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Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
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
836 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
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Code Pod Hostels - The Court is frequently commended for its exceptional service, with guests emphasizing the helpful staff and spotless environment. Visitors often regard it as a good value, offering affordable breakfast and commendable amenities, although opinions on cost vary. The hostel's cleanliness earns high marks, particularly for its well-kept bathrooms and tidy spaces.
While the cozy pods with ambient lighting are a hit, some guests mention loud lobby music and inconsistent Wi-Fi. The location wins praise for its proximity to Edinburgh's attractions, but noise can be an issue for some.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Spotless
Noise level
Mixed
Service
Helpful
Amenities
Well-appointed
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Situated at a great location, the CoDE Pod is a decent option for a short stay while on a vacation or in between trips. On each floor, there is a long corridor that branches out into rooms and the rooms have eight to ten pods each. The pods are compact with enough space to manoeuvre and have a comfortable sleep. There is a rack and charging points within the Pod along with an individual password-protected locker to store away hand luggage securely. The pods have a curtain that is light absorbent and once drawn, gives a guest privacy and a proper ambience for a good sleep. The hygiene within the room and the corridor are well maintained and although there is only one bathroom, it was clean and void of any foul odour. The service on arrival and during the stay is great. The staff at the reception especially, handle guests with absolute care and support everyone whenever needed. I am now in Edinburgh, so I might not be back soon, but I will definitely recommend CoDE to anyone looking for a short and affordable shared accommodation for any given reason.
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Date of stay: December 2021
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Carry your own food or eat out. There is no parking space available in the immediate periphery.
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 can't recommend this hostel enough! The staff are superb with an excellent and friendly matter, brilliant local knowledge and they will go above and beyond to make your stay as good as it possibly can be.
The hostel is squeaky clean and very well furbished. As it is set in parliament square (super central location) the building used to be a courtroom and jail. After speaking with John and Conrad who were both really knowledgable about the city they showed me around the hostel and all the unique features which include original court benches, original jail doors etc, and downstairs area which dates back to 1624 which really enhanced the stay.
The common room area is really nice with a great kitchen and bar area. Books and board games are available free of charge which is an excellent and thoughtful addition.
Post lockdown, I was slightly worried about cleanliness, sharing a dorm etc but you really shouldn't be. Social distancing takes place and the cleaners are always going around and wiping things down with disinfectant.
In summary, a superb hostel and a great trip. Many thanks to John, Conard and Agatha and all the other staff for such a lovely stay. Keep it up and I'll hopefully be back soon!
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Date of stay: July 2020
Rooms
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 Ben Scheelings, General Manager at Code Pod Hostels - The Court
Responded Aug 3, 2020
Hi Oliver, Thank you so much for taking the time to review you stay with us. We are absolutely delighted to hear that you not only enjoyed your stay but also appreciated the amazing history of our building! We truly look forward to seeing you again soon. :) happy travels, Sara The CoURT
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The service was really good here, with the staff able to help out and offer advice on local places to go. They were always friendly too. The location of the place is really good too as it’s right near the castle and other attractions, not a long walk from princes street either. However, the only downside on my trip that has put me off hostels forever is my room. I knew having paid little money for this I shouldn’t expect much but this was lower than my expectations. I think the main problem is that you can’t pick who you stay with for obvious reasons, there may be times you stay here and the people are great but there can and will be occasions when the people are awful, which in my case was the latter. The residents in my room seemed to have been there weeks given the fact all their stuff was around the room, all over the side, shoes literally in every corner of the room. This then also led to a disgusting amount of dirt on the floor which was grim enough for me not to take my shoes off. With this mess came an awful sweaty/musty smell too. The residents (who I swear never left the room) also proceeded to make an unearthly amount of noise, always being in the phone shouting or even jumping down from their pods. I didn’t want to be in there so bad that I only came back to sleep and tried to be out as long as possible in the day.
Overall, the hostel itself is good and the facilities and things it offers are great and would recommend it based on that. This would be best for larger groups where they can all stay in one room with no unknown guests. But if possible in the future there could be something in place for someone like me on a solo trip, to be placed in a room with people who may also be staying a couple nights and exploring Scotland so there’s the potential to find new friends to go out with, and having a better experience instead of being stuck in a room with some sweaty messy people who I don’t think were there for exploring Edinburgh.
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Date of stay: October 2021
Value
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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 in an ensuite double for 4 nights. I was on the ground floor for the hostel however with the layout my window wasn't street level which was good as it overlooked an alley. The room was the perfect size for one, but would comfortably fit two, although the bed was only accessible from one side as the other side was up against the window. Instead of a wardrobe there are pegs on the wall with hangers and storage under the bed. The ensuite was nice, very clean and came with hand soap and body wash.shampoo. Two bath towels and two hand towels were provided. There was also a hairdryer in one of the drawers which helped when I needed to dry my coat. The bed was comfy, there was a bedside table and a light switch next to the bed for the main lights. There was the option to have either normal lighting or blue lights.
