Boyd's Entry, Royal Mile

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Great hideaway right beside the Royal Mile

A centrally located one-bedroom apartment (sleeps 1–5) off the Royal Mile, within easy walking distance of the major tourist attractions, festival venues, shops, nightlife and transport connections.

⇒ About the property
⇒ The local area
⇒ Getting there
⇒ Guest comments Rated by TripAdvisor

Key Features

3 Star
Sleeps up to 5
Free Wi-fi
Ground floor
Electric heating
Freeview and DVD player
Hairdryer
Iron
Shops within 50 metres
Linen/towels provided
Non-smoking
Children welcome
Cot/Highchair on request
No pets allowed
Washing machine
Electric cooker

More features

Fridge
Freezer
King bed
Shower
Microwave

(Show more)

Living room with dining area and kitchen behind

About the property

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sleeps one to five: one bedroom with king-size double bed and single bed; double sofabed in living room
open-plan living room with full kitchen with dining area
bathroom with bathtub and shower over
secluded location off the Royal Mile
Secondary letting licence EH-78684-F
EPC rating D

This holiday home is a characterful ground-floor apartment, tucked away in a cul-de-sac just off the Royal Mile. This one bedroom split-level apartment has a double bedroom and bathroom with shower on the upper level and an open-plan living room/kitchen with a double sofabed on the lower level. The bedroom has a king-size double bed and a single bed. The large living room has a kitchen area with large dining table and chairs. The bathroom has a bathtub with a shower over. This is a great retreat in a superb position in the heart of the Old Town.

The modern kitchen is well provided with crockery, cutlery, glasses and kitchenware, as well as a washing machine, fridge, freezer, cooker and microwave. The double bedroom is fully carpeted and has a king-size double bed. For guests requiring an extra sleeping area, a single bed is also available in this room, and the sofa in the living-room converts into a double bed.

The apartment has electric heating. The price of heating/electricity and local taxes is included. For the comfort of future guests, the apartment is non-smoking and pets are not allowed.

The local area

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The Royal Mile: this is the stretch that's just up towards Edinburgh Castle from St Mary's Street

This apartment is situated on Boyd's Entry, off St Mary's Steet, a few metres from the Old Town's main street, the Royal Mile, in the heart of Edinburgh's historic Old Town. St Mary's Street and Jeffrey Street straddle the Royal Mile, the backbone of medieval Edinburgh, which connects Edinburgh Castle at one end with the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Parliament at the other. Edinburgh's main visitor attractions are on your doorstep and the neighbourhood is full of attractive independent shops and restaurants, bars and cafés to suit all budgets, from cheap and cheerful pizzerias to fine dining establishments. The Hub (the official centre for the Edinburgh International Festival) and the Festival Fringe office are on the Royal Mile, and you can easily walk to many of the Festival venues. You are also ideally placed to enjoy the Christmas and Hogmanay/New Year festivities.

The junction of St Mary's Street and the Royal Mile looks across towards Calton Hill and its monuments: Nelson's Monument (from which a time-ball is lowered every day at 1pm as a time signal to ships out on the Firth of Forth), the Observatory and the National Monument, an unfinished replica of the Parthenon. Initiated by Sir Henry Dundas, 18th century bankroller of Edinburgh's Georgian New Town, to embody the city's reputation as the Athens of the North, the National Monument stands as a reminder of the folly of its patron. Dundas ran out of money and abandoned his ambitious plan; the unfinished building is now irreverently known as Edinburgh's Disgrace. There is also an impressive view of St Andrew’s House, one of the finest Art Deco buildings in Scotland. Built in 1939 by Thomas Tait to house the Scottish Office (the Scottish administration of the central UK government), it is now the main office of the Scottish Executive, the Westminster representation to the devolved government of Scotland.

