The Awda Key
The Awda Key, Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, EH12 5AL, United Kingdom- Sculpture
Compare nearby stays with similar location, guest experience, amenities, and class.
Unique Victorian Building
Experience a stay like no other in our original Victorian building with dorm rooms boasting large windows and high ceilings. Conveniently located opposite Haymarket Train Station, just a short stroll from Princes Street.
Modern Amenities
Enjoy comfortable nights on modern bunk beds with fresh bedding, surrounded by original artworks by Jade Carrera. Refresh in our shared bathroom facilities and stay connected with 24/7 free WiFi. Unwind in the communal lounge with digital TV or challenge fellow guests to board games.
Convenient Facilities
Cook up a storm in our modern kitchen equipped with 2 ovens, or relax in the outdoor area with charming tables and chairs. Book your stay at The Hostel today for a memorable and cozy experience.
Check-in from
02:00 PM
Check-out by
11:00 AM
Children
Not allowed
Pets
Not allowed
Sleeps
Up to 1 guests
1 adults
Beds
Bunk bed (Variable Size)
In-room amenities
Sleeps
Up to 6 guests
6 adults
Beds
6 Bunk bed (Variable Size)
Room details
10 sqm
In-room amenities
Sleeps
Up to 3 guests
3 adults
Beds
2 Bunk bed (Variable Size)
Room details
10 sqm
In-room amenities
Sleeps
Up to 1 guests
1 adults
Beds
Bunk bed (Variable Size)
Room details
20 sqm
In-room amenities
5 Twin Beds
Internet - Free WiFi
Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker and shared/communal kitchen access
Sleep - Blackout drapes/curtains and bed sheets
Bathroom - Shower, towels, and a hair dryer (on request)
Practical - Safe and iron/ironing board (on request)
Need to Know - No housekeeping, shared accommodations
Non-Smoking
Sleeps
Up to 5 guests
5 adults · 4 children
Beds
5 Twin bed (90-99 cm wide)
In-room amenities
8 Twin Bunk Beds
Internet - Free WiFi
Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker and shared/communal kitchen access
Sleep - Blackout drapes/curtains and bed sheets
Bathroom - Shower, towels, and a hair dryer (on request)
Practical - Safe and iron/ironing board (on request)
Need to Know - No housekeeping, shared accommodations
Non-Smoking
Sleeps
Up to 8 guests
8 adults
Beds
8 Bunk bed (90-99 cm wide)
In-room amenities
1 Twin Bunk Bed
Internet - Free WiFi
Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker and shared/communal kitchen access
Sleep - Blackout drapes/curtains and bed sheets
Bathroom - Shared bathroom, towels, and a hair dryer (on request)
Practical - Safe and iron/ironing board (on request)
Need to Know - No housekeeping, shared accommodations
Non-Smoking
Sleeps
Up to 1 guests
1 adults
Beds
Bunk bed (90-99 cm wide)
In-room amenities
6 Twin Bunk Beds
Internet - Free WiFi
Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker and shared/communal kitchen access
Sleep - Blackout drapes/curtains and bed sheets
Bathroom - Shower, towels, and a hair dryer (on request)
Practical - Safe and iron/ironing board (on request)
Need to Know - No housekeeping, shared accommodations
Non-Smoking
Sleeps
Up to 6 guests
6 adults
Beds
6 Bunk bed (90-99 cm wide)
In-room amenities
1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bunk Bed
Internet - Free WiFi
Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker and shared/communal kitchen access
Sleep - Blackout drapes/curtains and bed sheets
Bathroom - Shower, towels, and a hair dryer (on request)
Practical - Safe and iron/ironing board (on request)
Need to Know - No housekeeping, shared accommodations
Non-Smoking
Sleeps
Up to 3 guests
3 adults · 2 children
Beds
