Castle Rock Hostel

I stayed here in the summer and honestly had a wonderful time. Rooms felt spacious and were clean, bathrooms felt clean as well. Lockers were roomy and check-in procedure was nice and straightforward. The themes were very charming and so was the building, gorgeous castle energy and decor. Of course, the location itself is stunning, right next to the castle with the city at your doorstep. A lot of opportunity for socials, with social spaces and activities welcome to everyone. People were respectful and friendly, and the staff stored my backpack for free after check-out on my last day which was lovely. Would recommend to any budget traveler :))

as someone that’s stayed in several hostels, i immediately know when one is special. the very building is an archaeological treasure. the reception desk is friendly and capable. the rooms are super cozy, and so much thought has been put into the design. free lockers next to your bed. one of the first times where i’ve seen a genuine warm, social atmosphere in all the common areas: kitchen and living room. 100% am coming back here again.

My friends and I stayed at the castle rock hostel for Christmas and we had an incredible time. This is one of the best hostels I’ve ever stayed at for many reasons. The location is incredible and the hostel itself is in such a beautiful building. All the facilities were impeccable and clean. The rooms were lovely and the beds are super comfy. The staff are all really cool and lovely. The Christmas dinner they provided for only £25 per person was 3 courses and lots of wine. The main for Christmas dinner was so delicious and they were extremely generous with portion sizes! Can’t fault this place at all. It was so much fun too as they organise lots of cool activities for all the guests. Will definitely stay again and highly recommend to anyone looking to visit Edinburgh! Thank you Castle Rock team!

I wish I could give a higher ranking, but unfortunately compared to how many lovely hostels exist at this moment in time, I feel that Castle Rock is falling a bit behind. The positives: All the lovely volunteers running the day to day actions were so very lovely and kind, and the location is unbeatable! The building itself is gorgeous, and so are the many lounges. The negatives: it is very old, the kitchen is a bit grimy and run down, the bathrooms are really not great, the rooms all have old carpet (that I doubt can be very clean) and the bedsheets have seen better days. I think for the price, they can do better. We stayed 3 nights total in a double room.

My wife and I stayed at Castle Rock Hostel for Christmas this year and it was the cosiest stay we could’ve asked for. The Christmas dinner provided was amazing and felt like Christmas at Hogwarts with the hostel situated right next to the castle and feeling like a castle itself. Staff was amazing, the daily movies were so nice to get in the Christmas spirit leading up to the day. They did an amazing job of creating events to get people to know one another. We really enjoyed the paint and sip on Monday night (our best work pictured below lol), and the staff were incredibly fun and kind. The onlyyyy thing that was a slight draw back is that our rooms bed was not very comfortable as my hips would hit the bed board underneath. They tried to help us out by changing the mattress, but sadly think it needs to be double mattressed. But look we paid a pittance for the room and it was an incredible stay. Not gonna knock off stars for it, as they likely would’ve given us a second mattress had I insisted, but just might be worth having a look at for the Bonnie and Clyde room to get a second mattress in there. Thank you Castle Rock, we loved it!

So fun! The showers were hot, the breakfast was delicious and vegan and I got it one or two days. Clean bed with a warm comforter. I came as a solo traveler and stayed for three nights, and the girls in my room were so sweet and friendly, and so was everyone I interacted with. I had such a great time, and the hostel has lots of events for solo travelers or for people to get to know each other, and everyone pays it forward by being friendly to the next person they meet. Castle Rock made my first solo trip incredibly enjoyable and I hope to be back soon!

This hostel was my first experience staying in a hostel in the UK three years ago, and it was amazing. The staff were really friendly and let me stay in the common areas after check-out while I waited for my bus. They also offered free milk, and the kitchen was large enough for me to cook a bit. Inside the room, all the lockers had keys! It’s close to many attractions, you can visit lots of places just by walking 15 or 20 minutes. Furthermore, the hostel is really nicely decorated and has a charming medieval vibe.

