--- title: "Cowgate Hostel vs Stay Central Hotel: which hotel is better?" description: "Cowgate Hostel or Stay Central Hotel in Edinburgh? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side." url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/cowgate-hostel-edinburgh-vs-stay-central-hotel-edinburgh/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-11-08 --- # Cowgate Hostel vs Stay Central Hotel Both are in Edinburgh, 50 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:** 0 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1318089/agoda/?lang=en) Hotel · ★★★ · Old Town ## [Stay Central Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/stay-central-hotel-edinburgh/) - **Guest rating:** 8.5 · Very good - **Location score:** 9.3 - **Score by category:** 1 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2138242/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Too close to call Neither hotel has a clear edge on the facts we have. Your priorities decide. 50 m apart. ### Choose Stay Central Hotel if you want - the more consistently praised stay (8.5 / 7.1) ### Why is Cowgate Hostel better than Stay Central Hotel? 1. Earlier check-in (14:00 vs 15:00) (−1h) ### Why is Stay Central Hotel better than Cowgate Hostel? 1. Higher guest rating (8.5 vs 7.1) (+1.4) 2. More guest reviews (583 vs 278), so the rating is more reliable (×2.1) 3. Later check-out (11:00 vs 10:00) (+1h) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Cowgate Hostel | Stay Central Hotel | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 7.1 | 8.5 (+1.4) | | Location | 9.4 | 9.3 | | Public transport | 9.1 | 8.9 | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 7.2 | 8.5 (+1.3) | | Guest rating | 7.1 | 8.5 (+1.4) | | Number of reviews | 278 | 583 (+305) | | Rank in Edinburgh | bottom 2% | bottom 40% (+38%) | | Location | | Location score | 9.4 | 9.3 | | Distance to Old Town centre | 130 m | 170 m | | To public transport | 330 m | 350 m | | To the airport | 11 km | 11 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 150 | 150 | | To the nearest food shop | 260 m | 210 m | | Shops within 500 m | 11 | 11 | | Sights within 1 km | 40 | 40 | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | – | ★★★ | | Rooms | 36 | 37 | | Floors | – | 4 | | Newest building or renovation | – | 2014 | | Listed amenities | 8 | 10 (+2) | | Policies | | Check-in from | 14:00 (−1h) | 15:00 | | Check-out until | 10:00 | 11:00 (+1h) | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ | | Laundry | ✓ | ✓ | | Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ | | Breakfast | ✓ | ✓ | | Smoke-free | ✓ | – | | Kitchen | ✓ | – | | Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | ✓ | | Bar | – | ✓ | | Nightclub | – | ✓ | | Air conditioning | – | ✓ | | In-room safe | – | ✓ | | Which hotel suits you | | Couples | – | ✓ | | Business trips | – | ✓ | ## Live prices around both hotels Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer. ## Location 50 m apart Cowgate Hostel: city centre: 300 m, nearest station Newcastle Train Station: 330 m, Edinburgh Airport (EDI): 11 km, 150+ places to eat within 500 m, 40+ sights within 1 km. Stay Central Hotel: city centre: 340 m, nearest station Newcastle Train Station: 350 m, Edinburgh Airport (EDI): 11 km, 150+ places to eat within 500 m, 40+ sights within 1 km. ## Weather in Edinburgh [Edinburgh weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/united-kingdom/scotland/edinburgh/weather) ## Cowgate Hostel or Stay Central Hotel: common questions ### Which is better, Cowgate Hostel or Stay Central Hotel? Stay Central Hotel leads in 1 of 3 categories, including guest rating. ### Which is cheaper, Cowgate Hostel or Stay Central Hotel? Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side. ### How far apart are Cowgate Hostel and Stay Central Hotel? The two hotels are 50 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [Stay Central Hotel vs Ibis Edinburgh South Bridge Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/ibis-edinburgh-south-bridge-hotel-edinburgh-vs-stay-central-hotel-edinburgh/) - [Stay Central Hotel vs ibis Edinburgh Centre Royal Mile - Hunter Square](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/ibis-edinburgh-centre-royal-mile-hunter-square-edinburgh-vs-stay-central-hotel-edinburgh/) - [Stay Central Hotel vs Fraser Suites Edinburgh](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/fraser-suites-edinburgh-edinburgh-vs-stay-central-hotel-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-stay-central-hotel-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/