Edinburgh City Centre stay.Within a 10-minute walk of this Edinburgh City Centre vacation home, you'll find Princes Street and Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre. Also, Royal Mile is within half a mile (1 km) and Edinburgh Castle is within 2 miles (3 km).
Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
Royal Mile - 6 min walk - 0.3 miles
University of Edinburgh - 13 min walk - 0.7 miles
Edinburgh Castle - 16 min walk - 0.9 miles
Getting around
Edinburgh (ZXE-Edinburgh Waverly Train Station) - 8 min walk
St Andrew Square Tram Stop - 10 min walk
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) - 38 min drive
Restaurants
Wingstop - 7 min walk
Salerno Pizza - 7 min walk
Maki Ramen - 6 min walk
John Lewis Cafe - 6 min walk
Howies Restaurant - 3 min walk
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
Observatory House Sum
Summary: ✔ Edinburgh’s unique hilltop retreat, Observatory House is a large self-catering property extending over two floors w/garned ✔ 2 bedrooms ✔ 2 bathrooms ✔ Well-equipped kitchen ✔ East-facing garden with outdoor seating ✔ 15-minute walk to National Museum ✔ Next to National Gallery ✔ Waverley station is just a few minutes away on foot ✔ An extensive area guide is provided, and we are available 24/7 ✔ Essentials, linens, towels, and WiFi are provided
The Space: ⭐ 2 bedrooms — The Astronomer’s Suite is the master bedroom of Observatory House, with a super king-sized four-poster bed and connected bathroom. — The Observer’s Room is a spacious second bedroom with two twin beds made as one super-king-size bed. ⭐ 2 bathrooms ⭐ A comfy living room with a flat-screen/smart TV ⭐ A fully equipped kitchen & dining area suitable for up to 8 guests ⭐ A desk space ⭐ East-facing garden with outdoor seating ⭐ Family friendly
Guest Access: ● Guests will have access to the entire house. ● There are 2 flights of stairs within the property. ● The House is located on the summit of Calton Hill (105m above sea level). Drop-off by car or taxi is permitted via the Calton Hill access road; however, due to its unique location, there is no resident parking on the Hill for House guests.
Check-in Information: A member of our team will welcome you to the property, give you a tour, and advise you on how to gain keyless access to the property.
The Neighborhood: Attractions within walking distance of the House include the National Gallery, City Art Centre, National Museum, Castle and many more. We’d also love to share our knowledge of the less-hyped Edinburgh too, from the vibrant contemporary art galleries such as Talbot Rice Gallery and Dovecot to alternative ways to understand the city, like Black History walking tours and smaller, independent museums. Local Restaurants Just a short walk from the front door, guests will find our acclaimed restaurant partner, The Lookout by Gardener’s Cottage
Getting Around: ● There is no free parking available at this property. Getting to Observatory House The House can be reached in a number of ways, but please bear in mind that its unique location on the summit of the Hill does present some access challenges. On foot Steps lead up the Hill from Waterloo Place and Royal Terrace. You will see Observatory House above you on the left as you reach the top of the steps. The entrance gate (signed Collective) is to the right, at the top of a final flight of steps. By bus Regular buses stop on Waterloo Place and Royal Terrace – visit Lothian Buses or download their app to plan your journey. By train Waverley station is a ten-minute walk away on foot. Please note there are steep steps on this route (we highly recommend getting a taxi if you have luggage) – visit National Rail Enquiries to plan your journey. By car Due to its unique location, there is no parking available directly outside the House; however, luggage drop-off by car and food van deliveries are permitted via the Calton Hill access road. This road terminates approximately 100m from the House. The nearest Pay & Display car parking is on Regent Road or the Q-Park Omni. By taxi Taxi drop-off and pick-up are encouraged via the Calton Hill access road, which terminates approximately 100m from the House.
Other Things to Note: JOIVY wants you to have a fantastic stay, and we encourage you to see this property as a home away from home. There are, however, a few points we politely ask guests to note before their arrival and throughout their stay: – Strictly no smoking, no parties, no pets. – Dispose of rubbish appropriately. – Keep the property clean and tidy. – Whilst washing up and stripping the beds at check-out would be appreciated, it is by no means expected. – Quiet hours are between 10 PM and 9 AM. So please keep the noise down and respect the neighbours in the building. – Please remember to close all windows and doors when leaving. – Careful attention to the keys is extremely important. Guests are responsible for any additional costs resulting from misplaced keys or locksmith call-outs. – To ensure the safety of our current and future guests, we ask all guests to complete our online check-in form and to provide a valid form of identification. ∗Please note that а refundable damage deposit of £250 is mandatory and should be paid via card and before check-in. We inspect the property after you check out; if there is no damage, we refund the deposit within 2 days via bank transfer.
Interaction with Guests: JOIVY will be in touch to assist you with many extra services, such as airport transfers, in-stay cleans, and childcare equipment. If you have any questions before or during your stay, we’re here for you 24/7.
This home is managed by JOIVY. We’re proud to host our guests in a wide selection of top-quality properties across Europe. JOIVY is pleased to offer hotel-standard hospitality services and provide hotel-quality linens, towels, bathroom essentials, and professional cleaning services.
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Wheelchair accessibility
Smoking not allowed
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
General
Unit size: 678 square feet
Policies
Check-in
Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out
Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available
Special check-in instructions
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Rules
JOIVY wants you to have a fantastic stay, and we encourage you to see this property as a home away from home. There are, however, a few points we p...
Pets
No pets allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome.