This is my second time staying at Castle Rock this year, and both stays were wonderful. This was my first hostel I had stayed in back in May, and the last stop on my backpacking trip. I enjoyed my time here and would highly recommend this hostel to anyone who is looking for a warm, social environment. The location is amazing, and is directly outside of the castle. It’s within walking distance of cafes, fun shops, restaurants, and obviously the castle! The common areas are so fun and great for socializing or getting work done. The staff are friendly and kind, and enjoyable to chat with. This is one of my favourite hostels and I always enjoy my time here. 🫶

This was my first hostel experience and it was so nice! The location can't be beat - right next to Edinburgh Castle with amazing views of the city. I felt very safe with their security, and the facilities were very nice. A great space to meet people and enjoy some time in Edinburgh!

I absolutely loved my stay at castle rock. I would absolutely come back every time I visit Edinburgh. It's close to Waverly station and you can get lots of places from there. The hostel is just in the shadow of Edinburgh castle (I included a photo I took from the sidewalk). Couldn't ask for a better location. The staff was kind and hospitable, and the vibe was very chill. I WILL SAY THIS. the bathrooms are not gendered, so you'll be showering/pooping (in private stalls of course) with both sexes, so if that's not your tea, be aware of that--but it didn't bother me. LOVE LOVE LOVE CASTLE ROCK!!!!!!

The location is amazing, the staff is so helpful and so kind. The rooms are fine, very small. My "roommates" were extraordinarily messy so if I got up during the night I tripped over all their crap. I ended up leaving a couple days early because I hardly slept a wink. The building is old and very creaky with every step someone takes. Doors slam at all hours. I could hear someone snoring so loudly from next door the last two nights. It would be nice if halls lights dimmed at night so that when people come in at 4am it isn't so bright. Take earplugs and an eye mask. I mean, there is nothing staff can do about the many guests always coming through. It's just if you want a good night's sleep I wouldn't stay here. The showers are fine, hot water and mostly clean. There were contacts in one of the showers for four days so I don't know often they are cleaned. But I felt very safe and the location cannot be beat. Lots of great activities offered.

I would give them 10 stars! The front desk is always super helpful and kind. The whole place has really good energy. I'm in love with the decor of the whole place. They made me feel so safe and comfortable. Love them!

I stayed at the Castle Rock Hostel for five days. Castle Rock neighbors Edinburgh Castle and is close to the Royal Mile. It's within walking distance to many restaurants, bars, and shops. I took the tram from the airport to the Princes Street stop. It was about a 15-minute walk *uphill* to the hostel. The hostel has different themed lounges, a massive kitchen, and even a cinema! As a female solo traveler, I felt safe the entire time. The staff was super friendly. My all-female dorm was tiny, but it had a great view. I appreciated the free coffee and tea that was always available. It was a cool experience to stay in an actual castle, especially on a hostel budget! Overall, it was an incredible hostel experience! *For my Castle Rock Hostel Tour video, see my youtube page: https://youtu.be/JSzDoxBze10 *For more details, see my blog: https://hellohappyvegan.com/hostels/f/castle-rock-hostel

Castle Rock Hostel has to be my most favorite hostel I have ever booked and stayed in! Not only is the building an old medieval structure in itself.. it is right outside of Edinburgh Castle! Wow. There is views upon views at this place. Each room window looks out into a beautiful skyline of Old Town. You can just sit by the window and look out and daydream for hours. Daydream of medieval wars and daily life with knights and peasants and markets and horses and cows and etc. My room was graced with an actual Archers window!!! Woah, like this small slit was used by archers to defend the town! It also provided the room with a pretty cool airy breeze. Check in was quick and simple and everyone is super easy to talk to and very informative. There is no lift, so the stairs will be your daily mode of getting up and down those floors! The general area is beautiful and very homey. You can choose between any of the 3 rooms, that all have different themes. i loved the general kitchen area that has seats and sofas, a large dining table made for a King, and also a nice pool table that travelers can conjugate around. This location is probably on the edge of Old Town, right besides Edinburgh Castle. You are walking distance away from everything that has any historical significance. You will never not be taking pictures. Edinburgh as a city, is probably one of the most beautiful and most Interesting cities I have ever been to. The best part of the day to site see is yeah, when the sun is out, however..... the city does not lose any of it's luster when it's dark. The Dark beautiful shadows on the buildings really turns this city into a different sort of feel. You start thinking of it's dark past of wars and supposedly ghosts and spirits that are around different areas. Castle Rock is definitely a go-to place if you're ever in Edinburgh for a couple of days!

