The Ben Doran Guest House

Executive Double Room, 1 King Bed | Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Standard Double Room | Living area | 22-inch LCD TV with digital channels, TV, DVD player

Executive Double Room, 1 King Bed | Living area | 22-inch LCD TV with digital channels, TV, DVD player

4.0 / 5.0

Good(469 Ratings)

Bed and Breakfast in Edinburgh

4-Star Hotel

Reasons to book

Top-tier experienceOne of the higher cost properties in the area

Includes essentialsInternet / Wifi, TV and more

Book with confidenceWe partner with the top travel sites so you know you're getting a great deal on the perfect rental

About this bed and breakfast

While you're here, you can enjoy all the comforts of home and more, including free WiFi and an LCD TV, as well as a coffee/tea maker and heating. Other amenities include Egyptian cotton sheets, designer toiletries, premium bedding, and towels.

Amenities

Internet / Wifi

Map of Edinburgh

Nearby attractions

National Museum of Scotland

1.9 mi

Stirling Castle

52.4 mi

Royal Yacht Britannia

5.5 mi

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions

2.2 mi

Available Rooms

Standard Double Room

1 Double • 377 ft²

Sleeps 2

You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing

Executive Double Room, 1 King Bed

1 King • 431 ft²

Sleeps 2

You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing

Standard Double Room, Shared Bathroom

1 Double • 323 ft²

Sleeps 2

You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing

Standard Single Room, 1 Twin Bed, Shared Bathroom

1 Single • 161 ft²

Sleeps 1

You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing

££££

The Ben Doran Guest House

££££

4.0 / 5.0

Good(469 Ratings)

Bed and Breakfast in Edinburgh

4-Star Hotel

Reasons to book

Top-tier experienceOne of the higher cost properties in the area

Includes essentialsInternet / Wifi, TV and more

Book with confidenceWe partner with the top travel sites so you know you're getting a great deal on the perfect rental

About this bed and breakfast

Amenities

Internet / Wifi

Map of Edinburgh

Nearby attractions

National Museum of Scotland

1.9 mi

Stirling Castle

52.4 mi

Royal Yacht Britannia

5.5 mi

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions

2.2 mi

Available Rooms

Standard Double Room

1 Double • 377 ft²

Sleeps 2

You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing

Executive Double Room, 1 King Bed

1 King • 431 ft²

Sleeps 2

You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing

Standard Double Room, Shared Bathroom

1 Double • 323 ft²

Sleeps 2

You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing

Standard Single Room, 1 Twin Bed, Shared Bathroom

1 Single • 161 ft²

Sleeps 1

You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing

Ratings and reviews

4.0 / 5.0

Good(469 Ratings)

2.5 / 5.0

Sep 2024

Sorry that there was no elevator, but because it is an historical property, it can not be installed. Staff was wonderful and breakfast and the room it was served was beautiful. Well worth the money if you can do 47 steps to the top floor. Were in our late 70’s and we did it!!!! Great spot and great people running it.

0.5 / 5.0

Aug 2024

Shared shower and toilet in the corridor

5.0 / 5.0

Jul 2024

I had problems with the TV the lady on duty was more than helpful in resolving the problem and getting me a replacement nothing seemed too much trouble just what you need to be , looked after

5.0 / 5.0

Nov 2023

The Ben Doran is a 300 year old mansion converted to a hotel. The ceilings are like 16 feet tall. The walls are really thick. So it is really quiet. The owners and personnel are so nice and friendly. Odette is a sweetheart. The location is awesome. You can walk if you want or take a bus from close by or uber. Loved our stay!!

4.0 / 5.0

Oct 2023

Room was clean,bed comfortable but the traffic noise was awful even with window shut all through the night

4.0 / 5.0

Sep 2023

Great B&B in old Edinburgh mansion. Great hot breakfast and super friendly staff ( Odette was engaging, charming and very helpful). Not glamorous but highly recommended.

