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We highly recommend The Gifford Hotel if you’re travelling as a family and looking for a peaceful yet well-connected place to stay in Edinburgh. We booked a room for four, and it was exceptionally spacious, bright, and comfortable — easily a 5/5 for rooms.

The property itself is a charming Victorian townhouse, full of character and quite unlike a standard hotel. If you’re used to typical accommodation in Spain, this offers something more unique — and we absolutely loved the experience.

Our room maintained a very comfortable temperature throughout, and the beds (one double and two singles) were extremely cosy, making it a truly relaxing stay. The bathroom facilities were more than adequate, and the shower was excellent — ideal after a full day exploring the city.

While there is no daily housekeeping, towels are refreshed every other day, which worked well for us. We also appreciated the thoughtful touches, including a welcome tray, a snack vending machine, and sturdy umbrellas available to borrow — something you’ll quickly realise is essential in Edinburgh.

The self-check-in initially felt a little unfamiliar, and communication via WhatsApp wasn’t immediate, which is why we rated the service 4/5. However, once we followed the instructions through our booking platform, everything was straightforward and seamless. The messaging-based support works well with the flexible, reception-free setup.

One of the standout features is the location — a clear 5/5. There’s a bus stop directly outside the hotel, making it incredibly easy to reach Edinburgh’s main attractions, including the Old Town, in just minutes. It’s also walkable if you enjoy exploring on foot. The area felt very safe, quiet, and residential — perfect for unwinding after a busy day.

Taxi access is simple, with convenient pick-up and drop-off right outside, adding to the ease of getting around.

Overall, the Gifford Hotel delivers great value for money, combining spacious family rooms, comfort, and distinctive Victorian charm in a peaceful setting that remains exceptionally well-connected.

Highlights of our stay included the generous room size, quiet and safe surroundings, excellent transport links, and the building’s unique character — all contributing to a comfortable and memorable experience.

We would definitely stay again.

“Spacious, Peaceful & Perfectly Connected” – Diana Andion Sanmartin

Very easy check in and check out, walkable distance to city centre, nice neighborhood and easy free road parking nearby.

Georgios from Greece.

Room large enough for 3 people. Wonderful view of Arthur’s Seat. Welcome snack and drink. Parking spaces on the street. Within walking distance of the center.

Marina from Italy.

Location was excellent and great value for money compared to other stays in the area. The hotel is a really beautiful old building with a lot of charm and original decor but was clean and the room was lovely. Amazing view of Arthur’s Seat from the bedroom window! All communication was via WhatsApp as there are no staff on site which suited us fine. The key safe check-in process with smooth and felt safe, however doesn’t feel like a traditional hotel if that’s what you’re after.

Eleni from the UK.

Good room for 3 adults on the first floor Extra room heaters on request were provided Good support on WhatsApp chat.

Sandesh from India.

Fantastic place to stay. Our room was phenomenal 👌 We highly recommend the Gifford House.

Rooms: 5/5

Service: 5/5

Location: 5/5

Tad Lee from the USA.

Good place to stay.

Rooms: 5/5

Service: 5/5

Location: 5/5

Hotel highlights
Great value

Carsten Schwalb from Germany.

We had a great time staying at the Gifford House. It’s located within walking distance of the Royal Mile (about a mile), and the bus stop is right across the street. Just far enough to be quiet at night, but accessible to some of the main attractions.

Josh and his brother reached out to us and stayed in touch throughout our stay to make sure we were comfortable.
It’s a self-check-in, but the photos and instructions for accessing the building and the room are spot-on. We liked the decor and the cleanliness of our room (room 4). The supplied drinks in the mini fridge are a small thing that makes a big difference in the impressions of the stay. Hot water and shower flow were great! Rooms were quiet – I never heard any neighbours at all. (Possibly we got lucky with the co-habitants?). I also think the well-padded carpet throughout keeps footsteps to a minimum. I’m a light sleeper, but the noise from the inhabitants was never an issue, which I greatly appreciated.

Highly recommend making this your home base next time you visit Edinburgh. It’s a beautiful city with friendly, welcoming inhabitants. Gifford House is no exception.

Jonathan R from California.

Well-run self-service mini hotel – check-in was quick and easy with touchscreen and keycard printer (that was a first for me!) Free parking on nearby side streets. Location was very convenient to downtown, as many buses run right by the house (you can pay bus fare by just tapping your phone – so easy). Nice neighborhood. The room was beautiful – high ceilings, elegant mouldings, deep blue velvet and a gold theme that was very Monticello. The fridge offered complementary sparkling water bottles and IronBru, plus there were tea cakes (chocolate mallows), and of course, coffee/tea. Comfortable bed, sparkling bathroom. Customer service was instantaneous via WhatsApp. I was overall impressed with the level of detail in the design of the visitor experience, at so many touch points, which succeeded in making us feel not only welcome but delighted by our experience.

Heli from Finland.