Simple, reasonably-priced accommodations that get the job done in a perfect location. Just note their cancelation policy is quite stict; rail strikes delayed our arrival, and though we called two days ahead, they said we were technically a few hours within the 48 minimum. They comped some breakfasts, but I'd rather have just had a reasonable policy given the circumstances entirely outside of anyone's control. "\_(O_o)_/" Nice folks though; no hard feelings.

This was my first ever experience at a Hostel and I really didn't know what to expect. We've all seen that movie and I was really hesitant at first but Castle Rock really blew my mind! Friendly staff upon check in, my husband and I had requested a private room which was available! That room happened to be on the very tippity top of the hostel, no elevators just staircases. This building is so old, you can hear the creaking the floor, I loved it and was scared of it all at the same time! Although we had a private room, the bathroom was still public, so I was a bit shy to go and waited until people left. Our room was pretty small, but good enough for just the two of us. We had a big window were you can actually see a lot from the city and that's when I noticed how high we were. When we left to explore the city you're given an orange pass just so the receptionists know who you are and let you back into the rooms. The hostel is a five minute walk from Edinburgh Castle, I literally cried when I saw it for the first time. It's also really close to shops, pubs and little restaurants, it's really conveniently located! After our pub crawl we got back into our hostel and walked up the long flight of stairs. I had a panic attack in our room because were up so high so I took a xanx and fell asleep. I can tell you that the beds are pretty comfortable and when we were checking out the receptionists said that it would be okay to leave our things if we wanted to explore the city a bit more. That was really nice of them but because we were on a time budget we weren't able to take them up on their offer. I would stay here again, for the price and the location you're getting a really great deal, plus everyone staff and patrons alike are all really friendly.

I stayed here for 3 nights in August during the Fringe. I made sure to book in advance (cause I knew it would be busy at this time) and stay in a 6 bed mixed dorm. The location of the hostel itself is great. It's a 5 minute walk to the Edinburgh Castle, and a short walk to the Royal Mile and some of the other site. If you're coming from the airport (like I did) there's a shuttle bus that'll take you to Princes Street and then it's about 10 minute walk from there. I loved that each room had wifi, lots of hostels only have wifi in common areas and it was great I could check show schedules and buy tickets on my phone while in the hostel room, without having to go downstairs. The hostel is older, but it was clean and had lots of charm. I would say I didn't love the carpet in the room, it was quite worn and honestly I think hardwood/tile floors would be easier to maintain/clean, but it was fine. There are several common areas and a kitchen (which I didn't use) for guests. Bathrooms (at least on the floor I stayed) shared. There's a girls only washroom with two showers and an accessible toilet. Then there is a mixed washroom area with toilets (in separate cubicles) and a common sink area, and showers (also in individual cubicle). Despite the fact this is a large hostel I never had to wait to use the shower or the toilet. That was nice. Beds were fairly comfortable, and at least for me there was an outlet next to mine, which was great. There isn't exactly a lot of space between the top and bottom bunks (I was on a bottom) so you can't exactly sit upright. At least I couldn't, but I'm fairly tall. Downside is my hostel room was right on a busy street and got a bit noisy. At night closing the window helped and in the summer it doesn't get too hot in Edinburgh). If you're visiting during the Tattoo you may be able to see the nightly fireworks from your window. Actually if you're their duing the Tattoo and don't have tickets you can join the queue along Johnston Terrace to watch everyone parade back to their buses to go home after the show. That was pretty neat to see. Staff are friendly and this was a great hostel to stay at. Highly recommend this hostel if your in Edinburgh.

