Alba House Hotel | Budget 4-Star Edinburgh

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Key details

About the Hotel

29 Craigmillar Park, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, EH16 5PE

Near Edinburgh Castle

Perfect

9.1

9.4

/10

4.8

4.9

Loved by The Alba House guests

Cute host
Handy location
Comfortable bed
Informative host
Convenient bus stop
Lovely rooms

"The location was great you can catch a bus straight into princess st."

fiona g from United Kingdom

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"The room we stayed in was also on the top floor and had beautiful skylights."

Katherine from Netherlands

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"Breakfast each morning was a highlight; a hearty offering complemented by a delicious fruit platter, with the option of both tea and coffee catering to all preferences."

Anna

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4-star Victorian guest house near Edinburgh city centre

Location

Alba House is located on Craigmillar Park, just a 10-minute drive from the city centre. The property is well-served by local transport options, making travel convenient for guests. Nearby attractions include Edinburgh University (Kings Buildings), The Royal Observatory, and the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Rooms

The hotel offers a variety of rooms, each reflecting the character of a Victorian villa. Superior rooms come with comfortable king-size beds, Egyptian cotton bedding, and spacious layouts with high ceilings. The classic double and twin rooms are tailored for solo travelers or couples on a budget, featuring coombed ceilings and traditional bathtubs.

Dining

Guests can enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast each morning, served in the dining area. The breakfast selection offers various options to start the day. Local pubs and restaurants are also within a 10-minute walk for additional dining experiences.

Parking

Alba House provides on-site parking for guests, ensuring convenience for those traveling by car. Free parking is available, making travel stress-free. The location is accessible without a car, with transport links just steps away from the property.

Safety and Cleanliness

The hotel takes safety seriously with professionally cleaned rooms sealed after cleaning. Measures include staff in protective clothing and barriers in main areas. Enhanced cleaning protocols follow local guidelines, providing additional peace of mind for guests.

Highlights

Location: 10-minute drive from the city centre

Rooms: Comfortable king-size beds with Egyptian cotton bedding

Dining: Complimentary continental breakfast

Parking: Free on-site parking

“This family-run Victorian villa provides a tranquil escape with surprisingly spacious rooms. The inclusion of a full English breakfast sets the tone for a day of exploring Edinburgh, easily accessible from this ideally situated base. What stands out is the warm hospitality, even in the owner's absence, which leaves a lasting impression.”

Olivia SmithEditor-in-Chief at Cheaphotels

Location: Perfect

9.2/10Review score

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Highlights from guests

Guest ParkingHassle-Free Parking

The property offered parking spaces. It meant our car stayed put, while regular buses took us into the city.

Robert from Wales

Review on

DiningDelicious Start

The breakfast included fresh fruit, cereal, yogurt, toast, juice, pastries, and tea/coffee. It was delicious and plentiful!

Mei Lin from Singapore

Review on

BathroomModern Comfort

The bathroom was updated with modern appliances. The shower offered great hot water.

Rebecca L from United States

Review on

BedroomRestful Nights

The beds were very comfortable and provided a great night's sleep.

Andrew from Australia

Review on

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Select your room type

The hotel provides a selection of rooms—doubles, family rooms, and suites—with perks like free cancellation, breakfast options, and great value deals

Superior Double Room

2 persons

175 sq. feet

1 King-size bed

Shower

room details

Standard Twin Room Garden View

2 persons

130 sq. feet

2 Single beds

Shower

room details

Standard Double Room

2 persons

130 sq. feet

1 Double bed

Bathtub

room details

Room rates & availability calendar

See the best prices and book your dates today!

Amenities & services

Real traveler stories and honest reviews—no glossy ads, just authentic feedback to guide your booking

