - Our car rental company was just across the road, mini mart a few steps next to the hotel. Attractions in the New Town and Royal Mile all within walking distance including the railway station and Winter Wonderland. Shopping centre, F&B outlets nearby
2) Housekeeping, toiletries, coffee/tea for four replenished daily (unlike being in an apartment)
3) Daily buffet breakfast included in rate
4) Very kindly provided luggage storage when we went away to the highlands for 3 days
Cons
Beds could be bigger, more comfortable; pillows could be better; it is pretty much self-service (lugging your luggage up and down the few steps when you arrive and depart; going to reception to collect complimentary toothpaste if you need) - minor nice-to-have's. For the overall value, it is excellent.
This was a nice property in a heritage building.
Our experience of Holiday Inn Express is that they have been consistently spotlessly clean and well located.
Pros
1) Location - Our car rental company was just across the road, mini mart a few steps next to the hotel. Attractions in the New Town and Royal Mile all within walking distance including the railway station and Winter Wonderland. Shopping centre, F&B outlets nearby
2) Housekeeping, toiletries, coffee/tea for four replenished daily (unlike being in an apartment)
3) Daily buffet breakfast included in rate
4) Very kindly provided luggage storage when we went away to the highlands for 3 days
Cons
Beds could be bigger, more comfortable; pillows could be better; it is pretty much self-service (lugging your luggage up and down the few steps when you arrive and depart; going to reception to collect complimentary toothpaste if you need) - minor nice-to-have's. For the overall value, it is excellent.
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Date of stay: November 2022
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , Owner at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
Responded May 17, 2023
Thank you very much for your recent feedback, I am very happy to see that you have enjoyed your stay with us and that we were a great asset to your experience of Edinburgh. I hope we can welcome you back again in the future for another wonderful time! Kind regards, Susan Craig General Manager Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We were bringing our son up to University of Edinburgh, so as soon as we had his moving in date, I set about looking for accommodation. We got a fantastic rate for 2 nights bed and breakfast with Holiday Inn Express and it was ideally situated between son’s accommodation and Princes Street, opposite the OMNI Centre.
Check in was excellent, hand sanitiser provided, clean pen pot clearly labelled, as was used pen pot, which was reassuring. Hand sanitiser at lifts also. Our room was on 3rd floor opposite lifts overlooking OMNI Centre and Playhouse (the latter sadly closed). There are roadworks going on outside however, honestly any noise wasn’t even slightly intrusive.
Room and bathroom impeccably clean, same with bedding. Only issue I had was with the pillows which were like bags of cement to sleep on (only realised upon checking out, that I could have asked for softer feather pillows - which I’ll do next time for sure).
Breakfast was good - Cumberland sausage, bacon, beans and scrambled eggs if you wanted hot option, various cereals and individually wrapped croissants if you didn’t. There were buns so you could make a sandwich and bread for toast - I just wish they’d given an option here. It looked like seeded bread, I think most people would prefer either white or brown and a toaster would have been brilliant!
Check out was good, they rang a taxi to pick us up which was really helpful. All in all a pleasant stay, would recommend and would return.
Check in was excellent, hand sanitiser provided, clean pen pot clearly labelled, as was used pen pot, which was reassuring. Hand sanitiser at lifts also. Our room was on 3rd floor opposite lifts overlooking OMNI Centre and Playhouse (the latter sadly closed). There are roadworks going on outside however, honestly any noise wasn’t even slightly intrusive.
Room and bathroom impeccably clean, same with bedding. Only issue I had was with the pillows which were like bags of cement to sleep on (only realised upon checking out, that I could have asked for softer feather pillows - which I’ll do next time for sure).
Breakfast was good - Cumberland sausage, bacon, beans and scrambled eggs if you wanted hot option, various cereals and individually wrapped croissants if you didn’t. There were buns so you could make a sandwich and bread for toast - I just wish they’d given an option here. It looked like seeded bread, I think most people would prefer either white or brown and a toaster would have been brilliant!
Check out was good, they rang a taxi to pick us up which was really helpful. All in all a pleasant stay, would recommend and would return.
