High Street Hostel

Edinburgh 55.94998200, -3.18624000 , 8 Blackfriars St (Show on Map)
8.2
Very Good


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1 room2 guests 1 room, 2 guests
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Summary of reviewsHigh Street Hostel in Edinburgh garners widespread praise for its central location, sitting in the heart of the city's historic district. Just steps away from major attractions, lively pubs and shops, its proximity to the Royal Mile and Waverley Station makes it convenient for both exploration and transportation. Despite being centrally situated, the hostel maintains a peaceful atmosphere, providing a quiet retreat after a day of sightseeing.

Guests commend the breakfast offering, which, for just £3, includes an unlimited buffet of essentials such as cereals, toast, fruits and coffee. The cost-effective, plentiful breakfast adds further value to the overall experience. Additionally, the well-equipped kitchen is a highlight, allowing guests to prepare their meals in a spacious and communal environment. This culinary-friendly feature fosters a vibrant social atmosphere among travelers.

The accommodations are noted for their spaciousness and comfort, featuring clean rooms and beds with individual amenities like charging sockets and lights. However, some reviews mention the need for better ventilation and odor management in certain rooms. The high standard of cleanliness and daily maintenance in common areas like bathrooms and showers contributes to a generally positive outlook, despite some areas, such as the kitchen, occasionally lacking in upkeep.

Staff at High Street Hostel receive high marks for their friendliness, helpfulness and welcoming attitude. The professional and accommodating service enhances the overall guest experience, making visitors feel valued and supported. The hostel creates a warm community vibe through its dedicated volunteer team and well-organized activities.

The hostel offers dependable WiFi, generally praised for its speed and reliability, making it suitable for various online activities. Additionally, the hostel's vibrant nightlife scene with surrounding clubs and pubs and in-hostel events like pub crawls, creates a lively environment for socializing and exploration. This bustling atmosphere, coupled with a quiet common lounge area, caters to both those seeking excitement and those desiring relaxation.

High Street Hostel appeals particularly to solo travelers and younger guests with its social and communal environment. The option of girls-only dorms provides a sense of safety and comfort for solo female travelers. While some guests note minor issues with locker sizes and bed privacy, the overall experience remains highly positive.

Visitors are charmed by the hostel’s historical ambiance and medieval architecture, further enriched by its location in Edinburgh's old town. This historical setting allows guests to experience a unique and immersive stay, echoing the rich cultural heritage of the city.

Overall, High Street Hostel delivers an affordable, comfortable and engaging stay, making it a top choice for travelers keen on exploring Edinburgh's rich history and vibrant culture.
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Categories
Historic Hostel

Hostel near Nightlife Spots

Cheap Hostel

Hostel for Adults Only

Room Types
Single Bed in 18-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room This is a single bed in a mixed dormitory. It includes a bedside safe, a locker, and access to shared bathroom facilities.

Single Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room This is a single bed in a mixed dormitory. It includes a bedside safe, a locker, and access to shared bathroom facilities.

Single Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room This is a single bed in a mixed dormitory. It includes a bedside safe, a locker, and access to shared bathroom facilities.

Single Bed in 4-Bed Female Dormitory Room This is a single bed in an all-female dormitory. It includes a bedside safe, a locker, and access to shared bathroom facilities.

Single Bed in 10-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room This is a single bed in a mixed dormitory. It includes a bedside safe, a locker, and access to shared bathroom facilities.

Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room Rooms are 15 square metres.

Standard Twin Room with Shared Bathroom The twin room offers a carpeted floor, heating, as well as a shared bathroom boasting a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The unit has 2 beds.

Standard Double Room with Shared Bathroom The double room provides a carpeted floor, heating, as well as a shared bathroom featuring a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The unit offers 1 bed.

Single Bed in Female Dormitory Room Rooms are 19 square metres.

Guest Reviews
8.2
Very Good
Location
Located in the heart of Edinburgh, High Street Hostel stands out for its prime location, making it a perfect choice for travelers wanting to explore the city's historic center. The hostel is conveniently situated close to the Royal Mile, providing easy access to major attractions, lively pubs and a variety of shops and restaurants. Just a short walk from Waverley Station, it offers superb connectivity—ideal for those arriving by train or needing to catch a bus to the airport.

Despite its central position, the hostel manages to maintain a quiet and peaceful atmosphere, ensuring guests can enjoy restful nights. Nearly every notable site in Edinburgh is within a 10-15 minute walk, allowing visitors to immerse themselves fully in the city's rich history and vibrant culture without the hassle of long commutes.

The hostel is also praised for its charming architecture and comfortable amenities, contributing to a pleasant and welcoming environment. Whether tourists are visiting famous landmarks like Edinburgh Castle, exploring the historic Old Town or enjoying the scenic beauty of Holyrood Park and Dean Village, High Street Hostel’s location serves as an excellent base for a fulfilling Edinburgh experience.

