Holiday Inn Edinburgh by IHG offers comfortable accommodation with stunning views of the Pentland Hills. Located conveniently near the city center, it provides easy access to major attractions such as Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. The hotel features modern guest rooms equipped with essential amenities, a fitness center, and versatile meeting spaces for both business and leisure travelers. Guests can enjoy dining options on-site, with a restaurant that serves a variety of dishes and a relaxing bar atmosphere. The property also boasts generous parking facilities, making it a practical choice for visitors exploring the capital.
What each source says
- Priceline 4.0 4,017
- Tripadvisor 3.5 3,120
- Google 3.9 2,991
- Expedia 4.1 1,012
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
- Comfortable Sleeping Environment Multiple reviews highlight the quality and comfort of the beds, ensuring a good night's sleep despite the hotel's busy atmosphere, making it a reliable choice for rest.
- Comprehensive Breakfast Buffet The hotel offers an extensive breakfast buffet with a wide variety of hot and cold options, consistently earning positive feedback for its broad selection, quality, and freshness.
- Convenient Leisure Amenities The onsite swimming pool, gym, and sauna are popular with families and guests looking for relaxation, providing a great way to unwind after a long day exploring the city.
- Excellent Location Perfectly situated directly next to Edinburgh Zoo and on a direct bus route, making travel to the city center and airport incredibly convenient and stress-free for families and tourists alike.
- Friendly and Helpful Staff Guests frequently praise the professional and welcoming nature of the staff, noting their genuine willingness to assist with directions, booking needs, and resolving various requests throughout the stay.
Criticised
- Cramped and Aging Bathrooms Several guests report that bathrooms are quite small and show signs of wear, with persistent reports of issues like mould, cracked tiles, or poor water pressure in some units.
- Dated Room Interiors While the lobby and restaurant areas are modern, guest rooms and corridors often appear tired, featuring worn carpets, scuffed walls, and outdated furniture that feel overdue for a refurbishment.
- Inconsistent Cleaning Standards While common areas are generally well-maintained, some guests report issues with room cleanliness, such as visible dust, stained linens, or bathroom mould, suggesting inconsistent attention to detail from housekeeping.
- Lack of Modern Room Amenities Rooms frequently lack necessary modern conveniences, such as accessible power sockets or USB ports near beds, and some guests noted the absence of helpful basics like in-room refrigerators.
- Limited On-Site Parking Parking spaces are tight and fill up very quickly, often forcing guests to use overflow parking at the adjacent zoo, which can be inconvenient and confusing for drivers.
The longer read
The Holiday Inn Edinburgh is widely recognized for its exceptional location, situated immediately adjacent to Edinburgh Zoo, making it an ideal choice for families and tourists seeking convenience. Guests frequently highlight the hotel's accessibility, noting that it sits directly on a major bus route, providing a simple 15-to-20-minute ride into the city center and convenient connections to the airport. The availability of free on-site parking is a significant advantage for those traveling by car, though guests warn that spots are limited and the car park can be tight, often requiring the use of overflow parking at the zoo. The hotel's communal areas, including the lobby, bar, and restaurant, have been recently renovated, receiving consistent praise for their modern, clean, and welcoming atmosphere. The breakfast buffet is another major strength, frequently described as extensive, high-quality, and offering great variety, which many guests consider a highlight of their stay. The staff are frequently singled out for praise, with numerous reviewers describing them as friendly, helpful, and accommodating, often going out of their way to assist guests, handle requests, and provide local recommendations, which significantly enhances the overall guest experience. However, a recurring point of contention is the condition of the guest rooms. While public areas are modern, many guests report that the bedrooms and corridors feel dated, showing signs of wear such as tired carpets, scuffed walls, and outdated furniture. Cleaning standards in the rooms are a polarized topic; while many guests find their rooms clean and comfortable, a significant number of reviewers report issues ranging from dusty surfaces and hair in bathrooms to damp smells and stained carpets. Maintenance issues, such as shower temperature inconsistencies, broken room fixtures, and poor soundproofing between rooms, are also mentioned by several guests. Additionally, the hotel’s leisure facilities, including the swimming pool, sauna, and gym, are appreciated additions, but they require pre-booking and some guests found them to be small or occasionally closed for maintenance. It is advisable for guests to be aware of the hotel's ongoing refurbishment efforts, as the room quality can vary significantly. Those prioritizing location, transportation links, and a hearty breakfast will find this hotel a practical base, provided they manage expectations regarding the variable state of the accommodations.
A synthesis of published third-party reviews. Not written by Breaks.
Getting there
- Phone
- +441313147011
- Website
- ihg.com/redirect?path=hd&localeCode=en&hotelCode=EDBCR
- Check in
- 15:00 · out 12:00
Facilities
- 24 Hours
- Accepts Credit Cards
- Accessible
- Activities
- Air Conditioning
- Baggage Storage
- Bar
- Cafe
- Complimentary Instant Coffee
- Conference Room
- Dining Area
- Electric Kettle
- Family Rooms
- Garden
- Golf
- Gym
Against the neighbourhood
Rated 3.8 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 amenities are available at Holiday Inn Edinburgh?
- Is there on-site dining or room service options?
- What are the check-in and check-out times?
- Are there any special offers or packages currently available?
- How close is the hotel to major attractions and public transport?
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.