Hotels Near Edinburgh Waverley: 5 Places to Stay for a Theatre Break
Arriving in Edinburgh by train for a musical or theatre break? Staying near Edinburgh Waverley can make your visit incredibly easy. You can step off the train, leave your luggage at your hotel and start exploring the city without travelling across Edinburgh first.
We’ve picked five hotels near Edinburgh Waverley for different types of theatre trip, from a special weekend away to a convenient overnight stay.
The Balmoral
📍 1 Princes St, Edinburgh
🚶 Princes Street, beside Waverley
⭐ Best for: A special Edinburgh theatre break
If you’re celebrating a birthday, anniversary or simply want to make your theatre trip extra special, The Balmoral Hotel is the standout luxury choice. The five-star hotel sits at 1 Princes Street, immediately beside Edinburgh Waverley. Its famous clock tower is one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.
The hotel offers luxury rooms and suites, restaurants, afternoon tea and a spa, so this is very much an option where the hotel becomes part of the Edinburgh experience rather than simply somewhere to sleep. Its location also works well for exploring both the Old Town and New Town during your stay.
Good choice for: Special occasions, luxury breaks and couples.
Motel One Edinburgh-Royal
📍 18 Market St, Edinburgh
🚶 Around 5 minutes walk
⭐ Best for: Station convenience
If being close to Waverley is your main priority, Motel One Edinburgh-Royal is an excellent option. The hotel is on Market Street, with current accommodation information putting it around a five-minute walk from the station.
Its location is particularly useful because you’re right on the edge of Edinburgh’s Old Town. The Royal Mile is nearby, while you can also easily head towards Princes Street and the New Town. That makes it a good option if you’re staying for one or two nights and want to combine your musical with some Edinburgh sightseeing.
Good choice for: Train travel, short stays and central sightseeing.
ibis Styles Edinburgh St Andrew Square
📍 19 St Andrew Sq, Edinburgh
🚶 Around 5–6 minutes walk
⭐ Best for: New Town & Edinburgh Playhouse
If you’re arriving at Waverley and seeing a show at Edinburgh Playhouse, ibis Styles Edinburgh St Andrew Square is particularly interesting. The hotel is in Edinburgh’s New Town, close to St Andrew Square. The hotel itself describes Waverley as around a six-minute walk away.
You’re also well positioned for St James Quarter, Princes Street and the Playhouse side of the city. Continental breakfast is included for guests, which can be useful if you’re staying for a straightforward one-night theatre break before travelling home the following morning.
Good choice for: Edinburgh Playhouse visits, New Town breaks and short stays.
Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh
📍 43 Jeffrey St, Edinburgh
🚶 Around 3–5 minutes walk
⭐ Best for: Old Town & Festival Theatre
If you’re planning to spend more of your Edinburgh visit exploring the Old Town, Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh is another option worth considering. Its location puts you close to Waverley while also placing you on the Old Town side of the city. Current accommodation listings highlight its proximity to both the station and central Edinburgh.
This makes it particularly useful if you’re combining your theatre trip with the Royal Mile and other Old Town attractions. It can also make sense if your performance is at Festival Theatre and you want your accommodation on that side of the city.
Good choice for: Old Town sightseeing, Festival Theatre visits and city breaks.
Apex Waterloo Place Hotel
📍 23-27 Waterloo Pl, Edinburgh
🚶 Around 5 minutes walk
⭐ Best for: A good all-round theatre break
Apex Waterloo Place Hotel is a particularly good all-round option for a theatre break. The four-star hotel is in Edinburgh’s New Town and describes Waverley Station as around a five-minute walk away. It also has a swimming pool, sauna, steam room and gym.
Its location is useful if you want easy access to the station without necessarily staying directly beside it. You’re also well positioned for the Playhouse side of the city and central Edinburgh generally.
Good choice for: Couples, weekend breaks and visitors wanting hotel leisure facilities.
Which Hotel Near Edinburgh Waverley Should You Choose?
All five put you in a convenient central location, so I’d choose based on the kind of Edinburgh trip you’re planning.
| If you’re looking for… | Consider… |
|---|---|
| 🥂 A special theatre break | The Balmoral |
| 🚆 Station convenience | Motel One Edinburgh-Royal |
| 🎭 Edinburgh Playhouse & New Town | ibis Styles St Andrew Square |
| 🏰 Old Town & Festival Theatre | Leonardo Royal Edinburgh |
| ⭐ A good all-rounder | Apex Waterloo Place |
Hotel prices in Edinburgh can change considerably depending on your dates.
Why Stay Near Edinburgh Waverley?
For anyone travelling into Edinburgh by train, convenience is the biggest advantage. Your theatre break could be as simple as:
Train → Hotel → Explore Edinburgh → Dinner → Theatre → Hotel → Train home
You can leave your luggage at your accommodation rather than carrying it around Edinburgh, while the station is close by again when it’s time to travel home. Waverley’s central location also means you aren’t committing yourself entirely to either the Old Town or New Town.
We’ve created a separate guide specifically for planning your arrival: Arriving at Edinburgh Waverley: A Theatre Visitor’s Guide
Edinburgh Playhouse or Festival Theatre?
Where you’re seeing your show can also help you choose your hotel.
Seeing a show at Edinburgh Playhouse?
You may prefer the New Town side of Waverley, particularly if you want to keep your hotel, restaurant and theatre relatively close together.
Hotels Near Edinburgh Playhouse
Edinburgh Playhouse Visitor Guide
Seeing a show at Festival Theatre?
Staying on the Old Town side of Waverley may make more sense, particularly if you’re also planning to explore the Royal Mile and historic Edinburgh.
Should You Stay Near Waverley or Near the Theatre?
This really comes down to what matters most to you. If you’re travelling by train for one night and have luggage, staying close to Waverley can make arriving and leaving particularly easy. If your main priority is walking just a few minutes back to your hotel after an evening performance, you might prefer to stay directly beside your theatre.
And if you’re staying for two or three nights? Think about the whole Edinburgh trip. Your musical will occupy one evening. Choose accommodation that also works for your sightseeing, restaurants and everything else you want to do.
FAQ
Choosing where to stay can be one of the biggest decisions when planning a theatre trip. These answers should help you narrow down which part of Edinburgh will work best for your visit.
Turn Your Train Journey Into an Edinburgh Theatre Break
Staying overnight near Waverley means you don’t have to treat your musical as a rushed day trip. Arrive earlier, leave your luggage at the hotel, explore Edinburgh, enjoy a pre-theatre meal and see your show. Then walk back to your accommodation and travel home from Waverley the following day.
Plan Your Perfect Edinburgh Visit
Edinburgh Deals & Theatre Night Out Offers
Arriving at Edinburgh Waverley: A Theatre Visitor’s Guide