2.5 / 5.0

Sep 2023

Great spot. Close to the royal mile. Very comfortable rooms. Fantastic breakfast in a quaint dining room. Very welcoming and helpful staff. I definitely recommend staying here

5.0 / 5.0

Aug 2023

This is a classic structure with loads of personality. Well maintained and comfortable. Beautiful gently curving spiral staircase. Staff and owners were very helpful. They focus on guests’ needs. Broad choice of breakfast foods. Bus stop very close by. Don’t bother with a car in Edinburgh - it’s too congested and the streets are narrow. Walk or take the bus. We did!

1.0 / 5.0

Jun 2023

This is not a 4 * hotel!!! It is not more than a 2½ *. The Guest House do not have elevator and rooms are 1 or 2 floors upstairs and nobody helps you at the arrival. Some rooms are sharing bathroom. No front desk with employees. Only 1service: breakfast Is included.

5.0 / 5.0

May 2023

Staff was very friendly! Close to many different things to do if you just want to take a day from being downtown. Highly recommended!

2.0 / 5.0

May 2023

A very honest Guesthouse. Doesn’t try to be anything but a pleasant overnight stay. Rooms are dated but facilities are very clean and accessible. Breakfast was very good with excellent service

5.0 / 5.0

Mar 2023

The manager was super friendly and the breakfast was great. Plenty of food and the eggs were amazing.

1.5 / 5.0

Aug 2022

We didn’t know that four star hotels had shared bathrooms. The water temperature regulator in the shared shower was on engineer level to get right. It was either ice cold or volcanically hot and nothing in between. The walls might have been thick, which was good because you could barely hear the traffic from the busy street outside. But the door however was the weak spot. You could basically hear people two floors down as if they were in the room with you. Service however was supreme and the included Scottish breakfast was very good.

2.5 / 5.0

Jun 2022

The room was very spacious and clean. It seemed as it was recently refurbished. They were really accommodating and provided us with a packed breakfast as we had an early tour one day and couldn´t stay for breakfast. The buffet breakfast was good and freshly made. The guest house is very well communicated, it is about 30 min walk from the city centre but has restaurants 10 minutes away. Also the bus stop is right opposite the house. There was barely face to face service and the man I spoke to wasn´t very welcoming, but other than that it was a pleasant stay and I would recommend this place if you are visiting Edinburgh.

0.5 / 5.0

Dec 2021

Booked this for my daughter to stay for two nights. First night we couldn’t get access to hotel. Nobody answers the phone.. 2nd day arrived 3pm. Hotel room freezing no heating on no hot water for a shower room not cleaned properly and smelt damp. My daughter returned home and drove back next morning.couldn’t talk to anyone as no staff present

1.0 / 5.0

Dec 2021

The city was beautiful and we chose this hotel as it was the perfect location and it offered a full Scottish breakfast to prepare us for the day but that didn’t happen they served egg and sausage both of which were just topped up from the day before the cereal was stale and same as the bread. There was no body to greet you and the emergency number provided was in contactable on several occasions as we tried to get in contact as we had no front door keep and a problem with our bed.

2.5 / 5.0

Nov 2021

The guesthouse was very tasteful and quiet.The hosts were excellent. The shower could have been better in the room and the switch for the kettle was broken though still usable. We would visit again.

2.5 / 5.0

Oct 2021

Great stay, very friendly

0.5 / 5.0

Feb 2020

Room was acceptable if stuck in 70's. On the other hand breakfast was like an episode of Fawlty Towers... We arrived at 8.30 (half way through the hour window for breakfast) to find that other than a handful of bacon rashers they were out of cooked breakfast options. When i asked for more, the owner/waitress checked each of the chafing dishes and announced 'there was still bacon'. I had to beg for an egg, i mean i almost had to drop to my knees... We then discovered that the orange juice was bad. Informed the hostess who took my glass; returned a little later, took the jug and that was it. Had to ask what the outcome was, only to be told there was nothing wrong with it, but that she'd open a new one if i wanted. There's more, a lot more... a full 10 minute wait for eggs and bacon (which all came on separate plates minutes apart); shoulders slumping and eyes rolling when any request was made (coffe, toast) ; noisiest clean up ever which began before we received our food.... Under no circumstances would i ever stay at this hotel again. But if they were to take their show on the road i might get tickets!!!