Facilities: Perfect

9.0/10Review score

General

No smoking on site
Wi-Fi
Parking
Express check-in/ -out
No pets allowed
Security

Services

Housekeeping

Room features

Tea and coffee facilities

Bathroom

Free toiletries

Media

Flat-screen TV

The Alba House Location

29 Craigmillar Park, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, EH16 5PE

Map view

29 Craigmillar Park, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, EH16 5PE

City landmarks

Museum

Edinburgh Castle

1.9 mi

Landmark

Arthur's Seat hike

1.8 mi

Museum

National Museum of Scotland

1.5 mi

Palace

Palace of Holyroodhouse

1.7 mi

Landmark

Royal Mile

1.8 mi

Gallery

Scottish National Gallery

1.9 mi

Landmark

The Real Mary King's Close

1.7 mi

Castle

Craigmillar Castle

1.4 mi

Landmark

Surgeons' Hall Museums

1.4 mi

Museum

Camera Obscura and World of Illusions

1.8 mi

Park

Princes Street Gardens

2.0 mi

Landmark

Calton Hill

1.9 mi

Church

St Giles' Cathedral

1.7 mi

Planetarium

Royal Observatory Edinburgh Visitor Centre

4400 ft

University

University of Edinburgh

1.3 mi

Landmark

The Meadows

1.3 mi

Store

Edinburgh Old Town

1.7 mi

Landmark

St Anthony's Chapel

4300 ft

Park

Holyrood Park

1.6 mi

Landmark

Nelson Monument

1.9 mi

Monument

Scott Monument

1.9 mi

Museum

The Writers' Museum

1.8 mi

Museum

Dynamic Earth

1.6 mi

Garden

Dr Neil's Garden

1.9 mi

Market

Earthy Foods & Goods

2900 ft

Museum

Gladstone's Land

1.8 mi

Landmark

Summerhall

1.0 mi

Museum

Museum of Childhood

1.7 mi

Church

Reid Memorial Church

3400 ft

Nearby

Mall

Cameron Toll Shopping Centre

1600 ft

Restaurants

The Pacific Fish Bar

2500 ft

61 Mayfield Road

Explore Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle

35 minutes' walk

Historic fortress with panoramic views, rich history, and the Honours of Scotland. Notable for its annual Military Tattoo.

National Museum of Scotland

30 minutes' walk

Diverse collection of exhibits from Scottish history to natural wonders, with free admission and regular special exhibitions.

Palace of Holyroodhouse

30 minutes' walk

Official residence of the monarch with stunning architecture and beautiful gardens. Offers guided tours during the summer months.

Arthur's Seat hike

35 minutes' walk

An ancient volcano offering a scenic hike and breathtaking views of the city. Popular for outdoor enthusiasts and photographers.

Holyrood Park Trails

30 minutes' walk

Well-maintained trails through Holyrood Park ideal for walking or cycling. Offers stunning landscape views and is family-friendly.

Midlothian Snowsports Centre

10 minutes' drive

Skiing and snowboarding opportunities along with summer activities like mountain biking. Rental equipment is available on-site.

Yoga at The Meadows

25 minutes' walk

Relaxing outdoor yoga sessions in a scenic park setting, with classes suitable for all levels held regularly in summer.

The Pacific Fish Bar

10 minutes' walk

Casual dining spot known for fresh fish and chips. Offers a relaxed atmosphere and options for takeout and allergies.

The Saltyard

5 minutes' drive

Contemporary dining with a focus on tapas-style sharing plates. Features a vibrant atmosphere and local, seasonal ingredients.

The Stand Comedy Club

10 minutes' drive

Popular venue for live comedy with regular performances. Ideal spot for a night out with a fun, vibrant atmosphere.

Cameo Cinema

10 minutes' drive

One of the oldest cinemas in the UK, showcasing independent films and classics. Family-friendly programming available.

Getting around town

City Centre

Edinburgh34 min · 1.7 mi

Airports

Edinburgh (EDI)34 min · 14.0 mi

Glasgow (GLA)143 min · 58.9 mi

Bus

Bus stop6 min · 1700 ft

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Property information and rules

Check-in

from 14:00-20:00

Check-out

until 10 am

Guest Parking

Public parking is possible on site for free.

Internet

Wireless internet is available in for free.

Children & extra beds

There are no cots provided in a room.

Pets

Pets are not allowed.

Number of rooms:

Reviews and Ratings

What past guests shared about their stay

Review summary

Based on recent reviews

Alba House Hotel is often praised for its beautiful and well-maintained appearance, offering guests a cosy experience, especially after a day exploring Edinburgh. The spacious rooms and comfortable king-size beds are frequently mentioned, along with the convenience of the bus stop located right outside for easy access to the city centre. While some guests have found the parking a little tight, the hotel's location and the ease of using public transport generally outweigh this concern.

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Review score

Based on 321 verified reviews

9.1/10

Perfect

96%

Recommend

Staff

9.7/10

Cleanliness

9.5/10

Breakfast

7.5/10

Value for money

8.6/10

Pros

Helpful owner

Modern bathroom

Easy bus access

Cons

Traffic noise

Rough bedding

Single glazing

matthew from united kingdom

Single

superior double room

4 nights in November 2025

Reviewed: December 30, 2025

9/10

fantastic stay near the city

clean hotelshort buscaring hostshower facilities

The hotel was clean and spacious. I appreciated the 10-minute bus ride to the city center, which allowed me to leave my car at the hotel. the hosts were very informative. they allowed me to keep my car there even after checkout, so i could visit the city without any issues. I found this very kind. breakfast was fresh and good.