Had a great time here, with polite and helpful staff. Clean, safe atmosphere, nice lounges. Would recommend to a friend.

The hostel is in a great location. The rooms and shower are fine. My issue is two guests came after I already checked in - sadly one from my home country of the USA. I was resting after a long day of hiking and shopping. It was a cold day so I was simply trying to warm up. All because these two women were hot they lied and said they thought I had Covid. I was not sick. I did have any symptoms, being military I have all the vaccines possible. The whole ordeal over them wanting the window open for an ice cold room caused so much drama which lead to me just leaving and having to spend several hundreds of dollars last minute. There should be rules in place. First guests should know when many people are sleeping in a hostel they assume some risk, even though in this case their were none. Second if guests have a dispute right then and there the guests should be in different rooms to avoid confrontation. All guests in the situation should be brought together to avoid he said/she said. Third, guests should not simply be allowed to lie on others to get their way and should know that we are all coming from different parts of the world, so one should not have to suffer for the sake of another.

See my pictures for a full review (weird I know), but I made a review on trip advisor as well and it wouldn't let me copy/paste it!

I rate this place 5 stars because it is like staying in Medieval Times and its huge! There are fun metal knight statues and murals all over the place which give this place fun vibes. My room even had a direct view of the private school that inspired J.K. Rowling's Hogwarts. I met some really fun and interesting people staying here. Do the pub crawl and the beer pong tournament they hold in the common room if you stay here! You will meet lots of interesting people. Plenty of outlets for charging! Spotty wifi in the rooms but I made do by going into the common areas. Also, they were having a scary movie marathon in the movie theater when I was there which is a fun way to stay warm and dry if it decides to rain. Security is great here! They make everyone show a security card to the front desk to gain access. I also used their laundry service (clean & fold) which drops off on your bunk for only 4 pounds. I have seen other hostels charge a lot more for this service, so take advantage of this if you find yourself with dirty clothes! I also took advantage of their free luggage storage on the day I checked out before my late flight from Edinburgh airport. The staff is really friendly and accomodating and will answer any questions you may have.

If you're going to Edinburgh-- this is the place to stay! One of my best experiences staying at a hostel! The location was absolutely perfect. Right next to the castle and next to the Royal Mile. Staff: Friendly and go out of their way to be helpful. Events: They host daily events at night and they're free! We went on a Wednesday night to traditional Scottish dancing and we had a blast! Space: Lots of spacious lounges! Such a cool space. Huge kitchen! Facilities: Bathrooms were always clean. And rooms never felt stuffy.

Stayed here two nights while in Edinburgh. This was the first time I've ever staying in a hostel, and it was pretty enjoyable. They've got three lounges, all with different themes. Plus, they've got a kitchen. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. They do other laundry service and drinks/snacks. Each room has a different theme, I stayed in the superheroes room. There are lockers provided.

Definitely the nicest hostel I've ever stayed in, and it has pretty average prices. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The lounge areas are really nice and they have multiple rooms, including a movie theatre. The bathrooms were also really nice. It's in an excellent location for staying in Edinburgh also. Would seriously recommend, it has amazing staff and great facilities.