1.3 / 5.0

Feb 2020

Friendly comfortable residence close to the city. My room was ensuite with all of the home comforts. Easy to access from the city centre - 15 minute walk to Royal Mile Will be back

0.5 / 5.0

Feb 2020

looked forward to a cooked breakfast - but only 3 items - bacon, scrambled egg & black pudding. A couple more items from mushrooms, beans, tomatoes, sausage, hash brown are usually standard. Overpriced - at £144 per night .

1.0 / 5.0

Jan 2020

Owner went above and beyond to help and accommodate me when I was unable to manage the stairs. Big old townhouse on busy thoroughfare into Edinburgh with rooms on 1st and 2nd floors. Rooms spotless. Breakfast lovely and beautifully presented. Bus stop right outside with city centre and airport services.

1.0 / 5.0

Dec 2019

Great location and hosts, lovely breakfast

3.0 / 5.0

Sep 2019

The w-ifi was weak in my room so I had to sit in the lobby. Very strange shower water control. No matter what setting I used, the water temperature varied from ice cold to scalding hot - I just used the water stream when the temperature was comfortable. It took over 5 minutes for the toilet tank to refill.

4.0 / 5.0

Apr 2019

The Ben Doran is a fine old classic Guest House. We're in good shape so we climbed the three flights of stairs to our room in style via wide winding staircase with a burgundy patterned wool carpet runner fastened in place with brass stays. The bathroom was spotlessly clean. I had not seen a "bhagwan" since the Philippines in '97 but this was the first of two seen on this trip so I guess hot water on demand is once again a thing. The bed was very comfortable and wi-fi serviceable. The room guide warned against using adaptors to charge our (dual voltage) devices in the outlets. We got the impression there was something quirky about the building's voltage so we just waited to charge our phones in the car on the next day's drive up to the Highlands.( It could have just been outdated information but we decided not to risk it.) The best things about the Ben Doran are the hot breakfast and the helpful, friendly, attentive staff. We found out in real time how limited the parking is, but after we unloaded our rent car the street parking around the corner was just fine. Old Town is within a 30 minutes' walk but there are also buses running every few minutes and the staff will gladly break your five pound note into change for the fare. We walked into and around Edinburgh, then rode the bus back later that evening without ever feeling exposed or vulnerable. We'd stay there again and recommend it without hesitation.

4.0 / 5.0

Feb 2019

.Good value place to stay close enough to ciy centre. Clean and tidy grand hpuse but decor a bit dated. Plenty of breakfast too.

5.0 / 5.0

Jan 2019

Gorgeous, friendly guest house, very comfortable stay.

2.0 / 5.0

Jan 2019

Comfortable warm and inviting, excellent breakfast and very friendly staff

2.5 / 5.0

Oct 2018

This is the second time we stayed. We had executive room. Staff friendly, good breakfast, clean room.Not a long walk from the station and the centre of town. Also lots of busses. Would be happy to use this guest house again if Im back in Edinburgh.

2.5 / 5.0

Oct 2018

2.0 / 5.0

Sep 2018

Welcomed with key to come/go at our leisure. Decent breakfast & good service. On suite room helped.

2.5 / 5.0

Sep 2018

just outside of edinburgh but such a good bus route . or 10 -15 minutes walk only room for 6 vehicles at guesthouse very very clean and helpful

2.5 / 5.0

Aug 2018

Very Nice. Excellent service and people. Car-park is a problem.

