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3-star hotel Check-in 15:00 · Check-out 12:00

Motel One Edinburgh Royal

Contemporary rooms with free Wi-Fi, bar, and pet-friendly amenities in central Edinburgh. Steps from Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, and museums.

18 Market St, Edinburgh EH1 1BL, United Kingdom View on map
8.8/10
Very Good Based on 2491 recent guest reviews
Free Wi-Fi Paid breakfast Accessible Air-conditioned Pet-friendly
What recent guests emphasize

Well-located, clean, and friendly with practical comforts

Visitors appreciate the hotel's central location and friendly staff, balanced with efficient, modest rooms and suitable accessibility features. Some note minor drawbacks in room size and layout.

Guests often praise

  • Excellent central location near key attractions, train station, and Royal Mile
  • Clean and quiet rooms with practical amenities including European and USB outlets
  • Friendly and helpful staff providing smooth check-in, luggage storage, and good service
  • Accessible rooms that are spacious with well-designed wet room bathrooms
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi and a stylish bar area appreciated by guests

Worth knowing

  • Rooms tend to be small with limited bathroom space and no in-bathroom outlets or glasses supplied
  • The building layout can be confusing with multiple hallways, stairs, elevators, and a glass bridge
  • Windows may open slightly but some rooms can feel stuffy or warm, especially bathrooms
  • Breakfast is paid and limited to cold options; no cooked breakfast offered on-site
  • Reception accessibility relies on a slow, small lift through the bar which can be obstructed

Best for

  • Travelers prioritizing a prime location in Edinburgh for sightseeing and city walking
  • Guests looking for clean, modern, and budget-friendly accommodation with essential comforts
  • Visitors requiring accessible facilities and friendly, accommodating staff
  • Those valuing convenient connectivity with nearby transport hubs and city highlights
  • Travelers comfortable with smaller rooms who spend most time exploring outside the hotel
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About this property

Welcome to Motel One Edinburgh Royal

Located at 18 Market Street in the heart of Edinburgh, Motel One Edinburgh Royal offers contemporary, budget-friendly accommodations with stylish touches such as a bar and complimentary Wi-Fi. The hotel operates a check-in time from 15:00 and check-out by noon, accommodating convenient travel schedules. The building is smoke-free, air-conditioned, and provides accessible rooms, making it suitable for a range of travelers including families and those with mobility needs. Pets are also welcome, although there is no free parking or airport shuttle available on-site.

The property stands out for its prime location near key city attractions. Guests have easy walking access to the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, and the National Museum of Scotland—each popular destinations praised for their history and cultural significance. Reviews frequently highlight the hotel's central position, which is ideal for exploring Edinburgh on foot and makes sightseeing straightforward. It is also conveniently close to Edinburgh Airport, reachable in under 30 minutes by car or transit.

Rooms at Motel One Edinburgh Royal are described as clean, efficient, and equipped with modern amenities including European-style power outlets and USB charging ports. While some guests note the compact size and unique hallway layout, many find the accommodations to be quiet and practical for city stays. A few comments mention minor inconveniences like the small bathroom spaces and the difficulty of accessing reception without stairs, but overall, the staff are commended for their friendliness and helpfulness.

The hotel’s facilities include a bar and restaurant, offering paid breakfast options alongside a cold selection rather than a full cooked breakfast. Although it lacks certain amenities such as a fitness center or pool, the venue suits visitors prioritizing location and basic comforts over luxury. With a guest rating of 4.4 based on over 2,400 reviews, Motel One Edinburgh Royal is well-suited for travelers seeking a lively, central base from which to explore Edinburgh’s historic and cultural highlights.

Summary compiled by GoHotelly editors from verified guest reviews, partner descriptions and editorial notes.
Facilities & essentials

What's on-site and what you should know before you arrive

The short version: what's available day-to-day, and the key practical details most travelers search for.

Most popular facilities

Free Wi-Fi
Paid breakfast
Accessible
Air-conditioned
Pet-friendly
Kid-friendly
Restaurant
Bar
Smoke-free

Not available at this property

Free parking
Pool
Airport shuttle
Fitness center
Verified guest reviews

What recent guests are actually saying

Reviews from travelers who stayed here in the last 12 months, grouped to help you spot the pattern quickly.

