Parliament House Hotel

, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Explore Edinburgh
Nearby Airports
Review this Hotel
Popular Travel Destinations

Recently Reviewed Hotels Around Edinburgh

Parliament House Hotel

, Edinburgh
3 star

Rooms: 52

15 Calton Hill - Edinburgh - Scotland - EH1 3BJ - United Kingdom Hotel Website | | (0 31)4784000
288 Traveller

Reviews - Parliament House Hotel

Historical Traveller Reviews of Parliament House Hotel

Wish we could have stayed longer

from Alison202
Arrived home today from our one night stay at this very pleasant, well positioned, hotel which is certainly good value for money. The hotel was spotless, with no sign of any smell of cigarette smoke - something we were dreading after reading previous reviews. Our room (room 5) was on the first floor - just a few stairs away from the hotel reception - and was really quite spacious. There was even a small coffee table and two easy chairs. We found the staff extremely helpful and friendly who, after we had checked out, were happy to look after our luggage for the day. We opted for the continental breakfast which was as much as you wanted of various cereals, prepared fruit, yoghurt, toast, bread rolls, and pastries and then a small selection of continental meats and cheeses. Our only criticism was the quality of the continental meats.

We would recommended The Wok and Wine Chinese restaurant, on Frederick Street. The food is superb, with excellent service and a good atmosphere.

As far as attractions are concerned, a tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia at Leith is facinating and well worth a visit, although we would advise visiting early on in the day to avoid the crowds.

not for me....

from Travebug
This is a hard hotel to rate, simply because I am an anti smoker, and I thought the hotel smelt like an old ashtray! It was hard to get away from smokers, as there are ashtrays everywhere, and no where except the dining room is out of bounds. Having said that, our room was lovely, although we had to haul our bags up 75 stairs, as there is no lift. We paid only 130 pounds a night - cheap for Edinburgh (this was an internet rate) Service in the restaurant was speedy, but we felt like we were annoying them by being there. This is the only place in Scotland we found to be unfriendly, however I can't dispute the value for money. Don't stay here if you arn't strong enough to carry your luggage, as we got no help in that direction. Would stay somewhere else next time. Would recommend this property to people who get frowned on for smoking in other hotels.

Superb Find

from DrH
What an absolutely amazing hotel find! Located midway between the Old Town and the New Town, 5 minute walk to either, or from the Waverly train station.

It is on a small side street, at the base of Calton Hill. Edinburgh can be a very noisy place, this hotel is almost silent. The room was spacious, I had a queen size bed for a single. Beautiful, modern wood, brown and black trim decor, small refridge, tea maker and supplies. Great duvet blanket. New, spotless bathroom. My only complaint, is that after the great remodeling, you would think they would have had towel racks. Alas, they did not. But the variable spray shower head made up for it. (Last time I saw one of those, outside my own bathroom, was at the Ritz Carleton in Singapore)

Breakfast was included in my reduced, September Special price of 80GBP. The regular web price was 95GBP during the festival, I found a lower price which was instantly honored, with no downgrading of the room. I believe the rack rate was listed at 195GBP, a tad steep. Breakfast, by the way, was priced at 8.50 GBP for the continental, which was more than adequate, or 12.50 for the cooked Scottish (continental, plus porridge and egg/sausage/haggis/kippers, etc). The restaurant also served a 2 or 3 course dinner, I was less than impressed with the menu. Lots of nice restaurants, and a huge number of pubs within a very short walk.

Great bus service just outside the hotel or down the street, 80p per ride. Airport transfer bus line is a 5 minute walk around the corner. No need for taxis.

I've been travelling for 35 years. This hotel is a gem of a find. After seeing the locations of several of the other highly rated (and vastly more expensive) properties that are reviewed on this site, all I can say is they are not as easily reached on foot, and the traffic noise outside is much greater. Parliament House was just superb at every level. I can't imagine returning to Edinburgh and NOT staying here in the future.

Great Location, good value

from A TripAdvisor Member
Stayed here for one night with my husband, excellent hotel, great breakfast, great location. Room was nice, on the top floor, small but had everything we needed plus great veiws.

Delightful Edinburgh Retreat

from Slipstream
Parliament House Hotel in Edinburgh represents an excellent value for those demanding creature comforts without the luxury surcharge. An Internet reservation was made after reviewing the candid comments here in TripAdvisor. It was our first attempt on an exclusive website reservation and I was impressed that all the details were addressed by the efficient receptionist at this hotel. We posted our ETA via GNER service from Kings Cross to Waverly on the reservation form. We arrived within 15 minutes of our estimate and the receptionist told us the arrival time feature helped their staff in prioritizing room availability. (We timed our train travel to arrive in the early afternoon in Edinburgh*.) This hotel has two sections; the original hotel nestled on a quiet street adjacent to Calton Hill Park and a newer extension connected to the primary property. Our non-smoking room was part of a floor of non-smoking rooms in the new section. The room we were provided was very well appointed. Painting, wallpapering and drapery were recently updated (2004). The bathroom was large for European hotels and was recently upgraded. Some of the end rooms in the new addition overlook Leith St. from a distance and traffic noise was tolerable. The restaurant served decent quality food. Very convenient for dinner. The kitchen is small, with one cook and the wait staff performing multiple tasks in an efficient and courteous manner. The lobby is not large, but very comfortable and inviting - with room for a small lounge bar near the receptionist. The guests which ranged from senior citizens to young adults seemed to sense this is a “quiet” hotel and thus behaved accordingly. During the 4 days at this hotel, I didn’t hear loud conversations in the hallways nor the door slamming one would expect. This hotel is a short walk from Waverly Station. Simply find your way to Prince St. cross the street and turn right toward Calton Hill. We recommend continuing on Prince Street past Leith up directly to Calton Hill Park, don’t enter the park property, but make a sharp left to approach the hotel from above. This route is perhaps 200 feet more in distance, but the slope is very gradual. The alternate course crossing Leith and “up” Calton Hill St., steep for about 50 yards and tough on wheeled luggage.
*When we checked out, an older couple, obviously on a red-eye flight from the USA + connecting to Edinburgh was told a room wasn’t available until 15.00h – nearly a 4 hour wait. They were rather stunned, since they didn’t announce their arrival time or had made arrangements for early check-in. Checking their lugguge off and using the lobby restroom wasn’t on their immediate plans. It’s my belief the staff would have accomodated them had they been informed in advance.