Breakfast
High Street Hostel offers a breakfast option that has garnered largely positive feedback from guests, emphasizing both value and affordability. For just £3, guests can enjoy a basic yet unlimited breakfast buffet, which includes essentials like cereal, toast, bread with spreads such as peanut butter, fruit, yogurt, milk and coffee. This simple spread is appreciated for its excellent price-quality ratio, making it a budget-friendly choice compared to other hostels.

Guests note that while the breakfast is not overly varied, it is abundant and sufficient for the price. The overall atmosphere during breakfast is warm and welcoming, adding to its appeal. Others have praised the generous offering, allowing them to eat as much as they want, which is particularly noted to be a good deal at this price point.

While some guests feel that the breakfast could be improved with more variety, possibly including items like eggs or different spreads, most agree that the breakfast is convenient, delicious and adequate for starting the day. The availability of free coffee and tea throughout the day is an added benefit that enhances the overall experience.

In summary, High Street Hostel provides a cheap, straightforward and satisfactory breakfast that has been well-received, especially in terms of its affordability and abundant offerings. For travelers seeking value, this breakfast option is worth considering.

Dinner
High Street Hostel stands out for its culinary-friendly features, according to guest reviews. The hostel boasts a large, spacious and well-equipped kitchen, making it an ideal space for cooking quality dishes. Guests appreciate the ample kitchen facilities and the completeness of common kitchen items available. The communal atmosphere extends to both the kitchen and the spacious common room, where there is often a lively atmosphere and opportunities for team-building events. Overall, the kitchen is a highlight, offering a great environment for those who enjoy cooking their own meals while meeting other travelers.

Rooms
Reviews for High Street Hostel highlight several noteworthy aspects of the rooms. On the positive side, guests appreciated the spaciousness of many rooms and the comfortable beds, complete with soft and newer linen. The rooms were described as clean and the presence of individual lockers added a sense of security. Additionally, the quiet and cozy atmosphere was frequently mentioned, providing a pleasant environment for guests to rest.

However, there were several recurring issues. Many guests found the rooms to be on the smaller side, particularly those designed to accommodate multiple occupants, such as 4-bed or 10-bed dormitories. In terms of cleanliness, there were some mixed reviews with several guests noting that both rooms and bathrooms could benefit from more thorough cleaning. A notable concern was the unpleasant and sometimes strange smells reported in various rooms and hallways, which affected the overall experience.

The rooms were also described as somewhat dark, even with lights on and some lacked proper ventilation, leading to stuffiness, especially at night. Storage space was another significant issue with guests mentioning the absence of tables, chairs or adequate places to keep their belongings in both double rooms and dormitories.

Overall, while the hostel offers comfortable and spacious accommodations that are quiet and well-secured, improvements in cleanliness, ventilation, odor management and room layout could significantly enhance guest satisfaction.

Beds
The beds at High Street Hostel receive a mix of feedback from guests with a noticeable emphasis on their comfort. Many reviewers praise the beds for being clean and equipped with individual charging sockets and lights. Despite the limited space in some rooms, guests appreciate the comfort of the beds, describing them as comfortable, very comfortable and comfy. The presence of two pillows per bed is particularly highlighted as a positive feature.

However, some reviews indicate that the beds are on the smaller side and can feel a bit crowded in certain rooms. Privacy is a noted concern, as the beds do not come with curtains. The beds are generally found to be sturdy and solid, minimizing movements. In terms of comfort, while several guests found the mattresses and bedding adequate, there are mentions of the mattresses being old and worn with some beds being either too hard or too soft, leading to discomfort for others.

Overall, while the beds at High Street Hostel are praised for their general comfort and amenities, issues with size, privacy and mattress quality are areas of improvement that could enhance the guest experience.

Cleanliness
The cleanliness at High Street Hostel receives mixed reviews with a generally positive outlook. Most guests praise the hostel for being very clean, highlighting clean bathrooms, showers and common areas. The rooms are often described as clean, well-maintained and comfortable with some noting that the property is spotless and cleaning is done daily to maintain hygiene standards.

However, there are repeated mentions of cleanliness issues in the kitchen and some bathrooms. Guests have pointed out that the kitchen has old utensils and sometimes lacks proper cleanliness and a few reviews mention overflowing trashcans and dirty sinks in the bathrooms. The showers, while cleaned daily, have also been noted to require a bit of modernization.

Overall, High Street Hostel maintains a high standard of cleanliness, especially in common areas and rooms. Despite occasional negative remarks about specific areas needing improvement, the hostel's commitment to keeping the property clean and well-organized is evident.

