Standard Double Room, Shared Bathroom
from $103
The Ben Doran Guest House
4.0 out of 5.0
51% based on 206 reviews
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
Recent guest reviews
Arrived very early and hotel was only to pleased to keep our suitcases until booking in time, welcoming was very good, hotel very clean and relaxing, staff very helpful, breakfast excellent. Bus outside the hotel straight to centre of Edinburgh day ticket was £4 excellent value.
Spacious hotel and room ,all kept very clean,superb breakfast, extremely attentive and pleasant staff. This hotel is on a main road that leads to the city centre and is very easily reached by buses that run every 3 to 5 minutes whether going into town or coming back.
I was a little surprised when we checked in and the lady who greeted us (who was very nice by the way) took us back outside and down to the basement. But we had a huge room with a king size bed and ensuite bathroom. We faced the street but did not notice much noise. It was nice to have our own private entrance. We did have to ring the bell to get inside the main door in the morning for breakfast though. The room was very clean. The bathroom was a little small but fine. There was no counter space in the bathroom so we ended up using the counter space in the hallway outside the bathroom for all of our things. This place is technically walking distance from downtown, but it is a good 20-30 minute walk. Or an 8-9 pound taxi ride. The bus stop is right outside the door if you prefer that option. We found a great pub only a few blocks down and over. Breakfast was tasty. The lady who check us in was very busy serving the tables. She was able to call taxis for us and answer questions. I would probably stay here again.
The Ben Doran was located on one of Edinburgh's main roads which had very frequent buses into the city.It took us about 35mins to walk to Princes Street from the Guesthouse.Unfortunately,the photos made the accommodation look quite chic but in reality it was old fashioned.However,it was very clean and offered a good breakfast - although it was not made clear to us that if we required an alternative to the boiled eggs in the heated dishes we had to ask.Also,I had booked an en-suite room and on our first night discovered our shower was not working.We therefore had to use the communal shower room on the landing for the duration of our stay. We were not offered any money off our bill to compensate for this
We have just returned from a week staying at Ben Doran. As those who have stayed in Edinburgh before know public parking is a nightmare, particularly as they seem to have closed off loads of roads for repair at the moment! It was therefore useful that Ben Doran is situated with easy walking distance of the centre of Edinburgh ( approx 25mins) or there is a regular bus service stop into town right opposite. The guest house itself is full of character, particularly the staircase but some areas could do with updating. Our room was spacious but old fashioned, not that I minded that but some guests might! We'd asked for an extra large bed which we got but the mattress was a little too firm for my liking ( a mattress topper would solve this). Where this guest house scores is with the lady who does front of house, she seemed to be everywhere at once and was very helpful and friendly. When we had to leave for an early morning day trip and the breakfast room was not open she packed us up a generous picnic to take with us! Breakfast itself was hot and plentiful but if you wanted eggs other than boiled you had to ask for them which wasn't made clear until we saw other guests ask for alternatives. All in all I would recommend this guest house for its proximity to town and value for money - and definitely for its front of house lady! We had a comfortable stay and would definitely stay again.
Ideal for getting in and out centre of Edinburgh. Bus stop opposite £4 for a day ticket. Breakfast is excellent good choice. Very helpful staff even printed our boarding passes for us on return flight and booked taxi. The only flaw would be sandwiches and room service these were below par but when we challenged the owner he didn't charge for them. Overall a lovely place to stay beautifully clean and tidy. There is also parking at front of house.
Nice friendly hotel clean and tidy rooms ,not all en suite ,on the main bus route into city centre ,recommended day ticket for bus no need to use car ,bell inn pub near by good for drinks and meals . Twenty minute walk into city centre . Ocean terminal at leith well worth a visit with the royal yacht there number 22bus runs there every ten minutes pick it up on princess street
By far the nicest one of six or seven in Edinburgh that I have stayed in. Classic house, with parking, on main road. Friendly welcome, spotlessly clean, very comfortable, good breakfast. Bus stop opposite, frequent buses to city centre, or 10/15 minute walk. Bonus; an ' autobiographical novel' A Riffian's Tune' written by the owner. Bought a bit dubiously, but proved fascinating. Guest House & book recommended.
We stayed in the Ben Doran last night. This is a really beautiful house only about ten minutes from the City Centre. The rooms are very spacious and spotlessly clean. It was really relaxed and the staff were helpful. Beautiful high ceilings but warm at the same time. The breakfast was also really good with some different options than usual. Good value for money and a lovely quiet location. I would recommend this place to anyone who is wanting to stay in Edinburgh.
My husband & i stayed here last night 18/03/17 the description was a deluxe ensuite double, i'm afraid there was nothing deluxe about the room.. old fashioned & tired. Very dated decor, standard (hard) double bed. The ensuite also very dated, the shower in the bath hardly had power to run, my back was sore from the bed then had to lean back so that i could wash my hair! Directly through the wall was a shared bathroom therefore heard people going in & out. The rooms were clean. Breakfast was good but only boiled eggs on offer with the cooked breakfast despite 4 different people working no one offered poached or fried, then a waitress proceeded to bring fried eggs & tomato to an elderly gentleman ( which again were not amongst the cooked breakfast on show) poor value for £125 my husband is now in Glasgow with a beautiful large room with kingsize bed, all modern decor & gorgeous bathroom with spa & pool for £144 for 2 nights! ..that will be our next stay for sure.
Hotel highlights
- Walking distance to Royal Commonwealth Pool
- Free hot/cold buffet breakfast
- Free WiFi in rooms and public areas
- Free parking
Located in Newington within a short walk of Royal Commonwealth Pool, The Ben Doran Guest House is within a mile (2 km) of other popular sights such as University of Edinburgh. This 11-room, 4-star guesthouse welcomes guests with free breakfast, free in-room WiFi, and free self parking. In the historical district, it's also near Greyfriars Kirk and St. Giles' Cathedral.
Dining
Free hot/cold buffet breakfast is offered each morning. Order from room service to satisfy your hunger without leaving your room.
Rooms
The Ben Doran Guest House's 11 air-conditioned rooms provide coffee makers and phones. 22-inch LCD TVs come with digital channels and DVD players, and guests can stay connected with free WiFi. Bathrooms offer hair dryers and designer toiletries, and beds sport Egyptian cotton sheets.
Property features
At The Ben Doran Guest House, guests have access to free WiFi in public areas, a business center, and a computer station. If you drive, put free parking to good use. The front desk has multilingual staff that can help with concierge services, luggage storage, and securing valuables. Additional amenities include a library, express check-in, and express check-out.
Reviews from Trip Advisor
51% of guests recommend this hotel
Total of 206 reviews
