High Street Hostel, Dorm Beds

High Street Hostel

8.4/10 from 2,184 reviews

Hostel in Old Town

from £19 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)

Hostel at 8 Blackfriars St in Edinburgh's Old Town, with dorm beds from £19 a night.

Overview

High Street Hostel sits on Blackfriars Street, a small side street just off the Royal Mile in the Old Town. The building dates back to 1564 and takes an over-18s-only, backpackers approach. Beds come in dorms of various sizes, from a single bed in an 18-bed mixed dormitory down to single beds in 4-bed mixed or female dorms, plus one standard twin room with a shared bathroom.

Every bed has a bedside safe and a locker, and all rooms rely on shared bathroom facilities. Guests can cook in a self-catering kitchen, work or read in an internet lounge, or eat in a livelier party lounge where tea and coffee are free. Laundry, heating, a terrace and free WiFi are listed, and the front desk runs around the clock. Edinburgh Railway Station is about five minutes on foot and Edinburgh Castle about a ten-minute walk.

Key Facts

Stay Type	Hostel
Area	Old Town
Address	8 Blackfriars St, Old Town, Edinburgh, EH1 1NE
Price	from £19 per night, dorm bed
Guest Rating	8.4/10 from 2,184 reviews
Check-In	From 3:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Check-Out	Until 10:30 AM
Walk To Waverley Station	about 5 min on foot (straight-line estimate)
Free Wi-Fi	Yes
24-Hour Reception	Yes
Age Restriction	Minimum age for check-in is 18
Cancellation	Free cancellation on selected rates

Facilities

Non-smoking rooms
Free Wifi
24-hour front desk
Terrace
Laundry
Heating

Room Types

Name	Sleeps	Bathroom
Standard Twin Room with Shared Bathroom	2	shared
Single Bed in 18-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room	1
Single Bed in 10-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room	1
Single Bed in 10-Bed Female Dormitory Room	1
Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room	1
Bed in 8 Bed Female Dormitory Room	1
Single Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room	1
Single Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room	1
Single Bed in 4-Bed Female Dormitory Room	1

Who It Suits

A dorm bed here suits solo travellers and backpackers on a tight budget who want to be on the Royal Mile without paying for a private room. The mix of mixed and female dorms, plus one twin, works for lone visitors and pairs alike. The 24-hour front desk and long check-in window help anyone arriving on a late train or bus. It may not suit anyone under 18, since the minimum age for check-in is 18, and it will not suit travellers with pets, as pets are not allowed.

House Rules

Pets are not allowed.

Location

8 Blackfriars St, Old Town, Edinburgh, EH1 1NE.

See this stay on the map

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

The High Street Hostel - Over 18s Only, Backpackers Atmosphere is only 5 minutes’ stroll from Edinburgh Railway Station.
Edinburgh Castle can be reached after a 10-minute walk.

What To Know Before Booking

Age Limit. The minimum age for check-in is 18, so the hostel cannot accommodate younger travellers.
Shared Bathrooms. All dorm rooms and the twin room use shared bathroom facilities. No room type listed has a private bathroom.
Check-In Window. Check-in runs from 3:00 PM to 12:00 AM and check-out is until 10:30 AM. The 24-hour front desk covers late arrivals.
Cancellation. Free cancellation applies on selected rates only. Check which rate you are booking before paying.
Visitor Levy. Edinburgh's visitor levy adds 5% of the bed price before VAT, charged on the first five nights of stays from 24 July 2026.
Walk Times. The five-minute walk to the station is a straight-line estimate, so allow a little longer with luggage.

About This Edinburgh Stay

Where is High Street Hostel located?

It sits at 8 Blackfriars Street in the Old Town, on a small side street just off the Royal Mile. Edinburgh Railway Station is roughly a five-minute stroll and Edinburgh Castle about a ten-minute walk. The walking time to the station is a straight-line estimate.

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

Check-in runs from 3:00 PM to 12:00 AM, and check-out is until 10:30 AM. The front desk is staffed 24 hours, which helps with late arrivals. Arrivals outside the stated window are not covered by the listing, so confirm any special timing with the booking page.

What facilities does the hostel have?

Listed facilities include free WiFi in all areas, a 24-hour front desk, non-smoking rooms, a terrace, laundry and heating. There is a self-catering kitchen, an internet lounge and a party lounge for dining, with complimentary tea and coffee.

Who is High Street Hostel suited to?

It suits over-18 backpackers and solo travellers who want a dorm bed close to the Royal Mile, with female-only dorms available and one twin room for pairs. It does not suit travellers under 18, as the minimum check-in age is 18, and pets are not allowed.

Can I cancel my booking for free?

Free cancellation is offered on selected rates only. Which rates qualify and any deadlines are set by the listing, so check the rate details on the booking page before you commit.

How do I get to the city centre from the hostel?

The hostel is already in the Old Town, on a side street just off the Royal Mile. Edinburgh Railway Station is about a five-minute walk away on a straight-line estimate, and the castle about ten minutes, so most central sights are reachable on foot.