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Date of stay: September 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: 324 - 3rd floor overlooking OMNI Centre
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , Owner at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
Responded Oct 1, 2020
Thank you very much for your kind review. I am glad to see that you enjoyed your stay with us. I hope we can welcome you back again in the future and give you another wonderful time in our hotel. Best Regards, Susan Craig General Manager Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
After reading reviews online of the hotel it was good you get what you pay for. Visited here late dec 2019 the hotel is in great location to shops around a 10min walk , around a 20min walk to the castle , train station 7 min walk. Room was clean on the 3rd floor two single beds and plenty of room bathroom shower was good , no totalities in the bathroom you have to ask reception for them. A slight notice from outside are room from the hotel fans but it didn't disturb my sleep. Breakfast was good everything you need but only scrabbled eggs not fried but it was 5* food quality. Very busy so id recommend to easy around 8 or before. Nice staff and really enjoyed our stay we would come back, Great food court across the road with nandos , Weatherspoons , Cinema was it excellent.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Mgtresponse, General Manager at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
Responded Jan 5, 2020
Thank you very much for taking the time to leave a feedback on your recent stay at the Holiday Inn Express - Edinburgh City Centre and thank you for the kind words. I am glad to hear that you have enjoyed our great location and the helpfulness and efficiency of our staff. I will most certainly pass your comments onto the staff members and hope that we will have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future. Kind regards, Susan Craig General Manager Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Center
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I stayed here with my family (2 adults and 2 children) for two nights. It was dreadful.
I’ve stayed in endless hotels for both leisure and work over the years, but this has to be one of the worst.
The walls and ceilings of the hotel are paper thin, meaning you can hear every noise from the rooms around you. At one point it sounded like those next door to us were breaking into our room! Each time someone opens a door on the corridor, it sounded like they were opening our door. This made my wife extremely nervous.
The bed was uncomfortable and slanted to one side meaning that it felt like you needed to hold onto the edge of the bed so not to fall out. The sofa bed (apparently suitable for two 12 year old children) was small and uncomfortable.
I completely understand and appreciate that things are a lot different within hotels due to COVID-19 and the arrangements that they need to follow so I won’t comment on things that were different as a direct result of the new rules - but one thing I was particularly disturbed by was the fact hotel staff were not insistent on guests wearing face coverings in the public areas of the hotel - I mean, it was not even challenged or mentioned by a single member of staff during our stay.
At breakfast, people were wandering into the room, one person even sneezed at the door. In the reception area of the hotel, staff didn’t challenge guests when they walked into the hotel. I even saw people in the lifts without face coverings.
I am an IHG member and have been sent a large number of emails about the IHG promise in cleanliness, but the attitude of staff completely undermined this previously emailed ‘promise’.
This hotel must do better to be COVID secure.
I’ve stayed in endless hotels for both leisure and work over the years, but this has to be one of the worst.
The walls and ceilings of the hotel are paper thin, meaning you can hear every noise from the rooms around you. At one point it sounded like those next door to us were breaking into our room! Each time someone opens a door on the corridor, it sounded like they were opening our door. This made my wife extremely nervous.
The bed was uncomfortable and slanted to one side meaning that it felt like you needed to hold onto the edge of the bed so not to fall out. The sofa bed (apparently suitable for two 12 year old children) was small and uncomfortable.
I completely understand and appreciate that things are a lot different within hotels due to COVID-19 and the arrangements that they need to follow so I won’t comment on things that were different as a direct result of the new rules - but one thing I was particularly disturbed by was the fact hotel staff were not insistent on guests wearing face coverings in the public areas of the hotel - I mean, it was not even challenged or mentioned by a single member of staff during our stay.
At breakfast, people were wandering into the room, one person even sneezed at the door. In the reception area of the hotel, staff didn’t challenge guests when they walked into the hotel. I even saw people in the lifts without face coverings.
I am an IHG member and have been sent a large number of emails about the IHG promise in cleanliness, but the attitude of staff completely undermined this previously emailed ‘promise’.
This hotel must do better to be COVID secure.
