Novotel Edinburgh Centre is a modern hotel situated in the heart of Edinburgh. It offers comfortable accommodations with a variety of room options, ideal for both business and leisure travelers. The hotel features amenities such as a fitness center, meeting rooms, and an on-site restaurant serving a range of international dishes. Guests can enjoy beautiful views of the city from some rooms and easy access to popular attractions like the Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. The hotel's central location makes it a convenient base for exploring the rich history and culture of Edinburgh.
What each source says
- Tripadvisor 4.0 3,704
- Google 4.3 3,346
- Priceline 4.2 2,708
- Expedia 4.2 1,002
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 Accommodations Rooms are widely described as spotless, modern, and well-equipped with comfortable beds, providing a cozy retreat that ensures a restful night's sleep for travelers visiting the city.
- Excellent Location Situated within walking distance of the Royal Mile, Grassmarket, and Edinburgh Castle, this hotel serves as an ideal base for exploring the city's major tourist attractions and historical sites.
- Friendly Staff The hotel team consistently receives high praise for being welcoming, professional, and helpful, often going above and beyond to assist guests with check-in queries and local sightseeing recommendations.
- High-Quality Breakfast Guests frequently commend the extensive breakfast buffet, which features a wide variety of hot and cold options, including a popular self-service waffle station that is a hit with families.
- Leisure Facilities The on-site leisure amenities, including a clean indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, and gym, are considered a standout bonus, offering a relaxing space to unwind after a day of walking.
Criticised
- Controversial Bathroom Design The open bathroom layout, featuring frosted or see-through glass doors and no sink inside the toilet cubicle, is frequently criticized for lacking privacy and being highly inconvenient for users.
- Crowded Breakfast Service During peak hours, the breakfast area can become chaotic and overcrowded, leading to long waits for seating, coffee machines, and food, which detracts from the overall dining experience.
- Difficult Climate Control Many guests struggle with temperature regulation, as the climate control is often centrally managed, leaving rooms feeling stuffy or uncomfortably warm, especially during the warmer summer months.
- Insufficient Storage Space Several travelers note a lack of adequate furniture, such as drawers or spacious wardrobes, making it challenging to unpack and organize belongings comfortably for longer multi-night stays.
- Limited Parking On-site parking is extremely scarce and costly, forcing many guests to rely on nearby public parking garages, which can add significant expense and stress to their travel experience.
The longer read
The Novotel Edinburgh Centre is widely praised for its excellent location, making it a highly convenient base for exploring Edinburgh’s major attractions. Situated within a comfortable walking distance to the Royal Mile, the Grassmarket, and the castle, it offers easy access to the city’s heart while remaining in a slightly calmer area. The hotel features a modern, clean, and airy design, with a popular bar and lounge area that often hosts live music, creating a welcoming atmosphere for guests to unwind after a day of sightseeing. The staff consistently receive positive feedback for being friendly, professional, and helpful, often going the extra mile to assist guests.
The rooms are generally described as modern, well-maintained, and spacious enough for couples, though some families report feeling a bit tight. A significant and frequently mentioned quirk—or drawback, depending on your perspective—is the unconventional bathroom layout. Many rooms feature a separate, small toilet cubicle and a distinct shower enclosure, with the sink area often integrated into the main bedroom or separated by partitions. While some guests appreciate the separation, others find the lack of complete privacy, see-through glass, and the need to walk between separate cubicles to wash hands inconvenient, particularly for families sharing a room. Additionally, temperature control is a recurring complaint; numerous guests have reported rooms being uncomfortably warm with limited cooling options, despite the provision of fans.
The hotel’s leisure facilities are a standout feature, particularly for families. The indoor swimming pool, sauna, and hot tub are highly regarded as a relaxing bonus to the stay, though the pool area can become crowded, especially during peak school holiday periods. The breakfast buffet is another strong point, frequently cited as high-quality and varied, with the waffle machine being a particularly popular element. However, travelers driving to the hotel should exercise caution: the on-site car park is very limited, difficult to navigate, and expensive. Guests often recommend looking into alternative nearby parking or considering public transport to avoid the frustration of finding a secure spot.
Ultimately, this hotel is a strong choice for those prioritizing location and on-site leisure amenities like the pool, provided you are comfortable with the unique open-plan bathroom design and the potential for warmer room temperatures. While there are occasional service inconsistencies regarding cleaning or check-in speed, the majority of visitors leave with a positive impression, viewing it as a solid, well-equipped, and reliable destination for short city breaks. If you value a hotel that acts as a social, family-friendly hub rather than a traditional, rigid space, this property will likely meet your needs.
A synthesis of published third-party reviews. Not written by Breaks.
Getting there
- Phone
- +00441316563500
- Website
- accorhotels.com/es/hotel-3271-novotel-edinburgh-centre/index.shtml
- Check in
- 15:00 · out 12:00
Facilities
- 24 Hours
- Accepts Credit Cards
- Accessible
- Air Conditioning
- Baggage Storage
- Banquet Room
- Bar
- Blackout Curtains
- Cafe
- Complimentary Instant Coffee
- Complimentary Tea
- Concierge
- Conference Room
- Family Rooms
- Golf
- Gym
Against the neighbourhood
Rated 4.2 against a median of 4.4 across the 93 venues we hold for Edinburgh, where the most-reviewed is Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh.
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.