Royal Mile is the combined name for the street formed by Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate. The High Street part ends at the junction of St Mary's Street and Jeffrey Street, where the city's eastern gate, Netherbow Port, once stood. The remaining part of the Royal Mile, the Canongate, was a separate burgh for over 700 years, taking its name from the canons (priests) of Holyrood Abbey. As it was near the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the area developed as the court quarter and many fine residences for aristocratic families were built there. One of these, Queensberry House, now forms part of the Scottish Parliament building. Queensberry House was bought in 1686 by the father of the 2nd Duke of Queensberry, whose eldest son, the mad Lord James Douglas, escaped from confinement one night in 1701 and murdered a kitchen-boy – the very night that his father was signing the Act of Union that dissolved the Scots Parliament and put Scotland under English rule. You can find out more about Edinburgh's grisly past on the guided tours that leave from the Royal Mile. See for example Mercat Tours, Witchery Tours and Mary King's Close.

In the eighteenth century, Boyd's Entry was the site of James Boyd’s Inn, which received a famous visitor, whose stay is commemorated in a plaque on the wall: ‘Boyd’s Inn, at which Dr Samuel Johnson arrived in Edinburgh, 14th August, 1773 on his memorable tour of the Hebrides.’

See Prices and Availability

Getting there

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The apartment is approximately 5-10 minutes' walk from both the Airport Express Bus Terminus and the main railway station: Edinburgh Waverley Station. There is also a tram service from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre. We will send you detailed directions before your arrival.

For those arriving by car, there is metered parking near to St Mary's Street, though the maximum parking period is 2 hours. Parking on meters and single-yellow lines is free from 6.30pm to 7.30am; please check on-street signage for exact times of parking restrictions; parking is forbidden at all times on double-yellow lines. St John's Hill Car Park is on the next corner at Holyrood Road. Click on this website and you can search for “Edinburgh St Johns Hill”.

The apartment is on the ground floor and there are a few steps within the apartment.

Edinburgh has an efficient public transport system run by Transport for Edinburgh. Trams and buses run throughout the city from early morning till midnight, after which there is a reduced night service. Transport for Edinburgh's information office is on Waverley Bridge, 5 minutes' walk from Jeffrey Street.

