Royal Mile Backpackers

Royal Mile Backpackers is an intimate and sociable budget hostel located at 105 High Street, directly on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh's Old Town, between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The address is as central as it is possible to be in Edinburgh: the castle is a 10-minute walk uphill, the Scottish Parliament is 15 minutes downhill, and the city's most visited attractions — Greyfriars Kirkyard, the Camera Obscura, the Writers' Museum, and the National Museum of Scotland — are all within a very short distance. The hostel operates on a smaller, more personal scale than the major budget hostel chains, with a community-focused atmosphere that is one of its most frequently cited attributes. Accommodation is provided primarily in mixed-sex dormitories of varying sizes, with beds priced at some of the lowest rates in Edinburgh's Old Town. The hostel does not offer private rooms, which keeps prices down and maintains the communal character of the property. All guests have access to a well-equipped communal kitchen, a comfortable lounge area with seating and a television, and free Wi-Fi throughout the building. Facilities are deliberately straightforward — the focus is on the extraordinary address and the community of travellers who pass through, rather than on-site extras. The hostel is managed by the same team that operates a small network of Edinburgh and Scottish hostels, and the staff's knowledge of the city — free attractions, affordable eating, day-trip routes, and festival tips — is a genuine part of the value offered. The Royal Mile transforms dramatically each August during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with the street becoming one of the world's great outdoor performance venues. Royal Mile Backpackers at this address is the most directly convenient budget accommodation in Edinburgh for experiencing the festival atmosphere, and rooms in August book out many months in advance.