Travelers appreciate the practical comforts at this Edinburgh residence where everyday necessities like laundry facilities and WiFi make extended stays easier
Edinburgh College Residence in Pilton provides a quiet retreat from the city's bustle. Guests can handle laundry needs on-site without interrupting their travels and enjoy free in-room WiFi to stay connected with family or plan the next day's adventures.
Pilton, a neighborhood in Edinburgh, is home to Edinburgh College Residence. Edinburgh Castle and Grassmarket are notable landmarks, and travelers looking to shop may want to visit George Street and Princes Street. Check out an event or a game at Murrayfield Stadium, and consider making time for Edinburgh Zoo, a top attraction not to be missed. Visit our Edinburgh travel guide
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out
Check-out before 11:00 AM
Special check-in instructions
The front desk is open daily from 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
If you are planning to arrive after 10:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Access methods
Front desk (limited hours)
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children 17 and younger are not allowed at this property; All guests older than 17 are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available
Property payment types
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
Children 17 years old and younger are not permitted at this property
Property is also known as
Edinburgh College Edinburgh
Edinburgh College Residence Edinburgh
Edinburgh College Residence Hostel/Backpacker accommodation
Frequently asked questions
Is Edinburgh College Residence pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking?
Edinburgh College Residence doesn't offer parking.
What time is check-in at Edinburgh College Residence?
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM. Late check-in is available during limited hours.
What time is check-out at Edinburgh College Residence?
Check-out is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Edinburgh College Residence located?
Located in Pilton, this hostel is 1.6 mi (2.6 km) from Western General and 2.7 mi (4.3 km) from Princes Street. Royal Botanic Garden and Lauriston Castle are also within 3 mi (5 km).
Can I cancel my reservation for free and receive a full refund?
Yes, this property offers free cancellation on select room rates, because flexibility matters! Please refer to the property cancellation policy on our site for more details about any exclusions or requirements.
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Reviews
Edinburgh College Residence Reviews
6.8
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
7.4
Cleanliness
6.6
Amenities
6.8
Staff & service
6.8
Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 22 out of 71 reviews
10 - Excellent
22
Rating 8 - Good. 13 out of 71 reviews
8 - Good
13
Rating 6 - Okay. 18 out of 71 reviews
6 - Okay
18
Rating 4 - Poor. 7 out of 71 reviews
4 - Poor
7
Rating 2 - Terrible. 11 out of 71 reviews
2 - Terrible
11
Reviews
8/10 Good
Stephen
Jul 11, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Welcoming staff and great value for money. Easy regular transport links to city centre. No complaints based on the price oft he stays.
This property is clean and provides the basics. It is not a hotel but is a college residence used in the summer for others to stay. The residence has several bus stops just a few steps out the door that will take you to the town centre and airport and numerous other areas. There is also a grocery store close by.
The beds are small so if it says two can stay … it would be difficult for two people to sleep in the one bed.
Actually a very nice stay. The room was comfortable and we had access to a shared kitchen and common room. It was better than we were expecting. The staff were friendly and helpful.
It is next to a Morrisons supermarket with a good cafe (Scottish breakfast is very nice). The bus stop outside gets you into the city centre in around 20 mins.
It was exceptional value during the fringe!
The college is extremely well run,clean &tidy as are the rooms.Staff are very helpfull and on the ball..Transport to the city is 2mins from front of college,every 15mins..beds are cumfie guaranteed good night sleep..
John
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
6/10 Okay
man hon
Aug 14, 2024
Disliked: Staff & service
The doors close very loudly. Kitchen short fused frequently. Good location for transportation with a lot of buses going downtown. Also good to have a grocery store within walking distance. No restaurant around the area.
Overall, good value for money. One thing that might help future guests is to not keep a mop in the bathroom, as it left a terrible odor, and the shower curtain didn't touch the floor so water got everywhere when we showered. With transportation right outside the building, it only took 20 minutes to reach the city and there was a kitchen with a convenient Morrison's 4 minutes walking distance away. Would stay again despite the small issues as stated.
This was fine for a night. it is student accommodation and very reasonable. The staff was friendly and helpful. Amenities are soewhat. basic, but what would you expect? despite that, we were very happy with it. The bed was a bit small for 2 people (we are used to a bigger bed) but it wasnt disastrous. worst was perhaps that it was against the wall so i had to climb in from the bottom!
