Graduation week is a big day for the whole family, and where you stay shapes how it feels. Here is our practical guide to booking, getting around and celebrating in Edinburgh, from the team who looks after the homes.
Graduation accommodation in Edinburgh: when to book and what to tell us
Most families start looking the day the ceremony date lands in the graduate's inbox. That is the right instinct. Graduation weeks bring a lot of families into the same few streets at the same time, and the homes closest to the university are the first to go. If you can, send us your dates before you have finalised flights or train times. It is easier to fit travel around a good home than the other way round.
A short message with the right details saves a lot of back and forth. When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- The ceremony date and time, and which university. Morning and afternoon ceremonies change how early you need to be in town.
- Who is coming: how many adults, children and older relatives, and who needs their own room.
- Stairs: whether anyone finds steps hard. This matters more in Edinburgh than almost anywhere else.
- Beds: couples, singles, and whether the graduate is staying with you or in their own flat.
- Cars: whether you are driving up, and how many cars.
- Extra days: whether you want to arrive early or stay on for a holiday.
We reply within one working day (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm) with the homes that fit and how far each one is from where you need to be. If nothing suits, we will say so plainly rather than stretch a home to fit. You can also browse all our homes first and send us the ones you like.
Graduations happen more than once a year
Summer is the busy season, with ceremonies across June and July. Several universities also hold winter ceremonies late in the year. Always check your own university's published dates before booking anything, as they vary by school and subject and can move from year to year.
Where to stay for graduation week in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a walking city, and for graduation week that is a gift. Pick the right area and you can stroll to the ceremony in your good shoes, come back for a rest, and walk out again for dinner. Our Edinburgh homes are spread across the city, though not every area will have a home free on your dates. Here is how the main areas compare.
- Southside and Newington. Closest to the central university buildings, with plenty of cafes and easy buses. Good if the ceremony and the receptions are all in the centre.
- Bruntsfield and Marchmont. Quieter tenement streets across the Meadows, a pleasant walk into the university. Lovely for families who want a neighbourhood feel and somewhere nice for breakfast.
- The Old Town. Right in the middle of everything, close to restaurants and the sights. Busier and noisier, and the cobbles and closes can be hard on older legs.
- Tollcross and the West End. Central, flat in places, and handy for Haymarket station if you are arriving by train from the west.
- Leith and further out. Calmer on ceremony days, with a bus or the tram into town. Worth a look for bigger families who are happy to travel in.
Check where the ceremony actually is
Not every campus is central. Heriot-Watt's Edinburgh campus is at Riccarton, on the western edge of the city, and Queen Margaret University's campus is close to Musselburgh, east of the centre. The ceremony venue can be somewhere else again. Find the venue first, then tell us, and we will match homes to that rather than to a general idea of where the university is.
If someone in the family is coming back later for work or a placement, our page for visiting professionals covers longer stays near the campuses, and our stay with us hub lists every kind of trip we look after.
Edinburgh flats with stairs: what grandparents need to know
Much of central Edinburgh is tenements: stone buildings of four or five storeys, with a shared stone stair and no lift. They are beautiful, solid and full of character. They can also be a real climb, and the stairs are often steep, worn and spiral. A second-floor flat in a tenement can mean dozens of steps, and there is no getting round it with a heavy case.
That is why we ask about stairs every time. Tell us honestly how everyone gets on, and we will do the sorting. Some families are fine with one flight but not three. Some need a ground-floor home or a building with a lift. Some want a home where at least one bedroom and the bathroom are on the same level.
Questions worth asking before you book
- Which floor is the front door on, and how many steps are there from the street?
- Is there a lift, and is it big enough for a wheelchair or walker?
- Are there steps inside the flat itself, such as a split level or a mezzanine bedroom?
- How close can a taxi pull up to the door?
- Is the walk to the ceremony flat, or is it up one of the Old Town's hills?
Edinburgh's hills matter as much as its stairs. The walk from the Grassmarket up to the Royal Mile is short on a map and steep in real life. For older relatives, a taxi to the door of the ceremony is often the kindest choice, even if the home is a fifteen-minute walk away.
We cannot promise a step-free home for every date, and we will never describe a home as accessible if it is not. What we can do is tell you exactly what each home is like, so there are no surprises on the day. If you want to know how other guests found our homes, read our reviews, or ask us about a particular home.
Getting around Edinburgh on graduation day
On the day itself, give yourself more time than you think. The streets around the university fill with families, gowns and photographers, and every taxi in town seems to be booked at once.
Walking
For most families staying in the Southside, Newington, Marchmont or Bruntsfield, walking is the easiest option. Plan the route the day before, ideally in the shoes you will wear. Allow extra time for photographs on the way, because there will be some.
