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CoDE Pod Hostels – THE CoURT is a former courthouse and jail transformed into CoDE Pod Hostels. THE CoURT by CoDE will feature cool holding cells as private rooms, POD beds dormitories, an underground bar in our close and the original Courtroom will be converted in a cool sleeping studio with pod beds. CoDE Pod Hostel is an urban concept designed to give travellers a central location and quality sleeping environment at a low cost. The Asian-style pod concept is the main unique design feature combined with secure keypad entry systems which the name “CoDE” was derived from. Our hostels are unique and centrally located in the vibrant and beautiful Edinburgh city centre within walking distance to most major sights and we are conveniently located on connections to and from the airport. The train and bus station are just a few minutes walk from our hostel.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
City View
Languages Spoken
English, Italian
Location
1A Parliament Square, Edinburgh EH1 1RF Scotland
Code Pod Hostels - The Court
4.6 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
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Code Pod Hostels - The Court is well-regarded for its friendly service, with guests appreciating the staff's efficiency and helpful travel advice. The atmosphere is often described as vibrant, thanks to privacy-centric pods and lively social events, though noise can be an issue. While offering good value, some reviewers note additional charges for certain amenities.
The hostel's cleanliness receives high marks across the board, yet some guests suggest earplugs to mitigate noise disturbances. Its Royal Mile location is a highlight, providing easy access to local attractions, despite some concerns about airport access and late-night noise.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Lively
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Spotless
Noise level
Noisy
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Well-appointed
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I initially only booked for 2 nights but ended up extending for my entire trip (a week). The location was unbeatable and they offered events for tourists almost everyday with decent attendance. The room was quite big and the pods were really comfortable and spacious with a curtain at the foot (which I prefer) and 2 USB ports and 2 lights to provide a great ambience. I also liked how there was LED light that would turn on every time someone walked into the room providing enough lighting for them to be able to see the surrounding while not disturbing others sleeping. The common area was very nice with a communal kitchen that’s always kept clean, and plenty of seating for people to eat, work, or socialize and meet new people if they wish and choose. I found it a bit hard to chat up people at the beginning because everyone seemed to be doing their own things, but in the last few days I met some great people and ended up becoming friends. The bathroom situation was perfect as it was big and well lit and always very clean. I never had to wait to use the shower or the toilet and there was also always hot water. Overall fantastic stay and I’m incredibly grateful for this experience and the opportunities it provided! :)
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Book in advance! I made separate bookings and ended up having to switch beds
You can get your own...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Meg Pritchard, General Manager at Code Pod Hostels - The Court
Responded 9 Jun 2024
Hiya, Thanks for your review! We are glad you enjoyed your stay! Hope to see you again soon! Regards, CoDE
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Really top location for this modern Hostel which occupies the premises of an old court of law.
Good follow-up by Whatsapp before arrival, check-in facilitated online, once there the staff is particularly welcoming and always looking to help you, top thank you.
I slept in the 'courtyard' area, a large room in which the beds were in the form of unclosed capsules (pods) with just a curtain at the end. Having never experienced this type of bed before, I was a little afraid of being cramped. In the end, there was enough space. I even slept very well, surprisingly little noise and quality bedding. With so many people in a large common room like this, people were particularly respectful to others in short, nothing like a traditional Hostel.
Common areas such as showers and toilets are modern and clean enough. I never had to wait, there was always room available.
Apart from the Award I found quite high for this type of property, this Hostel is a great option for a long weekend in Edinburgh, you are absolutely close to everything, the place is modern and secure and most importantly you do not find the recurring noise of traditional hostels. I'll come back to that with great pleasure.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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A 5-star hostel, without a doubt. To begin with, those who work there are super friendly and will help you with whatever you need.
As for the room, we went in a room of 8 and it was great. There is not much space in the room (basically the 4 bunk beds fit together), but it is not necessary because each floor has several great, spacious and clean bathrooms. The beds are in cabin format, claustrophobic abstaining, but with enough space to kneel in your cubicle and with a curtain as a door to have a little more privacy. Each one has its own spacious locker where you can put your suitcases inside the room.
As for the location, come on, it needs to be inside the castle, super centrally located right next to the cathedral, in the middle of the main street.
On the negative side, we didn't experience anything, but remember that it is a hostel, as well as a city, also central and very cheap, so there may be the case of sharing a room with a drunk. As I said, it was not our case, but those are the risks of sharing a room with strangers.
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Date of stay: June 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Puedes dejar la maleta antes de la hora de entrada, en un cuarto comunitario. No da 100%...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We booked a double room, with use of communal bathroom. The location is amazing, right next to St Giles Cathedral on Royal Mile, and just a short walk from Waverley Station (where the airport shuttle bus drops you off). The reception staff are welcoming. There is a lift if you have heavy luggage, as we did! Our room was next to the laundry, and whilst we could hear people chatting while they waited for the washing to be done, by bedtime all was quiet. The wifi worked in the room despite the thick walls! The room was small, but well designed. The communal bathroom was only a few steps away, and had 5 shower cubicles, and 3 toilets, and 2 basins, all very clean. We had breakfast downstairs the next morning. The ordering process was rather ridiculously laboured for the counter staff, but the food was good.
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Excellent location right on the Royal Mile, can not get any more central. Stayed in the Courtroom which was fantastic. Excellent clean pods and individual lockers. Despite the large number of beds in the room I found everyone staying was very respectable and it was actually a very quiet space. The pods can get a bit hot however they do provide fans for this. The shower and toilets were also good and there was always one available despite the large number of people staying here. Staff here are great and the free tour and whiskey tasting (paid for) was worth doing.
