Holiday Inn Express – Edinburgh City Centre

Housed in an elegant Georgian building across from the historic Edinburgh Playhouse, the hotel offers no more and no less than one would expect at any other Holiday Inn Express. Interiors aren’t quite modern, but they don’t look drab either, with a mix of generic elements such as off-white floors, pale-yellow walls, and recessed lighting. A few updated touches include a backlit front desk, some wood paneling, and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors. The reception and lobby lounge areas are currently being renovated and, judging by what we were told during our visit, the style is going to be more contemporary and cheerful once construction is done (which should be no later than May 2018).

The hotel draws a mixed crowd of business and solo travelers, couples, and families, and though it is generally quiet during the day, mornings are busy on the ground floor, with lines for breakfast and quite some foot traffic in the lobby. The lack of on-site amenities and common areas means few guests hang out at the hotel during the day, and the bar is better suited for a casual meeting or a quick drink than for long evenings with friends. Rates are decent for the location, and breakfast is free, but the Holiday Inn Express - Edinburgh City Centre is overall unremarkable. Travelers seeking something a little bit cheaper may want to consider the Cairn Hotel Edinburgh, though breakfast is not included in the standard rate. Both the Ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge and the Ibis Edinburgh Centre Royal Mile are newer, more stylish, generally cheaper, and closer to most major attractions. Those wanting something with more character may prefer the Angels Share Hotel, but rates are lower at this Holiday Inn Express. 

The Holiday Inn Express - Edinburgh City Centre is located on a busy street on the edge of Edinburgh’s New Town. The area, known for its gorgeous Georgian architecture, is home to several theaters, including the historic Edinburgh Playhouse, which is right across the street from the hotel. The Omni Centre, a large leisure complex with a movie theater, gym, and several dining and drinking options, is also just a two-minute walk away. Several of Edinburgh’s top attractions, including Princes Street, the Royal Mile, and Calton Hill and the National Monument, are all within a 15-minute walk of the hotel. The walk to the Edinburgh Castle can take up to 25 minutes, so some guests may prefer to take a cab instead. There is a bus and tram stop a two-minute walk down the street from the Holiday Inn Express, and Waverley (Edinburgh’s main train station), is just a 10-minute walk away. The airport is a 40-minute bus or tram ride away, while it takes about half an hour to reach by car. 

The hotel has 161 rooms, all outfitted in the same simple, chain-like style, with wall-to-wall brown carpet, generic blond-wood furniture with clean lines, and pale-yellow walls. The combination of red accents in curtains and chairs, mustard bed runners, and older radiators gives rooms a dated feel, but beds are big and comfortable, and feature plush duvets, as well as several pillows each. Standard amenities are decent for the price, and include electric kettles with free tea and instant coffee, and flat-screen TVs with a few international channels. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, but mini-fridges are not available, and rooms lack safes. Power converters are provided on request. 

Most units are a good size, and Family Rooms are big enough to fit a sofa bed for two kids, but storage space is limited in all categories, with just a small open closet with a short rack and a couple of shelves. Views vary between rooms, and range from pretty vistas of the Firth of Forth to average views of the back of the building. Bathrooms, though clean, are a tad snug and outdated, with either small shower stalls or compact walk-in showers, and older black counters with sunken white sinks.

While lobby renovations are ongoing (reportedly to be completed by May 2018), rooms on a higher floor and in the back of the building are generally quieter. 

Features at this Holiday Inn Express are good but limited. Buffet breakfast is served free of charge every morning, complete with a few hot items, juice, tea and coffee, and continental options. Located on the mezzanine level overlooking the lobby, the breakfast room is light but rather compact for a hotel this size, and guests often complain that it feels crowded in the morning, with lines for eggs, bacon and other hot items, and waits for tables. 

The bar has a good selection of hot and cold drinks, as well as a few snacks such as nuts and chips, but there is no full restaurant on-site. During construction, the bar has been moved to the front desk and offers just a few sodas and small bottles of wine and beer that staff keep in a mini-fridge. 

There's no fitness center here, but guests can request vouchers at the front desk for discounted rates at a nearby gym. A tiny parking lot is right behind the property, but it’s available on a first-come, first-served basis. Special rates are available at a parking garage located about a five-minute walk away.