---

Cheap Edinburgh Astoria Hotel: Is It Really Worth the Budget Price Tag?

I almost skipped Edinburgh entirely. I know, I know — hear me out. When I was planning my UK loop back in 2022, I kept seeing accommodation prices that made my stomach drop. Forty pounds a night for a shoebox, sixty for something with a window that actually opened. Scotland in general felt like it was going to eat my budget alive before I’d even had my first whisky. Then a friend in a budget travel Facebook group mentioned the Astoria Hotel, and I figured — okay, one night, let’s see what this cheap Edinburgh Astoria Hotel situation is actually about.

Spoiler: I ended up staying three nights. So let’s talk about it.

What “Budget Hotel” Actually Means in Edinburgh (Because It Varies Wildly)

Let me set some expectations here, because Edinburgh is not Bangkok. You’re not going to find a $10-a-night dorm with a rooftop pool and a free smoothie. The city is genuinely expensive — it’s one of the pricier places in the UK, honestly — and during the Festival in August, prices go absolutely feral. I’ve seen hostels charging boutique hotel rates during that period and people paying it because they have no choice.

So when I talk about “cheap” in an Edinburgh context, I mean relative cheap. I mean you’re not spending £120 a night at some polished hotel near Waverley Station. The Astoria Hotel sits in that sweet spot where the price is genuinely reasonable without feeling like you’re trading your comfort for a coin toss.

When I booked, I paid around £45–£55 per night depending on the night of the week. For Edinburgh, that’s legitimately a solid deal. That’s not me doing mental gymnastics to justify a bad decision — that’s just what the market looks like there.

The Location Does a Lot of Heavy Lifting

Here’s one thing I’ll say upfront about the cheap Edinburgh Astoria Hotel that matters more than almost anything else: where a hotel sits in Edinburgh can make or break your trip. The city is surprisingly walkable, but it’s also surprisingly hilly. Like, genuinely “my calves hate me” hilly. If you’re staying somewhere that requires a long uphill slog every time you come back from exploring, it gets old fast.

The Astoria is positioned well enough that you’re not suffering through a half-mile climb every night. You’ve got easy access to the main corridors of the city without paying the premium that comes with literally being on the Royal Mile. Think of it like staying one row back from the ocean — you lose the immediate view, but you gain everything else.

From there, I walked to Greyfriars Kirkyard (yes, the haunted cemetery, obviously), popped into the Grassmarket for some genuinely good cheap eats, and made it up to the castle esplanade without needing a taxi. If you’re a walker, that stuff matters.

What You’re Actually Getting for the Price

Okay, real talk. I’ve stayed in enough budget accommodation to know the checklist that actually matters. The Astoria isn’t going to floor you with a spa or a Michelin-starred breakfast situation. It’s clean, the beds are comfortable, the Wi-Fi worked reliably (which is non-negotiable for me as someone who works remotely), and the heating actually functioned — which, in Scotland in October, is not something I take for granted.

My room was on the smaller side, but I’ve stayed in “superior” rooms at more expensive places that were basically the same square footage with nicer throw pillows. The bathroom was fine. Nothing Instagram-worthy, nothing to complain about. The staff I dealt with were helpful and didn’t make me feel like a nuisance for asking where the nearest supermarket was.

One thing worth knowing: like most hotels in this price range, don’t expect a huge elaborate breakfast spread included. Check what’s in your rate when you book — sometimes it’s there, sometimes it’s not. I personally skipped hotel breakfast anyway, because a flat white and a pastry from a nearby café cost me about £4 and tasted ten times better.

How to Actually Get the Cheap Edinburgh Astoria Hotel Rate (Not Just the Listed Price)

This is where I get a little tactical, because booking smart can shave a meaningful chunk off what you pay. First thing: always check the hotel’s direct website against the booking platforms. Sometimes there’s a discount for booking direct, sometimes the platforms have a flash deal. I’ve found it goes both ways, so honestly I just check both every time.

Midweek stays are your friend in Edinburgh. Thursday through Sunday can spike noticeably because of weekend tourists and events. If you have any flexibility and can arrive on a Tuesday or Wednesday, you’ll often find noticeably lower rates for the same room.

Shoulder season is the other big one. August is a nightmare price-wise (the Festival, the Fringe, the crowds — just chaos). September and October are genuinely lovely in Edinburgh — cooler yes, but the light is beautiful and the city feels more like itself. I went in mid-October and paid significantly less than summer rates while experiencing arguably better weather luck.

I also always set a price alert on Google Hotels for wherever I’m going a few weeks out. Prices fluctuate constantly and sometimes they drop for no apparent reason. I’ve snagged rooms by just catching the right window.

Eating Well Around the Astoria Without Blowing Your Budget

One thing I always scope out when I’m staying somewhere new is the food situation within walking distance, because eating near tourist zones is a reliable way to hemorrhage money. The Grassmarket area, which is accessible from the Astoria’s general neighbourhood, is genuinely good for budget eating if you know where to look. Skip the places with sandwich boards outside screaming “traditional Scottish experience!” and duck into the spots that look a little less polished.

I had a proper bowl of cullen skink — a smoked haddock soup that sounds weird and tastes extraordinary — at a small place that cost me about £6. A pie and a pint at a pub that wasn’t trying too hard to be atmospheric ran me around £10. The Meadows area nearby has a few spots worth wandering into as well.

The city also has some good supermarkets if you want to self-cater even partially. Grabbing breakfast supplies for the room is the kind of thing that saves you £8–12 a day without any sacrifice whatsoever.

The Honest Downsides (Because There Are Always Some)

Look, I’m not going to pretend this is a perfect five-star experience, because it’s not and that’s not what you’re paying for. If you’re someone who needs total silence to sleep, budget hotels in city centres are generally not your friend — Edinburgh has a lively nightlife and sound travels. I had a couple of nights where I was glad I travel with earplugs.

Room size is modest. If you’re travelling with a lot of luggage or need to spread out with work equipment, it can feel a little tight. Parking is also something to sort separately if you’re driving — budget hotels in city centres almost never have convenient on-site parking, and Edinburgh is no exception.

These aren’t dealbreakers — they’re just real things to factor in so you’re not surprised.

So Is the Cheap Edinburgh Astoria Hotel Actually Worth It?

For what it is and what it costs — yeah, genuinely. If you’re someone who treats a hotel room as a place to sleep, recharge, and store your stuff while you’re out actually experiencing the city, the Astoria delivers that without drama. Edinburgh is expensive enough that finding reliable, clean, well-located accommodation at a reasonable price feels like a small victory.

I always say the best budget accommodation is the kind you don’t spend your trip thinking about. You check in, you sleep well, and you’re free to spend your money on the things that actually make a trip — food, experiences, that very necessary whisky tasting on the Royal Mile.

Book it midweek, book it in shoulder season, check both direct and platforms, and go enjoy Edinburgh. The city more than earns the trip.

---