--- title: "Cowgate Hostel vs Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+) | StayVersus" description: "Too close to call. Each hotel leads in 1 categories. Your priorities decide. Cowgate Hostel or Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+) in Edinburgh? Compare guest ratings…" url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/cowgate-hostel-edinburgh-vs-kick-ass-greyfriars-18-edinburgh/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-15 --- # Cowgate Hostel vs Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+) Both are in Edinburgh, 180 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Hostel · Old Town ## [Cowgate Hostel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/cowgate-hostel-edinburgh/) - **Guest rating:** 7.1 · Good - **Location score:** 9.4 - **Score by category:** 1 of 4 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1318089/agoda/?lang=en) Hostel · ★★★★ · Old Town ## [Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+)](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/kick-ass-greyfriars-18-edinburgh/) - **Guest rating:** 8.3 · Very good - **Location score:** 9.3 - **Score by category:** 1 of 4 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1726388/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Too close to call Each hotel leads in 1 categories. Your priorities decide. 180 m apart. ### Choose Cowgate Hostel if you want - a smaller, quieter hotel ### Choose Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+) if you want - the more consistently praised stay - a big hotel with more facilities ### Why is Cowgate Hostel better than Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+)? 1. A smaller, more intimate hotel (36 vs 214 rooms) (−178) ### Why is Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+) better than Cowgate Hostel? 1. Higher guest rating (8.3 vs 7.1) (+1.2) 2. A larger hotel with more facilities (214 vs 36 rooms) (×5.9) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Cowgate Hostel | Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+) | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 7.1 | 8.3 (+1.2) | | Location | 9.4 | 9.3 | | Beach access | 0.0 | 0.0 | | Public transport | 9.1 (+0.5) | 8.6 | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 7.2 | 8.3 (+1.1) | | Guest rating | 7.1 | 8.3 (+1.2) | | Number of reviews | 278 (+35) | 243 | | Rank in Edinburgh | top 98% | top 71% (+27%) | | Location | | Location score | 9.4 | 9.3 | | Distance to Old Town centre | 130 m | 210 m | | To public transport | 330 m | 400 m | | To the airport | 11 km | 11 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 150 | 150 | | Sights within 1 km | 40 | 40 | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | – | ★★★★ | | Rooms | 36 | 214 | | Floors | – | 3 | | Newest building or renovation | – | 2025 | | Listed amenities | 8 | 8 | | Policies | | Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 | | Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ | | Laundry | ✓ | ✓ | | Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ | | Breakfast | ✓ | ✓ | | Smoke-free | ✓ | – | | Kitchen | ✓ | ✓ | | Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | – | | Parking | – | ✓ | | Bar | – | ✓ | | Which hotel suits you | | Families with children | ✓ | ✓ | | Couples | – | ✓ | | Beach holidays | ✓ | ✓ | | Sightseeing on foot | ✓ | ✓ | | Business trips | ✓ | ✓ | | Spa & relaxation | ✓ | ✓ | [Swap sides](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/kick-ass-greyfriars-18-edinburgh-vs-cowgate-hostel-edinburgh/) ## Location 180 m apart ## Cowgate Hostel or Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+): common questions ### Which is better, Cowgate Hostel or Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+)? They are evenly matched. Cowgate Hostel is stronger in public transport; Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+) is stronger in guest rating. ### Which is cheaper, Cowgate Hostel or Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+)? Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side. ### How far apart are Cowgate Hostel and Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+)? The two hotels are 180 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [Cowgate Hostel vs Stay Central Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/cowgate-hostel-edinburgh-vs-stay-central-hotel-edinburgh/) - [Cowgate Hostel vs No.1 Apartments - George IV Bridge](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/cowgate-hostel-edinburgh-vs-no-1-apartments-george-iv-bridge-edinburgh/) - [Cowgate Hostel vs Market Street Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/cowgate-hostel-edinburgh-vs-market-street-hotel-edinburgh/) - [Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+) vs No.1 Apartments - George IV Bridge](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/kick-ass-greyfriars-18-edinburgh-vs-no-1-apartments-george-iv-bridge-edinburgh/) - [Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+) vs Virgin Hotels Edinburgh](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/kick-ass-greyfriars-18-edinburgh-vs-virgin-hotels-edinburgh-edinburgh/) - [Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+) vs The Grassmarket Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/kick-ass-greyfriars-18-edinburgh-vs-the-grassmarket-hotel-edinburgh/) - [Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+) vs Radisson Collection Hotel, Royal Mile Edinburgh](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/kick-ass-greyfriars-18-edinburgh-vs-radisson-collection-hotel-royal-mile-edinburgh-edinburgh/) ## Compare now Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/) --- Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/cowgate-hostel-edinburgh-vs-kick-ass-greyfriars-18-edinburgh/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/