Axel's take on New Town: #1 of 7 in Edinburgh, 8.6/10
The best all-round choice, especially if you choose your street carefully. New Town wins overall for excellent transport, abundant nearby options and strong hotels, but its above-average rates make value its clear weakness.
New Town gives you Georgian streets, Princes Street Gardens and the shopping-and-dining spine around George Street, with Old Town across the valley. It feels more spacious than the medieval streets opposite, and the combination of airport trams, Waverley access and walkable sightseeing makes it our easiest general recommendation.
Do not mistake central for uniformly peaceful: Rose Street and George Street have evening activity, while streets north of Queen Street offer a calmer alternative. You still climb to reach the castle. Princes Street’s July 2026 fire no longer interrupts the tram route, although work continues at the affected building.
- Best for: first-time visitors, luxury travelers, shopping, travelers without a car
- Skip it if: You want medieval streets outside your door; You want a residential atmosphere on the main shopping streets
- Getting around: Princes Street and St Andrew Square have direct EDI trams; Waverley and the bus station are convenient from the eastern streets, and Old Town is walkable across The Mound or North Bridge.
- After dark: Rose Street pubs and George Street bars draw evening crowds; visitors describe the residential streets farther north as quieter than Old Town.
- Rates: Typical Axel rate $377 a night
Where to stay in Edinburgh: every neighborhood ranked
Where to look in New Town
- St Andrew Square. Choose this end for train and tram arrivals, shopping and a green square between sightseeing walks. Hotels here: 28 York Place, ibis Styles Edinburgh Centre St Andrew Square, The Balmoral Hotel, Old Waverley Hotel.
- George Street. Restaurants and cocktail bars make evenings easy; better for sociable weekends than an early, hushed night. Hotels here: Tigerlily, Intercontinental Edinburgh the George, Le Monde Hotel.
- Charlotte Square. Georgian surroundings at the western end of the shopping streets suit walkers who want restaurants nearby without staying above George Street bars. Hotels here: Kimpton Charlotte Square by IHG.
How to choose
- Choose 28 York Place if you want personal service and a cheaper-than-most base near transport, and can manage stairs.
- Choose Kimpton Charlotte Square by IHG if you want a pool and spa without choosing one of the neighborhood’s priciest hotels.
- Choose Tigerlily if cocktails and spacious, stylish rooms matter more than an early night.
What paying more buys
Compared with cheaper-than-most 28 York Place, mid-priced Kimpton Charlotte Square adds a pool, spa and fuller dining facilities. The much pricier Balmoral buys traditional luxury beside Waverley, but exterior works warrant checking. If you mainly need a comfortable bed and helpful staff between outings, 28 York Place makes the bigger spend hard to justify. Typical rates with Axel here run from $254 a night at YOTEL Edinburgh to $977 at The Balmoral Hotel (last 30 days).
The best hotels in New Town, 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.
- 28 York Place 8.8/10, small, independent 3-star Georgian townhouse hotel in Edinburgh’s New Town. A personable city-centre base with excellent staff, but stairs are unavoidable. Why it's here: Personal service at a cheaper-than-most rate near New Town transport and shopping. Accept: every bedroom requires stairs; room size and noise vary. $171 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- ibis Styles Edinburgh Centre St Andrew Square 8.8/10, design-led 3-star in Edinburgh’s central New Town. A strong city-break base, with friendly staff and compact rooms. Why it's here: Included continental breakfast and friendly service near trains and trams. Accept: compact standard rooms with little luggage storage. $178 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Kimpton Charlotte Square by IHG 8.8/10, design-led five-star townhouse hotel in Edinburgh’s New Town. A strong Edinburgh luxury pick, with welcoming staff and a few townhouse compromises. Why it's here: A mid-priced New Town option combining characterful interiors with a pool and spa. Accept: some rooms are compact, and corridor sound can carry. $205 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Tigerlily 8.8/10, lively 4-star boutique hotel on Edinburgh’s George Street. Stylish rooms and warm service make this a strong pick, provided you welcome the nightlife. Why it's here: Often spacious, stylish rooms for a lively George Street weekend. Accept: late-night music in some rooms and impractical lighting or layouts. $260 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- The Balmoral Hotel 8.8/10, grand, historic 5-star hotel beside Edinburgh Waverley. A strong choice for traditional luxury, with exterior works worth checking before booking. Why it's here: Traditional luxury and attentive service immediately beside Waverley. Accept: exterior renovations scheduled through May 2027; views vary by category. $570 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Intercontinental Edinburgh the George 8.3/10, historic luxury city hotel in Edinburgh’s New Town. A strong central base with welcoming staff, but not uniformly polished luxury. Why it's here: Historic George Street surroundings and welcoming concierge help for car-free breaks. Accept: street noise and uneven room condition; no pool. $200 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Le Monde Hotel 8.1/10, lively 4-star boutique hotel with a basement nightclub on George Street. Distinctive rooms and a prime location, but weekend noise is a real compromise. Why it's here: Individually themed rooms for couples who want George Street nightlife downstairs. Accept: weekend music and crowd noise, plus uneven room upkeep. $187 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- YOTEL Edinburgh 7.9/10, compact, modern 4-star city hotel in Edinburgh’s New Town. A good New Town base, provided compact rooms and unconventional bathrooms suit you. Why it's here: One of the cheaper New Town bases for compact, modern sightseeing stays. Accept: limited bathroom privacy, compact rooms and some windowless categories. $323 a night with Axel against $332 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $9 a night less (3%). Sign up free to book this rate
- Old Waverley Hotel 7.7/10, traditional 3-star hotel on Princes Street. An excellent sightseeing base, provided you can handle stairs and some old-building quirks. Why it's here: Cheaper-than-most traditional character opposite Waverley for car-free sightseeing. Accept: 27 entrance steps before the lift, plus variable room condition. $158 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
