Thistle Hotel

Nice place, but much further out than we anticipated. Added a bit more walking than desired. Good room size and bed for 2. Enjoyed the breakfast /bar area. Stairs. Great price

The hotel was terribly understaffed. Bar wasn’t open first night. Bathroom with no soaps in the dispensers. Thankful I guess they were open.

We have just returned from a 2 night stay at the Edinburgh Thistle. The staff Andrew and Neil were really welcoming, helpful, personable and couldn't do enough for us - especially Andrew (what a sweetie) The property was in a nice location. A 20 minute walk into the shopping district and a 30 minutes walk to the royal mile and historic areas. The property - although very dated had character but unfortunately the bathroom was the most disappointing bit. There was mould all around the grouting - a simple fix. And the bath tub was unusable for a bath as the taps were only useable as a shower. This would have been welcomer after a long day on our feet. We stayed on the top floor having requested a twin room and there were 78 steps to the top. Which is fine but we wouldn't recommend if you have mobility issues. We didn't have breakfast there so couldn't comment on that but the coffee was nice. The Pillows in our room were quite unusable also. One rock hard and huge and the other thin and lank. Overall we had a lovely stay. I would say that the price we paid did not reflect in the quality of the hotel especially as we didn't have breakfast included but we enjoyed the staff and our time there nonetheless.

A elegant Victorian building just a stones throw from the tram line into the heart of Edinburgh and from Haymarket Station - but that’s where the positives stop. A dark & dingy unwelcoming reception, with a receptionist asking for photo ID and my credit card despite room being fully pre paid & taking a photocopy of them. Lordy me, where do you start - carpet was worn away from the edges, very limited light from what can be best explained as a yellow-stained light shade that was caked in dust, the roller blind was broken & fell off the filthy window with broken glass. It honestly looks like a room in a guest house where a depressing 1960s film would have been filmed and not an alleged 3* hotel, you should be absolutely ashamed of charging what you charged for is best described as an abysmal experience.

Parking in the area was rough but arranging parking through the hotel made it easy. Hotel was a little outdated and rooms were sparse, but the staff was incredibly informative and friendly. Good area. Easy walk to the royal mile and very close to dean village.

We stayed for one night, the bed was comfortable and the location is good! Close to all restaurants, shops and grain station. Only downside was all the stairs!

This is a historical property. Beautiful iron railings, high ceilings. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Will draw you a map and write directions. No AC, No elevator. But if you want authentic, this is the place.

Parking was a nightmare, hardly any available and reservation lot was blocks away and hard to locate. No heat in the boilers, electric heater kept falling off the wall. Room was not cleaned, never given fresh coffee cups and had to ask for additional coffee. No shampoo available. Bathroom had big windows, glass was fuzzed but no covers. Windows all nailed shut so felt unsafe in case of fire. Just overall run down with poor service.

We did a 3-week trip through Scotland and this was the worst place we stayed. The property is in a nice neighborhood and was once probably a fancy hotel, but it's in desperate need of an update and some TLC. The carpet was worn and the way through in places and I questioned the cleanliness. The staff seemed to be just chilling and made checkin awkward. Be mindful that there's no elevator. We were put in the furthest room on the top floor and had to lug very heavy bags full of collected scotch up the many flights if stairs. The staff did provide assistance which was nice. If you're limited mobility, look elsewhere.

We arrived at 4:30 pm. Checking was anytime after 3. There was no parking and was told that nearest parking would be at least a 15 min walk. We had luggage and a guest with heart issue. We asked to see the room because the hotel desk area didn’t appear as the photos. The room had no been cleaned and rags and cleaner left in room. Bathroom was dirty. We said we couldn’t stay as this was not acceptable. We contacted Expedia. They contacted the manager who lied and said we never came to the hotel only called. That is not true. He would not refund our money. Very disappointed in both this Hotel and Expedia for not doing the right thing. It is not our fault that room was not cleaned and no parking except maybe at a public lots 15 minute walk away. Why lie? Very very poor business attitude towards their hotel conditions and their guests expectation.