Double bed (131-150 cm wide), Bunk bed (90-99 cm wide)
In-room amenities
1 Twin Bunk Bed
Internet - Free WiFi
Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker and shared/communal kitchen access
Sleep - Blackout drapes/curtains and bed sheets
Bathroom - Shower, towels, and a hair dryer (on request)
Practical - Safe and iron/ironing board (on request)
Need to Know - No housekeeping, shared accommodations
Non-Smoking
Sleeps
Up to 1 guests
1 adults
Beds
Bunk bed (90-99 cm wide)
In-room amenities
1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bunk Bed
Internet - Free WiFi
Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker and shared/communal kitchen access
Sleep - Blackout drapes/curtains and bed sheets
Bathroom - Shower, towels, and a hair dryer (on request)
Practical - Safe and iron/ironing board (on request)
Need to Know - No housekeeping, shared accommodations
Non-Smoking
Sleeps
Up to 3 guests
3 adults
Beds
Double bed (131-150 cm wide), Bunk bed (90-99 cm wide)
In-room amenities
Sleeps
Up to 5 guests
5 adults
Beds
Double bed (131-150 cm wide), 3 Bunk bed (Variable Size)
Room details
12 sqm
In-room amenities
Sleeps
Up to 1 guests
1 adults
Beds
Bunk bed (Variable Size)
Room details
42 sqm
In-room amenities
Sleeps
Up to 1 guests
1 adults
Beds
Bunk bed (Variable Size)
Room details
22 sqm
In-room amenities
Sleeps
Up to 8 guests
8 adults
Beds
8 Bunk bed (Variable Size)
Room details
25 sqm
In-room amenities
Sleeps
Up to 1 guests
1 adults
Beds
Bunk bed (Variable Size)
Room details
32 sqm
In-room amenities
Get answers about amenities, policies, and more — e.g. “Are pets allowed?” or “Is parking available?”
Provider-sourced guest reviews.
Clean, cozy, friendly, warm hostel. Definetely recommend
Tout l'emplacement, l'accueil, le confort géréral, l'ambiance, l'équipement surtout de la cuisine et les pièces à vivre. Le service comme le nettoyage régulier des pièces essentielles comme la salle de bain et la cuisine au moins 2 fois par jour. La séparation femme / homme aussi finalement au même prix qu'un dortoir mixte, jamais testé auparavant mais très appréciable.
Le grincement des lits et la cuisine qui ouvre qu'à 8h00.
Location is great.
No curtain around the bed. No lift. No charging plug near bed
Localisation
Lits très inconfortable (ressorts), douches froides ou brûlantes, très bruyant, pas propre alors que c’est très très cher.
I liked the service overall—I appreciated being able to leave my bags there until 10 p.m., and the ladies at the front desk are very polite.
I liked everything, but I had a problem with my mattress—it has bed bugs, and I got bitten twice on my arm.
The mattress was really comfortable despite the bed being a 3 tiers bunk bed.
The electric outlets corresponding to the beds don’t all work.
There was bad smell in room
the room and washroom
Troppo poco tempo per dare un giudizio , mi serviva come appoggio per prendere il volo a notte fonda
Great location. Supportive staff. Manageable facilities.
Smelly dorm room. But understandable that they can only do so much. I was in a 21 bed dorm. It's hard to manage so many people living in a space with their smelly clothes all packed in that space with windows closed. Two of the showers on the 1st floor didn't have hot water. Mid bunk bed is too crunched for space.
Location and friendly staff.
Outlets next to my bunk did not work: I could not charge my electronic devices.
Personnel sympa, salle commune pas trop trop mal
Chambre énorme, ne surtout pas réserver dans une chambre à 20, franchement pas très propre (pas de punaise de lit pour autant), je suis resté une nuit j'ai pas trop osé prendre une douche vu le look des douches (mixtes).