Buses and trams
Edinburgh's buses are frequent and cover the whole city. The tram runs from the airport through Haymarket and the city centre to Leith and Newhaven, which is handy if you are flying in. On the buses you can pay by contactless as you board. For the tram, buy a ticket or tap your card at the stop before you get on.
Taxis
Black cabs can be hailed in the centre, and app-based taxis work too. On graduation days, book ahead for the trip to the ceremony, especially for older relatives, and expect a wait afterwards.
Driving and parking
If you are driving up, leave the car at the home and walk or take the bus. Central Edinburgh has controlled parking, and spaces near the university are hard to find. If parking matters to you, tell us when you send your dates. Some of our homes have parking, and we will say clearly which ones do and what kind it is.
Arriving at the home
Our homes use self check-in, so you are not waiting for someone to meet you. You get clear arrival instructions and the code on the day, and our team is on message from 9am to midnight if anything is unclear. Many of our homes are on shared stairs, so please keep celebrations calm late at night; our page for neighbours explains why. There is an emergency line around the clock. More on how we look after guests is on our about page.
What to pack for an Edinburgh graduation
Edinburgh weather changes quickly, and graduation outfits are not always built for it. A little planning keeps the photos happy.
Summer ceremonies
June and July can be bright and mild, but it is rarely hot for long. A sunny morning can turn into a breezy, showery afternoon. Pack:
- A light coat or smart jacket that works over an outfit
- A compact umbrella, ideally one that copes with wind
- Comfortable shoes for the walk, and the smart ones in a bag if you prefer
- A warm layer for the evening, even in July
Winter ceremonies
Late in the year, days are short and cold, and it is often dark by mid-afternoon. Bring a proper warm coat, gloves, and shoes with some grip, as wet stone pavements and cobbles can be slippery. Photographs outside are best taken earlier in the day.
Things families often forget
- A phone charger and a spare battery pack for a long day of photos
- Safety pins and a small sewing kit for gowns and hems
- Any medication for older relatives, plus a list of what they take
- Something to keep the graduate's certificate flat and dry on the way home
Each listing shows what the home has, and we are happy to check anything that is not clear. If you need something particular, such as a cot or a highchair, ask when you send your dates and we will tell you which homes can help. For other trips where the weather plays a part, our pages on golf holidays in East Lothian and stays near Murrayfield have more advice on dressing for Scottish weather.
Staying on for a few days after graduation
Graduation is often the first time the whole family has been in Edinburgh together. It is worth making a holiday of it if you can. Booking a few extra nights is usually simpler than moving somewhere else afterwards, and you get to see the city once the gowns have gone.
Easy things to do as a family
- Arthur's Seat and Holyrood Park. A proper walk with a big view, right in the city. Gentler paths go round the base for those who would rather not climb.
- Calton Hill. A short climb for one of the best views over the city, good at sunset.
- The Meadows and Bruntsfield Links. Flat, green and lovely for a slow afternoon.
- Portobello. Edinburgh's beach, a bus ride from the centre, with a long promenade.
- Dean Village and the Water of Leith. A quiet riverside walk that feels miles from town.
A day out by train
North Berwick, on the East Lothian coast, is about half an hour by train from Edinburgh Waverley. It has beaches, a harbour and a good walk up Berwick Law. If you would like a few nights by the sea after the ceremony, we look after homes in North Berwick too.
Tell us how many nights you want and we will check whether your home can be extended. Coming back for August? Our page on Fringe accommodation explains how festival stays work.
Booking graduation accommodation safely: licences and the Visitor Levy
Busy weeks attract scams, and graduation weeks are no exception. A few simple checks keep your booking safe.
- Check the licence. Every short let in Scotland needs a short-term let licence, so look for the licence number on the listing. Every home we let is licensed. Our licensing page explains what the licence means.
- Book through a known platform or company. Be wary of anyone asking you to pay by bank transfer to a personal account.
- Read the reviews. Look for reviews from real stays, recent and specific. Ours are on our reviews page.
- Get the details in writing. Check-in time, number of beds, stairs and parking should all be clear before you pay.
The Edinburgh Visitor Levy
Stays in the City of Edinburgh include the Visitor Levy, which is 5% on the cost of the accommodation for the first five nights of a stay. It applies to stays from 24 July 2026. On a longer stay, nights after the fifth are not charged. Homes in East Lothian, such as North Berwick, are not part of the Edinburgh scheme. You can read more on our Visitor Levy page.
Prices
Prices change with the date, the size of the home and how busy the city is. Graduation weeks are busy, so booking early usually gives you more choice. When we send you homes, we include the prices, so you can compare like with like. If anything is unclear, just ask, and a real person will reply.
Performing at the Fringe rather than graduating? See Fringe accommodation for performers and companies.
Placing a household after an insurance claim? See insurance accommodation.
Message us on WhatsApp on +44 7898 116933, or get in touch. We reply 9am to midnight, and the emergency line is there 24/7.