Standard King Room Hot
- 1 King-size bed
- Shower
- Heating
- Air conditioning
Hotel · Edinburgh · Edinburgh
Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh - Leith Waterfront By Ihg
A modern Leith hotel near Ocean Terminal with sea views, easy city links, and a straightforward stay.
- Sea views and waterfront location
- 10 minutes by car to Princes Street Gardens
- Free Wi-Fi and 24-hour reception
8.1
Great
6791 reviews
Booking.com 8.1 · 6791 reviews
About
Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh - Leith Waterfront By Ihg
Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh - Leith Waterfront sits on Britannia Way, a short walk from the Royal Yacht Britannia and the Leith waterfront. The 3-star hotel is set in the heart of Edinburgh, with a shopping centre across the road and Ocean Terminal close by. Princes Street Gardens is a 10-minute drive away, making it a practical base for exploring the city.
The hotel offers straightforward, modern rooms with air conditioning, tea and coffee facilities, and flat-screen TVs. Guests can choose from standard king, twin, double, and accessible room types. On-site amenities include a restaurant, bar, vending machines, 24-hour reception, and parking. Pets are allowed, and the hotel is equipped with a lift and rooms for disabled guests.
- No smoking on site
- Wi-Fi
- Parking
- Safe deposit box
- 24-hour reception
- Express check-in/ -out
In brief
What works, what to weigh
+
Strengths
5 reasons to book- Waterfront location with sea views — Rooms overlook the sea and boating dock, and the hotel sits near the Royal Yacht Britannia and Ocean Terminal.
- Great transport links to the city — Guests highlight the excellent bus service from nearby Ocean Terminal for quick, cheap access to central Edinburgh.
- Clean, comfortable rooms — Rooms are described as spotless, bright, soundproof, and recently refurbished, with comfortable beds.
- Friendly and helpful staff — Multiple reviews praise the polite and hard-working team, from check-in to housekeeping.
- Good value for money — Guests feel the price is fair for the room quality, breakfast, and location.
–
Worth weighing
4 to weigh- Breakfast and dining rated lower — The dining category scores 6 out of 10, the lowest of the hotel's rating categories.
- Housekeeping can be inconsistent — One guest reported finding bugs on a bed and a dirty mattress, and a staff member said cleaning wasn't available at that time.
- Not the cheapest option for the area — The price starts at £419 per night, higher than some nearby alternatives, though the location and amenities justify it for many.
- Check-in window ends at midnight — Check-in runs from 15:00 to 23:59, so late arrivals after midnight need to plan ahead.
01 — Rooms
Rooms & rates
High season: summer dates usually book out a few weeks ahead.
Standard Twin Room Hot
- 2 Single beds
- Shower
- Heating
- Air conditioning
Room allocated on Arrival Hot
- 2 Single beds
- Shower
- Heating
- Air conditioning
Standard Double Room Hot
- 1 Double bed
- Shower
- Heating
- Air conditioning
Double Room Hot Accessible
- 1 Double bed
- Shower
- Heating
- Air conditioning
Standard Double Room Sofa Bed Hot
- 1 Double bed
- Shower
- Heating
- Air conditioning
02 — Amenities
Services & amenities
Everything included at this stay — the facilities and essentials, at a glance.
Basic
- Wi-Fi
- 24-hour reception
- Luggage storage
- Lift
- No smoking on site
Food & Drink
- Restaurant
- Bar/Lounge area
- Special diet menus
- Vending machines
- Welcome drink
Services
- Housekeeping
- Express check-in/out
- Safe deposit box
- 24-hour security
- Key card access
Accessibility & Family
- Rooms/Facilities for disabled
- Cots
Room Amenities
- Air conditioning
- Heating
- Tea and coffee facilities
- Flat-screen TV
- Free toiletries
- Electric kettle
- Ironing facilities
Photos
Gallery
03 — Reviews
What guests say
Recent verified reviews from guests who stayed here.
Guest-rated 8.1/10 from 6,791 reviews
Booking.com · 8.1 · 6791 reviews
8.1Verified guest“The room was spotless, bright, and quiet, with a fresh bathroom. Beds were comfortable and linen crisp. Check-in and out were quick and smooth. Staff were friendly and helpful.”
8.1Verified guest“Convenient location, close enough to Edinburgh for a family funeral, with restaurants, shops, and the Royal Yacht Britannia and Leith waterfront a short walk away. Beautiful sea views from new rooms, and hard-working staff.”
8.1Verified guest“Location is great, right across from a large shopping centre, and breakfast was excellent. Room was a decent size with a lovely view of the sea and dock.”
8.1Verified guest“All the staff were polite and kind.”
8.1Verified guest“Location was handy, just around the corner from the Kitchin restaurant. Breakfast was good.”
8.1Verified guest“The hotel has been recently updated and has well-trained staff. Great value for money, with beautiful sea views from the room. The full Scottish breakfast was plentiful. Peaceful setting near Ocean Terminal for a drink.”
04 — Location
Getting around Edinburgh
The property sits in Edinburgh.
Around the hotel: The hotel is on Britannia Way, across the road from a large shopping centre and a short walk from Ocean Terminal. The Royal Yacht Britannia is close by, and the Leith waterfront offers restaurants and bars within walking distance.
Getting around: The nearby Ocean Terminal has an excellent bus service that guests say is quick and cheap for reaching central Edinburgh. Princes Street Gardens is about 10 minutes away by car.
Britannia Way, Ocean Drive, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH6 6JJ, United Kingdom
05 — Good to know
Policies & conditions
Hotel details are shown for reference. Final rate terms are confirmed on the partner’s site at booking.
- Check-in
- From 15:00-23:59
- Check-out
- By 11:00
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation on many rates — terms on booking page
- Payment
- Pay-at-hotel available on many rates; final terms at booking
- Pets
- Allowed
- Property
- 127 rooms
06 — Questions
Frequently asked
Is parking available at the hotel?
Yes, parking is available on site. Guests have noted there is ample parking within the hotel grounds.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is from 15:00 until 23:59, and check-out is by 11:00. Express check-in and check-out are also available.
Are pets allowed at the hotel?
Yes, pets are allowed at the property.
Is breakfast included?
While the breakfast isn't explicitly stated as included, guests frequently mention the breakfast in reviews, and it's described as good and plentiful. The hotel has a restaurant and offers special diet menus.
How far is the hotel from Edinburgh city centre?
The hotel is about a 10-minute drive from Princes Street Gardens. Many guests use the bus service from Ocean Terminal for quick access to the centre.
The bottom line
Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh - Leith Waterfront is a solid pick for travellers who want a clean, well-connected base near the water, with easy bus links to the city centre and a good breakfast. The high location score and recent refurbishment stand out, but dining and occasional housekeeping issues are worth noting.
8.1Reliable waterfront stay with strong transport links.
Ready to book Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh - Leith Waterfront By Ihg?
Tap through and we’ll open our booking partner’s site, with live prices and availability for your exact dates.
No payment on this site — you complete the booking on our partner’s site.