Sustainability Level 1
We love this hostel! It gets our thumbs up for consistently high customer ratings and excellent quality scores.

2024 HOSCARS WINNER

1st - Best Large Hostels

Europe

Free WiFi

Castle Rock Hostel

Free Cancellation Book more than 3 days in advance for Free Cancellation.

9.5
Superb
23591 Total Reviews
Perfect Location
Superb Staff
Fantastic Cleanliness

Hostelworld says

Castle Rock Hostel is in an ideal location just beside Edinburgh Castle, up the hill from Grassmarket. This carefully-decorated hostel has clean, spacious, themed rooms that our guests have described as "lovely and warm", as well as a large kitchen and multiple lounges, so there's plenty of space to meet others or find a quiet corner. Hostelworld travellers have said "the staff are wonderful and great at answering questions and giving advice about what to see and do (and not) in the city". We like their popular, highly praised walking tours and pub crawls. They don't accept guests under 18.

Property Description

OVER 18's ONLY - NO CHILDREN ALLOWED

If booking for 5 or more people, please contact the hostel directly prior to booking.

Reception is now open 24/7!

A refundable deposit of either £10 in cash or an ID is required for the keys.


Castle Rock Hostel is fabulously located right beside Edinburgh Castle! Our palatial hostel offers wonderful character, with a mix of grandeur and a backpacker vibe!

Enjoy being in Edinburgh's best location & being at the very heart of the city. We are just a stroll from the bus, train and the airport bus and a 1 minute walk from Edinburgh Castle, 1 minute from the Royal Mile & 1 minute from the Grassmarket. We are in a relatively quiet street but the city's wonderful, late night-life is also just around the corner ideal!

Built in 1846 and turned into a backpackers hostel in 1997, we have packed this grand old building full of art, character and antiquity. Some people say it is more an art gallery or museum than a hostel. We think you will love it with our bright, sunny and spacious rooms and great facilities like FREE Wi-Fi, a movie room, a delightful patio and a fire place for those cold winter nights as well as plenty of room to kick back and relax or join in the fun with other travelers.

Our receptionists will always give you a friendly welcome and can help with any questions about what to see in Edinburgh or about travel around Scotland. We aim to look after you totally so you can have the best holiday possible. Here's a list of more that we offer!

Truly superb location under the castle ramparts
Open 24 hours every day of the year
Bed-side lockers in all rooms
24 hour Safe for total security.
Vibrant atmosphere with a choice of lounges
Big lounge with Jukebox, pool table, piano, free tea & coffee
Luggage storage
Free hair dryers

ART everywhere!
Big screen movie lounge with both Scottish and mainstream movies
Internet lounge with Wi-Fi
Posh lounge with piano and fire place
Hot and powerful showers
Unisex bathrooms (with locked cubicles)
Large self-catering kitchen
Laundry service £5.00
Clean bed linen (with properly fitted sheets)
MacBackpackers tours pick-up point
No hidden charges
No Stag or hen parties
Minutes from the bus and train
Fabulous views over the city
Scottish owned - backpacker run
We also have two other hostels in the Old Town of Edinburgh; the small & vibrant Royal Mile Backpackers and the historic High Street Hostel, Edinburgh's original independent hostel!

Just a few reminders;
* We are an 18+ hostel.
* We have a 7 night maximum stay- this includes making consecutive separate reservations.
* We do not have a lift as we are in a heritage building and all our rooms are either up or downstairs! You will need to walk uphill to get here so be warned your legs will feel the burn but it's oh so worth it!
* If you do not show up on the arrival date of your booking you will be charged the first night and the rest of your booking will be cancelled.

SPECIAL CANCELLATION POLICY FOR AUGUST/NEW YEARS / HOGMANAY: All New Years / Hogmanay reservations between the 30th of December and the 1st of January must be cancelled 7 days in advance prior to 3pm on the arrival date. This is the same for bookings made during the Fringe Festival in August.
If it is less than 7 days in advance, YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THE FIRST NIGHT.
*Please note that bookings made over New Years Eve will be charged in advance in full on the 21st of December.

Go green and carbon neutral; Fifteen years ago we bought a 75+ hectare woodland that absorbs more than the total CO2 emissions from fuel used in our hostel and also the other properties in our small MacBackpackers hostel and bus company chain. We also try our best to re-cycle everything (with your help) and our electricity is all sourced from renewable, non-nuclear supplies. Stay with us for a great holiday and minimal environmental impact!