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , Owner at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
Responded Aug 14, 2020
Thank you for choosing our hotel and for taking the time to provide feedback about your experience at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre. I would like to start by apologizing to you for the inconveniences you faced during your stay. I appreciate that you brought your experience to our attention. We take feedback seriously and will coach our team to make the necessary changes, so we can provide a better experience in the future. I hope you will give us a chance by staying with us again to show you that your unsatisfactory stay was an exception. Sincerely, Susan Craig General Manager Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
What I liked.. the staff . All the staff were lovely, efficient and could not be better .
The only problem is that there are not enough of them, they are run off their feet at breakfast time and never ever complained.
Our room was cleaned but smiling people.
The breakfast food was nice.
What could be better:
Noise reduction from other rooms would help.
Individual toiletries instead of bulk ones , how do I know the tubes were cleaned between guests?
Covid restrictions:
The signs for covid restrictions were there but guests were ignoring them , especially at breakfast. The poor staff didn't even have time to help at breakfast time let alone remind guests to social distance and wear masks. It is not the staffs fault that some people ignored covid advice but it was pretty scary and stressful at breakfast because of it. No wonder the UKs covid case numbers are so high. As I said this is not a reflection on the staff.
Improvements:
Employ extra staff so they can both support people at breakfast time , clean tables and remind people of covid advice. Families with young children having to sit apart with other people is not acceptable.
Extend weekend breakfast time to 11am. People don't want to get up at 7/8 to have a stress free breakfast at weekends. Maybe just extend the upstairs breakfast room if the downstairs room has to be cleared earlier.
Holiday Inn is a big company and scrimping on staff is not acceptable. Your staff will burn out if they work the way they have this weekend.
Sorry but I won't be returning because I found the breakfast experience to stressful . I will be taking a lateral flow test on Tuesday to check I haven't caught covid from the crowds in the breakfast room. Again I do not blame the staff for the crowds , I blame the 10am breakfast finishing time.
The only problem is that there are not enough of them, they are run off their feet at breakfast time and never ever complained.
Our room was cleaned but smiling people.
The breakfast food was nice.
What could be better:
Noise reduction from other rooms would help.
Individual toiletries instead of bulk ones , how do I know the tubes were cleaned between guests?
Covid restrictions:
The signs for covid restrictions were there but guests were ignoring them , especially at breakfast. The poor staff didn't even have time to help at breakfast time let alone remind guests to social distance and wear masks. It is not the staffs fault that some people ignored covid advice but it was pretty scary and stressful at breakfast because of it. No wonder the UKs covid case numbers are so high. As I said this is not a reflection on the staff.
Improvements:
Employ extra staff so they can both support people at breakfast time , clean tables and remind people of covid advice. Families with young children having to sit apart with other people is not acceptable.
Extend weekend breakfast time to 11am. People don't want to get up at 7/8 to have a stress free breakfast at weekends. Maybe just extend the upstairs breakfast room if the downstairs room has to be cleared earlier.
Holiday Inn is a big company and scrimping on staff is not acceptable. Your staff will burn out if they work the way they have this weekend.
Sorry but I won't be returning because I found the breakfast experience to stressful . I will be taking a lateral flow test on Tuesday to check I haven't caught covid from the crowds in the breakfast room. Again I do not blame the staff for the crowds , I blame the 10am breakfast finishing time.
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , Owner at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
Responded Aug 19, 2021
Dear guest, Thank you very much for taking the time to leave a feedback on your recent stay at the Holiday Inn Express - Edinburgh City Centre. Please know that your comments are extremely valuable to us. We use feedback, such as yours, to continuously make changes to our brand to improve the guest experience. We hope that you will give us the opportunity to serve you again in the future. Again, thank you for choosing Holiday Inn Express, and if we can be of any further assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact us. Kind regards, Susan Craig General Manager Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The hotel is situated very close to the tram terminus, so very convenient if arriving from the airport. It’s also very close to Leopold Place, from where buses leave for all over the area. Social distancing and Covid measures are managed very well, and the breakfast provided is more than adequate. The room was spotlessly clean and we were told on arrival that rooms are only cleaned every 5 days unless specifically requested. The blackout curtains are very effective and there’s a night light for the toilet. Beds are comfortable, rooms are a decent size. Hanging and storage is a little limited but fine for a 4 day stay. Shower was easy to control. Reception staff were very pleasant and helpful, extra tea and coffee was readily supplied.
