During my visit to Edinburgh, I stayed at Pollock Halls Campus Accommodations for four nights, and I’ll admit it felt a bit odd when I first booked it. Staying in university halls doesn’t immediately sound like a holiday plan. In the UK, though, it’s actually quite common for universities to open up their dorms to tourists during the summer break. It’s a practical way to use empty rooms, and for visitors, it can be far more cost-effective than booking a hotel, especially in a city like Edinburgh, where prices are steep year-round.
Pollock Halls is part of the University of Edinburgh, and during summer it operates as short-stay accommodation across several residential buildings on a large, self-contained property. It is not a hotel set-up at all. Reception is in a separate building, and the “houses” or blocks are spread out across the grounds. Once I adjusted my expectations, I found it to be a very solid and comfortable base for exploring the city.
Location
Pollock Halls is not right in the middle of the Old Town, and that’s something to be aware of when booking. That said, I actually liked being away from the center. It is easily accessible by public transport, and buses into town are straightforward and frequent. What I really appreciated about the location was how quiet it was. The property is surrounded by greenery, and walking through the grounds to get to my residence building was always pleasant.
One thing to note is that, because it sits on its own large property, there are only a few restaurants nearby, about 5 minutes on foot. You are not stepping out into rows of cafés and pubs like you would in the city centre. There is a dining hall and a restaurant on the property, which helps a lot, especially for breakfast, but for more dining options, you’ll need to head out.
Amenities
Although it is student accommodation, summer guests can choose from single, twin, or double rooms. I booked a single room, which came with a small single bed. It sounds basic, but it was perfectly comfortable for me. The mattress was good, and I slept well every night. A couple of pillows, plus towels, were provided.
The room itself was surprisingly spacious. There was a proper desk, a side table, and a large wardrobe with plenty of storage space. It felt exactly like a well-kept student dorm, functional and practical. There was no air conditioning, but I visited towards the end of summer, and evenings were quite chilly.
I had my own sink in the room, which I found very convenient. The bathroom and toilet were shared, with basics like shampoo and body wash provided. There were several per floor, so I never had to wait. They were consistently clean during my stay, and I had no issues at all. There was no fridge inside the room, but there was a small shared lounge area with a fridge and microwave. It worked well if you wanted to store snacks or heat something up.
The best part of the stay was easily the free daily breakfast in the dining hall, which is located in a separate building. Think school cafeteria, but buffet style, and in a good way. You can build your own full English breakfast every morning, and there are also cereals, pastries, yogurt, milk, fruit, juices, tea, and coffee. The food was genuinely good, not just passable. Because it’s buffet style, you can go back for seconds or even thirds. That alone adds real value to the stay.
If you're in a rush, the lobby also offers free packed breakfast boxes. I saw people grabbing them before early tours or train rides. It's a small detail, but very convenient.
Cleanliness
My room was clean when I arrived, and it stayed that way throughout my stay. The bedding and towels were fresh, and there were no unpleasant surprises. The shared bathrooms and common areas were also well-maintained. For a student accommodation hosting large numbers of summer guests, I was honestly impressed.
Service
This isn't your typical hotel, so it's important to manage expectations. There's no concierge, no room service, and no one checking in on you daily. You are essentially paying for a room and breakfast, and that is exactly what you get.
Reception is in a separate building, and because the property spans multiple houses, it feels more like a campus than a hotel complex. Staff were present and seemed willing to help if needed, but I never actually had to ask for anything beyond check-in and check-out. If you're looking for a full-service hotel experience, this is not it. If you're comfortable with a more independent set-up, it works perfectly fine.
Price
Now for the best part. I paid around PHP 7,100 per night, which was roughly USD 121 at the time. At first glance, that might not sound cheap, but for Edinburgh, it absolutely is. Most hotels in Edinburgh easily go for around USD 200 per night, sometimes more, depending on the season. Hostels in the city centre were only slightly cheaper than what I paid, and in some cases, even more expensive. For roughly the same price as a bunk bed in a shared dorm with five to seven strangers, I had my own private room in a quiet area, plus a substantial free breakfast every morning.
When you factor in breakfast, which isn't always included even in mid-range hotels, the value becomes even clearer. For Edinburgh standards, this felt like a smart financial decision.
Overall, I had a really good experience staying at Pollock Halls. It’s not luxurious, and it doesn’t pretend to be. What it offers is a clean, comfortable private room, a peaceful setting, and a genuinely excellent breakfast at a price that is pretty wild for Edinburgh - and in a good way.
For travelers who don't mind being slightly outside the center and are fine with a campus-style set-up, this is a solid option. The free breakfast alone makes mornings easier and saves money, and the quiet surroundings were a bonus for me.
I had no complaints at all during my four-night stay, and I'd honestly stay here again. For the value, especially in an expensive city like Edinburgh, it’s hard to argue with what you get.
0 Comments