Bathroom in Rm. 1 is in need of some work about the tub. Mouldy and ugly

The location was very convenient and I liked the area. Unfortunately, the property is not maintained. The carpet was worn bare in common areas, tiles in the bathroom were broken, the window wouldn’t open because the ancient mechanisms were broken, the shower door barely moved. The room smelled musty and so we kept the bathroom fan on full time. The mattress seemed really old. The sheets and bedding were clean, but they forgot to provide any towels. When I asked, they gave me some. When they came to clean the room, they didn’t replace our used coffee mugs or give new tea/coffee items. On the other hand, the reception guys were super friendly and quickly responded to any requests for towels or whatever. I cannot recommend this place. I felt the price was high and they had a no-refund, no cancellations policy.

Very friendly and warm staff. They did what they could. Efficient check in and free upgrade. Thank you! The room was worn down and had a funny smell. Cleaners tried to make up for this by putting air freshener in the room. Especially the bathroom was horrible. A direct health hazard, with mould at the walls. See pictures. Due to a nearby event and all hotels fully booked, I paid £350+ per night.

Avoid Avoid Avoid!!! This review is a very honest review and only from the reception to our allotted basement room…room 2. The approach to the room is very dated and not very clean. The wallpaper around light switches at the bottom of the stairs was filthy. In the room it became very apparent that the room was not of a standard that we would have expected for the price that we had paid. It was very dirty, with stains on the carpet, the roller blind at the window had a couple of holes in it, there were holes in the wood work around the door and the bed had the drawers removed from the divan and ripped material hanging down. I appreciate that this is an old building but the overall decoration is very very poor. In the bathroom there was a horrible brown stain at the front of the basin and it looked like a chunk of the basin had been broken off and glued back on. The toilet had no fixings and was wobbling around loose. In the shower cubicle the grout in the tiles looked black and mouldy and as with the bedroom, the bathroom was very dirty and of a very poor standard. We actually looked at the possibilities of finding another hotel but on a Friday evening in Edinburgh, that’s an almost impossible task. I approached the chap on reception to express our thoughts within the hour of arrival and he said that he would pass them on to the manager. At no point did anyone try to make any contact with us. It wasn’t until checkout that I spoke with the manager and he was very dismissive.

The staff were very friendly and helpful which was great. I had a small room which was adequate for a few nights but the bathroom needed attention, cupboards warped with water, rusty shelves and the shower tray didn’t drain properly. Although the bathroom was clean, it looked dirty. Bedroom was clean and cosy. Location was a short walk to the town and public transport.

The hotel was very tired and dirty. There was damp in the bedroom, black mould in the bathroom and tiles coming off the wall. The blind didn’t shut properly and the toilet and sink were loose. I had more photos, but could only submit 8!

The hotel is full of mold and it looks like the room has been never ventilated also the brakefast was horrible and make us have stomach aches

The facility was clean and the staff were very nice.

Great walkable & safe area. Hotel has great character & fairly helpful front desk staff, especially Andrew. Walkable to city center. We had a large queen room on the 3rd floor, w/ nice desk, mirror area outside bathroom, & newer sectional couch. Unfortunately we couldnt get anything on the TV, not even local news. The bed was comfortable, but the carpet was old, stained & needs replacing; the bathroom was in great need of a new caulk job around shower, floor & baseboards as it was discolored & did not appear clean. The large antique wardrobe in bedroom was dusty.

We arrived at 4:30 pm. Checking was anytime after 3. There was no parking and was told that nearest parking would be at least a 15 min walk. We had luggage and a guest with heart issue. We asked to see the room because the hotel desk area didn’t appear as the photos. The room had no been cleaned and rags and cleaner left in room. Bathroom was dirty. We said we couldn’t stay as this was not acceptable. We contacted Expedia. They contacted the manager who lied and said we never came to the hotel only called. That is not true. He would not refund our money. Very disappointed in both this Hotel and Expedia for not doing the right thing. It is not our fault that room was not cleaned and no parking except maybe at a public lots 15 minute walk away. Why lie? Very very poor business attitude towards their hotel conditions and their guests expectation.

The staff was nice the accommodations were three star, maybe less. Our room had a broken down couch-bed they reclaimed as a second bed, there is no way anyone could sleep on it. The beds were also haphazard made.

Great location but some of the room appliances were old and needed cleaning. Overall a good place.

