Caledonian Backpackers

Please note that we strictly only permit guests above the age of 18. This is because we have a liquor license for the entire building, so the law states we cannot allow under-18s in, and we do not make exceptions. For the security of all guests, everyone is required to produce government- issued photo ID to check in.

Thank you for choosing us as your Edinburgh Hostel. We understand that a hostel can make a big difference in your enjoyment of a city and we love Edinburgh so much we have made sure our hostel will give you the pleasure you deserve.

We are located in the city centre, so however you arrive, you will be able to walk to us, unless you arrive by plane, for which there is an airport bus which will bring you to our door.

Our rooms are centrally heated and come in a variety of sizes. We will have your bed made and ready for you, so you don't have to mess with that stuff. We have made available a number of female-only dormitories and our other dorms are mixed-sex. The prices vary by day and room size so you will have to check. Weekdays are usually discounted, so you can get some good bargains if you stay midweek.

You can arrive anytime you want. We have a room you can leave your luggage in if it's too early to go to your bed. We'll probably even let you go in for breakfast if you arrive before noon. Yes, that's correct, our breakfast goes until 12 noon, which is also our check-out time. It turns out that if the boss is a traveller who hates getting kicked out of bed early, everyone benefits.

Naturally, our reception is open 24 hours a day, but we also have a bar and cafe open 6am until 1am, 3am or 5am, depending on our fullness. And in this bar/café we have couches, pool tables, and a Wii as well as board games for you to play. We also will lend you a laptop, if you leave ID, for no cost at all.

In fact, our aim is to make sure you can always be connected. Apart from the laptops, we have computers around the place for you to use, and throughout the building we have Wi-Fi available, even in your bed. And all this is at no extra cost to you. Yes, the boss is a bit of a geek, too, who makes sure the Wi-Fi is always fast. We also have a couple of Skype phones available, which weâ€Â™ll lend you to call home (landlines mostly) for free.

Security-wise, we have the aforementioned 24-hour receptionist manning the door, as well as a key-card system to ensure no one gets access to your room. Inside the room we have lockers, for which you will need your own padlock. (We sell them at reception as well.) By using your own padlock, you know no one else has access to your locker. Of course, we also will look after your passport in our reception safe, or lock up your laptop (we have lockers with power points available). And on check-out, you can leave your bag in the storage room until your flight/bus/train is ready for you, and you can hang around the hostel too if you want.

Maybe youâ€Â™ll visit our beanbag cinema, where you can choose from a selection of 150 movies on the big screen, or you can cook up something in the kitchen, which is always open as well, and has an oven, microwave, hotplates and fridges, and some lovely tables to sit around. Overlooking the castle, you might enjoy sitting in our relaxing 'Cucumber Room' while reading a book from the free book swap library.

There is a supermarket a minutesâ€Â™ walk away, so you could cook yourself a cheap meal for dinner, but we have breakfast covered for you. Itâ€Â™s a simple breakfast, hostel style, with filtered coffee, tea, orange drink, toast with vegemite, chocolate spread or jam, corn flakes, muesli or Weetabix. For a truly good start to your day, you could purchase a fresh orange juice, which we will squeeze for you for only £1.20. If you want a cooked breakfast, you could go to Wannaburger next door and get a pancake breakfast or a full bacon and egg fry-up for just £4.95.

If you don't want to cook, there are heaps of restaurants and take away joints around. Just ask for ideas from reception or the bar.

Although weâ€Â™ve focused on what you can do in the hostel, there are many great things on offer in Edinburgh. In the evening you should do a ghost tour, which costs about £8, but gives you a great insight into the murky history of this historic town. By day you can do a free tour, and see the best of the sights in Edinburgh. Ask at reception for more details on how to join these tours, or even find out about the excellent day tours into the highlands.

Stag groups and hen parties are not welcome. Sorry guys, but in the past we have found stag groups are not pleasant for the other guests so weâ€Â™ve stopped allowing them.

Hopefully, youâ€Â™ve seen that weâ€Â™re trying to provide exactly the environment we would like when we travel. It is what hostels were designed for, where they are different from hotels. Please, whoever you choose to stay with, do enjoy your stay in Edinburgh.

Please read our Things to Note below before booking.

Directions

DIRECTIONS FROM Waverley Rail Station and Cockburn St

0.4 miles, 8 mins

1. Head south on Waverley Bridge
233 ft
2. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Cockburn St
0.2 mi
3. Turn left onto High St
217 ft
4. Turn right onto Niddry St
0.1 mi
5. Turn left onto Cowgate
Destination 200 Cowgate will be on the left
171 ft

Facilities

Laundry, Airport Pick Up, Wheelchair Friendly, Linen Included, Common Room, Lift / Elevator, Breakfast Not Included