This accommodation offers amenities such as a bar, restaurant, kitchen, garden, and designated relaxing areas, alongside dorm rooms equipped with individual lockers, bedside lighting, and electrical sockets. Staff members frequently organize social pub crawls to facilitate guest interaction. The facility is situated centrally within the historic district, providing proximity to major tourist attractions and local landmarks. Visitors can access on-site dining and beverage services while utilizing communal spaces intended for socializing. The establishment emphasizes a supportive environment, with reception personnel available to provide local activity recommendations.
What each source says
- Priceline 4.1 2,396
- Google 4.2 1,414
- Tripadvisor 4.0 932
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 Functional Rooms Many reviewers highlight the cleanliness of the dorms and private rooms, which are well-equipped with individual power outlets, reading lamps, and secure lockers for storing valuables.
- Friendly and Helpful Staff Guests consistently praise the reception and bar staff for being welcoming, knowledgeable, and proactive in assisting with local recommendations, check-ins, and even helping with specific personal needs.
- Good Value for Money The hostel is frequently noted as an affordable accommodation choice in an expensive city, with reasonably priced food and drinks available at the on-site bar and cafe.
- Social Atmosphere The hostel boasts a vibrant, lively environment with an on-site bar, organized social activities like pub crawls and games, making it exceptionally easy for solo travelers to meet new people.
- Unbeatable Location Situated in the heart of the Old Town, this hostel is within easy walking distance of major landmarks like Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and Victoria Street, making it a perfect base for sightseeing.
Criticised
- Bathroom Issues Multiple reviews point out that shared bathroom facilities are often cramped, sometimes lack privacy, and can get messy or have issues with shower water temperature and drainage.
- Inconvenient Locker/Storage While lockers are provided, many guests find them too small for larger suitcases, and some common areas are described as cluttered, requiring travelers to keep bulky luggage out in the open.
- No Elevators The building lacks elevators, which makes carrying heavy luggage up and down multiple flights of stairs a significant challenge for many guests, particularly those staying on the higher floors.
- Noise and Disturbance Due to its central location in a nightlife area, street noise and music from the bar can be loud, making it difficult for light sleepers to get a restful night without earplugs.
- Poor Temperature Control Guests frequently complain about rooms being excessively hot and stuffy, often due to inadequate ventilation or radiators that are difficult to adjust, forcing some to keep windows open despite street noise.
The longer read
Kick Ass Greyfriars, formerly known as Budget Backpackers, is an exceptional choice for travelers prioritizing a prime location and a highly social atmosphere. Situated in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, near the Grassmarket, it places guests within walking distance of the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, and major tourist sites. The vibe is consistently described as vibrant and fun, making it an excellent base for solo travelers. The hostel features a lively on-site bar and beer garden, which are popular spots for meeting people, aided by organized events like pub crawls and quizzes. Staff members are frequently singled out for their friendliness, helpfulness, and willingness to provide local recommendations.
The accommodations are generally clean and modern, offering good value for money. Most dormitory configurations provide helpful amenities such as individual bedside charging ports including USB, reading lamps, and assigned lockers, which guests find convenient. However, the experience can vary depending on your room assignment. While beds are usually reported as comfortable, temperature control is a recurring issue. Rooms can get quite warm due to a lack of air conditioning, and some guests find the ventilation inadequate. Furthermore, while the hostel is secure with key-card access, some travelers note that rooms vary in size and layout, with those near high-traffic areas like kitchens or stairwells experiencing more disturbance. It is crucial to bring your own padlock for the lockers, as one is required and not always provided, and prepare to pay a fee if you need to rent a towel.
The most significant drawbacks involve the shared facilities and noise levels. The bathroom setup receives mixed feedback; while many appreciate that they are regularly cleaned, others express frustration with the layout. Common complaints include tight shower stalls that offer little privacy or space to change, and the annoyance of push-button showers that require constant pressing. Regarding noise, the hostel’s central location—a major perk during the day—becomes a challenge at night. Because it is positioned near popular nightlife districts, street noise is inevitable, and walls are thin enough that sound from hallways and neighboring rooms carries easily. Light sleepers should definitely bring earplugs and perhaps an eye mask, as bright exit signs in some rooms can be intrusive at night. Finally, be aware that the hostel is strictly cashless, requiring payment by card for everything, including deposits. Despite these functional quirks, the combination of location, price, and social opportunity makes it a top-tier choice for those who value experience over quiet seclusion.
A synthesis of published third-party reviews. Not written by Breaks.
Getting there
- Phone
- 442045246066
- Website
- kickasshostels.co.uk
- Check in
- 14:00 · out 10:00
| Mon | 12:30 - 0:00 |
|---|---|
| Tue | 12:30 - 0:00 |
| Wed | 12:30 - 0:00 |
| Thu | 12:30 - 0:00 |
| Fri | 12:30 - 0:00 |
| Sat | 12:30 - 0:00 |
| Sun | 12:30 - 0:00 |
Facilities
- 24 Hours
- Accessible
- Activities
- Baggage Storage
- Bar
- Evening Entertainment
- Garden
- Heating
- Internet
- Laundry
- Non Smoking Hotel
- Non Smoking Rooms
- Outdoor Furniture
- Restaurant
- Safe
- Shared Bathroom
Against the neighbourhood
Rated 4.1 against a median of 4.4 across the 93 venues we hold for Edinburgh, where the most-reviewed is Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh.
Booking
Still deciding?
- What types of rooms does Kick Ass Greyfriars offer and what amenities do they include?
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- Does Kick Ass Greyfriars have any special features or services that set it apart from other Edinburgh hotels?
- Does Kick Ass Greyfriars provide on-site dining or easy access to recommended local restaurants and bars?
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.