Parliament Square Hostel, Old Town

CODE - The Court

9.4/10 from 1,935 reviews

Hostel in Old Town

from £19.53 per night, dorm bed

Opens live rates and availability for your dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation on selected rates.

Edinburgh's visitor levy is 5% and applies to the first five nights of a stay.

Stay type: Hostel
Area: Old Town
Walk to Waverley: about 5 min on foot (straight-line estimate)
Breakfast: Not included

Hostel at 1A Parliament Square in Edinburgh's Old Town, with dorm beds from £19.53 a night.

Overview

CODE The Court is a hostel built inside a former courthouse and jail, sitting on Parliament Square just off the Royal Mile behind St Giles' Cathedral. The setting is a big part of the draw: you sleep in a converted legal building in the Old Town, with Edinburgh Castle, restaurants, cafes and the train and bus stations all described as within walking distance. Waverley station is roughly a five minute walk on a straight-line estimate.

The dorm experience here is pod-based rather than open bunks. Each pod has a charging point, a reading light and secure storage, aiming for privacy within a social hostel. Communal life is well covered: a shared kitchen with cooking utensils, a fridge freezer, microwave and dishwasher, plus a common room, lounge, outdoor terrace, co-working space and a book exchange. There is a restaurant, bar and cafe on site, and daily events such as a free walking tour, local beer sampling and a Ceilidh introduction are listed. Reception runs around the clock, with free WiFi, linen included and free lockers.

Key Facts

Stay Type	Hostel
Area	Old Town
Address	1A Parliament Square, Edinburgh EH1 1RF
Price	from £19.53 per night, dorm bed
Guest Rating	9.4/10 from 1,935 reviews
Check-In	15:00 to 23:00
Check-Out	until 00:00
Walk To Waverley Station	about 5 min on foot (straight-line estimate)
Breakfast	Not included
Free Wi-Fi	Yes
Lift	Yes
Luggage Storage	Yes
24-Hour Reception	Yes
Cancellation	Free cancellation on selected rates

Facilities

Free city maps
Free WiFi
Free internet access
Freecitytour
Free security lockers
Free luggage storage
Meetingroom
Coworkingspace
24 hour reception
Internet access
Book exchange
Board games
WiFi
Smarttv
Restaurant
Bar
Caf
Tea and coffee making facilities
Filteredwaterdispenser
Dishwasher
Fridgefreezer
Utensils
Microwave
Kettle
Sink
Elevator
Laundryfacilities
Washingmachine
Freeironironingboard
Hotshowers
Outdoorterrace
Lockers
24Hoursecurity
Carbonmonoxidedetector
Cctvincommonareas
Fireextinguishers
Firstaidkits
Smokealarms
Smokedetector
Commonroom
Loungeroom
Linenincluded
Airconditioning
Readinglight
Hairdryers
Towelsnotincluded
Flexiblenrr
Towelsforhire
Breakfastnotincluded

Who It Suits

Solo travellers and backpackers on a budget are the obvious fit, since dorm beds are offered and the social programme is built around meeting other guests. The pods plus a co-working space and meeting room also suit remote workers who want a desk option and a private-feeling sleeping space. Groups of eight or more can book under separate terms, though school groups and hen or stag parties are not accommodated. Anyone wanting towels included, breakfast included or a private bathroom setup should check the listing first, as towels are for hire and breakfast is not included.

House Rules

CoDE Pod Hostels - THE CoURT Conditions:
Different terms and conditions apply for groups of 8 or more guests: Please note: CoDE will not accommodate school groups. hen/stag or similar parties.
Group payment policies:
Cancellation policies for groups:
If the whole reservation is cancelled up to 28 days before the arrival date, the accommodation deposit (20% of the reservation) will not be refunded.
If you cancel your group reservation less than 28 days before your day of arrival, no refund will be given and the outstanding amount will be due.
If you are booking within 28 days of the arrival date the full amount will be due immediately, no refund will be given for any cancellation or amendments.
Upon arrival a code of conduct needs to be signed by a group leader and a damage deposit taken. (£300 pre-authorisation on a valid credit card.)
Please note: CoDE will not accommodate school groups. hen/stag or similar parties.

Location

1A Parliament Square, Edinburgh EH1 1RF.

See this stay on the map

Waverley Station is about 5 min on foot (straight-line estimate).

What To Know Before Booking

Check-In Window. Check-in runs from 15:00 to 23:00. Check-out is until 00:00.
Cancellation Terms. Free cancellation applies on selected rates only, so confirm which rate you are booking. Group bookings follow different rules, including a 20% non-refundable deposit and full payment 28 days before arrival.
Towels And Breakfast. Linen is included but towels are not; towels are available for hire. Breakfast is not included, though there is a cafe and restaurant on site.
Group Restrictions. School groups and hen, stag or similar parties are not accommodated. On arrival, a group leader signs a code of conduct and a damage deposit is taken as a pre-authorisation on a credit card.
Visitor Levy. Edinburgh's visitor levy is 5% of the bed price before VAT, charged on the first five nights of stays from 24 July 2026.
Shared Facilities. This is a hostel with dorm beds and shared communal areas, including a shared kitchen. The listing does not state the bathroom arrangements, so check the booking page for details.

About This Edinburgh Stay

Where is CODE The Court located?

The address is 1A Parliament Square, Edinburgh EH1 1RF, in the Old Town just off the Royal Mile behind St Giles' Cathedral. The listing describes Edinburgh Castle, nightlife, restaurants, cafes and the train and bus stations as within walking distance. Waverley station is about a five minute walk on a straight-line estimate.

What are the check-in and check-out times?

Check-in is from 15:00 to 23:00. Check-out runs until 00:00. If you expect to arrive outside these hours, check with the property before booking, as the listing does not state late arrival arrangements.

What facilities does the hostel have?

Facilities include free WiFi, a shared kitchen with utensils, microwave, fridge freezer and dishwasher, a laundry room with washing machine and free iron, and an outdoor terrace. There is a restaurant, bar and cafe, plus a common room, co-working space, meeting room, book exchange and board games. Reception is staffed 24 hours, with security lockers, luggage storage, a lift and air conditioning.

Is breakfast included at CODE The Court?

No, breakfast is not included. There is a cafe and restaurant on site, and tea and coffee making facilities are listed among the amenities. The surrounding Old Town location is described as having restaurants and cafes within walking distance.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation applies on selected rates, so the exact terms depend on the rate you book. Group reservations of eight or more follow separate rules: a 20% non-refundable deposit secures the booking, the balance is due 28 days before arrival, and cancelling inside that window means no refund. Check the live booking page for the terms attached to your specific rate.

Who is this hostel best suited to?

Solo travellers and budget-conscious visitors who want a dorm bed in a social setting fit well here, especially given the daily events like the free walking tour and Ceilidh introduction. The privacy pods and co-working space also suit remote workers. Guests wanting included towels or breakfast, or anyone travelling as a hen or stag party or school group, should look elsewhere, as those are either paid extras or not accommodated.