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Date of stay: August 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip: Room at the back was quiet though not much of a view
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , Owner at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
Responded Aug 16, 2020
Thank you very much for your kind review. I am glad to see that you enjoyed your stay with us. I hope we can welcome you back again in the future and give you another wonderful time in our hotel. Best Regards, Susan Craig General Manager Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
When you first arrive there are lots of reminders re social distance, washing/sanitizing your hands etc. Staff on reception were very helpful. At the moment they will only clean the rooms every 5 days to restrict the amount of time in your room. A bit of a bother when the bin was full but we managed. Room was immaculate when we arrived. Bed is very comfortable. If you forget anything then Reception can provide it. Breakfast obviously has restrictions on how they can serve their offering, but there is always plenty of croissants, muffins, yoghurts, porridge and bacon or sausage rolls, as well as fruit along with juice and tea/coffee. Staff regularly clean and are polite and helpful. On a busy street, but cannot really hear the traffic and you are about a 12-15 min walk from the Castle/Royal Mile. Would stay here again.
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , Owner at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
Responded Aug 22, 2020
Thank you very much for your kind review. I am glad to see that you enjoyed your stay with us. I hope we can welcome you back again in the future and give you another wonderful time in our hotel. Best Regards, Susan Craig General Manager Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Having previously stayed at the Holiday Inn at Scotch Corner and being pleasantly surprised by the breakfast, service and facilities there-in I felt this would be a good place to stay.
Alarm bells started ringing at check in as they didn't have my name correct on the booking, kept asking if I'd booked under a different name. Receptionist called a manager who sorted it out blaming Booking.com for adding my middle initial to my surname.
Room was a decent size and as expected in a city centre hotel the view was of a building just across the road. No biggie as we didn't plan to spend much time looking out a window.
The bed was far too soft & appeared to be sloping upwards towards the foot of the bed, felt like we were going to fall off the sides of it as it was so soft. Not a pleasant nights sleep.
In the bathroom (a wet room) there was a very small shower curtain (although there were hooks for a second curtain). This meant that you could either stop the water hitting the bathroom door OR splashing all over the toilet and bogroll. Would it really break the bank to put in a larger or second curtain? There was nowhere to hang your clothes in the bathroom either whilst showering, a hook would have been handy.
The tea/coffee facilities in the room were a bit meagre. Only decaf coffee or tea. 2 sachets of sweetener and 1 sugar. There wasn't even a biscuit in there. The dish they were in could do with a clean as there was sugar and crumbs in the bottom of it.
The fan in the bathroom is on constantly and is quite noisy when you're trying to sleep. It is also quite ineffective at removing water vapour from the bathroom. Also, if anyone wants to do their make-up they have to do it BEFORE they take a shower!
Lets now talk about the breakfast. At Scotch Corner there was a proper FULL cooked breakfast at the servery. The breakfast we got at your establishment was sausage, barely cooked, rubbery bacon, beans and scrambled egg (YUCK). When I asked about a fried egg I was told you don't do fried eggs! The air conditioning was blowing cold which doesn't help either as it makes the warm (not hot) food go cold even quicker. The room wasn't so warm as require a cold breeze. Also people just out of bed feel the chill in the air.
Having had such a nice stay at the Holiday Inn Scotch Corner, I had high hopes for my stay in Edinburgh. Perhaps the Manager at your establishment could take a trip and see how to run the place to an equally high standard?
Alarm bells started ringing at check in as they didn't have my name correct on the booking, kept asking if I'd booked under a different name. Receptionist called a manager who sorted it out blaming Booking.com for adding my middle initial to my surname.
Room was a decent size and as expected in a city centre hotel the view was of a building just across the road. No biggie as we didn't plan to spend much time looking out a window.