Comments from some of our guests

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Rated by TripAdvisor

“I really enjoyed my stay in Edinburgh and at this flat at Boyd’s Entry. Close to all of the shopping on the Royal Mile. I was on my own and never felt uncomfortable or unsafe. The flat was clean and comfortable. Thank you.”
CH, Lincoln, CA, USA
“My daughter and I booked Boyd's Entry through Vacation Rentals Scotland and couldn't have been happier. It was a smooth process from beginning to end. Boyd's Entry was a perfect rental right in the middle of Edinburgh and most everything was within walking distance. Stuart was a fabulous host and we thoroughly enjoyed our time at his flat. Bed was super comfy, it was clean and well equipped! Can't go wrong staying here!”
JH & co, Harper Woods, MI, USA
“Endroit idéal! C’est un endroit superbe, près du Royal Mile avec toutes les commodités nécessaires! Notre séjour fut agréable et le propriétaire est disponible si nous avons un problème. De plus, l’apprtement est situé près des services, de plusieurs restaurants et de la station de train Waverley!”
VL, Shediac, New Brunswick, Canada
“Location, location, location! Best choice for sightseeing all along the Royal Mile! The apartment is just one block from about the middle of the length of the Royal Mile, making it easy to get both directions ... This apartment has pretty much what we needed ... We did cook a couple of light meals, making our stay more affordable ... We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Edinburgh, a great old city! Having this apartment and its perfect location, made it all easy to see and do. The apartment is roomy, well appointed, bed was comfy, and the wifi was fast! We appreciated having the washer/dryer, as we had been on a cruise and made use of it.”
JB & co, Portland, WA, USA
“Pequeño gran lugar en el corazón de Royal Mile: Las fotos no le hacen justicia. El departamento tiene un aprovechamiento del espacio del 100%. Tiene la comodidad y el espacio ideal para 3 personas adultas, pero perfectamente pueden entrar 4. Particularmente, nosotros viajamos con mi padre y con mi hermano desde Buenos Aires. La idea era estar en un lugar estratégico que nos permita tener fácil acceso a las principales atracciones, dado que solo estaríamos por un fin de semana. No nos equivocamos. El departamento está perfectamente equipado y se encuentra estratégicamente ubicado, de manera tal que solo tuvimos que caminar. Como si fuera poco, el anfitrión ha sido infinitamente atento con nosotros, razón por la cual volvería sin dudarlo en mi próxima aventura a las tierras de Sir Walter Scott.”
MA & family, Buenos Aires, Argentina
“This modern, remodelled apartment in an historic building is so incredibly located near the half-way point on the Magnificent Mile, and is less than one-half block from three fun restaurants. This well-maintained apartment is also so spacious and quiet for such an urban area. Heartfelt thank you, Stuart, for the many kindnesses that you extended to us to make our Edinburgh visit incredibly lovely and easy!”
LM & co, Hawaii, USA
“You really couldn't ask for a better place to stay!: If you really dawdle and look in every shop window on the way, you might be able to stretch the walk from the Royal Mile out to 5 minutes. It's a perfect location for exploring the touristy parts of Edinburgh. In addition to that, the accommodation is comfortable and clean and provides everything you need (even when you completely fill it with people). The owner is very friendly, helpful and generous. If we ever make it back to Edinburgh, we'll definitely try to book again.”
JW & co, Graz, Austria
“Die Lage des Appartements könnte nicht besser sein. Mittendrin und doch an einer ruhigeren Nebenstraße der Royal Mile, in 5 Min. Laufabstand zum Bahnhof. Man kann alles zufuß erkunden (Supermarkt an der nächsten Ecke) oder sich für die weiteren Wege (wir haben uns auch die Küste und die äußeren Stadtviertel angesehen) ein Tagesticket für den Bus (4 Pfund) besorgen. Das Appartement entspricht genau den Beschreibungen. Wir waren 4 Erwachsene und es hat prima gepasst (2 Personen oben / Doppelbett, 2 Personen unten / Ausziehcouch im Wohnessbereich) ... Edinburgh ist durch seine Lage, die Topographie und Geschichte sehr speziell und hat viel zu bieten. Sowohl tagsüber, als auch am Abend mit seinen vielen Pubs mit Live - Musik. Sehr zu empfehlen. Im Appartement gibt es dazu jede Menge Lektüre. Wir haben die Schotten als sehr herzlich und freundlich kennengelernt und kommen gerne wieder!!”
IA & co, Eschweiler, Germany
“My wife and I really enjoyed our stay at Boyd's Entry, since the location made all the sights in Edinburgh easily walkable. Stuart did a great job of welcoming us.”
BS & co, Brentwood, CA, USA
“Such a great place! We had a fantastic time in Edinburgh thanks to the owner and his flat. The flat is in a really great location and the owner made us feel extremely welcome. Couldn't recommend it enough!”
Natasha, Glasgow, Scotland