The property is rated as a 3-star hotel. The rooms are basic and could use some updates, and the internet connection is unreliable. Although the hotel staff replaced towels and emptied the trash bins daily, they did not make the beds. The location is convenient, situated just a 10-minute walk from the old city. Overall, the stay was acceptable. Despite the hotel being understaffed, the warm reception and helpful information provided upon arrival were much appreciated.

The facilities in this hotel were sub par. The bathroom was very basic and in dire need of at least a lick of paint. The mattress sagged to one side and I could feel individual springs. The pillows were inexplicably very hard and I actually got neck ache and the television remote only half worked but that was fine because half the channels didn’t have strong enough signal. For £90/night very poor.

The Hotel room was very poor standard. The furniture was very old, the carpet was thin and the floor very uneven. The bathroom was appalling, the tap in the sink was very loose and laying at an angle. The pressure of the water was so poor it dribbled out. The lack of attention to ensuring the curtains were hung properly or lined so at least you had a decent nights sleep left me feeling I had been ripped off for the price paid.

Tiny rooms.

If you love historic, Victorian buildings, you will love this one. It is very Sherlock Holmes meets Fawlty Towers. The rooms are high ceilinged with cornices and there is an amazing staircase to get to your room. Great stay despite there being only 6 tv channels, internet going on and off and rooms in need of updating.

I stayed for 2 nights. The staff were friendly and accommodating. I did not make use of bar or restaurant due to having other plans. The room was quite small but adequate. It was however rather tired and could have been a little cleaner.

Great walkable & safe area. Hotel has great character & fairly helpful front desk staff, especially Andrew. Walkable to city center. We had a large queen room on the 3rd floor, w/ nice desk, mirror area outside bathroom, & newer sectional couch. Unfortunately we couldnt get anything on the TV, not even local news. The bed was comfortable, but the carpet was old, stained & needs replacing; the bathroom was in great need of a new caulk job around shower, floor & baseboards as it was discolored & did not appear clean. The large antique wardrobe in bedroom was dusty.

The staff are incredibly helpful and friendly, knowledgeable of the local area. Easily walkable to Princes Street but in a very quiet area this hotel is ideal. The rooms are large and spacious as befits a listed building. We'll definitely be back.

Great property. Beautiful hotel. Great service.

The hotel was terribly understaffed. Bar wasn’t open first night. Bathroom with no soaps in the dispensers. Thankful I guess they were open.

Extremely unhelpful desk clerk. Bedwas bunk bed type with springs very noisy. bed cover was stained. Bathroom had rust everywhere. I had a shower & left the hotel. Told the clerk he & the hotel were a complete waste of my time and money. Any positive reviews here are quite obviously fake !!!!

We have just returned from a 2 night stay at the Edinburgh Thistle. The staff Andrew and Neil were really welcoming, helpful, personable and couldn't do enough for us - especially Andrew (what a sweetie) The property was in a nice location. A 20 minute walk into the shopping district and a 30 minutes walk to the royal mile and historic areas. The property - although very dated had character but unfortunately the bathroom was the most disappointing bit. There was mould all around the grouting - a simple fix. And the bath tub was unusable for a bath as the taps were only useable as a shower. This would have been welcomer after a long day on our feet. We stayed on the top floor having requested a twin room and there were 78 steps to the top. Which is fine but we wouldn't recommend if you have mobility issues. We didn't have breakfast there so couldn't comment on that but the coffee was nice. The Pillows in our room were quite unusable also. One rock hard and huge and the other thin and lank. Overall we had a lovely stay. I would say that the price we paid did not reflect in the quality of the hotel especially as we didn't have breakfast included but we enjoyed the staff and our time there nonetheless.

Avoid Avoid Avoid!!! This review is a very honest review and only from the reception to our allotted basement room…room 2. The approach to the room is very dated and not very clean. The wallpaper around light switches at the bottom of the stairs was filthy. In the room it became very apparent that the room was not of a standard that we would have expected for the price that we had paid. It was very dirty, with stains on the carpet, the roller blind at the window had a couple of holes in it, there were holes in the wood work around the door and the bed had the drawers removed from the divan and ripped material hanging down. I appreciate that this is an old building but the overall decoration is very very poor. In the bathroom there was a horrible brown stain at the front of the basin and it looked like a chunk of the basin had been broken off and glued back on. The toilet had no fixings and was wobbling around loose. In the shower cubicle the grout in the tiles looked black and mouldy and as with the bedroom, the bathroom was very dirty and of a very poor standard. We actually looked at the possibilities of finding another hotel but on a Friday evening in Edinburgh, that’s an almost impossible task. I approached the chap on reception to express our thoughts within the hour of arrival and he said that he would pass them on to the manager. At no point did anyone try to make any contact with us. It wasn’t until checkout that I spoke with the manager and he was very dismissive.

