Axel's take on Murrayfield & Corstorphine: #7 of 7 in Edinburgh, 6.1/10
Choose it for rugby or the zoo, not a sightseeing-first weekend. Murrayfield & Corstorphine offers the strongest hotel value and useful specialist attractions, but weaker central access and less distinctive surroundings put it last overall.
Murrayfield’s stadium and Corstorphine’s zoo give western Edinburgh two clear reasons to stay. Roseburn and the Water of Leith add pleasant local walking, while Corstorphine offers a suburban high street and access to its wooded hill. For families whose plans genuinely revolve around these attractions, or visitors attending a match, the location can work very well.
For a general city break, however, you trade spontaneity for repeated transport journeys. Murrayfield has tram access; Corstorphine village is primarily a bus proposition, not a doorstep tram neighborhood. Main-road traffic also complicates the quiet-suburb promise. Residents describe peaceful ordinary evenings but a different experience around stadium events. Skip it if central dinners, nightlife and historical wandering dominate your plans.
- Best for: sports fans, a quiet stay, families
- Skip it if: You want spontaneous central sightseeing; You want quiet on stadium-event nights
- Getting around: Buses 26 and 31 link the main road with the center; Airlink 100 connects EDI directly. Murrayfield Stadium and Balgreen have airport trams, but Corstorphine village requires a bus or a longer walk to rail.
- After dark: Usually residential and low-key away from main roads; rugby and concert nights bring crowds, noise and busy trams around Murrayfield.
- Rates: Typical Axel rate $197 a night · usually 7% under the public rate
Where to stay in Edinburgh: every neighborhood ranked
Where to look in Murrayfield & Corstorphine
- Corstorphine Road, Murrayfield to Zoo. Stay along this bus corridor for rugby or zoo visits; expect road traffic rather than uniformly quiet suburban nights. Hotels here: Murrayfield Hotel, Holiday Inn Edinburgh Zoo by IHG, Twin Lions Hotel, No 6 West Coates.
- St John's Road. Corstorphine’s shops, pubs and nearby green spaces suit suburban stays with bus journeys into the center. Hotels here: The Torfin.
- McLeod Street. The Tynecastle side suits football trips and local eating, rather than historic sightseeing on foot. Hotels here: Tynecastle Park Hotel.
How to choose
- Choose Tynecastle Park Hotel if excellent beds and helpful staff matter most; choose Plaza rooms if you need daylight.
- Choose Murrayfield Hotel if Murrayfield Stadium and a pub downstairs are the main reasons for your stay.
- Choose Holiday Inn Edinburgh Zoo by IHG if your family trip revolves around the zoo and you also want an indoor pool.
What paying more buys
Murrayfield Hotel costs more than Leonardo Edinburgh Murrayfield Hotel for stadium proximity and a pub, not more leisure facilities: Leonardo has the pool. No 6 West Coates is one of the pricier picks yet has recurring upkeep complaints. Pool-focused families should not pay extra simply for a higher rate or a closer stadium address. Typical rates with Axel here run from $186 a night at Leonardo Edinburgh Murrayfield Hotel to $248 at No 6 West Coates (last 30 days).
The best hotels in Murrayfield & Corstorphine, ranked by Axel's take
Each hotel scored for what it is by Axel's own review; the rate is one stay Axel priced this week, beside the public rate for the same dates.
- Tynecastle Park Hotel 9.2/10, small 4-star hotel inside Hearts’ football stadium. Excellent rooms and genuinely helpful staff make this stadium hotel more than a football novelty. Why it's here: Exceptionally large beds and warm service inside Hearts’ stadium. Accept: Roseburn rooms lack windows; central sightseeing needs transport. $121 a night with Axel against $135 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $14 a night less (10%). Sign up free to book this rate
- Murrayfield Hotel 8.5/10, mid-range boutique hotel with a pub beside Murrayfield Stadium. A strong stadium-side choice, with comfortable rooms and an appealing pub downstairs. Why it's here: Stadium-side convenience with comfortable beds and a pub for the evening. Accept: no air conditioning, upstairs rooms require stairs, and parking is limited. $360 a night with Axel against $391 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $31 a night less (8%). Sign up free to book this rate
- The Torfin 8.4/10, small pub-with-rooms in suburban Corstorphine. A friendly pub stay with clean rooms, but pack light and expect late breakfast. Why it's here: A friendly, dog-welcoming pub stay with consistently clean rooms. Accept: small upstairs rooms, possible noise and breakfast only from 10am. $209 a night with Axel against $221 a night on Booking.com for the same dates and party: $12 a night less (5%). Sign up free to book this rate
- Leonardo Edinburgh Murrayfield Hotel 7.8/10, practical 3-star suburban hotel with a pool and free parking. A useful base with good leisure facilities, but tired rooms and occasional event noise. Why it's here: A cheaper-than-most pool-and-parking option for bus-based family stays. Accept: dated rooms, creaky floors and occasional wedding or party noise. $101 a night with Axel against $107 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $6 a night less (6%). Sign up free to book this rate
- Holiday Inn Edinburgh Zoo by IHG 7.7/10, practical 4-star chain hotel beside Edinburgh Zoo. A useful family base, with friendly staff but uneven room standards. Why it's here: Zoo-next-door convenience and an indoor pool for family trips. Accept: bedroom and bathroom condition varies; central sights require a bus. $86 a night with Axel against $93 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $7 a night less (7%). Sign up free to book this rate
- Twin Lions Hotel 6.7/10, basic, guesthouse-style budget hotel near Murrayfield. Helpful staff and practical parking, but tired rooms make this a qualified pick. Why it's here: Helpful staff and free parking for short Murrayfield or zoo visits. Accept: dated rooms, thin walls and some shared bathrooms.
- No 6 West Coates 5.7/10, basic, self-check-in guesthouse near Haymarket. Useful transport links, but inconsistent cleaning and upkeep make this a risky budget choice. Why it's here: Independent self-check-in near buses, Haymarket and Murrayfield. Accept: recurring cleaning complaints, faulty fittings and inconsistent remote support. $213 a night with Axel against $224 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $11 a night less (5%). Sign up free to book this rate
