Market Street / Waverley

Motel One Edinburgh-Royal

★★★★★

Motel One Edinburgh-Royal is the value pick for travellers who want to be in the thick of things without paying luxury prices. It occupies a historic building on Market Street, the road that runs below the Old Town ridge beside Waverley station, and the hotel's motto — historical on the outside, modern within — sums it up. The German budget-design brand has a formula: compact but thoughtfully designed rooms with excellent beds, good showers, large smart TVs, quality toiletries and strong Wi-Fi, without extras such as room service or minibars. Here the formula comes with a Scottish twist. The interiors draw on Highland nature, with a reception wall planted with real ferns and mosses, botanical décor, tartan-covered headboards beneath landscape photographs, and sheep sculptures in the lounge. The One Lounge, the hotel's bar and breakfast space, is the social heart, and its standout feature is a light fixture made from fifty whisky decanters above the counter; it serves drinks and snacks through the day and evening. Breakfast is an optional buffet with organic products and Fairtrade coffee. Room categories include the standard double, a solo-traveller room, rooms with a view over the historic centre, family rooms and accessible rooms; children up to twelve stay free in their parents' room, which makes it unusually good value for families. The location could hardly be better: Waverley station is a short walk, the Royal Mile is a few side streets and closes uphill, Princes Street is across the bridges, and the Real Mary King's Close, St Giles', Calton Hill and the Christmas market are all within ten minutes on foot.

What to know: rooms are compact — fine for sightseers who use the room for sleeping, less so for long stays with lots of luggage. Ask for a view room if you want to look over the historic centre; standard rooms may face inward or toward neighbouring buildings. Check-in is from 3pm and check-out by noon, and luggage storage is free, which helps on arrival and departure days. There is no on-site parking; the nearest public car park is about fifteen minutes' walk away and must be booked ahead, so this is a hotel for travellers arriving by train, tram or air rather than car.

Base math: arriving by train, you can be in your room within minutes of stepping off at Waverley. The Market Street side of the station is directly by the hotel, the airport tram stops on Princes Street a short walk away, and Edinburgh's main bus routes run along the bridges above. The Old Town is literally uphill: closes such as Fleshmarket and Advocate's lead straight up from Market Street to the High Street, so the Royal Mile is minutes away — but steep. Restaurants, bars and the City Art Centre and Fruitmarket gallery are all on the doorstep.

Price and fit: rates are among the best value for a central location, though, like everything in Edinburgh, they rise steeply in August and at Hogmanay. The 5% city visitor levy applies to the first five nights. Motel One is ideal for budget-conscious couples, solo travellers, rail travellers and families with younger children; choose a boutique or luxury hotel if the room itself is part of the experience you want. The hotel also holds Green Key sustainability certification, and pets are welcome by arrangement with the hotel.