This hostel is brilliant! I have to admit, I was less than impressed by the idea of staying in a hostel when I visited Edinburgh...but our funds couldn't cover the pricey Edinburgh hotels, and this was our only option near where our meeting was being held. However, it was a hilarious place to stay and I'm glad we ended up here! The décor is really funny! We had to climb stairs past several suits of armour...and there is a creepy mannequin at the front door that looks a little like Russell Brand! Eep! There are quite a few Scottish flags, and endless corridors and halls to get lost in! Each room is a little different - we were in the 'Scottish drinks' room so each bed was named after some alcoholic beverage...our friends had a room that was covered with framed pictures of beautiful women (wearing less and less clothes as you wander further into the room!) All mad- but funny to explore. If you book early, you don't have to stay in huge dorm rooms...and we had enough of us to fill several of the small 3-4 person rooms. The beds were comfy and the views over Edinburgh were gorgeous (see my piccies...) I had some cereal for breakfast for the grand price of 70p - bargain!! However...the castle Rock loses a star because my shower, although it had fantastic water pressure...was only lukewarm. One of my friends mentioned how amazing the showers were, so maybe he used up all the hot water before I woke up!? The hairdryers didn't work either. *Cold Josy sob*

I would stay here again and again! I had never stayed in a hostel before and was quite nervous beforehand. Castle Rock was absolutely fantastic in many ways. It has everything you could want! First off, you cannot stay in a better location. The decor is awesome and makes you feel like you are staying in a real castle. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The breakfast was great! I do not think my experience in Edinburgh would have been so amazing had I stayed elsewhere. Thank you Castle Rock Hostel!

This hotel is super convenient! It's so fun to walk outside and be right beneath the castle. I stayed here on Christmas day when the entire city was closed and they had a big Christmas meal planned for all of the guests with ample amounts of wine. It was a great way to meet travelers from other countries. The rooms were spacious and had outlets and lockers by every bed. If you arrived early or checked out before departure you can store your luggage for free. The staff were very friendly. Overall a great experience!

Convenient location, clean facilities, friendly staff, and lots of interesting people staying there. Highly recommend this hostel.

Yeah, one of the best hostels I've been to, I'dy say. Very big, very central location, friendly staff, lots of activities, very clean, lots of showers etc and the rooms were clean and nice looking as well. The interior design/theme was pretty nice as well, can recommend this place for sure!

LOVED my stay at Castle Rock!! I'm 5'10" and the bed/blanket provided were long enough, which was wonderful in helping get sleep after exhausting days of walking around the city. Each bed had two pillows as well. Each bed has its own name and locker, with a key, so no need for a padlock. All beds have USB and plug outlets for charging. And each bed has its own light. The lounge/common room areas at this hostel really helped make my stay comfortable and cozy. Free coffee/tea/hot cocoa 24/7. Big comfy couches. A quiet chill room. A cinema room for when it's too rainy to be outside. A music room with guitars and records to play. Just all so lovely and inviting. I stayed at Kick Ass (Grassmarket location) for two nights after, because Castle Rock was all booked up, and it really highlighted why Castle Rock is a superior hostel. Nothing about Kick Ass was better or even came close to the comforts of Castle Rock. Only cons I could think of for Castle Rock... - Hard/awkward to get off top bunk because the ladder could use one more step. - Door shuts a bit loudly, which can get annoying when your in a room with 12 people going in and out all times of the day/night. (Kick Ass door WAY louder) - They ran out of towels at night Highly recommend Castle Rock!!! Do it!!!

Outstanding hostel right by the Edinburgh castle. Very comfortable beds, wi-fi that worked well, a clean environment, good customer service at the front desk, free lockers in the room, a patio outside and all at a reasonable price for an expensive city (a breakfast for a small charge was also available-free coffee and tea are available all day). One drawback is that they do not have a lift/elevator available. An excellent hostel that I would stay at again if I ever return to Edinburgh for another visit.

