Independent hotel guide
Motel One Edinburgh-Royal
Rail arrivals, first visits, solo travellers, couples and short stays built around central sightseeing.
- Budget
Image: Motel One Edinburgh-Royal. Full attribution
At a glance
Quick facts
- Price band
- Budget
- Neighbourhood
- Old Town
- Location
- Edinburgh
Editorial take
Why consider Motel One Edinburgh-Royal?
The Market Street position sits between Waverley, the Royal Mile and Princes Street.
Best for
Rail arrivals, first visits, solo travellers, couples and short stays built around central sightseeing.
Avoid if
you need a large standard room, on-site parking, extensive leisure facilities or a guaranteed view in the entry category.
- Travelling solo
- Couple
- Family
- Business
Strengths and trade-offs
Strengths
- Market Street location beside Edinburgh Waverley
- Published room sizes and distinct solo, family, view and accessible categories
- Free luggage storage and a lounge serving breakfast, drinks and snacks
Trade-offs
- Standard rooms are deliberately compact at 14 to 16 square metres
- No on-site parking and breakfast is a separate decision
Fit check
Who it suits — and who should skip it
Best for: Rail arrivals, first visits, solo travellers, couples and short stays built around central sightseeing.
Skip it if: you need a large standard room, on-site parking, extensive leisure facilities or a guaranteed view in the entry category.
Related reading:Edinburgh hotel guide; Best Budget Hotels in Edinburgh; Best Hotels in Edinburgh Old Town (Near the Royal Mile).
Stay details
Rooms and spa
These are the room categories for which our current source set contains useful, comparable detail. They are not presented as a complete live inventory.
single room
The One For One
- 14 m² published size
- Published for up to 1 guest
A compact solo room with a 120-centimetre French bed and rain shower.
double room
The One
- 16 m² published size
- Published for up to 2 guests
The standard category has a queen- or king-size bed, rain shower, Wi-Fi, television and safe.
family room
Family One
- 20 m² published size
The published family category has a queen-size bed and sofa bed; confirm the permitted party and child ages.
Facilities in our source set
- One Lounge
The lounge serves a paid breakfast buffet plus drinks and snacks.
- Luggage storage
The hotel publishes complimentary luggage storage.
On the ground
Location and access
Motel One Edinburgh-Royal is at 18-21 Market Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1BL. See our Edinburgh hotel guide for the wider area context and other places to stay.
Waverley is directly beside Market Street. Princes Street and St Andrew Square tram stops are across the station valley, so account for gradients and station exits with luggage.
Before you book
Good to know
Check-in from
15:00
Check-out by
12:00
Children
A Family One category is published; children up to 12 may stay in a parent room under the current conditions.
Pets
Pets are welcomed subject to direct confirmation of the current terms.
Policy notes
Breakfast is not assumed in the room rate. The Edinburgh visitor levy applies to eligible stays under the city scheme.
Accessibility
The hotel publishes a 16-square-metre The One accessible category with barrier-free furnishings. Confirm the street-to-reception route, bathroom layout and any required equipment directly.
Quick answers
Questions travellers ask about Motel One Edinburgh-Royal
What is the main reason to choose Motel One Edinburgh-Royal?
The Market Street position sits between Waverley, the Royal Mile and Princes Street.
Who is Motel One Edinburgh-Royal best for?
Rail arrivals, first visits, solo travellers, couples and short stays built around central sightseeing.
Where is Motel One Edinburgh-Royal?
The hotel is at 18-21 Market Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1BL. Waverley is directly beside Market Street. Princes Street and St Andrew Square tram stops are across the station valley, so account for gradients and station exits with luggage.
What should I check before booking Motel One Edinburgh-Royal?
Choose the room name deliberately: The One For One is 14 square metres, The One is 16, Family One is 20, and the view category is the only one that promises a historic-centre outlook.
Featured in our Edinburgh guides
Motel One Edinburgh-Royal is shortlisted in these editorial guides, each written for a different trip.
Curated guide
Best Budget Hotels in Edinburgh
Curated guide
Best Hotels in Edinburgh Old Town (Near the Royal Mile)
Curated guide
Best Edinburgh Christmas Hotels 2026
Alternatives
Other hotels we have written up that may suit a different brief.
Point A Edinburgh Haymarket
- Best for
- Airport-tram and Haymarket arrivals, solo travellers, couples, short breaks and festival visits centred on the West End.
- Trade-off
- Rooms are explicitly described as compact and some bookable options may not have a window
A compact budget hotel near Haymarket with useful lounge space, airport-tram access and a direct-booking breakfast proposition.
Booking tipConfirm the exact double or twin category and whether it has a window; compare direct-member breakfast with the final flexible or non-refundable total elsewhere.
ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge
- Best for
- Old Town sightseeing, Waverley arrivals, travellers needing a staffed chain hotel and guests seeking a published accessible-room category.
- Trade-off
- The Old Town setting is lively and can be busy during festivals
A large economy hotel in the Old Town for travellers who want a restaurant, bar and accessible-room inventory alongside a central location.
Booking tipCompare standard and Premium rooms on the same terms, then add breakfast, nearby parking, pet charges and the visitor levy before judging the total.
easyHotel Edinburgh
- Best for
- Solo travellers, light-packing couples, concert or festival overnights and visitors prioritising a central address over room space.
- Trade-off
- Rooms are exceptionally small at roughly 6.5 to 8.5 square metres and all windows are sealed
A highly central, deliberately minimal budget hotel for travellers willing to exchange floor space and inclusive extras for a Princes Street address.
Booking tipRead the room name literally: small doubles are about 6.5 square metres and can be windowless; the standard window room is about 8.5 square metres. Add luggage and extra-cleaning costs before comparing.
Editorial evidenceSources2 cited references supporting this page
Claims are paired with the publisher and access date used during editorial verification.
Hotel is open; address, affordable budget positioning, room sizes, room features, check-in, check-out, luggage, breakfast, parking and visitor-levy information
Budget is an editorial relative price band supported by Motel One's affordable and budget positioning, not a quoted rate for every date.
Postcode coordinates and Waverley, bus and tram proximity
EH1 1BL maps, stats and open data
Open Government Licence. Map pin is the postcode centroid, not a surveyed entrance.
How this page was researched: how we review hotels · editorial policy · affiliate disclosure · corrections