2.0 / 5.0

Aug 2018

Really nice hotel a short 5min bus ride to centre had a double room at the back which was very quiet dated but very clean bathroom with a shower breakfast was very good and plentiful parking a problem only space for a few cars we parked around the corner all in all we had a lovely stay

2.5 / 5.0

Dec 2016

I was being greeted well when I reached the hotel and the staff is friendly . And the room is so clean and comfortable

2.5 / 5.0

Jul 2016

My friend and I did a two week trip to Europe, bouncing around several cities in a short time. Edinburgh was our last stop before we headed home. I am so happy that The Ben Doran Guest House was our final impression of a European lodging. The hotel room we stayed in was so gorgeous, and clean! The beds were very comfortable, the hotel was extremely clean, and the breakfast in the morning was good. I especially loved the classical music that they played in the mornings during breakfast. It made our stay there even more magical. There is wifi in the room, but sometimes it's a little spotty. That is to be expected, I think, in most European hotels though. The only thing that I was really not a fan of was the shower. The shower was quite difficult to use, and the water pressure was really low. It took about three minutes for the hot water to kick in, and it didn't last very long, so you had to really shower quickly! But aside from that small detail, everything else was perfect!

2.0 / 5.0

Oct 2012

This hotel is just one straight line bus ride, buses 3 or 31, 10 minutes from the center of Edinburgh. Breakfast is superb in a nice Georgian style dining room. Ask for the room under the dining room. It is like having your own private flat with your own private entrance.

2.0 / 5.0

Nov 2010

The hotel was nice and is close to the town centre. Would stay there again.

1.0 / 5.0

Dec 2008

This was definitely not a 4 star hotel. Although the hotel staff were friendly the breakfast was nice room was just ok. However, we had no towels in our room until we collected them ourselves after breakfast on the first morning. There are no tea / coffee facilities in the room, only shared ones in the hallway. Our King size double bed was actually 2 singles pushed together with an uncomfortable join down the middle and the hotel condition was just a bit shabby. Also this is not a good hotel if you want "city centre" it took us a brisk 25 minute walk each morning to get to the old town which is not really what you want when you are then walking all over hilly Edinburgh! Overall ok hotel but disappointed as is supposed to be 4 stars and that's not what we got.

2.0 / 5.0

Jun 2008

Considering that the hotel was booked with no prior knowledge about location, it was brilliantly placed for lots of buses into the centre. The only drawback of the room was that it was not ensuite, there was a shared toilet with a shower cubicle on the floor. Having said that, on the floor below there was a bath-tub in the bathroom. In terms of food it was a standard buffet for breakfast although I was slightly surprised that there were no traditionally Scottish items on the menu. There was an evening menu as well, but it was limited to 3 choices. As mentioned before though, the transport links were good and so there were lots of restaurants nearby. Overall it was a reasonable place to stay though if it was ensuite it would have been better.

FAQs

How much does this bed and breakfast cost compared to others in Edinburgh?

The average price for a rental in Edinburgh is £96 per night. This rental is £220 above the average.

Is parking included with this bed and breakfast?

Parking is not specified as an available amenity at The Ben Doran Guest House. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.

Is there a pool at this bed and breakfast?

We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this bed and breakfast. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.

Is The Ben Doran Guest House pet friendly?

Unfortunately, this bed and breakfast is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"

What amenities are available at The Ben Doran Guest House?

We found 2 amenities for this rental. This includes internet / wifi, and tv.

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The Ben Doran Guest House

Bed and Breakfast in Edinburgh

Reasons to book

About this bed and breakfast

Amenities

Map of Edinburgh

Nearby attractions

Available Rooms

Standard Double Room

Executive Double Room, 1 King Bed

Standard Double Room, Shared Bathroom

Standard Single Room, 1 Twin Bed, Shared Bathroom

The Ben Doran Guest House

Bed and Breakfast in Edinburgh

Reasons to book

About this bed and breakfast

Amenities

Map of Edinburgh

Nearby attractions

Available Rooms

Standard Double Room

Executive Double Room, 1 King Bed

Standard Double Room, Shared Bathroom

Standard Single Room, 1 Twin Bed, Shared Bathroom

Ratings and reviews

FAQs

How much does this bed and breakfast cost compared to others in Edinburgh?

Is parking included with this bed and breakfast?

Is there a pool at this bed and breakfast?

Is The Ben Doran Guest House pet friendly?

What amenities are available at The Ben Doran Guest House?

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