The bed was far too soft & appeared to be sloping upwards towards the foot of the bed, felt like we were going to fall off the sides of it as it was so soft. Not a pleasant nights sleep.
In the bathroom (a wet room) there was a very small shower curtain (although there were hooks for a second curtain). This meant that you could either stop the water hitting the bathroom door OR splashing all over the toilet and bogroll. Would it really break the bank to put in a larger or second curtain? There was nowhere to hang your clothes in the bathroom either whilst showering, a hook would have been handy.
The tea/coffee facilities in the room were a bit meagre. Only decaf coffee or tea. 2 sachets of sweetener and 1 sugar. There wasn't even a biscuit in there. The dish they were in could do with a clean as there was sugar and crumbs in the bottom of it.
The fan in the bathroom is on constantly and is quite noisy when you're trying to sleep. It is also quite ineffective at removing water vapour from the bathroom. Also, if anyone wants to do their make-up they have to do it BEFORE they take a shower!
Lets now talk about the breakfast. At Scotch Corner there was a proper FULL cooked breakfast at the servery. The breakfast we got at your establishment was sausage, barely cooked, rubbery bacon, beans and scrambled egg (YUCK). When I asked about a fried egg I was told you don't do fried eggs! The air conditioning was blowing cold which doesn't help either as it makes the warm (not hot) food go cold even quicker. The room wasn't so warm as require a cold breeze. Also people just out of bed feel the chill in the air.
Having had such a nice stay at the Holiday Inn Scotch Corner, I had high hopes for my stay in Edinburgh. Perhaps the Manager at your establishment could take a trip and see how to run the place to an equally high standard?
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Date of stay: November 2021
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip: If you want a PROPER cooked breakfast .... GO ELSEWHERE!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , Owner at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
Responded Nov 22, 2021
Thank you for choosing our hotel and for taking the time to provide feedback about your experience at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre. I would like to start by apologizing to you for the inconveniences you faced during your stay. I appreciate that you brought your experience to our attention. We take feedback seriously and will coach our team to make the necessary changes, so we can provide a better experience in the future. I hope you will give us a chance by staying with us again to show you that your unsatisfactory stay was an exception. Sincerely, Susan Craig General Manager Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Upon arrival to Edinburgh airport we took the 100 bus from the airport, we took the bus to the final stop which is a short 10min walk to the hotel.
The hotel is fantastically located with many bars and restaurants a short stroll away.
Rooms are very compact which you expect for this super cheap price. No issues with the room for the price we paid, only downside is we were their for 4 nights and were told housekeeping would not attend during the whole stay, which was disappointing as it meant doing your own turndown and when towels are needed visit the reception which was inconvenient.
The hotel had a nice bar atmosphere and average breakdown but was expecting cold cuts and cheeses looking at pictures, so maybe doing a reduced breakfast menu at the moment.
Great highlight were the staff. All very kind and helpful, Andrea was a delight to deal with along with all of the staff. They are clearly working extremely hard this is visible.
Would visit again purely based on the price and location along with the great customer service.
8/10
@thefury01
The hotel is fantastically located with many bars and restaurants a short stroll away.
Rooms are very compact which you expect for this super cheap price. No issues with the room for the price we paid, only downside is we were their for 4 nights and were told housekeeping would not attend during the whole stay, which was disappointing as it meant doing your own turndown and when towels are needed visit the reception which was inconvenient.
The hotel had a nice bar atmosphere and average breakdown but was expecting cold cuts and cheeses looking at pictures, so maybe doing a reduced breakfast menu at the moment.
Great highlight were the staff. All very kind and helpful, Andrea was a delight to deal with along with all of the staff. They are clearly working extremely hard this is visible.
Would visit again purely based on the price and location along with the great customer service.