“We are so glad we chose to stay here for the duration of our visit - the location was perfect, the house was lovely and the owner was the perfect host! ... Everything is close by and you're able to walk around to all the main spots ... We wouldn't hesitate in making another booking here!”
H, UK
“The apartment was perfect - well-located, nicely done up with lots of functional space (could have fit in 4 persons & a young child!) and quite a few nice eating places within steps! Everything was in good working condition and very clean. Kitchen is very well-equipped for cooking simple meals. On top of all that, we thought it was really value for money. We're definitely coming back again with the rest of our family!”
ZO, Singapore
“The flat is exactly as described. More spacious than I imagined, though still compact. We didn't need anything and we were warm and comfortable. The area is great as it is very, very close to everything. I would recommend this accommodation highly.”
Louise, Melbourne, Australia
“Excellent - great location and great host! Would definitely stay here next time in Edinburgh.”
Mathilde, Copenhagen, Denmark
“I spent 4 nights at this apartment with my family. The apartment is very cozy and is provided with everything you need to have a perfect stay in charming Edinburgh.”
Cristina, Malaga, Spain
“The owner was a responsive and conscientious host. He made travel arrangements very easy for me in getting from the airport to the flat.”
Doug, Menlo Park, CA, USA
“We really had a great time in Edinburgh, thanks to this perfect accommodation. The flat is ideally located, with everything we wanted to visit at a walking distance. And it is really nice and convenient too. We had such a warm welcome, and everything we needed - even more. The bed is really comfortable!”
Gregoire, Paris, France
“The apartment is lovely with much attention to detail. Being so close to the Royal Mile and Princes Street makes the location perfect for walking to many sites, but the bus system is well worth exploring; we recommend a day ticket, particularly if interested in visiting the Royal Yacht Britannia or the Botanic Gardens. The gardens are beautiful and for tree lovers the scope is impressive. While they might look like tourist traps, two surprises near Edinburgh Castle entrance were well worth visits: if interested in Whisky and good food, the Amber restaurant at the Whisky centre, and the tartan weaving mill (go down to the lowest floor first). It was our first visit to the city and we loved it. The views from Calton Hill and the Castle help to make sense of it. Also the National Gallery of Scotland has an impressive collection.”
Pamela, Melbourne, Australia
“This home was lovely, very spacious, clean, bright, and comfortable. Talk about an ideal location! Just steps from the Royal Mile right in between the Castle and the Palace, couldn't ask for more. The Stac Polly Scottish Bistro is just steps away and had some of the most amazing food we've ever had so be sure to try it. I highly recommend this charming retreat.”
Debbie, West Covina, CA, USA
“The location was perfect - right in the very centre, just off the Royal Mile. The apartment is very clean, cosy and well appointed with good quality linen and big, luxurious towels ... We can thoroughly recommend this apartment and are very grateful to the owner for his warm welcome and very helpful suggestions for our stay.”
Annie, Norwich, England
“This charming retreat in Old Town was everything it was described to be, and so much more ... The apartment is located in the center of town, right off the Royal Mile, easy access to everything you can imagine! I would HIGHLY recommend staying here! We will definitely come back!”
Evelyn, Davis, CA, USA
“Nossa experiência neste apartamento foi simplesmente perfeita. O Apartamento foi fantástico para nossa família, localização excelente, a poucos passos da Royal Mile, impecavelmente limpo e novo, bem decorado, todos os equipamentos necessarios para nossa estadia.”
Marcelo, São Paulo, Brazil
“Lo hemos pasado muy bien en Edimburgo. El apartamento tiene una ubicación inmejorable, está todo muy cerca y esta muy bién equipado. Además íbamos con bebé y nos proporcionaron cuna, y trona ... Sin duda lo recomiendo, insisto, sobre todo por la ubicación y lo bien montado que está el apartamento.”
Daniel, Spain
“This apartment was very well located, close to most major attractions in Edinburgh. It was also 5 minutes walk to the Waverley train station, and close to food markets, restaurants, and bars. The apartment was well equipped, clean, and modernly furnished ... We found it is was easy to walk about the city and traveled by train and bus to Glasgow, Stirling castle, South Queensferry, and the airport. We had a wonderful time in Edinburgh and highly recommend this apartment.”
S&G, Philadelphia, PA, USA
“Fantastic apartment in the heart of Edinburgh. We stayed with our 2 children and it was very comfortable with a lovely sofa bed and another double bed in the bedroom ... I would highly recommend this apartment to anyone.”
Pereena, London, UK
“We had a great visit to Edinburgh and really enjoyed staying in this apartment. It is even nicer than the pictures show. It was a perfect set up for 2 of us, but can easily accomodate more. We were able to cook dinner one night for our daughter [who is at the university in Edinburgh] and several of her friends and had everything we needed. The owner was a pleasure to deal with and communications were excellent both before we arrived and during our visit ... The location was terrific and a quick walk from the train and bus and very convenient to many spots in Edinburgh. We would highly recommend this apartment to anyone!”