I've stayed at a number of hostels in Edinburgh and if truth be told I would be happy to stay at all of the ones I've tried so far because they offer such great value for money and none of them have been so bad to justify significant criticism. However, I do have my favourites for one reason or another and so I have to make a judgement relative to my overall experience with other hostels. I stayed one night at the Castle Rock after my preferred hostel was fully booked. The reception was friendly and well organised as they checked me in quickly and courteously. My overall impression was of a very big hostel, an old building with a medieval theme inside, suits of armour and paintings depicting medieval scenes. The hostel was clean and tidy, the guests I met there were well behaved. The kitchen was large, the number of food storage boxes indicated the large number of people staying there. The dorms were clean and I was lucky because there were only three other people in a 12 bed dorm so it was quiet. I was allocated a bed, you don't get to choose whereas in other hostels you can take your pick which is more flexible if you like to choose the lower or upper bunk. Lockers are provided, always a nice touch and gives peace of mind if you have cameras and computers. The only thing I didn't like were the sewn in cotton bed sheets because I like to stick my feet outside the covers because I don't like hot feet. Accordingly I didn't get a great kip in this hostel. The showers were effective, modern and clean but it should be noted that this hostel doesn't provide shower gel and it should also be noted that breakfast is an extra £1.50, some hostels include breakfast in the price. In conclusion I would say it is a good hostel but not my choice due to sewn in bed sheets and car access is awkward here as well due to the location next to the castle. Nevertheless, due to the value it would be unfair to give this hostel less than 4 stars.

The Castle Rock Hostel is really cool. It's located literally across the street from Edinburgh Castle and is very easy to find. The interior decoration was very cute and enjoyable, and the staff was incredibly friendly. I believe they also held little weekly events, but I didn't go as I was only in Edinburgh for the night. I only ranked it 3 stars for a few reasons. One, they were strangely adamant about which bed I was sleeping in. I was traveling with only one other friend and we had a bunk bed. I was assigned the bottom and she the top, but we decided to switch and I don't know, the staff was weird about it. Secondly, the beds were extremely uncomfortable. I can pretty much fall asleep anywhere sitting straight up with music blaring, and I still found it difficult to sleep that night because of how uncomfortable the bed was. Thirdly, the bunk beds are weirdly tall. Like, there is a massive amount of room between the bottom and top bunks. This doesn't sound like it'd be a problem. But it is when you're on the top and your duvet falls off the bed in the middle of the night for the third time and you fall off the ladder in your mid-slumber in attempt to retrieve it because the rungs are placed so far apart. The last reason is really no fault of the hostel's. My friend and I were put into a room of twelve and some of the girls in that room were incredibly rude and inconsiderate.

Castle Rock hostel is a great place to stay. The staff are friendly and helpful and receptionists are available 24-7. There are several lounges, one with a pool table and a jukebox, another with super comfy couches and a record player. The lockers are big enough for a pretty large bag and are right next to the bunks. Washrooms are coed, but each toilet and shower has a full locking door. Breakfast is cereal and toast with meats, cheeses, jams, and eighties music. Go to the Castle Arms pub just a few doors down for discounts on drinks. I'll stay here again the next time I'm in Edinburgh for sure, the only way I'd look for another hostel is if the Castle Rock was already booked up.

The hostel is great! Atmosphere, decoration... Everything good! Free hot drinks is awesome especially when its nippy outside! The location was spectacular - near the castle and east to walk all over old town at a reasonable price fantastic! Only fault which is not the hostels fault... But may need a sign... Trying to sleep and someone has their headphones in. I was across the room and could hear their music loud and clear. I don't want that at 1am ehn they finally decide to come crashing into bed and waking me up in the process and the music was just like adding salt to the wound... But yeah. Other than that I loved castle rock

A true, old school hostel. I loved it! I've stayed in a lot of hostels in a lot of countries and it seems nowadays that places try to be something else. This place had large rooms filled with beds but plenty of space for the people occupying them. The showers and bathrooms were excellent. And there were I don't even know how many lounge rooms downstairs to sit and read, eat, chat, or play music. Plus the location right at the base of the castle is top notch. It gives you so many options for tours, dining, and venturing.

