Frederick House Hotel

The hotel offers a highly central location in Edinburgh's New Town, making it an ideal base for exploring the city's main attractions. Its signature feature is its exceptional proximity to key landmarks and transport links, allowing guests to easily navigate the city on foot. The hotel is consistently praised for its cleanliness, the friendliness of its staff, and its generally comfortable accommodations. Guests frequently highlight the convenience of being able to walk to most points of interest, from shopping areas to historical sites. It is particularly well-suited for sightseers and couples looking to immerse themselves in the city's vibrant atmosphere, as well as business travelers due to its convenient access to the city center. Families also find the spacious rooms accommodating. To enhance your stay, consider requesting a room facing the rear of the hotel to minimize potential street noise, and be sure to inquire about available discounts at nearby dining establishments to make the most of your visit.

Facilities & Amenities
The hotel provides a range of practical facilities and amenities designed to enhance guest convenience. Most rooms are equipped with a mini-fridge, a kettle with tea, coffee, and biscuits, and an iron and ironing board, which are particularly appreciated by guests attending events or needing to refresh their attire. A notable feature is the filtered water dispenser available on each floor, promoting an eco-friendly approach and allowing guests to easily refill their water bottles. The hotel also offers a 24-hour reception for assistance at any time, and a convenient lift for easy access to all floors, which is especially helpful for guests with heavy luggage. Guests can also benefit from luggage storage facilities, allowing for early arrivals or late departures without the burden of carrying bags, though some have expressed a preference for staff-only access to this area.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Guests consistently praise the hotel's cleanliness, describing rooms as spotless, fresh, and immaculately maintained. The beds are generally considered comfortable by many, though a significant number of guests found them to be very firm or too small for two people, especially taller individuals. Room size is often highlighted as spacious and adequate, even for families. However, noise levels can be a concern, particularly in rooms facing the street, where sounds from nearby pubs, traffic, and late-night revelers are frequently reported. Internal noise from creaky floors and fire doors can also be noticeable. While rooms include amenities like a hairdryer and TV, some guests noted the TV was small and lacked accessible power outlets near the bed. The bathroom facilities are clean with good shower pressure, but some guests experienced fluctuating water temperatures and found the high step-in to the bathtub challenging, occasionally noting leaks or a lack of a grab handle.

Dining & Food Quality
The hotel does not feature an on-site restaurant or bar, with breakfast being served at partner establishments located directly across the street, primarily Rabble. Most guests commend the breakfast quality, describing it as delicious, varied, and excellent, with options available for different dietary needs, including gluten-free. Guests appreciate the convenience of the arrangement and the discounts offered to hotel patrons. However, some guests have reported slow service at the breakfast venue, with wait times sometimes extending up to an hour, particularly during busy periods like rugby match days. While the food is generally well-received, a few guests felt the cost was not always justified for the non-fried options. Despite these minor service issues, the off-site breakfast is largely seen as a positive and convenient aspect of the stay.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel boasts an outstanding central location in Edinburgh's New Town, making it exceptionally convenient for exploring the city. Guests can easily walk to major attractions such as Princes Street, the Royal Mile, and Edinburgh Castle, typically within 10 to 30 minutes. Its proximity to key transport links, including Waverley train station, tram stops, and bus stops, provides excellent accessibility to the airport and other parts of the city. The surrounding area is vibrant, offering a wide array of shops, restaurants, and pubs right on the doorstep. While the location is highly praised for its convenience, guests should be aware that parking is not available on-site and nearby city parking options can be expensive, requiring a walk from multi-story car parks.

Staff & Service
The staff at the hotel consistently receive high praise for their friendliness, helpfulness, and accommodating nature. Guests frequently highlight the warm welcome received upon arrival and the efficiency of the check-in and check-out processes, with many appreciating the flexibility for early check-ins or late departures. The team is noted for being responsive to guest requests, such as providing portable heaters or assisting with luggage storage, and offering local recommendations. Many reviews commend the staff's courteous and attentive approach, contributing significantly to a positive guest experience. Specific services like the same-day laundry service are also mentioned positively, offering convenience for travelers. Overall, the staff's commitment to providing excellent customer service is a recurring theme, making guests feel valued and well-cared for throughout their stay.

Additional Information
Guests should be aware that the hotel is housed in an older building, which contributes to its charming character but also means it lacks certain modern amenities like air conditioning. This can lead to rooms feeling warm or stuffy, especially during warmer periods, necessitating open windows which may expose guests to external noise. The building's age also contributes to internal sounds such as creaky floors. While luggage storage is available, some guests expressed minor concerns about the system where guests are given keys to access the storage room themselves. The hotel offers a convenient same-day laundry service for a fee, which many guests found to be a valuable amenity. Additionally, the hotel provides discounts for guests at several nearby restaurants, enhancing dining options.