The Spires Serviced Apartments Edinburgh

I booked through booking.com after seeing bright, open-looking photos, but the apartment felt more like a closet divided by three heavy doors. The carpet was stained and everything looked dull, so the pictures were misleading. There was no one to welcome us or check us in, just a phone number that was no help while travelling. They couldn't be reached on Messenger or WhatsApp either, and emailing them seemed pointless. I'm really disappointed. I wouldn't recommend The Spires serviced appartement, and this has spoiled my stay in Edinburgh. Never again.

The street-facing rooms are noisy: there's club sound and late-night revellers, followed by early glass-bin collections on both Saturday and Sunday. The heating is centrally timed, so if you come back to a cold flat, you have to wait for it to turn on. Reception is closed all weekend, something none of the emails mention. That means no late checkout, bag storage, weekend breakfast, or extra blankets and bedding. The doors all swing shut automatically, which made the place feel like a hostel. The TV is small, has no internet, and only gets old-fashioned channels.

We only stayed a short time, but it was pleasant. The rooms were clean, and the staff were friendly. Everything we needed was within walking distance, and the apartment had kitchenware and basic toiletries. We arrived before check-in and left our bags in the corridor; the place felt safe, and the receptionist was nice. I think his name was Brian.

The floors were shaking from the loud music, and the pubs kept playing it until 4am on weekends. We couldn't sleep. It's cheap for a reason, it's inconvenient, and I'd avoid it if travelling with family. Absolutely not worth it.