Perfect Location

from ScotsgalPerthshire
Although have stayed quite often in Edinburgh nowhere has the location been as perfect as Parliament House Hotel. Extremely helpful staff, the evening porter entertaining us with the history of the hotel. Although rooms were small they had everything that is required and were immaculate as was the bathroom. Would definitely stay there again if back in Edinburgh as was good value for money compared to other city centre hotels.

Good location thats about all!

from A TripAdvisor Member
We stayed here for three nights at the start of May, will not be returning.

Room was small, shower leaked all over the bathroom floor and bed sheets were ripped. Breakfast was ok however we had dinner in the hotel one of the nights, (it being a Saturday night and not having booked any where we found it impossible to find a table elsewhere) - bad idea, it was awful poor poor quality. My salad when it evenually arrived came complete with a large piece of plastic, how they failed to spot it is beyond me.

Overall I would say this is probably the worst hotel we have ever stayed in and i am not fussy. Avoid!!

Good location, friendly, but a bit small

from A TripAdvisor Member
This Hotel could not have a better location. Minutes from Princes Street and from the theate. It's ideal. Thre is a nice reception area even though being Scottish I found the tartan a bit cheesy. I believe foreigners love that though!
The hotel is a funny shape and it seems a long walk to the lift and to the rooms. The rooms themselves are clean and serve the purpose, but I did find them too warm and the shower was difficult to get in and out of. The screen only came part of the way across and you were left with a small space to climb in and out of. As I have slight mobility difficulties this was hazardous.
The staff were efficient and friendly, but given the small room etc I do not think I would want to stay for a longer period than the one or two night shoping/theatre break for which the hotel is ideal.

perfect for the theatre

from ljd48
Chose this hotel to stay in on a theatre break in Edinburgh, wasn't disappointed. Only two minutes walk from the theatre, although it is up a steep hill. Wasn't too impressed when we walked in the front door, reception looked like a left luggage counter and lounge was rather small, but the bedroom was beyond our expectations, large room, biggest bed I've ever seen, nicely furnished and large clean bathroom although my sister and brother-in-law had a room further down the hall which was a different shape, slightly smaller and the bathroom had no window and no ledge or anywhere to put toiletries etc.
We had a room on the 3rd floor with a view over a graveyard, but when we looked out the window while waiting for the lift the view over Edinburgh looking towards the Firth of Forth was beautiful, so a room on that side of the hotel would be worth asking for. The breakfast in 'The Bistro' was very good with a large selection and was included in the price. We booked over the internet and got the room for £64. Well worth the price. We'll be back.

What more could you ask for

from A TripAdvisor Member
For the price we paid (40 pp b&b) I thought this hotel was great. It was 5 minutes walk from everything, the staff could not have been more friendly and helpful. The only thing I was disappointed in were the tattie scones (potato cakes for anyone outside Scotland!), they were below average!!!

Top Local Tips for Edinburgh

Places to eat Two good pubs are close by on the Royal Mile. The World's End pub had huge plates of crispy fish and chips. The Mitre Pub had an excellent meat platter. The meat platter had a rocket lettuce salad (yum!), some Oxfordshire sausage (wonderful, wonderful wonderful!!!), strips of tender, succulent steak, and a skewer of chicken, onion rings, garlic ciabarra bread, and new potatoes. Boy, was it good The Wetherspoon pub on George's Street had a inexpensive meal deal - hamburger, chips, and a beer for £4.99. By the way, to order food in a pub, first, go find a table. Note the number of the table and then go up to the bar to order and tell the bartender the number of your table. They will bring the food/drink to you at your table.

Don't forget to eat at conventional hours. After ten PM it's lucky if you find anything but chip shops.

Two day pass for buses and attractions. If you plan to see the main attractions, check into the two-day pass that includes unlimited use of the hop on-hop off buses and admission to Edinburgh Castle, Palace of Holyrood House, and the Royal Yacht Brittania. This can be purchased at the Tourist Information Center, and saves a few pounds over the cost of single admission to each.

(hotels)loading

Other names for Parliament House Hotel

  • parliament hotel edinburgh
  • Address: 15 Calton Hill - Edinburgh - Scotland - EH1 3BJ - United Kingdom
Travel Library Traveller Rating?
9.0/10

See All 288 reviews

Review this Hotel
Candid Traveller Photos
  •  Loading Image...
  •  Loading Image...
  •  Loading Image...
  •  Loading Image...
(hotels)loading

Hotels Near Parliament House Hotel