There is a social space/kitchen downstairs, it would be great if the hostel utilised this more for some social events they organised. I think there were a few events organised by the hostel.
Overall one of the better hostels I stayed in and would definitely recommend it, I wouldn't hesitate to book here again when back in Edinburgh!
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Date of stay: June 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Lower bunk beds seemed more convenient. Request a free fan at reception and remember to bring a...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Declan McNamee, General Manager at Code Pod Hostels - The Court
Responded 16 Aug 2024
Thank you so much for taking the time to review our property. We’re glad to hear you had a pleasant stay with us and greatly appreciate your feedback, we hope to have you stay with us again soon at the Court!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bring less luggage , singles or couples but not big families, if you know cooking , good raw materials and crockery is provided in a clean kitchen. self help is expected as not much service provided but it is a uniquely placed nicely maintained cute chambers to hop in hop out for your tours and drop in for night shelter. claustrophobics should keep away.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Meg Pritchard, General Manager at Code Pod Hostels - The Court
Responded 9 Jun 2024
Hiya, Thanks for your review! We are glad you enjoyed your stay! Hope to see you again soon! Regards, CoDE
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Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
As far as hostels go, I could not say enough positive things about CoDE the CoURT. We stayed for 8 nights in the 8-bed female dorm and had a fantastic experience.
Pods are comfortable and clean. There are also little shelves in them for placing fans you can rent (for free) from the front, water, toiletries, etc., a hook, and also ambient lighting. Storage lockers are also provided with their own padlocks (no need to brings locks), and are big enough to fit large luggage. All washrooms are also similarly spacious and clean.
The hostel is also in an INCREDIBLE area and for the price I’d argue there isn’t better in the city. We were close to Waverly station, on the Royal Mile, in front of Mercat Cross and literally a very short walk from so much more. They also do a great job of providing activities and entertainment like walking tours and live music. Definitely take advantage of The Lost Close as well; their gin and whiskey tastings are such a unique perk of staying here and are absolutely worth it.
Though breakfast is not included, it is affordable, delicious, and easy for take away if you’re heading out for the day. You also have access to a kitchen as a guest, so you can always shop, cook, and store food for yourself too.
Some things to note are that the rooms can be a bit tight, with the pods taking up most of the space. As such, I highly recommend packing or doing any heavy lifting in the middle of the day to avoid blocking the passage to the beds / lockers or waking folks up towards quiet time (11PM-7AM). Staff were also super helpful and are able to provide luggage storage if asked.
Overall - great vibes, great historical value (you’re literally in a remodeled prison), and great value! I wouldn’t hesitate to try a CoDE hostel again.
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:The walk to the hostel from Waverly Station is largely uphill, and there is no Uber / taxi access...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Declan McNamee, General Manager at Code Pod Hostels - The Court
Responded 16 Aug 2024
Thank you so much for taking the time to review our property. We’re glad to hear you had a pleasant stay with us and greatly appreciate your feedback, we hope to have you stay with us again soon at the Court!
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Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The hostel is in a great location and from the pictures it looked clean and modern. It definitely did not disappoint under this regard: the rooms were comfortable, well lit and quiet. The bathrooms were consistently clean at any time of day and fully functional (e.g. good water pressure and temperature in the shower, soap in the dispensers, never run out of paper, etc.).
The pods were a first for me: I wanted to try, but was a bit skeptical of being so close to people (technically, much closer than normal bunk beds would be) and of basically sleeping "inside a box". I was, however, pleasantly surprised: my space felt private without feeling cramped, thanks to the intelligent placement and lighting fixtures. All in all: outstanding value for money, would definitely return.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: March 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed at The Court for one night during the Edinburgh Fringe. For my first time staying in a hostel, it provided great value for money - given the excellent location and quality of the place - and friendly service (their waffles are fantastic!). I'd happily stay here again - and would be looking to for Fringe next year!
My only issue is that getting to sleep was a bit difficult since I was in the top pod on the highest floor - so it got quite warm. They provide USB fans, but this was a little bit difficult to set up to not cause more noise.
That said, overall my stay was great. The hostel was clean, I felt very secure on the premises, and they kindly allow you to store luggage/bags in a bag store room even before and after your stay - which allowed me to go catch some more shows without carrying my backpack around.
If you're looking to stay in Edinburgh, have a nice quality place but not pay over the odds, I highly recommend The Court.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Pick up a USB fan from reception. They're open 24/7, but I wish I'd anticipated sooner in the...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The location is very convenient. It is on the Royal Mile, so you have a lot of touristy areas nearby. Check-in was quick. You are provided a code to enter the rooms. The pod feels a little claustrophobic, but the beds were comfortable and you have two types of lights inside. It has a small shelf inside as well. You have a place to store your luggage and it requires a personal code. There are instructions on how to do that. They also have the rules on the walls, regarding curfew, breakfast time, towels, etc. You can purchase towels or borrow a hairdryer at the front desk. I personally did not sleep well because the people in the room were making a lot of noise, opening and closing the front door and opening and closing their luggage throughout the night.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: May 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Meg Pritchard, General Manager at Code Pod Hostels - The Court
Responded 9 Jun 2024
Hiya, Thanks for your review! We are glad you enjoyed your stay! Hope to see you again soon! Regards, CoDE
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hello! Our lockers are pretty big, so you may be able to lock your suitcase in it. Otherwise, you can lock your most valuable items in the locker and leave the suitcase either in the room next to your pod or in our luggage store. Best regards! The CoDE Team
There are more places to choose from in the Edinburgh area.
PRICE RANGE
$148 - $332 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
United KingdomScotlandEdinburghCowgate / Old Town
NUMBER OF ROOMS
43
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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