I really liked this hostel. It's in a great location -- right next to Dublin Castle, down the street from the Royal Mile (where a lot of tours start) and Grassmarket's cool pubs and restaurants, easy to get to from the Airlink bus from Edinburgh Airport (take the bus to Waverly!) The interior of the hostel was so cool! There were three lounges to hang out in and they were all decorated in different styles of decor. There was free hot chocolate, always a plus. Pool tables, a juke box, board games... The room was clean and the beds were comfortable (especially after a long day of walking and touring the city). My friend and I switched beds no problem because I am afraid of heights and didn't want to sleep on the top. Overall, a great experience! Only reason it didn't get the fifth star is because the bathrooms were pretty dirty -- I couldn't convince myself to take a shower there even with flip flops on. I guess that's to be expected at a busy hostel like Castle Rock.

Castle Rock Hostel is a really good place to crash while you're checking out Edinburgh. The rooms were fairly clean (though there were item left behind from lots of previous guest). Pros - Great water pressure and hot showers. The beds were comfy although they weren't real mattresses. Secure lockers and keys provided for all guests. Great common areas (though people didn't seem all that social). Superb location. Friendly staff who seemed authentic and wanted to help out. Cons - Breakfast kind of sucked. Especially since you had to pay 1.50 pounds, it was just cereal and a biscuit and the same everyday. As a new guest it was also confusing to find stuff (i.e. coffee mugs, utensils, etc). They could benefit from a couple more signs in the lounge areas to direct people where to go.

Pros: amazing location, historic building, super nice and helpful staff with great tips for things to do, cleanly, and plenty of kitchen and common space to hang out and meet fellow travelers in Cons: actually the worst bed I've ever slept in. It was a thin foam mattress on a hard plank of wood. Super uncomfortable even for hostel standards.

One of the many hostels our band stayed in during our last tour, and easily one of my favorites. The price was very affordable, the staff very friendly and the accommodations were comforting. The rooms were not the nicest we had during the tour but they were definitely on the upper end. Bathrooms were clean and the lounge areas were some of the best. Ideal centralized location put us a few blocks walking distance from every gig we had booked in Edinburgh. We never opted for the £1.50 breakfast because the close proximity of abundant affordable eateries. (Pie Maker, Oink, etc) but I did take advantage of the laundry service provided. I believe it was a £3 fee but the bag they provided was big enough for a couple of us to get all of our clothes washed, dried and folded before being returned to us. Get your laundry request in early before they are filled up and you can spend a worry free day enjoying the city rather than sitting in a laundromat. Really liked the different themes of the rooms!

My stay at Castle Rock Hostel was my first stay ever in a hostel. I have to say it was better than I had hoped for. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Once I explained that I was new to the hostel experience, the woman checking me in went above and beyond to explain how everything worked to me. This hostel was very clean and the bed was comfortable and warm although the pillows were flat and probably could stand to be replaced. The bathroom was very clean and well taken care of. The one big negative thing I will say is that the fridges in the kitchen were beyond gross. They were overfilled, not cold, and smelled of rotten food. A few of them were even leaking mystery fluid. So if you don't need a fridge, this hostel is amazing. I had I good stay.

I stayed here two separate nights on my trip to Scotland and it couldn't have been more perfect! I was traveling alone and felt totally safe. They provide you with lockers for all your things equipped with safes if needed. Breakfast was only 1.50£ and you got one bowl of cereal, one roll (butter and jam available), one piece of fruit. And tea and coffee were always available for no cost. I was just passing through on both occasions but my room was fairly quiet, shared with 9 other ppl. If you were going to be there more frequently, they do have fun stuff going on every evening that you can join in with. Bathrooms were clean (MUST). The location was perfect!

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT HERE! Great vibe, friendly staff, and extremely accommodating for backpackers on the go. A private room was about £55 -£65. They serve breakfast in the morning and hold your backpacks in a locked room if you need to check out. The private room was on the small side but we had a view of the castle, so no real complaints here. Castle Rock was the best hostel/hotel we stayed at on our UK trip.