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts cash
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy. A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in. Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. No onsite parking is available. This property accepts cash. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector and a smoke detector in each accommodation.
Property Registration Number EH-69756-F
Property is also known as
6633bbe0bd31bd0049c7c42f
Frequently asked questions
How close is Observatory House Sum to the airport?
This vacation home is 8.5 mi (38-min drive) away from the Edinburgh Airport (EDI) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.
Does Observatory House Sum have an airport shuttle?
Airport shuttle services are not available at this vacation home.
How close is Observatory House Sum to the beach?
This vacation home is 2.8 mi (16-min drive) from Portobello Beach and 14.2 mi (36-min drive) from Seton Sands. Don't forget your sunscreen!
Does Observatory House Sum offer free breakfast?
This vacation home does not offer free breakfast.
Is there a casino at Observatory House Sum?
No, there is no casino at this vacation home.
What time is check-in at Observatory House Sum?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
Is there free parking at Observatory House Sum?
Free parking is not available at this vacation home.
Does Observatory House Sum have a pool?
This vacation home does not have a pool.
Does Observatory House Sum have a spa?
There are no spa services available at this vacation home.
How close is Observatory House Sum to downtown Edinburgh?
This vacation home is 0.2 mi away from Edinburgh.
Observatory House Sum Reviews
Reviews
8.0
Very Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Rating 10 - Excellent. 5 out of 9 reviews
10 - Excellent
5
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 9 reviews
8 - Good
1
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 9 reviews
6 - Okay
2
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 9 reviews
4 - Poor
0
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 9 reviews
2 - Terrible
1
9.6/10
Cleanliness
Reviews
8/10 Good
Louisa H.
Jun 28, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Louisa H.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
10/10 Excellent
Jeff k.
Jun 11, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
A little piece of heaven!
Jeff k.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
6/10 Okay
David L.
Jun 3, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing property but didn’t feel safe
The property itself is breathtaking and unbelievable. However, what we were not aware of is what a public place the property is located in. Calton hill is an extremely busy tourist attraction and for the last two night nights of our stay, there were groups of rowdy individuals drinking and creating havoc. There is a fence that surrounds the property, as it is part of a museum area, but the individuals jumped the fence and vandalized some areas of the museum, were drinking and being somewhat threatening. This happened two nights in a row, and we had to get the police involved, which obviously put a big dent in our vacation enjoyment and took up several hours of both evenings. We felt uncomfortable sleeping there and did not get a good nights sleep after the disturbances occurred. So please be aware that the area is isolated and far away from any other buildings, and we felt very unsafe there.
David L.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
6/10 Okay
kelly o.
Apr 28, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful location, unfortunate plumbing issue
This home is beautiful and the view is to die for. The check in was a little off , we met at the time listed and were in the right place with our luggage but stood around a while until the host registered it was us checking in. It’s a very busy area and not her fault. It would have just been better if we were given a direct number of the person that would be letting us in, instead of everything going through a different person at a call center each time you text. Unfortunately right after we checked in the guest shower started leaking all the way to the floor below like full on heavy rain that flooded the entrance room. This also set off the fire alarm for a good 10mins. The other shower would only get scorching hot water making it impossible to shower. Once they sent maintenance out to look at it, it was established this would be a bigger issue that needed to be fixed. We worked with the host agency and reached an agreement for us to check out early. This place has a lot of potential we just happened to have an unfortunate accident happen while there so we didn’t get to enjoy it.
kelly o.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025
2/10 Terrible
Lee P.
Mar 31, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Not as described or information left out
It should have been noted in the description for the property that it is in the middle of a public park and they are unwilling to help when people show up and party (drink, play loud music, and yell) 10 feet from your bedrooms.It would have also been useful if they would have described when booking they know of this issue as they hand out ear plugs when you arrive.It would have been nice to understand the 24 "help" line they have offers not help for this issue and simply say you need to figure it out on your own.I would recommend not staying at the property unless you would like to participate in the parties. The nice part about going to these parties that you involuntary host is the walk home is less than 30 seconds. These parties you get to attend and participate in will be on the otherside of the wall of your home (less than 10 feet).
Lee P.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025
10/10 Excellent
Eden R.
Sep 16, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Eden in Edinburgh
Stayed three nights. Most interesting VRBO location - right on the grounds of an arts collective at the site of historic monumental grounds. Saw sunrises and sunsets - 360 degree views of the city. Walking distance to everything -from Waverly Station, Hollyrood Palace, Royal Mile, to the Castle.
Eden R.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
10/10 Excellent
Laura G.
Sep 22, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Epic House
Gorgeous house with lots of space and views to die for! This spot was so special! High point of our trip!
Laura G.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
10/10 Excellent
Bryan F.
Jun 12, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Best view
Great stay. We loved it. It may not be for everybody as you do have a pretty aggressive climb to the house and there are tourists swarming around at all hours. However, the views are incredible and we loved the grounds.
Bryan F.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
10/10 Excellent
Dayna V.
Jun 6, 2022
Liked: Cleanliness
Exceptional stay at the top of Edinburgh with breathtaking views in historic location.
Really enjoyed everything about our stay at Observatory House. Fantastic location with views in every direction. Historic building has been beautifully restored. Everything was perfect and the house well-stocked with everything you need to fully enjoy the place. Felt as though this was truly a unique experience in Edinburgh. Centrally located to everything - walk to Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Arthur’s Seat, restaurants, the Playhouse, a mall, a movie theatre. Or just relax at home with views of it all! It is a hike up to the location, so may not be ideal for some, but we didn’t mind at all. We hope to come back!