I was surprised that my room did not have shower facilities. it only had a bath. this was inconvenient. I hope this is addressed.

Facilities

9/10

parking is available in front of the hotel. there are bus stops outside that provide easy connections to the city center, which i definitely valued. breakfast includes fruit, pastries, cereal options, and yoghurt, with a lighter start to the day.

0 Helpful

Show less

Frank from Germany

Single

Superior Double Room

3 nights in November 2025

Reviewed: December 21, 2025

9.0/10

Comfortable Stay Near City Center

friendly hostuseful infocomfy bedsstreet noise

I found a very friendly host. She gave me useful info regarding public transport. The room included comfy beds and everything was super clean. Express check-out helped a lot with my early flight.

The noise from the street disturbed me. My room faced the front and the road was busy. I am particularly sensitive to noise and did not sleep very well.

Service

10/10

The host gave excellent recommendations on local attractions and bus routes. Staff was happy to store my bags before check-in. They provided assistance with directions and transport options also.

Location

9/10

The hotel is located a short distance from the city center, approximately 20 minutes by bus. A bus stop is conveniently located directly outside the hotel. This provides easy access to various parts of the city.

Facilities

8/10

My room had a smart TV and a fan. The hotel offers parking . I saw skylights in rooms that provided good ventilation. Rooms were very clean.

Dining

9/10

The hotel offered a continental breakfast. There was fresh fruit, bread, yogurt, coffee and tea available. I considered it a good start to my day touring the city.

0 Helpful

parker from united kingdom

Single

superior double room

4 nights in November 2025

Reviewed: December 16, 2025

6/10

decent stay

bus stopeasy accesstea supplybiscuit supplybathroom appliancesbusy streetsingle-glazed windowslimited selection

the bus stop was right outside. it provided easy access to the city (i appreciated this convenience). the hotel refreshed my tea and biscuit supply each day. the updated bathroom appliances were also nice.

the room faced a busy street. single-glazed windows did little to block out the noise. i found it hard to sleep the first night (earplugs helped after that). breakfast offered a limited selection.

0 Helpful

Ruth

Single

superior double room

3 nights in November 2025

Reviewed: December 13, 2025

9/10

convenient location near bus lines

convenient locationdirect accessgood breakfast

the bus stop was directly across the street. the location provided convenient access to the city center. breakfast was included and good.

0 Helpful

Elliot from Australia

Couple

Superior Double Room

3 nights in August 2025

Reviewed: September 27, 2025

9.2/10

Bus Stop Convenience!

bus stopwonderful ownerconvenient location

The owner was super nice and showed me how to use the bus to get around. The bus stop was right outside the door, so traveling around was simple. After a long day seeing the sites, it felt very cute to come back to the home.

Parking felt a little tight when I wanted to leave.

Dining

8/10

Breakfast included fresh fruit, pastries. a selection of cereals and yogurts. A lighter start to the day it was, though it did offer the appropriate energy for my daily excursions.

Service

10/10

The host gave useful directions and recommendations. It helped find my way around quickly. The proprietor was charming and most helpful. I seemed like I could always ask questions.

Rooms

9/10

The room was very spacious. It was clean, comfortable, and quiet. Ventilation was very good. This kept the temperature perfect. The bed was comfortable. It provided a wonderful night's rest.

Facilities

10/10

Bus lines stop right in front. They go directly to the center. The ride takes less than fifteen minutes. Ample parking is available. It makes it easy to come and go. The house is beautiful. It is lovely.

Location

9/10

The location is convenient. It is a short bus ride from the city core. Leaving the city by car is easy. It made day trips simple. The bus stop is just across the street. This helped save travel time.

0 Helpful

FAQs

About The Alba House

What are the check-in and check-out times at Alba House Hotel?

Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out is by 10:00.

What is the distance from Alba House Hotel to Edinburgh city centre?

The hotel is located less than 3 km from Edinburgh city centre.

Is parking available at Alba House Hotel?

Free public parking is available on-site without the need for a reservation.

What nearby restaurants can guests visit when staying at Alba House Hotel?

Nearby restaurants include Delhi Diner (0.5 km), Thaisanuk (1 km), Edinburgh Food Studio (1 km), The Greenhouse Edinburgh (1 km), and Kwok Restaurant (1 km).

What amenities are included in the rooms at Alba House Hotel?

Rooms feature central heating, a flat-screen TV, hairdryers, tea/coffee making facilities, and spacious seating areas.

Is breakfast available at Alba House Hotel?

A full English breakfast is included in most room rates at the hotel.

What are some nearby attractions to Alba House Hotel?

Attractions nearby include Edinburgh University's Kings Buildings (approximately 2 km), The Royal Observatory (approximately 2 km), and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary (2 km).