Holiday Inn Express Aberdeen City Centre by IHG is a modern hotel located in the heart of Aberdeen. It features a range of comfortable rooms equipped with amenities such as free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and tea and coffee making facilities. Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning, making it convenient for both business and leisure travelers. The hotel is well-positioned for easy access to local attractions, shopping districts, and business centers, offering a convenient base for exploring the city.
What each source says
- Priceline 4.1 2,881
- Google 3.9 1,356
- Expedia 4.1 1,003
- Tripadvisor 3.5 997
Bar length is review volume, so you can see how much weight sits behind each score. Captured 2026-08-26.
What visitors single out
Liked
- Clean and Comfortable Rooms Many reviewers emphasize that the rooms are spotless, well-maintained, and equipped with comfortable bedding, making for a reliably pleasant and hygienic overnight experience.
- Excellent Breakfast Included The complimentary breakfast buffet is frequently highlighted as a major highlight, offering a fresh, bountiful selection of hot and cold items that provides great value for your stay.
- Friendly and Professional Staff Guests consistently praise the hotel team for their warm welcome, helpfulness, and going above and beyond to assist with check-in, luggage storage, and local recommendations.
- Great Value for Money This hotel is widely recognized for being an affordable option that delivers consistent quality, especially considering that breakfast is typically included in the room rate.
- Prime Location The hotel is perfectly situated just off Union Street, providing easy, walkable access to the main shopping district, restaurants, bars, and local attractions in the heart of Aberdeen.
Criticised
- Awkward Electrical Sockets The positioning of power outlets, often hidden under desks or behind furniture, is frequently criticized for being inaccessible, making it difficult to plug in chargers for modern devices.
- Extremely Limited Parking The hotel offers very few on-site parking spaces, which are first-come, first-served, often forcing guests to rely on expensive or inconvenient nearby public multi-story car parks.
- Outdated Room Decor Several guests noted that some rooms feel tired or dated, pointing to worn carpets, scuffed walls, and aging bathroom fixtures that are ready for a refurbishment.
- Poor Ventilation and Temperature Control Multiple reviews report that rooms can become stiflingly hot, with limited window opening and no air conditioning, making it uncomfortable during warmer weather.
- Significant Street Noise Rooms facing the street, particularly those near the nightclub area or bakery, can experience loud noise from late-night revellers, traffic, and early morning deliveries, impacting sleep quality.
The longer read
The Holiday Inn Express Aberdeen City Centre is widely regarded as an excellent value-for-money option, primarily driven by its central location just off Union Street. Guests consistently praise the hotel's convenience, noting its proximity to major shopping areas, theaters, restaurants, and transport links like bus and train stations. For those looking to explore the city or attend local events, the location is a significant highlight, with many visitors finding it an ideal base that allows for easy navigation of Aberdeen’s key attractions on foot. The inclusion of a complimentary buffet breakfast is another frequently cited benefit, with most guests describing it as plentiful, fresh, and a great way to start the day, although some repeat visitors noted a lack of variety in the daily options.
The staff at this hotel are consistently highlighted as a major asset, with many reviewers commending them for being friendly, professional, and genuinely helpful. From the reception team assisting with luggage storage and travel advice to the breakfast staff working hard to manage busy periods, the service quality is often noted as going above and beyond. Many guests reported feeling well-cared for, with specific staff members receiving repeated mentions for their exceptional hospitality. This warm, welcoming environment contributes significantly to the positive guest experience, making many travelers eager to return.
While the hotel offers clean and functional rooms, there is a recurring consensus regarding their condition. Many reviewers described the decor, carpets, and bathrooms as dated or showing signs of wear and tear, with some mentioning stains or maintenance issues such as difficult-to-control heating and small sinks. Noise is another significant factor to consider; being in the city center means that street-facing rooms can be impacted by late-night noise, particularly from nearby pubs, clubs, and late-night food vendors. The hotel provides earplugs in some rooms, but light sleepers may prefer requesting a room at the back of the property to ensure a quieter night.
Parking is a common point of contention and requires careful planning. The hotel has a very small onsite car park with limited spaces available on a first-come, first-served basis, and some guests reported difficulty securing a spot even after being told they could. Alternative parking options are available in nearby multi-story car parks, but these can add to the cost of the stay. Consequently, while the hotel is highly recommended for those traveling by train or coach, guests arriving by car are advised to research and pre-book or identify public parking alternatives well in advance to avoid disappointment upon arrival. Overall, if you prioritize location, service, and value over ultra-modern luxury, this property remains a highly reliable and popular choice.
A synthesis of published third-party reviews. Not written by Breaks.
Getting there
- Phone
- 01224623500
- Website
- ihg.com/redirect?path=hd&localeCode=en&hotelCode=ABZCC
- Check in
- 14:00 · out 11:00
Facilities
- 24 Hours
- Accepts Credit Cards
- Accessible
- Activities
- Air Conditioning
- Baggage Storage
- Bar
- Blackout Curtains
- Cafe
- Complimentary Instant Coffee
- Conference Room
- Electric Kettle
- Family Rooms
- Golf
- Hair Dryer
- Heating
Against the neighbourhood
Rated 4.0 against a median of 4.3 across the 49 venues we hold for Aberdeen, where the most-reviewed is Leonardo Hotel Aberdeen.
Booking
What this page cannot tell you
- Descriptions and review summaries are supplied by the source index and are reproduced as published; they are not independently verified by Breaks.
- Ratings and review counts are point-in-time snapshots and drift constantly. Check the venue's own site or the rating provider for the current figure.
- Opening hours change seasonally and at short notice. Confirm with the venue before travelling.
- Category labels come from the source index and are occasionally wrong — a venue may be filed under a type that does not match how it trades.
- Straight-line distances understate real walking distance, especially where a river or railway sits between two points.