8/10
@thefury01
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Date of stay: August 2021
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip: Room at the back of the hotel is ideal. Wake up early for breakfast!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , Owner at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
Responded Sep 24, 2021
Thank you for your recent feedback. We use any and all feedback to ensure we can always evolve and provide an ever expanding ability to assist guests and an even greater experience of the hotel and of Edinburgh itself. I can understand that not everything you experience went well so your review will go a long way in training and practice to ensure that we can avoid such disappointments in the future. Sadly in this case its not that we didn't want to service the rooms, believe me the front desk team were not happy with this as they were busier than ever due to it, It was due to the problems with Covid in he city, we were told to limit interaction with people where possible and this included the Housekeeping teams to avoid going into occupied rooms. Thank you for taking your time to pass this information to us. These reviews do come to us anonymously so I am unable to thank you more personally but I hope we can welcome you back again in the future with a preferably better stay. Kind regards, Susan Craig General Manager Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed in this hotel for one night to go to a show at the Playhouse, which is literally right across the street. I wouldn't use it again. The location is very good both for the Theatre and generally for the centre of Edinburgh and the station. Service on arrival was slow and chaotic. The room was quite disappointing. Generally it was quite shabby but not intolerably so. The double bed, however, was borderline dilapidated and one of the worst I've slept in in a hotel. It was very soft and creaky and felt ancient and cheap. Closer inspection revealed a lost foot which meant the base was caving in. Our son's sofa bed was similarly uncomfortable, resulting in a most unusual disturbed night for him. The sofa bed was set up on arrival meaning the available space in the room was very limited for a family room. It was necessary, for instance, to climb over and kneel on the sofa bed in order to deal with the curtains. The shower was really good but leaked from the side meaning there was a sizeable puddle after three showers.
Breakfast was also quite disappointing. A very limited selection of hot food meant no fried eggs or vegetables except baked beans.
All in all it just seems tired and outdated. I felt it was expensive for what it was, and would prefer to use one of the other chains next time I'm in Edinburgh. I'd steer clear of the brand in future.
Breakfast was also quite disappointing. A very limited selection of hot food meant no fried eggs or vegetables except baked beans.
All in all it just seems tired and outdated. I felt it was expensive for what it was, and would prefer to use one of the other chains next time I'm in Edinburgh. I'd steer clear of the brand in future.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Mgtresponse, Guest Relations Manager at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
Responded Feb 21, 2020
Thank you for choosing our hotel and for taking the time to provide feedback about your experience at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre. I would like to start by apologizing to you for the inconveniences you faced during your stay. I appreciate that you brought your experience to our attention. We take feedback seriously and will coach our team to make the necessary changes, so we can provide a better experience in the future. I hope you will give us a chance by staying with us again to show you that your unsatisfactory stay was an exception. Sincerely, Susan Craig General Manager Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hello and Yes, we can store your bags for you as long as you need.
Regards,
Reception Team
Hello Linda,
Yes, all of our rooms have walk in showers.
Regards,
Reception Team
I’m sure there was, but can’t be certain if I’m honest
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"Great location for anything , esp. handy for airport connections using the tram, recommend purchasing tickets before arrival."Read full review
"Breakfast times aren’t really much to go by. They try tell you the busiest times but we went down at the quietest time and it was still busy"Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
C$331 - C$551 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
holiday inn express - edinburgh city centre hotel edinburgh
LOCATION
United KingdomScotlandEdinburghBroughton & Calton
NUMBER OF ROOMS
161
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
Which popular attractions are close to Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre?
Nearby attractions include Escape Hunt Edinburgh (0.1 km), Calton Hill (0.5 km), and The Stand Comedy Club (0.4 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and a lounge.
Which room amenities are available at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a desk.
What food & drink options are available at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, a lounge, and complimentary tea during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre?
Conveniently located restaurants include Howies Waterloo Place, Pickles, and Duck & Waffle Edinburgh.
Is Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.4 km away from the centre of Edinburgh.
Are any cleaning services offered at Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre offer any business services?
Yes, guests have access to a business centre and meeting rooms during their stay.
Are there any historical sites close to Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre?
Many travellers enjoy visiting The Real Mary King's Close (0.8 km), Palace of Holyroodhouse (1.0 km), and Gladstone's Land (1.0 km).
Is Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre accessible?
Yes, it offers facilities for disabled guests. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.