Britannia Hotel Edinburgh

Breakfast was fantastic, and I’m sure dinner would have been just as good. The bar looked well stocked, and there were vending machines for snacks and cold drinks by the lifts. Off-street parking was limited. My room was clean, though the lamp and kettle switches were behind the units, so I had to pull them out a bit to reach the switches. The walk from Waverly Station took about an hour through busy streets, past landmarks and parks, so I didn’t mind it. I took a taxi back the next day. There was a queue at check-in and only one person at the desk, so I waited about 15 minutes. The service was good once I was seen. I found the stay acceptable and good value for money.

The room smelled strongly of urine, and the bathroom was disgusting. There was rust on the toilet roll holder, the sink and shower leaked, and there were blood stains on the floor. No bath mat was provided, so I used a hand towel rather than put my feet on the lino. The floor was lifting by the wall, the shower gel container was empty, and the shower curtain smelled vile, as if it had never been washed. Dust and cobwebs covered the bathroom and bedroom ventilation, neither of which worked. The floors and beds creaked whenever we moved. We were told at reception that our room had no window and that this was stated in the booking, but we checked and couldn’t find any mention of it. The receptionist was unfriendly and uninterested, and insisted my husband show his passport even though we’d come from Merseyside. The door had a gap all the way around it, letting corridor light in all night, along with a very bright green light above the door. The dark purple paint was chipped all over. If you paint a room that colour, you need to keep it maintained. We could hear karaoke from a function room, an old man howling songs and the bass coming through the door gap, until at least midnight. We ended up making earplugs from toilet paper. If I could have given no stars, I would have.

The staff were helpful, and the communal areas were clean and pleasant, with a few books and games. Our bedroom was a good size and had a nice tea and coffee setup, and we could use a cot for the whole stay. We wanted a basic, good-value place to use as a base for exploring the city, and that’s what we got. Our room was accessible, with wide doors, grab rails, a walk-in shower and drop-down toilet rails. There’s a steep slope from the main street and bridge down to the main entrance, but a fire exit leads back to street level and avoids that steep push.

For a budget hotel, it has the basics, clean bathrooms and linens, and a decent breakfast. It works if you’ll be out most of the time, but I wouldn’t treat the room as a place to unwind after a busy day. Mine had no window and a low ceiling, which made it feel more claustrophobic than it was. The rooms show wear, the place feels a little neglected, and the staff were grudgingly helpful. I reported a kettle problem when I arrived, but it was still unfixed at checkout. Adjust your expectations accordingly. It’s not a good fit if you’re fussy.