Hotels near Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh

I stayed at Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh from 22 February to 26 February 2026 in Room ***. Unfortunately, my experience fell significantly below the service and housekeeping standards expected of the Marriott brand. 1) 22 February 2026 (Check-in) Upon arrival, I immediately noticed several cleanliness issues with my room. The kettle was dusty and visibly dirty, the shower gel was completely empty, there were noticeable stains on the bed sheets, the shower room floor was unclean, and the shower water pressure was extremely poor. I reported these issues to the front desk on the same day. In addition, during the check-in process, the staff did not provide any information about hotel amenities, such as gym operating hours, availability of facilities like the ice machine or microwave, or other services. I only became aware of some of these facilities on my last day during check-out, which was disappointing. 2) 23 February 2026 The shampoo had run out and was not replenished during housekeeping services. I emailed the Front Office Manager regarding both the missing amenities and the ongoing low shower pressure issue. I did not receive any response. 3) 24 February 2026 The situation continued. Coffee and tea bags were not refilled, the stained bed sheets had still not been changed since Day 1 check-in, and both shampoo and conditioner were empty. I called the same Front Office Manager twice, and only shampoo was delivered. I then contacted the front desk twice more to clearly request conditioner, yet incorrect items were delivered again. As a result, the conditioner remained unreplenished for me for 3 consecutive days (22–24 February). 4) 25 February 2026 In the morning, I requested a new toothbrush through the front desk and was told housekeeping would provide one during housekeeping service. When I returned to my room after housekeeping, no toothbrush had been supplied. I later learned that when Trip.com contacted the hotel on my behalf regarding the service lapses, the Operations Manager informed them that everything had been “addressed and settled with me” which was not accurate. While individual staff members made partial attempts to assist, the repeated housekeeping lapses, lack of follow-up, and unresolved maintenance issue reflect systemic operational shortcomings rather than isolated mistakes. Throughout my entire stay (22–26 February), the shower water pressure issue remained unresolved. The hotel’s location is excellent and within walking distance of many major attractions, which helps save on public transport costs. However, good location alone does not compensate for the overall service deficiencies experienced during this stay. As a paying guest, I expected basic cleanliness, consistent replenishment of amenities, and responsive service, especially from a reputable hotel property like Marriott. Unfortunately, those expectations were not met during this stay.

The only thing that was good about this hotel was the location- the most central. Everything else was pretty bad. I have requested a room with a nice view for our special occasion but was given a room with the view of the industrial back wall. Called the manager and he came and apologised and said there were no other rooms left. The room itself was outdated, looked like a hostel rather than a hotel. We have travelled a lot but this was the worst hotel we have stayed in. Our special occasion was ruined. The room was so tiny that it was difficult to squeeze a suitcase between the bed and the wall. The TV had no internet connected. There was no mini fridge. The bathroom entry door was a squeeze. The toilet was so close to the wall that you would be pushed into a wall. No toilet brush either. For the expensive price paid they didn’t even give us a bottle of water or a biscuit. The restaurant is under refurbishment this time and they provide tea/coffee and pastries on level 3 for breakfast free. There is a limited expensive menu to order from reception to your room if you need. The luggage storage facility is limited. When checking out many people were told there was no more room for the luggage storage and those people had to go and look for the pricey luggage storage outside. We met some people also complaining about the hotel. Will never come back to this hotel again.

The breakfast is really great, even better than a hotel's, I ate so much every day, haha! 😂 Housekeeping isn't daily; they clean if you stay over a week. You need to bring all your own toiletries. For the single rooms, there are quite a few shared bathrooms, usually two or three rooms sharing one. Once you get used to it, showering and using the toilet aren't an issue. The free luggage storage is also a nice touch. Overall, it's excellent value for money!

The hotel was immaculate the room was lovely everything great location near the town and train station hotel reception  were lovely really helpful i definitely do recommend thankyou so much many thanks