The kitchen was clean, and we were able to use it for our breakfast - everything worked fine.
Tip for others: you CAN park in the Morrison's car park. Make sure you drive up to the top level, and you can unload right in front of the accommodation's back door. You can park there overnight, if you access the app RingGo, id 682383, and pay for it. Costs around £4.
Bus connection to town centre is also fine. 30 mins or so, busses quite frequent.
Frank
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025
6/10 Okay
Jane
Aug 8, 2024
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Room comfort
A very basic stay
This was a student room and as such was small with a very small double bed pushed against the wall. If a couple, whoever was wallside would have to either climb over the other, or slither to the end of the bed to get out. The bed was incredibly hard and uncomfortable. There was no bin, either in the room or more importantly, in the shower room which is very poor for disposable of sanitary products, which would have to be put in the bin in the conmunal kitchen area at the end of the hall. The kettle etc were in the kitchen area which was fairly clean though the bin was full of takeaway wrappers and there was a mouldy naan bread left on the side. The shower room was ok (apart from the lack of bin) with a good shower. Our neighbour was obviously a student who turned up about 2am both mornings. It was just a base for us visiting family, but not suitable for anyone staying longer. There are apartments there apparently too which I'm sure are better. There is onroad parking nearby. The reception staff were lovely.
It was an excellent stay. If I ll be visiting again then I ll definitely stay here again. Quite clean and well maintained. Staff is super friendly. The best part? The bus stand is exactly outside the residence which takes you straight to city center.
Bare-bones and basic but clean and afforable. The access to a shared kitchen is great. The wifi is strong, the rooms are exactly what you would expect from a dorm. The staff were kind and friendly. Good access to the buses and to the grocery store nearby.
Basic, spotless accommodation with Morrison next to you for cheap parking and any provisions. Stayed for a concert during Edinburghs busy time (when it’s it not) however prices for hotels are normally hiked up! But we managed to get it at a decent rate.
GILLIAN
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
6/10 Okay
Shamini
Jul 17, 2025
Liked: Staff & service
Stay was fine, as would be expected of student accommodation. Shower was not great. Hairs in the bed.
Shamini
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025
10/10 Excellent
Verified traveler
Jul 21, 2024
Liked: Staff & service, room comfort
Disliked: Cleanliness
Good connections to Edinburgh if you are not staying in the room, it is cheap.
Verified traveler
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
6/10 Okay
Olha
Jul 15, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
It was a calm and clean place with basic amenities. Thank you.
We stayed here for one night. We were a bit concerned about its average rating, but everything turned out fine — very clean and tidy. The room’s furnishings were new and met the basic needs without being excessive. The same goes for the bathroom, though unfortunately, there was no shampoo! The bathroom is small, and the bed size is relatively limited for two people, but the bed was comfortable, and overall, everything was good.
The accommodation is located a short distance from the sea but is very quiet and isolated. Fortunately, there is a large supermarket nearby, as well as a bus station.
farhad
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
4/10 Poor
Ronald
Jul 19, 2025
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities
For two people the bed was too small. No close-hangers
Window frame was broken. The hours to check in was limited.
Ronald
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
6/10 Okay
Verified traveler
Jul 10, 2025
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Basic but bearable
Basic accommodation which is aimed for students. Room was very basic but adequately clean. Small double bed. Communal kitchen wasn't clean. All doors tended to slam closed which was noisy. On the upside, it's cheap and the shower worked fine
Verified traveler
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025
8/10 Good
Kwai
Jul 24, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Room comfort
Value for the money
Value for the money. Very convenient to the seashore and several bus routes to the city center and signposts. The only complaint would be the small size of the bed for 2 persons and very soft pillows (only 1 for each person)
The young receptionist insisted that I must show either a passport or a driving license in order to check in even though it is not mentioned in the confirmation email. I showed the confirmation email and text but they didn’t help.
Slightly out of the centre of the city but great value. Tidy, clean and room more than adequate. Right next door to supermarket and cafe. Close to buses into the city. Lovely promenade by the water 5 mins from residence - great for a walk or run. The late check in is a bit if a hassle but probably reflects the late check out at 11am. However it woukd have been good to have had a safe place to store bags while we waited for rhe room to be available. The room also needs a rubbish bin (noted tgst previous reviews have said the same thing). Its great that uni accomodation is available in the summer when students away. Makes it affirdable for tourists especially during festivals. Overall, very happy with our stay