Staff are very nice and helpful.

This was a beautiful and charming hotel. The front desk guys both morning and evening (sorry forgot your names) were so welcoming and friendly. They both were full of great information about the town along with wonderful recommendations for dinner. We will definitely be visiting again, thank you for everything!

Andrew & Sam were the best! Excellent service, very knowledgeable & went out there of their way to help at anytime

Quaint. Great staff. Especially Andrew

Great hotel with very friendly staff. If I’m ever back in the area, I’d stay there again.

Before arriving I had to adjust my dates and the owner worked with Expedia to work around the cancellation policy, which I appreciated greatly. The area is well placed so you can enjoy the local sites but are far enough removed that it’s quiet.

The staff was excellent. The location was quiet. Areas of interest were a quick cab ride away. I would definitely recommend to any traveller.

Good location.

Clean hotel, friendly staff, ideal central location

We had a two nights stay in the Manor Suite- the room's incredibly comfortable and we got some good night's sleep. Staff is nice and check-in was quick. Breakfast was ok- limited choice but fresh fruits! Also, you're only a 10min walk away from Prince Street. Check parking lot availability early on.

It was great to stay in a beautiful area of Edinburgh close to a tram line and within walking distance of many sights and amenities

Parking in the area was rough but arranging parking through the hotel made it easy. Hotel was a little outdated and rooms were sparse, but the staff was incredibly informative and friendly. Good area. Easy walk to the royal mile and very close to dean village.

This is a historical property. Beautiful iron railings, high ceilings. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Will draw you a map and write directions. No AC, No elevator. But if you want authentic, this is the place.

Beautiful historic building close to everything in a lovely part of town. Morning staff was extremely pleasant and helpful.

Nice central location. Very comfortable bed. Professional staff.

Nice place, but much further out than we anticipated. Added a bit more walking than desired. Good room size and bed for 2. Enjoyed the breakfast /bar area. Stairs. Great price

Staff was great. Very friendly and helpful (and each also wore many hats). Nice breakfast but staff was limited and unable to keep up with replenishment. Room we had was charming, (which also means not very updated). Almost impossible to keep water off the floor during showers. All in all, we enjoyed our stay, and that was because the staff's efforts.

The hotel was terribly understaffed. Bar wasn’t open first night. Bathroom with no soaps in the dispensers. Thankful I guess they were open.

We had a two nights stay in the Manor Suite- the room's incredibly comfortable and we got some good night's sleep. Staff is nice and check-in was quick. Breakfast was ok- limited choice but fresh fruits! Also, you're only a 10min walk away from Prince Street. Check parking lot availability early on.

Overall very nice just the breakfast offer a bit poor

Great service, great breakfast, great location, the property and rooms a little run down and could do with a little upkeep - however, would come back next time in town

The main issue for me was understanding there was a bar and food available and there was not The hotel was a good bit away from amenities The toilet wasn’t cleaned and rubbish behind bedroom cabinet.

Single bed was tiny set in middle of room. Window wouldnt open and when opened has no stopper and it kept falling and closing and it was hot day. Very uncomfortable stay. Couldn’t sleep all night. Breakfast was terrible. No hot food just cold boiled eggs and cold cheese. Coffee was terrible. Waste of money

The Thistle hotel was very urban, in a Scottish town house with high ceilings, a spiral stairway and lovely windows. We were received in a very friendly manner. We enjoyed the quiet and bed. The early breakfast was awesome, even hot toast offered, alongside a good spread. 1.5 miles from the train station made it a bit far in the morning to walk and catch an early train. The hotel clerk called a timely cab!

The hotel is full of mold and it looks like the room has been never ventilated also the brakefast was horrible and make us have stomach aches