Having stayed at The Gifford twice in the last number of months, I have to say, it’s my go-to in Edinburgh now!

The beautifully refurbished rooms are so spacious, yet cosy. We especially loved the Tunnocks Teacakes and Irn Bru that await you on your arrival!

The check-in process was absolutely seamless both times, and so efficient with the online system. A wonderful location, we stayed in Room 3, and adored the terrace looking at Arthur’s Seat in the distance.

I’m not sure where else you get a five-star experience with the warmth of a family-run business! We are already looking forward to coming back!

Our stay here exceeded all of our expectations. From the moment we arrived, the hotel felt warm, welcoming, and incredibly cozy. What we loved most was its unique character: the charm and elegance of a beautiful Victorian house combined with all the modern comforts you could need.

Everything was spotless, well-maintained, and thoughtfully designed. After long days exploring Edinburgh, it was the perfect place to come back to and relax. It truly felt like a home away from home rather than just a hotel.

One of the details we will remember most was the delicious Tunnock’s Tea Cakes left on our bed each day. Such a simple gesture, yet it made us smile every time we returned to our room. We loved them so much that we actually went out and bought some to take home as gifts for our family and loved ones!

The location was excellent, the check-in process was smooth and convenient, and every detail made us feel comfortable and cared for throughout our stay.

This was our first visit to Edinburgh, and this hotel became part of what made the experience so special. We leave with wonderful memories and would happily stay here again on our next trip. Thank you for making us feel so welcome. Pura vida from Costa Rica!

We were happy with our stay. The whole place was tastefully decorated and very clean. The room was spotless, and we had everything we needed. Thank you for the complimentary drinks. It was warm, and we had to open the windows, which wasn’t a problem. The only downside of that was the traffic noise, but the owners had provided earplugs!

Un bon rapport qualité-prix, à quelques encablures d’Arthur Seat, déco dans un style rococo victorien 💕😍
Bus 33 direct city center face hôtel, à pied environ 2km

(Translated by Google) Good value for money, not far from Arthur Seat, decor in a Victorian Rococo style 💕😍
Bus 33 goes directly to the city centre in front of the hotel, on foot about 2kms.

Had an amazing stay, great location with easy access around Edinburgh. Beautiful rooms with friendly staff.

I really enjoyed my stay at the Gifford Hotel in Edinburgh. Josh was very easy to communicate with and made everything straightforward. The location is excellent — Arthur’s Seat is just a quick bus ride away, and it’s an easy walk into Edinburgh and the Royal Mile. The hotel itself is quiet and offers great value for money. Parking nearby can be a bit tricky during busy times, as much of the surrounding area requires a permit, but overall, I was very happy with my stay. I’d rate the rooms 4/5, the service 4/5, and the location 5/5.

This is a beautiful, quaint little hotel, located conveniently close to the city centre, with good transportation access. The hotel is maintained to a very high professional standard. The staff are extremely friendly and made us feel right at home. It has very pretty interiors and very clean rooms. I would highly recommend this place to anyone visiting Edinburgh. The hotel is run by a family, who were extremely helpful in suggesting places for us to visit.

The view is simply unbeatable, with a landscape that looks like it’s straight out of a postcard. Located in a quiet area, about 2km from the city centre, it allows you to rest peacefully while still being close to everything. The bed is incredibly comfortable, the self-check-in system works perfectly, and the place conveys a complete sense of security. They provided complimentary coffee capsules, milk, soft drinks, soda, and chocolates, a truly appreciated gesture. Everything was very clean and well-prepared.

The only downside is that there’s no elevator to the second floor, which can be a bit inconvenient with heavy luggage. We had a problem with the shower, but Josh was extremely kind and helpful, transferring us to another, even better and more centrally located accommodation, free of charge. Impeccab.

Juan Simón from Spain – English Translation.

La vista es sencillamente inmejorable, con un paisaje que parece sacado de una postal. Ubicado en una zona tranquila, a unos 2 km del centro, permite descansar sin ruidos, pero seguir cerca de todo. La cama es comodísima, el sistema de self check-in funciona perfecto y el lugar transmite una sensación total de seguridad. De cortesía nos dejaron cápsulas de café, leche, gaseosas, soda y chocolates, un gesto que realmente se agradece. Todo estaba muy limpio y bien preparado.

El único punto negativo es que no hay ascensor hasta el segundo piso, lo que puede resultar un poco incómodo con valijas pesadas. Tuvimos un inconveniente con la ducha, pero Josh fue extremadamente amable y resolutivo; nos trasladó sin costo a otro alojamiento, incluso mejor y más céntrico. Un servicio impecable y una atención que marca la diferencia. Sin dudas, volveríamos.

Juan Simón de España

The owners are such lovely hosts! Our family of 17 had such a memorable stay here. Wonderful rooms with very comfortable beds, would highly recommend to anyone visiting Edinburgh. Thank you for having us!