The manager is probably the best human ive met ABSOLUTE legend
Nothing it was great
Staff were friendly
La ubicación era muy buena y estaba a 10/15 minutos andando del centro, una zona muy tranquila
Los colchones son muy viejos, están completamente deformes e inclinados y los muelles se te clavan en la espalda, dormir ahí es un suplicio, al menos en nuestra habitación (la numero 2). Las literas tienen mas años que un bosque y crujen y chirrían mucho. Las almohadas y ropa de cama están amarillas del uso. El staff (o voluntarios del hostal, porque no nos quedó muy clara la diferencia ) por las noches hacían mucho ruido en las habitaciones, con risas y golpes de cachondeo cuando ellos mismos decían que había que respetar la hora de silencio. El menaje de cocina esta muy muy usado y viejo y apenas hay hueco para dejar tus cosas en las estanterías o neveras, le hace falta un buen lavado de cara.
None
None
Location is excellent. Professional, friendly staff.
Co-ed bathroom not the best. One stall out of toilet paper. One sink faucet did not work.
Well, the location was good, and the vibe was nice in the hostel.
The beds were not very firm, so it was wobling at night when someone was moving and made a cranking noise. The bedsheets were not very clean. otherwise, it was fine.
Los baños
Las chinches
Accueil sympathique. Proximité du centre ville.
Pas très propre. Des cheveux qui traînent. Paquet de chips vide laisser sous le lit. Literie pas très nette. Courants d'air. Usagers pas tous respectueux : Vaisselle abandonnée sur la table
La situation pour prendre le bus vers l aéroport Et pour aller vers la nouvelle ville
La propreté des douches et des sanitaires Le fait de ne pas avoir de casiers sécurisés dans les dortoirs
do ambiente, decoração, cozinha, quintal, atendentes
do banho (pessimo]. pouca agua ou muito quente ou gelada.
the location was great the shared areas were nice people were quite relaxed the stuff was lovely and they had these basic amenities such as lockers and bed sheets were provided for free
the bathroom was dirty very often even though they cleaned it every night there's a lot of people sharing the same bathroom so sometimes it would be completely wet and they would be some dirt around
La ubicación
La limpieza de las duchas y baño. La limpieza de la habitación, la cantidad de gente que había en la habitación (12), la poca ventilación que había para tanta gente junta, lo finas que eran las barras para subir a las literas, el hecho de que fueran literas de 3 pisos. El poco espacio de la locker. Pagar 40€ la noche por todo lo descrito. No pude descansar.
Hostel staff were generally helpful. The hostel has events like movie night and game night. Hostel staff are more wary of all guests for some reason. Britain is a strange place.
There was this giant staff who looked like a whale with a horrible attitude. I asked if I could wash a cup before the kitchen closed and she slammed pots passive aggressively. Poor Australian upbringing. Also stacking beds in threes is just bad taste, but this common in Britain.
Allowing me to check in
Sharing of facilities with male and payment issues, my money was taken twice
Buena ubicación
Como todo hostel, la experiencia depende de los demás huespedes. En nuestro caso, mucho borracho que hizo dificil dormir.
Easy to locate
The time the kitchen closes
I did like the location and it was convenient
The fact that there was no cold running water or tap water to drink from when they didn't have any water left from the drinking well. They had no kettle or no facility for hot water.... The shower was neither the cold nor hot. And it was difficult to get it warmer without scorching.
I like the location
I didn't like the kitchen's opening hours.
Location, staff.
Wifi very very weak and inefficient. Antic shower system.
Personal war freundlich. Es gibt ein Badezimmer ausschließlich für Frauen.
Der Schlafsaal ist furchtbar, ich habe vielleicht 3 Stnd geschlafen. 21 Leute in einem Raum unterzubringen ist einfach zu viel, in den Betten kann man nichtmal gekrümmt sitzen, es gibt keine Vorhänge. Aufgrund des Fringe Festivals sind die Preise erhöht worden, weshalb ich 70€ für eine Nacht im gemischten 21er Saal gezahlt habe (etwas günstigeres habe ich nichtmehr bekommen). Dieser Preis war einfach nicht gerechtfertigt für das, was man bekommt.
