Royal Mile Hostel, Breakfast

Royal Mile Backpackers

9.2/10 from 3,575 reviews

Hostel in Old Town, kitchen available

from £18 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 4 min on foot (straight-line estimate)
Breakfast: Not included
Kitchen: Yes

Hostel at 105 High Street in Edinburgh's Old Town, with dorm beds from £18 a night.

Overview

Royal Mile Backpackers sits at 105 High Street, directly on the street that gives Old Town its shape. The hostel looks out over Edinburgh's most famous stretch, with bars, cafes, restaurants and nightclubs described in the property's own words as on the doorstep. Waverley station is roughly a four minute walk away on a straight-line estimate, so arrivals with luggage have a short haul.

This is a dorm-based hostel for travellers aged 18 and over, with free WiFi, free security lockers, free luggage storage and a 24 hour reception desk. Linen is included and towels can be hired for free. There is a guest kitchen with a cooker, fridge freezer, microwave, toaster, pots and pans, plus tea and coffee making facilities. Breakfast is not included in the rate, but it can be bought at a sister hostel, served from 8am to 10:30am. Weekly events run from pub crawls to Scottish dancing, and reception can book MacBackpackers tours to the Highlands.

Key Facts

Stay Type	Hostel
Area	Old Town
Address	105 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SG
Price	from £18 per night, dorm bed
Guest Rating	9.2/10 from 3,575 reviews
Check-In	15:00 to 22:00
Check-Out	until 10:00
Walk To Waverley Station	about 4 min on foot (straight-line estimate)
Breakfast	Not included
Kitchen	Yes
Free Wi-Fi	Yes
Luggage Storage	Yes
24-Hour Reception	Yes
Age Restriction	18+
Cancellation	Free cancellation on selected rates

Facilities

Free WiFi
Free internet access
Free security lockers
Free luggage storage
Luggage storage
Faxservice
24 hour reception
Housekeeping
Receptionlimitedhours
Internet access
Book exchange
Board games
WiFi
Tea and coffee making facilities
Kitchen
Cooker
Fridgefreezer
Utensils
Microwave
Kettle
Potsandpans
Sink
Stove
Toaster
Laundryfacilities
Ironironingboard
Freeironironingboard
Recyclingbins
Hotshowers
Lockers
Carbonmonoxidedetector
Cctvincommonareas
Fireextinguishers
Firstaidkits
Smokealarms
Smokedetector
Commonroom
Loungeroom
Linenincluded
Readinglight
Chargingplugs
Flexiblenrr
Breakfastnotincluded

Who It Suits

Solo travellers and groups of up to four on a tight budget are the natural fit here, since dorm beds, a self-catering kitchen and free lockers keep costs down. Backpackers who want a social scene, with organised events and a common room, will find plenty listed. Anyone arriving late benefits from the 24 hour reception. It does not suit families with children, as the minimum age is 18, and anyone wanting a private hotel-style room or included breakfast should look elsewhere, since breakfast is an extra paid at a sister property.

House Rules

STANDARD CANCELLATION POLICY (different conditions apply for bookings for August and the Hogmanay/New Year period - please see below):
SPECIAL CANCELLATION POLICY FOR BOOKINGS FOR AUGUST AND HOGMANAY/NEW YEAR'S EVE :
WE HAVE A MINIMUM AGE OF 18 YEARS. Sorry - no children! If guests are under the age of 18 you must contact the hostel first for manager's approval.
Please bring a government-issued photo ID for the check-in.
For groups of more than 4 people please contact the hostel directly - if you fail to do so the booking might get cancelled.

Location

105 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SG.

See this stay on the map

Waverley Station is about 4 min on foot (straight-line estimate).

What To Know Before Booking

Age Limit. Bookings are limited to travellers aged 18 and over. Under-18s must contact the hostel for manager approval, which is described as an exception rather than the norm.
Cancellation. The standard policy requires cancellation 48 hours before 10.30am on the arrival date, and August and Hogmanay stays carry special terms. Free cancellation applies only to selected rates.
Check-In Window. Check-in runs from 15:00 to 22:00 and check-out is until 10:00. Reception staff are listed as available from 8am to 11am and 3pm to 10pm, so late arrivals should notify the hostel directly.
Stay Limits. There is a maximum stay of seven nights, and groups of more than four people must contact the hostel directly or risk the booking being cancelled.
Breakfast. Breakfast is not included. It can be purchased at a sister hostel, available from 8am until 10:30am, with the current price shown on the booking page.
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. Factor this into the total when comparing prices.

About This Edinburgh Stay

How far is Royal Mile Backpackers from Waverley station?

The listing gives the walk as about four minutes on foot, based on a straight-line estimate, so the real time may be a little longer with bags. The hostel's address is 105 High Street, right on the Royal Mile in Old Town. Bus and train access are both described as easy.

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

Check-in runs from 15:00 to 22:00, and check-out is until 10:00. If you expect to arrive late, the house rules ask you to notify the hostel directly, otherwise a no-show may be charged and the reservation cancelled. Reception help is listed from 8am to 11am and 3pm to 10pm.

Is breakfast included at Royal Mile Backpackers?

No, breakfast is not included in the bed rate. You can buy breakfast at a sister hostel, served from 8am to 10:30am, and the current price is shown on the booking page. Alternatively, the guest kitchen with cooker, fridge freezer, microwave and toaster is open around the clock.

What facilities does the hostel have?

Facilities include free WiFi, free security lockers, free luggage storage, a launderette, iron and board, a book exchange, board games, and a common room. The kitchen and dining area are open 24 hours, with tea and coffee making facilities listed. Linen is included and towels can be hired at no charge.

Is the hostel suitable for families with children?

No. There is a minimum age of 18 for bookings, and the hostel states plainly that children are not accepted. Guests under 18 would need to contact the hostel first for a manager's approval. This property is aimed at backpackers aged 18 and over.

How does cancellation work?

Under the standard policy you must cancel at least 48 hours before 10.30am on your arrival date, or you can be charged the equivalent of the first two nights. August and Hogmanay bookings follow a special policy, so check the booking page for those dates. Non-refundable rates are charged in full within 24 hours of booking.