Castle Rock reserves the right to charge any guest who causes damage to the hostel a fine of up to £100 depending on the severity of the damage caused.

Reviews & Ratings

9.5
Superb
23591 Total Reviews
  • Security
    9.7
  • Location
    9.9
  • Staff
    9.7
  • Atmosphere
    9.4
  • Cleanliness
    9
  • Value for Money
    9.4
  • Facilities
    9.2

Check Availability

Check In
Check Out
Guests

Sustainability Level 1

This hostel has begun to introduce practices that result in a positive social and environmental impact, grasping the fundamentals of the Staircase to Sustainability.
Learn more

Location

Latest Reviews

10
Superb
Oct 06, 2024
The breakfast was lovely and the staff supportive
show more
Female, 41+
9.4
Superb
Oct 04, 2024
My stay at Castle Rock was lovely. My only complaint is that the showers smelled overwhelmingly of feet. Otherwise, the staff were excellent, the beds were comfy, and the facilities were extremely accommodating and well-stocked. Would definitely go back!
show more
Female, 18-24
8.3
Fabulous
Oct 04, 2024
The hostel was so cool to live in. We booked the four bed private room and the views were immaculate and the room was very clean. The amenities around the hostel were good. The kitchen and washrooms were okay but not very well kept. The kitchen was actually a bit scattered. Overall good stay!
show more
Female, 18-24

Facilities

  • Free

    • Free City Maps
    • Free WiFi
    • Free Internet Access
    • t_FREESECURITYLOCKERS
    • t_FREELUGGAGESTORAGE
  • General

    • Bicycle Parking
    • Adaptors
  • Services

    • Luggage Storage
    • 24 Hour Reception
    • Tours/Travel Desk
  • Entertainment

    • Internet access
    • Book Exchange
    • DVD's
    • Board Games
    • Pool Table
    • Wi-Fi
  • Food & Drinks

    • BBQ
    • Tea & Coffee Making Facilities
  • Kitchen

    • Self-Catering Facilities
    • Cooker
    • Fridge/Freezer
    • Utensils
    • Microwave
    • t_KETTLE
    • t_POTSANDPANS
    • t_SINK
    • t_STOVE
    • t_TOASTER
  • Laundry

    • Laundry Facilities
    • t_RECYCLINGBINS
  • Wellness

    • Hot Showers
  • Outdoors

    • Outdoor Terrace
  • Safety & Security

    • Security Lockers
    • 24 Hour Security
    • t_FIREEXTINGUISHERS
    • t_FIRSTAIDKITS
    • t_SMOKEALARMS
    • t_SMOKEDETECTOR
  • Social Areas

    • Common Room
    • t_LOUNGEROOM
  • Bedroom

    • Linen Included
    • Reading Light
    • Hair Dryers
    • Towels Not Included
    • t_CHARGINGPLUGS
  • Hostelworld Policies

    • Flexible NRR
  • Available for a Fee

    • Towels for hire
    • Breakfast Not Included
    • Hair Dryers For Hire

Awards

2024

1st, Best Large Hostels Europe

2024

1st, Country Winners Scotland

2024

1st, Most Popular Hostels Edinburgh

2019

9th, Worldwide Large Hostel

2019

1st, Most Popular Hostels Edinburgh

2018

7th, Worldwide Large Hostel

2018

1st, Country Winners Scotland

2018

1st, Most Popular Hostels Edinburgh

2017

7th, Worldwide Large Hostel

2017

1st, Country Winners Scotland

2017

1st, Most Popular Hostels Edinburgh

2016

1st, Most Popular Hostels Edinburgh

2015

1st, Most Popular Hostels Edinburgh

2014

6th, Worldwide Extra Large Hostel

2014

1st, Most Popular Hostels Edinburgh

2013

1st, Worldwide Extra Large Hostel

2013

1st, Country Winners Scotland

2013

1st, Most Popular Hostels Edinburgh

2012

5th, Worldwide Extra Large Hostel

2011

10th, Worldwide Large Hostel

2011

1st, Country Winners Scotland

2010

1st, Country Winners Scotland

Nominations

2016

Worldwide Large Hostel

2015

Worldwide Large Hostel

View all Award Winners

More hostels in Edinburgh