Equipa prestável, simpática e pronta a ajudar.
os beliches magoam os pés ao subir as escadas
The friendliness of those who run the hostel, the feeling of safety, the possibility to use the kitchen, the comfortable bed (mattress).
The crowded 6 bed women room: three beds on top of each other should be a no no! Two bunk beds on top of ea h other that’s it! Also, for 6 women in same room, much bigger room was needed (at least twice the size! Good to have two drawers under two bunk beds so things can be stored there and locked!
El ambiente y la ubicación.
Hay pocos baños.
Location
Dirty broken bed overused mattresses and bedding yellow pillows and quilts very poor standard. Filthy I wouldn’t recommend to stay here I feel I’ve been ripped off, paid well over to stay for one night!
Der Sitzplatz im Freien
Die Küchenausstattung eine Katastrophe. Plastikteller, teilweise keine Messer und Gabeln Essensskörbe viel zu wenig. Keine Steckdose am Bett, die funktioniert hat. Super kleines Zimmer mit 6 Frauen drin (3er Stockbett). Dir Polizei hat um 2 Uhr nachts eine Dame aus dem Hostel "gebeten", die zu den Gästen freundlich war, keinerlei Gefährdung für andere darshellte und auch die Rechnung beglichen hatte. Die Folge war, dass ich die halbe Nacvt nicht mehr schlafen konnte. Also dieser Umstand war vermeidbar. Entweder abends oder morgens, nicht jedoch nachts, wenn alle gesamt friedlich schlafen. Aus meiner Sicht ist diese mitten in der Nacht Aktion eine sehr rüde Methode gewesen, die sich unbeabsicht gegen sämtliche Gäste des Zimmers gerichtet hat. Auch die Rechnung wird nur auf Nachfrage ausgestellt. Die angegebenen Daten werden nicht adäquat berücksichtigt.
The female only option is a must for me, I'm so glad they offer that. The location is the best, it's very central, the airport bus leaves you nearly by the door.
The location was fine. You can walk everywhere. The staff was kind.
Everywhere was dirty and old. The beds were very uncomfortable and old to sleep. There were no place that you can put your bags.
To be honest the only thing I did like was the hairdryers at entrance.
Not enough toilets, I had to get a shower 3 times with cold water and the beds were extremely noise. Furthermore, most of the areas around the hostel were extremely dirty so I wouldn't recommend this place at all!!
Lo mejor es la ubicación.
Precio desorbitado para lo que ofrece.
受付の方たちがみんな親切でした
キッチンが狭いけどゲストみんないい人たちだからおしゃべりしながら料理楽しめた。
Localização muito boa!
Cama
Amabilidad del personal
Las duchas, el agua caliente viene y va
Great stay as always
Can't boil water really annoying but great people
L’emplacement et les rencontres ainsi que les efforts de certains membres du personnel pour entretenir les lieux.
L’aspect vétuste, l’absence de douches correctement réglables, une cuisine exiguë, avec de la vaisselle en plastique...
Nothing
Everything A very disrespectful receptionist
Great vibe
A localização é otima, os chuveiros sao tambem
Os armarios dos quartos so cabem o essencial, entao muitas coisas ficam de foram. Eu fui roubada pela hospede que estava na cama de baixo da minha. Acordei com ela mexendo na minha bolsa de madrugada. Ela roubou um brinco com um valor sentimental muito grande. Situação evitavel se pudessemos guardar tudo dentro dos armarios.
I have stayed in hostels in many different countries over the past 16 years, including Japan, Taiwan, Turkey, Hungary, the Netherlands, England and Scotland. I have therefore experienced a very wide range of hostel accommodation, but I have never experienced conditions as poor as these. The facilities were inadequate, the sleeping arrangements were unacceptably cramped, the kitchen was poorly equipped and frequently inaccessible, and the shower facilities were practically unusable. Most disappointing of all, when I raised these problems, I felt that staff were more interested in questioning my expectations than actually addressing the problems.