Staff
High Street Hostel is often praised for its exceptional staff, known for their friendliness, helpfulness and welcoming nature. Guests frequently highlight the staff's ability to provide clear, attentive and supportive service. The team is described as very accommodating, patient and willing to assist with anything from storing luggage to offering tips on local attractions and activities.

The reception staff stand out for their politeness and cheerful demeanor, making every guest feel acknowledged and valued. The warm and hospitable atmosphere created by the employees significantly enhances the overall experience at the hostel. Although there are occasional mentions of less favorable interactions, the overwhelming majority of feedback emphasizes the staff's kindness, efficiency and enthusiastic customer service.

Moreover, the hostel fosters a friendly environment, thanks to a team that includes volunteers who contribute to a pleasant communal vibe. This consistent level of service ensures that guests feel welcome and supported throughout their stay, making High Street Hostel a top choice for travelers seeking comfort and hospitality.

Wi-Fi
High Street Hostel offers a generally reliable internet experience for its guests with many praising the good to excellent WiFi throughout the property. The signal is strong and often uninterrupted, supporting activities from casual browsing to serious work duties. Several reviews noted the fast internet speeds, making it possible to stream content without issues. Although the hostel provides 1GB of free data per day, this limitation doesn't seem to detract significantly from the overall positive feedback. While there were a few mentions of slow speeds and non-functional WiFi, these seem to be outweighed by the numerous comments about the good, strong and very fast connectivity. Overall, the WiFi at High Street Hostel is considered dependable and effective for most guests' needs.

Nightlife
High Street Hostel sits in a vibrant area known for its bustling nightlife. Surrounding the hostel, guests will find plenty of clubs, pubs and live music venues to explore, creating an amazing nightlife scene ripe for exploration. The staff contribute to this lively atmosphere with a range of nightly activities, including organized pub crawls and other events that encourage socializing and experiencing the local culture. One night might involve watching live music and learning traditional Scottish dances, while another could see guests listening to a modern band and dancing until the early hours.

The hostel itself fosters a social environment with its comfortable common lounge area and a bar that remains pleasantly quiet. It's particularly well-suited for solo travelers looking to meet new people, thanks to the various activities hosted every evening. This active schedule contributes to a good atmosphere, complete with a beautiful medieval charm.

However, the hostel's prime location comes with some drawbacks. Noise can be an issue, especially from the busy streets and nearby nightclubs. While the hostel's windows don't entirely block out the street noise, indoors can sometimes be just as loud due to other guests returning late at night or making noise in the hallways. Despite this, the communal areas such as the dining room and game room provide comfortable and quiet spaces for eating, working and relaxing.

Overall, High Street Hostel offers a perfect base for those keen to dive into the local nightlife with its plethora of events and ideal proximity to main tourist spots. The lively atmosphere, coupled with the multitude of activities, means guests are unlikely to be bored, even if a good pair of earplugs might be recommended for a peaceful night's sleep.

Adult Only
High Street Hostel has garnered a positive reputation, particularly among solo travelers and younger guests. The cozy common room offers a comfortable space to relax and socialize. Many guests appreciate the opportunity to book a girls-only dorm, which is especially reassuring for solo female travelers. The staff's helpful nature ensures a welcoming experience with many noting their friendliness and dedication to planning engaging activities for guests.

The hostel promotes an atmosphere of altruism and community, making it easy for travelers to connect. It’s a great spot for those looking to meet like-minded individuals, particularly solo travelers and younger people. Though mixed dormitories and spaces are mentioned, the environment remains inviting and inclusive.

Some reviews point out that the lockers provided are not ideal, but this seems to be a minor drawback compared to the overall positive experiences shared. High Street Hostel is often described as one of the best, thanks to its vibrant atmosphere and well-organized activities, making it an ideal place for solo adventurers and groups of friends seeking a lively, youthful environment. Families are also welcome, but the hostel seems to cater primarily to a younger demographic looking for a social and dynamic stay.

Historic
Nestled in the heart of Edinburgh's old town, High Street Hostel offers a unique slice of history. The building, a traditional Scottish structure, exudes charm with its quaint furniture and medieval atmosphere. Guests revel in its incredible location, mere steps away from major tourist attractions, historical and cultural sites and the iconic Royal Mile. The hostel itself is steeped in history with fixtures and fittings that bring its storied past to life. Despite being centrally located, the area remains surprisingly quiet, adding to the serene yet vibrant experience of staying in such a historic part of the city. Surrounded by the old city's charm and character, guests find themselves immersed in a place that feels like a different era, making their stay in Edinburgh both memorable and enriching.


No, High Street Hostel doesn't have any pool.

No, a spa isn't available at High Street Hostel.

No, High Street Hostel doesn't allow dogs.

No, parking facilities aren't available at High Street Hostel.

No, High Street Hostel doesn't have a gym.

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