Without doubt, this was one of our finest hotel stays in recent memory. From the moment we arrived, Novotel Edinburgh set the tone with a level of warmth and professionalism that genuinely stood out. The staff were incredibly helpful throughout and what really demonstrated this was a small but telling moment: we lost our key card during the stay, and it was replaced immediately, without any fuss or inconvenience whatsoever. It's the kind of effortless service that puts you completely at ease, and it's something you remember long after checkout. The breakfast deserves a special mention — it was simply top notch. The spread was so good that holding back was near impossible, and it's the kind of breakfast that makes you actually look forward to the morning. Freshly prepared, well-stocked, and served with care — it's one of the best hotel breakfasts we've had. The location is outstanding. Sitting just a mile from Edinburgh Castle, you're right in the heart of one of the most iconic cities in the UK. Public transport couldn't be more convenient either  buses are accessible right behind the hotel, making it incredibly easy to get around the city without needing a car at all. The one area that needs addressing is parking. The hotel's own car park is frequently full, which meant we had to use the nearby NCP instead. To the hotel's credit, they did provide a discount for the NCP - a thoughtful gesture that softened the inconvenience. However, it's worth noting for electric vehicle drivers: the EV charging at the NCP is painfully slow, so factor that into your plans if you're arriving in an electric car. A heads-up from the hotel at check-in would go a long way. Parking frustrations aside, Novotel Edinburgh is a brilliant base for exploring the city - exceptional staff, an unmissable breakfast, and a location that's hard to beat. We'd return without hesitation.

The hotel was excellent value, £104 including breakfast. I think that may be because it was a Sunday, as I have previously paid £250 for the same hotel on Friday and Saturday night. The room was spotless, the bed was very comfortable. Breakfast was great, good location near a tram stop for the centre of Edinburgh.

Excellent Location, but Serious Security Lapses I recently stayed at this hotel and found it to be a bit of a mixed bag. While there are some undeniable perks to the property, a few significant service and security issues made for a rather unsettling experience. The Highlights Prime Location: This is easily the hotel's strongest suit. It’s situated right next to Haymarket station, and there is a bus stop literally just outside the front door. Getting into the city centre takes no more than 10 minutes, making it a perfect base for exploring. Commendable Service: The reception team provided a decent welcome. I’d like to give a special mention to Shreyas, who was incredibly helpful and professional throughout our interactions. Quality Dining: We ate at the on-site restaurant and were pleasantly surprised. The food was of a high standard, and the waitstaff were attentive and friendly. Room Maintenance & Tech Issues Unfortunately, the shine started to wear off once we settled into the room: Housekeeping Oversights: Despite this being a multi-day stay, the complimentary water bottles were never replaced after the first day. Faulty Tech: The in-room tablet was practically useless. It kept restarting due to a battery fault; ironically, it even cut out while I was trying to use it to contact reception. Privacy Concerns: When we requested extra toilet roll, the staff member who delivered it attempted to walk straight into the room using their key, rather than knocking and waiting for us to answer. It was a complete breach of basic hospitality etiquette. A Major Security Concern The most distressing part of the trip occurred on our second day. Upon returning to our room in the evening, we were shocked to find the main door open. It appears the cleaning staff had failed to secure the door after finishing their rounds. Finding your hotel room left open to the public is, quite frankly, scary. It’s a massive security fail that overshadowed the rest of the stay. While the location is brilliant, the hotel desperately needs to tighten up its staff training and safety protocols. Would I stay again? Only if I were certain that the security and maintenance issues had been addressed.

The hotel room and bathroom were indeed too small; there wasn't even enough space to open a suitcase, so it had to be stored under the bed. The view outside the room was decent. The main advantage is the hotel's excellent location, right opposite Haymarket. You can walk almost anywhere, which is incredibly convenient, and there are bus stops right outside. The hotel breakfast was just so-so, with limited variety and options. It was a typical English breakfast, not bad. The reception service was mediocre, especially the male front desk staff who gave me the wrong room number twice, even though I showed him the room number written down. He seemed unbothered and unwilling to help.

I’ve spent there 3 nights, and I loved every moment there! The staff is friendly and ready to help 24/7. The rooms are clean. It is noisy till around 1 am at nights because of the bar. However, I was so tired at the end of the day that I just would fall asleep despite the room being right behind the bar. The best experience for me was new people who I met there. Dear Nancy Lao Shi, have a great stay in there, waiting for you to come to Uzbekistan! And dear Scottish family who we met the day before yesterday who bought us Irish brew and mars bars - if you come to Uzbekistan let me know! All the things are great, dear staff thank you very much for your genuine hospitality and impeccable service!!!

The hotel is about a 30-minute walk from Princes Street, which is a bit of a trek from the city center. Edinburgh reminds me a lot of Chongqing, with all its hills and slopes – it's quite exhausting going up and down, so it wouldn't be ideal if you have a lot of luggage. However, the room itself is spacious, and they offer free luggage storage.