This was, without question, the worst hostel experience I have had in the last 16 years. The overall condition was appalling and the stay was a nightmare. Showers and hot water: The first three shower cubicles had only ice-cold water, so I had to change shower cubicles four times. In the final cubicle, the water was either burning hot or ice cold, with no way to control the temperature properly. When I complained, staff questioned whether I understood the instructions for using their electric showers and insisted that the instructions were “crystal clear”. However, I had never encountered showers like this before, and the problem was clearly not resolved. Kitchen facilities: The kitchen was extremely poorly equipped. There was only one tiny, old toaster for the whole hostel. On top of that, the kitchen could be locked for 30 minutes or more during the day, making it difficult to prepare food. It was also locked between 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., meaning guests had no access to the kitchen during those hours. No freezer: There was a fridge but no freezer or freezer compartment. When I complained about this, staff questioned why I had assumed there would be one. I have stayed in hostels in Japan, Taiwan, Turkey, Hungary, the Netherlands, England and Scotland, and in my experience hostels normally provide at least a small freezer compartment or cooler box for guests. Extremely cramped dormitory: Twenty-four people were accommodated in one room, with beds stacked four levels high. The amount of space around the beds was unbelievably small. I repeatedly found myself hitting my head against the bed above me. The whole experience felt like sleeping inside a submarine rather than staying in a hostel.
Locația este destul de centrală, se pot păstra bagajele până la 10pm în mod gratutit ce ne-a ajutat să explorăm orașul până la sosirea avionului. Doamna de la recepție foarte amabilă și ne-a sărit în ajutor la nevoie. Am avut rezervare pentru o cameră privată de 3 pers.
La ubicación estaba bien.
If you are visiting Edinburgh to sightsee, the location is fine. Can leave bags before check in. Close to Haymarket station.
Arrived at 10am, check in is 2pm. Final check in is midnight. We had to go out, leave our day to come back to the hostel to check in and then go out again. Wasting about an hour of our day. There should be a better system for this. Mattresses and pillows need to be replaced. Shower is either freezing or scalding hot.
Staff is very friendly and helpful. It’s a 30 min walk from the center which isn’t bad. Showers are ok, could definitely do with some improvements. Mattress and pillow on bed 1 room 9 need urgent replacing..
Bedding - mattress and pillow Lockers - not big enough and outside the bedroom
Nice Location
To crowded
Centrally located, both staff and guests were friendly, female-only dorm & bathrooms available. Beds were comfy and everything was clean. Great value for money.
Nothing
Localisation: gare en face et lignes de bus à côté. Aussi bus pour aéroport. On peut aussi aller dans le centre ville à Paris. Pas de bruit extérieur
Chambres de 10 lits bien trop petites. Pas de prise électrique ni de lumière individuelle. Pas assez de rangement. Lit couine et pas confortable. Cuisine minuscule pour le nombre de convives et qui ouvre qu’à 8h le matin. On se cognonne dès qu’on fait 1 geste. Que 3 douches et 3 wc pour 3 chambres sur le mème étage. Auberge de jeunesse pas adaptée quand il y a trop de monde. Carte chambre perdue = 5 livres à payer.
Everything it’s in a good location and very nice people and staff
Nothing all good
The staff
Is the worst hostel I have been, never again
great location near the station. friendly and helpful staff. equipped with hair dryer and locker.
there seems a concert near by, thus even hostels are quite costly. And the shower doesn’t have proper temperature, it’s either boiling or freezing.
A localização é ótima! Na Avenida principal, você so precisa caminhar um pouco e estará nos principais pontos turísticos da cidade.
Os beliches são de ferro e fazem muito barulho, parecem frouxo. :(
Locatie
Douches
Sauber, nettes personal, gute Lage
Räume extrem klein (3er Stockbetten), Steckdosen neben dem Bett funktionieren nicht, Preis Leistung stimmt nicht
Good location and friendly staff.
