Smart chain hotel that’s attached to the famous Edinburgh Zoo
Mostly contemporary, spacious rooms, some with views over the zoo and Pentland Hills
Executive Rooms have free water and chocolates
Indoor swimming pool plus a sauna, hot tub, and fitness center
Two on-site restaurants, including pan-Asian cuisine
Large variety of food available at the breakfast buffet
Cafe and bar showing live sporting events
14 meeting rooms for business guests
Free, secure car parking on-site
Free Wi-Fi is available
A 10-minute bus ride outside of the city center
Room style can vary -- some are shabby and outdated
Free Wi-Fi is slow and there's a fee for high-speed access
Some rooms are noisy
Breakfast is not included in the room rate
Many common areas are extremely busy
There are 303 contemporary rooms in this upper-middle-range property set in
Edinburgh’s Murrayfield area. It’s a residential neighborhood and trips to the city center take around
10-minutes by bus. Guest rooms are spacious and mostly modern,
with air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and great views over the neighboring
zoo and the Pentland Hills. There are two average restaurants on site plus a
cafe and bar. The hotel has free, secure on-site parking, but there’s a charge
for high-speed Wi-Fi. Those wanting to be closer to the Castle and the city center should
check out Grassmarket Hotel which is within walking distance of all major attractions.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Popular chain hotel, despite its location outside of the city center
The hotel has a fairly plain and simple lobby, with a corporate feel to
it. There's a large wooden reception desk, some modern leather armchairs, a
bank of pay phones, computer stations, and free newspapers. Tourist maps and
information leaflets are available, as are souvenir gifts from Edinburgh Zoo. It’s
a very busy and popular hotel with both tourists and business travelers, and the
common areas are often occupied by corporate guests working on their laptops. The restaurants and bars all have a modern, but generic, look to them with mass-produced contemporary furniture and dark neutral tones throughout. During
very busy times, such as the summer holidays, and the Edinburgh Festival, the
indoor pool area can get very crowded.
Location
In West Edinburgh, around 10 minutes by bus to the city center
Situated west of Edinburgh’s city center, the Holiday Inn is on a busy
road surrounded by residential properties and attached to Edinburgh Zoo,
with which it shares an entrance. There are no shops or bars within the
immediate area, but it’s easy to get around as the bus stop is right outside. The hotel also has a free car park. It’s around 10 minutes by bus into the
city center, and the same to Edinburgh Airport. The famous Edinburgh Castle is
around 12 minutes away by car. Murrayfield Stadium is a five-minutes drive from the hotel,
and Edinburgh International Conference Centre is an eight-minute drive. The Zoo
is just a minutes' walk.
Rooms
Spacious, mostly modern rooms, some with great views
Rooms are available in Standard, Executive, and Family categories. The rooms are mostly spacious
and bright, with contemporary minimalist-style furnishings. Expect to see chic
shades of gray offset with a bright blue or teal. Wall art is also stylish and a bit trendy, including images of gingko leaves, black-and-white vintage photos, and design-conscious prints. However, this style does not carry through all rooms and some are far more outdated and shabby -- guests should check ahead regarding their room. Beds have white duvets and offer a choice of firm or soft pillows. Most of the rooms have good
views, either of the zoo or the stunning Pentland Hills. Each has air-conditioning, 24-hour room service, electric kettles for coffee or tea, and flat-screen TVs. Executive Rooms also include free water, chocolates, and bathrobes. The Family Rooms are larger and have a sofa bed or space for an additional single bed. Bathrooms are plain
and simple with a shower/tub combo and gray-and-white patterned tile walls. Some previous
guests have found their rooms noisy -- some from corridor and neighboring room
noise, some from cars outside, and there's also the unusual consequence of
being located right next to the zoo. Those staying on the zoo side of the hotel may be woken by very loud noises from the monkey enclosure!
Features
Decent dining options, plus an indoor pool and fitness center
There are two restaurants within the hotel. Traders serves breakfast,
lunch, and dinner, with a British and international menu,
including a wide range of pasta dishes and some up-market burgers. On the
weekends it has a carvery. The breakfast buffet includes a wide range of hot and
cold food, including sausages, bacon, hash browns, black pudding, cereal,
fruit, yogurt, pastries, and pancakes. It's only included in certain room rates. Sampans Restaurant serves pan-Asian
cuisine and is open six days a week for dinner. Both restaurants offer a
separate children's menu. Light meals and hot drinks are also available at the cafe,
and there’s a bar with a selection of beers, wines, and spirits. Live sports are shown on the big screen. The hotel has an indoor swimming pool with a sauna, hot tub, and a fitness center attached; the latter has cardio and resistance equipment. For business guests, there are 14
meeting rooms. The hotel provides free car parking, and though there is free Wi-Fi, higher speeds are subject to charges.
