Honestly, the Lauriston Place area of Edinburgh can be a bit of a maze if you aren't careful. You've got the historic Old Town on one side and the bustling Grassmarket just down the hill, and right in the middle of this architectural tug-of-war sits the Novotel Edinburgh Centre. It isn't a castle. It isn't a boutique hotel hidden down a spooky close. It’s a large, modern, glass-and-stone block that serves a very specific purpose for people who want to be near the Royal Mile without actually sleeping on a 400-year-old mattress.
Most people booking a trip to Scotland's capital get overwhelmed by the options. Do you go for the high-end luxury of the Balmoral or the budget-friendly hostels? The Novotel Edinburgh Centre occupies that weird, middle-ground "sweet spot" that is surprisingly hard to find in a city that gets as crowded as Edinburgh.
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Location is everything, but it's not what you think
If you look at a map, you'll see the hotel is about a ten-minute walk from the Waverley train station. That's a bit of a lie. Well, it's a lie if you're carrying three suitcases and it's raining sideways, which happens more often than the tourism board likes to admit. The walk is uphill.
But here is the real kicker about the location: it's actually closer to the "real" Edinburgh than the tourist-heavy Princess Street. You are right next to the University of Edinburgh’s campus and the Meadows, which is basically the city's lungs. If you want to see where the locals actually drink coffee and walk their dogs, you turn left out the front door. If you want the bagpipes and tartan shops, you turn right and head toward the Grassmarket.
Navigating the Grassmarket shortcut
One thing most guests miss is the literal "back door" vibe of getting to the castle. You don't have to walk all the way around. There are stairs—lots of them—that cut through the historic wynds. It’s a thigh-burner. But it beats sitting in a taxi stuck in the permanent traffic jam that is the South Bridge.
The room situation: Function over "Vibe"
Don't expect Victorian crown molding here. The Novotel Edinburgh Centre is part of the Accor group, so the rooms have a very specific, standardized DNA. They are clean. They are functional. They have that weirdly specific Novotel "Live N Dream" bedding which, to be fair, is actually better than most five-star hotels I've stayed in.
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The rooms are bigger than what you'll find in the New Town hotels. In Edinburgh, space is a massive luxury. Because this building was constructed with modern specs, you actually have room to open your suitcase without tripping over the desk.
- Executive Rooms: These usually come with a Nespresso machine and a robe. Is it worth the extra thirty quid? Maybe, if you value a slightly higher floor and a better view of the skyline.
- Family Rooms: This is where the hotel wins. They have sofas that convert into beds for kids. Most Edinburgh hotels charge a fortune for "interconnecting" rooms, but here, you can usually cram a family of four into one space without feeling like sardines.
The pool that nobody talks about
Finding a hotel with a pool in central Edinburgh is like finding a cheap pint of Tennent's on the Royal Mile—nearly impossible. The Novotel Edinburgh Centre has a heated indoor pool, a hot tub, and a sauna.
It’s small. Let's be real. If three families show up at the same time, it feels like a public bathhouse. But if you go at 9:00 PM when the kids are asleep, or 6:30 AM before the breakfast rush, it’s a sanctuary. After walking fifteen miles on cobblestones—and you will walk that much—soaking your feet in a heated pool is the only thing that will save your trip.
Eating at the Tap Kitchen & Bar
The on-site restaurant is called Tap Kitchen & Bar. It’s fine. It’s safe. They do a decent burger and the breakfast buffet is massive.
However, you're in one of the best food cities in the UK.
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Directly across the street and around the corner are some of the best spots in the city. You have Timberyard for high-end dining in an old warehouse, or if you want something cheap and legendary, head to Oink for a hog roast roll. The hotel breakfast is convenient, especially if it’s included in your rate, but don't feel obligated to eat dinner there every night. You’d be missing out on the soul of the city.
The "Quiet Side" secret
Edinburgh is loud. Between the festival performers in August and the drunk revelers during Hogmanay, sleep can be a challenge. When checking in at the Novotel Edinburgh Centre, always ask for a room facing away from the main road. The street-facing rooms have decent double glazing, but the buses in Edinburgh roar like jet engines. The back-facing rooms look over some office buildings and residential areas, but they are significantly quieter.
A note on the Edinburgh Festival
If you are visiting in August, all bets are off. This hotel becomes a hub for performers and critics. The lobby will be chaos. The elevators will be slow. But the energy is infectious. If you want a quiet, contemplative retreat during the Fringe, you've picked the wrong city, not just the wrong hotel.
Let's talk about the price
Prices in this city fluctuate wildly. During a random Tuesday in November, you might snag a room for £90. During the Royal Highland Show or a Six Nations rugby weekend? Expect to pay £300+.
The value proposition of the Novotel Edinburgh Centre is its consistency. You know exactly what the bathroom will look like. You know the Wi-Fi will actually work (which is a struggle in those old stone buildings with thick walls). For business travelers, this is the gold standard. For families, it’s a lifesaver.
What people get wrong about Novotel
There’s a misconception that "chain" means "souless." While the decor isn't dripping in Scottish history, the staff usually are. The concierge team here knows the city better than most. They can tell you which vault tours are actually scary and which ones are just people in capes jumping out at you.
Another myth: that it's too far from the action.
You are literally a five-minute walk from the Lyceum Theatre and the Usher Hall. If you’re in town for a show, you couldn't be better placed.
Technical details for the planners
- Check-in: 3:00 PM (They are strict, but they'll hold your bags for free).
- Parking: There is an on-site car park. This is huge. Driving in Edinburgh is a nightmare and parking is expensive. Having a secure garage in the basement is a massive "win" for anyone doing a Scottish road trip.
- Accessibility: Unlike the charming "B&Bs" in Newington that have four flights of stairs and no lift, this hotel is fully accessible. Wide corridors, reliable elevators, and proper wet rooms.
Practical steps for your stay
If you've decided to pull the trigger and book the Novotel Edinburgh Centre, do these three things to make sure you don't regret it:
- Join the ALL (Accor Live Limitless) program before booking. It's free. Usually, it gets you a 5-10% discount immediately and, more importantly, it often grants you late checkout. In a city where flights often leave late in the evening, having that room until 2:00 PM is a game changer.
- Pack a swimsuit. Even if you aren't a "pool person," your lower back will thank you after a day of climbing Arthur’s Seat.
- Walk toward Tollcross for coffee. Instead of the hotel coffee, walk two minutes toward Tollcross. There are tiny, independent roasteries there that serve some of the best espresso in Scotland.
- Book the parking in advance. The garage is small and it fills up fast. If you show up with a rental car and no reservation, you’ll end up paying double at a public NCP lot down the street.
The Novotel Edinburgh Centre isn't trying to be the most romantic hotel in the world. It’s trying to be the most reliable one. In a city as unpredictable as Edinburgh—where the weather changes every eleven minutes—having a warm, predictable home base is worth its weight in gold.
When you leave the hotel, head up toward Lady Lawson Street. You’ll get a view of the Castle that most tourists miss, framed perfectly by the old tenements. It's the best "welcome to Edinburgh" moment you can have, and it's practically on the hotel's doorstep.