Clean, but it could be better; I understand that it can be more because of the behaviour of some guest than the maintenance in itself.
Bra läge vid Haymarket.
Till det pris som vi betalade för ett trepersonersrum hade jag väntat mig lite mer, till exempel normalt fungerande eluttag och någon sänglampa. Gillar egentligen enkla vandrarhem men inte till överpris.
The staff make this hostel There was a warm welcome to match the comfort of my stay. The facilities are supper clean and comfortable The location ideal 10 out of 10
Nothing
The location is good
Needs A good revamp the beds rooms
Muy bien ubicada , espacio limpio, ordenado y organizado
It was very close to the airport bus stop.
The space was too small for the amount of people there. The kitchen was too small and smelly. There were no lockers in the room. The bathrooms were few. Overall, it was not a comfortable hostel.
Closer to the stadium
Location.
Bathrooms-ceilings looked like they'll start dripping now. And always the wet floor and only 1 sink for 3 toilets. Kitchen was really messy. Rooms were very damp and no sockets near the bed or too dim lights. There was an awful smell in the hostel. I requested them a specific bunk, and they said it was for another guest but that guest never arrived.
En general estuvo muy bien el hostel, las camas estaban cómodas, el lugar estaba bonito y bien ubicado.
La cocina es muy pequeña para la cantidad de personas que se quedan a dormir ahi y el personal no fue tan amigable y amable con nosotras... solo el chico de la limpieza fue diligente con nosotras después de un largo viaje.
The location is good - right in front of haymarket station and thw staff is nice but that’s about it Horrible congested rooms and bathrooms and they want you to pay them to use a locker
Lo que destaca más es la ubicación ya que estas a menos de 10 minutos caminando del centro, tienes una parada de "tram" justo delante que te lleva directo al aeropuerto
Si tengo que decir algo es la habitación. Soy consciente que no tiene nada que ver con el hostal ya que es culpa de la gente que se queda ahí a dormir. Estuve en una habitación de unas 11 literas triples y hay mucha gente. Hacía olor a pies...
Relació qualitat-preu. S'ha de tenir en compte que és un hostal
Poca informació sobre com funciona el tema dels menjars, que pots o no utilitzar... potser estaria bé deixar a les habitacions algunes normes. Segur que estaven penjades però el lloc es un pel caòtic.
.
.
Close to city centre and loads of near by shops and mini marts No 1 karbarb is only a short walk away and is great value staff are helpful location is great from the haymarket rail station and full use of the kitchen is great with loads of options of free food and full cooking facilities
Nothing really enjoyed my 6 nights there
Great location and good value for where you are in the city.
Group bunks wouldn't be for me in the future difficult to sleep due to there being many people in the room with you.
The bed was terrible.
هدوء المكان ،، الأمان
Cleaning on time No drinking water provision at night Kitchen is not cleaned
Free Internet Location
Feedback themes are sourced from guest reviews provided by our data provider.
What guests love
Areas to consider
Cleanliness
5.5/10Reported issues with dirty rooms and unclean facilities.
Service
8.5/10Mixed experiences with staff, some positive but also noted to be rude.
Location
9/10Great location as mentioned in several reviews.
Room Quality
6.5/10Complaints about uncomfortable beds and temperature issues.
Amenities
7/10Limited charging points and issues with the kitchen hours.
Value for Money
8/10Some value noted, but overall lack of amenities for the price paid.
Food and Beverage
7.5/10Kitchen availability issues and cash-only policy criticized.
Overall Experience
8/10Overall balance of pros and cons leading to a moderate experience.
Stay in a historic building with original character opposite Haymarket Station, combining classic design with modern dorm amenities.
Unwind in a shared lounge with digital TV and board games, perfect for meeting other travelers.
Make use of the modern kitchen and outdoor seating area to cook, eat, and enjoy fresh air in the courtyard.