Lori, Natick, MA, USA
“This is a really lovely apartment in a really good location. The owners made us feel really welcome. Perfect location! The apartment is fully equiped. We had a blast!”
Willemien, Amsterdam, Netherlands
“The apartment was absolutely lovely and in such a good location on the Royal Mile. We had an amazing time in Edinburgh and would happily use this place again. I would recommend this apartment to anyone. It was clean and tidy and had all the ammenities that we needed. A home away from home.”
Rachael, UK
“Living in London, UK and wanting to spend a 4 days weekend in Edinburgh with my father and friend, I booked this charming flat located in the Old Town, 5 minutes walking distance from the central station ... The flat is very cozy, charming, fully equipped, and neat. With the freezing windy weather, staying in during the evenings was actually a pleasure, we felt at home and that made all the difference.”
Rayan, French living in London
“Four of us stayed here for Hogmanay and really enjoyed the flat and the celebrations! The flat is in an excellent location right next to the Royal Mile which suited us perfectly. Inside the flat is lovely after being recently refurbished and everything is in great condition. The sofa bed was easy to put away during the day and there was plenty of room in the flat for the four of us. The owner was kind and helpful ... We loved our time in Edinburgh and would definitely stay here again.”
Cecily, UK
“Really enjoyed my three week stay in this flat. It was cosy, spotless, and much better equipped than I had expected. One of the light bulbs blew and the landlord replaced it that same day: fantastic service! There was some noise from outside but I think the landlord is looking into double glazing, which will help to cut that out. Anyway, you have to expect some noise when you are as central as this. There are so many great pubs, restaurants and things to do right on the doorstep, and you are only seconds away from the Royal Mile! I would highly recommend this flat to anyone staying in Edinburgh. It's a gem and I certainly plan on using it myself in the future.”
KJ, Palmerston North, New Zealand
“We've felt that it was our home. We've had a great time. Thanks a lot!”
E&J, Terrassa, Barcelona, Catalonia
“Hogmanay is wonderful and the flat has been a lovely home!”
CL & co, Joshua, KT, USA and Leeds, UK
“Hemos pasado 10 dias en este maravilloso apartamento en el que nos hemos sentido como en nuestra propia casa. El apartamento esta muy centrico y muy bien equipado, está al lado de la Royal mille. Muy buena bienvenida. No se puede pedir más para pasar unas buenas vacaciones.”
MD & family, Ribera de Molina, Murcia
“We traveled to Edinburgh for the Fringe and Boyd's Entry proved to be the perfect location for our stay. Our host provided the perfect refreshments, amenities and great restaurant suggestions. The guess book provided others favorite places and tours which we also appreciated. The flat was truly a home away from home and we are grateful to have found it.”
RH & co, Lima, NY, USA
“Excellent location, just next to the Royal Mile. Very comfy bed and sofabed. Nice decoration and even has a washing machine and dryer. Very useful!”
AGC, Aberdeen, Scotland
“My three teenage children and I had a wonderful time at this flat! The flat is very comfortable and well decorated. There was plenty of room for us to spread out. The location is excellent, only a block or so from the Royal Mile. There are restaurants and grocery stores nearby. Waverley train station is within walking distance, as are the shops of Princes Street, Edinburgh Castle, and Holyrood Palace. We loved our time here and if we ever return to Edinburgh, I will check to see if this flat is available!”
KS & co, Fallon, Nevada, USA
“Really enjoyed my three week stay in this flat. It was cosy, spotless, and much better equipped than I had expected. One of the light bulbs blew and the landlord replaced it quickly - fantastic service! There was some noise from outside but I think the landlord is looking into double glazing, which will help to cut that out. Anyway, you have to expect some noise when you are as central as this: there are so many great pubs, restaurants and things to do right on the doorstep, and you are only seconds away from the Royal Mile! I would highly recommend this flat to anyone staying in Edinburgh. It's a gem and I certainly plan on using it myself in the future.”
KJ, Palmerston North, New Zealand
“Thank you so much - you set a standard that was not met by other accommodations and I highly recommend Boyd's Entry while staying in Edinburgh.”
PP & co, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
“Absolutely perfect! This apartment is in a great location and is well appointed! My boyfriend and I were very comfortable while staying here for 4 nights. We cooked several meals and the kitchen had all of the equipment we needed. The owner also kindly left some provisions for us to get us started. He also allowed us to bring our bags to the apartment prior to check in time. I can't recommend it enough!”
HK, United States of America