DD
Du Da Mar 28, 2026
8.0

Stayed here for 4 nights in October. Location is really central and ideal to explore the city. The room had a good size, was clean and adequately equipped. There was even a "europe-style"-outlet as well as USB charging options. However, there were no outlets on the bathroom (so you had to dry your hair in the main room) and no glasses (which I had to get from the bar). Room was facing the road on the 3rd floor (which is only like 3m above road level due to the elevation). The windows were rather thin so noises from the road were easily audible, gladly there was not too much traffic. Connection to the TV was rather slow (long loading times) but we enjoyed the displayed "fireplace" that welcomed us every time we entered the room. The breakfast had a good quality, sadly there is no warm food (no bacon, beans, scrambled eggs or the like) except for boiled eggs and toast, also I was missing fruitsalad. However, the place where you have breakfast is really not that nice. You are sitting in the bar/lobby area, which means a) most of the tables are too low, b) there is a lot of people just passing through on their way out of or into the hotel, c) there is always cold air coming in through the front door whenever someone enters or leaves. This really spoils the overall breakfast experience adn there should be a separate room where you can sit down and eat the breakfast. Front desk and cleaning staff were friendly. Bar staff as well and also competent in their recommendations. Room prices are not cheap but OK for what you get when you consider the crazy price level in Edinburgh.

HB
Heather Byrne Mar 12, 2026
10

Great location, we were within walking distance to majority of the places we wanted to go! Clean rooms, friendly staff & they’ll store your luggage for you before & after you check in/out

KP
Krista Pearl Mar 12, 2026
10

The room was small, but efficient, quiet, and clean. Location was fantastic with easy airport access by tram then a one block walk. Service was terrific too! Will definitely book this spot if going to Edinburgh again! In fact our trip started in Edinburgh then transitioned to the Highlands, before a one night stay back in Edinburgh before flying home. We liked this hotel so much that we cancelled a room by the airport and booked our last night here. It’s close to everything in Edinburgh- walked everywhere!

IS
Ilias Stergiopoulos Mar 02, 2026
10

Fantastic location for everything in the city. Right across from the railway station, and just 100 metres from Princess st. Very close to the Royal Mile and the major tourist attractions. Very warm inside, excellent breakfast and very friendly staff. There was even a European power socket in the room, so you don't need an adaptor !! You can't ask for more. Highly recommended !!

DD
Dennis Dixon Feb 12, 2026
10

My wife and I stayed here for 1 night at the end of January 2026. PERFECT location - walk everywhere you want in Edinburgh! Excellent staff, very nice breakfast buffet, and a great room (I love the morning view from our room)! Thank you!

EC
Eva Crowe Feb 05, 2026
8.0

Stayed in an accessible room on the third floor with a friend who uses a wheelchair. Accessible room was spacious and convenient, bathroom was a large well laid out wet room style. Staff were extremely friendly and helpful! Only downside is that the only way into the reception if you cannot use stairs is through a very slow small lift in the bar that is often obstructed.

LD
Laura Dodd Feb 03, 2026
10

Great location, easy to find from the train station (just a short walk). Hotel is in the centre of everything. Room was clean, small bathroom with hot water. No grumbles. Friendly staff, no cooked breakfast (but good cold selection).

D
Danielle Jan 11, 2026
10

Stayed here 2 nights and it was exactly what we needed. Reasonable rate, great location between old and new town, and relatively clean. I’m particular about cleanliness and although it’s not the most aesthetically pleasing and looks a little run down, I actually found it pretty clean. I’m one who wet wipes surfaces when I arrive, wont be without shoes in the room, and brings my own pillowcase… if that helps you determine what kind of cleanliness I care about. Small room but didn’t spend much time in it. Able to open the window in our room a bit which was nice. Found it a tiny bit stuffy and the tiny washroom was always sooooo warm, we had to use a boot to prop the door open. The most bizarre hallway system.. it was literally a MAZE to get to our room which included 2 elevators, a glass bridge, small sets of stairs- both up and down, and countless turns down hallways lol. It was totally fine but just strange. Comfortable lobby. Nice staff. I

Location & neighborhood

Where you'll find Motel One Edinburgh Royal

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Lively area with Edinburgh Castle & Scottish Parliament, plus pubs & shops along the Royal Mile.

  • Edinburgh Waverley 6 min Walk
  • Haymarket 28 min Walk
  • Princes Street - Waverley Steps (Stop PP) 5 min Walk
  • Edinburgh Airport 29 min Car · 34 min Transit
  • Glasgow Airport 1 hr 24 Car · 1 hr 45 Transit
Things to do nearby

Worth the walk or a quick ride

Curated spots travelers usually pair with a stay in Edinburgh. Distances are rough real-world times, not straight-line.

Edinburgh Castle 1 reviews

Edinburgh Castle

Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG, United Kingdom

4.6 · Castle
Royal Mile 23,366 reviews

Royal Mile

Edinburgh EH1 1QS, United Kingdom

4.7 · Tourist Attraction
National Museum of Scotland 57,245 reviews

National Museum of Scotland

Chambers St, Edinburgh EH1 1JF, United Kingdom

4.8 · National Museum
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