At the end of my second year of uni, my mum and I found ourselves in need of a place to stay for one night as my tenancy had run out, and I had just got back late from Norway. The castle rock is a good budget option, close to the castle and the grassmarket, and full of Edinburgh's quirky charm. There are a variety of different lounges to stay in, all of which have different themes. There is also free wi fi, a large kitchen, and plenty of cool people to socialise with. That said, I wasn't really in travel mode so I didn't get too hyped by that side of things, I just wanted a good night's sleep before heading back to my parents home the next morning. We stayed in a dorm, again to save money. The bathrooms were clean, the showers looked good, and the beds were comfortable. The rooms were pretty secure too, as you had to pass through 2 locked doors to get in. The hostel is located in the centre of more or less everything, in the most beautiful part of the city. There are many good cafés nearby, including hula juice bar and Victoria's. If you want a centrally located budget hostel, which allows for self catering, socialising, and staying in touch of the real world, choose the castle rock hostel. It is oozing in Edinburgh charm, feels a little eccentric, and would definitely be the kind of place I'd choose to stay in if I were backpacking.

Let me preface this by saying that this is my first hostel experience and I'm used to staying at hotels. So I might be a bit biased since I can't compare this to other hostels. Anyways the rooms are not bad. They had beds, lockers, a small light for each bed, a mirror, and that's really it. The bathrooms were relatively clean, although I've seen better. I've seen others calling the breakfast "exceptional," but all it was was one piece of bread, a bowl of cereal, and juice/coffee, all for €1.50. An extra piece of bread costs €0.80. I think the bread was pre-bought. You then have to clean your own plate. I mean I'm not complaining at all, but for the love of God it's not "exceptional!" I did enjoy the social aspects of the hostel. There was a music room, pool room with chairs and couches, and so on. I met a lot of cool people, so I think this place attracts the right folk. The employees were all friendly. Overall, I had a positive experience, and I will be coming back if I'm ever in the Edinburgh area again. I mean, you can't beat the superb location!

My favourite hostel in Edinburgh (and I've stayed at 6-7 different ones. It has an amazing lounge (plus two other rooms for chilling out). The showers are great, the staff is friendly, it's clean, great location, etc. Really, the only fault I can find with it is that the mattresses are a bit too thin for my liking, but they're still ok. All in all, this is a great place.

This place doesn't care about you. At first, the staff was pleasant but then they were snoughty. They told us once we checked in and completed the initial steps with deposits and keys and stuff that we would only need to show our orange card to get through the front door but later the guy at the front desk asked for our keys as well which a deposit is already made for. He questioned us about our bill and wanted to see our keys that were issued even though they said just show this orange card which is filled out with name and room number and stuff. Also, when I walked downstairs to see the garden patio, there was a pile of free clothes s so I looked at them. Some were beautiful but an employee asked if I was aware of the table cloths. He said it jerky. I would be still too.

Out of 30+ hostels I have stayed in, Castle Rock Hostel has to be one of my favorites! The staff here is amazing- they remembered my name when there are well over a hundred guests staying here. Who does that?!? The location is great, and the rooms are laid out perfectly. My only complaint is that there are no outlets next to the beds which is a bit of a pain. I will definitely stay here again in the future!

When over-nighting at Castle Rock Hostel, what you see is what you get. Situated within a stone's throw away from the tumbling banks of the Castle, this centrally located and budget friendly hostel provides you with the basic necessities (as well as free tea and coffee). The dorms are well laid out and equipped with safes and relatively comfortable bunk beds. The bathrooms tend to be a bit unsightly as they are unisex and communal, so watch out for those exhibitionists! The kitchen and dining area are clean and are usually a hype of activity at any time of the day or night. All in all, it presents value for money and is sufficient for a short stay in Edinburgh.