Staff are friendly and the checking in process was really simple, you are given a business card that has a room number, wi-fi code and access code. I believe the reception is staffed 24hours and if you have any problems there is a sticker with the whatsapp number for reception in the room.
The hostel seems very social, I personally didn't use the space but there was a nice sized kitchen and lots of communal space to sit in.
The best part of this hostel is the location, it's right behind St Giles Cathedral and in the heart of the Royal Mile, so loads of attractions are on the doorstep. The train station is no more than a 1o-minute walk (if you can handle stairs).
Some issues I found was that to open/close the window and pull the curtain closed I needed to climb on the bed to reach. My room was located next to the stairs and bathrooms so I found that it got noisy in the mornings and evenings. Although this is to be expected of a hostel and if this would bother you then I would recommend staying in a hotel.
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Date of stay: October 2021
Value
Rooms
Service
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 stay was a big disaster for the following reasons:
1. When we came to check-in, we were given a room in which someone was already staying (Raised a big question of security) 2. We were given a different room - very suffocating and the heating was not working for which we were given more blankets. Room 306! 3. When we were packing to check out someone from the cleaning crew came inside our locked room without knocking. (I did not know how to react)
Overall, a really bad stay for £ 235 for 2 nights!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 2021
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 Ben Scheelings, General Manager at Code Pod Hostels - The Court
Responded Dec 25, 2021
Dear Guest, First of all, I'd like to thank you for choosing us for your stay in Edinburgh. I am extremely sorry to hear about your experience and apologies for taking a couple of days to respond - I have investigated the issues with my team. Unfortunately, during your check in, there seemed to be a system error, however I believe this issue was quickly solved by a team member. Our heating system is checked on regular basis. The room temperature is set for 23 degrees, however we always offer extra blankets if needed. I believe our housekeeping team has entered the room after 11am, which is our check out time - if the guests need more time to check out, it's never an issue as long as the reception staff is informed. Once again, we are sorry to hear about the issues you had during your stay. Regards, Agata General Manager
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The Code - the Court was the best hostel I've ever stayed in, and I've stayed in a lot. The location is as perfect as you can get in Edinburgh, being close to the Giles church and along the Royal Mile. The setup of the hostel was very aesthetic, easy to navigate, and I liked the keycode system (room cards can get lost). Our room was AMAZING, with comfortable little pods that had shelves, USB charging stations, and a towel rack. The blackout curtains worked perfectly, blocking out light and noise. The mood lighting on the headboard was lovely, and the soft LED strip that turned on when walking into the room was perfect when you're coming in late at night and don't want to wake anyone but need to see where you're going haha. The lockers were also great, you just set your own code and they feel very secure and high tech. Overall, the best hotel I've ever stayed in and I would happily return.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: July 2022
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.
We booked 2 pods for the weekend bc nothing else was available last minute. Showers are disgusting, not cleaned daily. We had to complain about our smelly dorm room day one. No one did anything. I’m allergic to dust so I had to take pills to sleep. We were underground (female only room) and we are at the same level as trash and dirty laundry too so imagine the smell. Even if we just slept there and take showers we are shocked by the price we paid for this level of service. 72€ for 2 nights per person.
The + now: Decor was cool, lights in our room was a blue led. You can wake up or go to sleep without waking up anyone. Localisation is good.
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Date of stay: May 2022
Value
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Cleanliness
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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.
This was probably one of the best hostel experiences I´ve ever had. Everything from the staff, the cleanliness, to the superb location on the royal mile this place provides is just out of this world. Be prepared to be sumberged in the historical atmosphere of the city combined with generous staff and an unreal atmosphere of the hostel rooms in a pod like setting, which guarantees maximum privacy. An amazing experience overall!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: February 2020
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 Ben Scheelings, General Manager at Code Pod Hostels - The Court
Responded Feb 24, 2020
Hi! We're so happy to have contributed to your great experience in Edinburgh! Our staff are always working hard to ensure that guests feel welcome and have the most enjoyable stay. We hope to see you again soon! Many thanks, Team Code
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The location is right in centre of town, just off Royal Mile behind St Giles. The hostel is a mixture we loved the friendly staff and the breakfast area/ chill out area and the sleep studio/ pod rooms, the rest of hostel varies from industrial looking prison style, to some where paint and plaster coming off walls for really prison feel. The pod rooms we were in room for 8 pods between 4 of us- 2 children and 2 adults and I think that was good any more people and would have been big squish in shared spaces as only 4 lockers- but the lockers were really spacious. Good shower facilities and toilet (great views in toilets). The actual pods were very comfortable (but im 6ft 2 and my feet poked off end of bed) and you could sit up in them. We really enjoyed the tour of the building and hearing about the history of the building and seeing the underground chambers. (thank you Agatha) Breakfast was self service orange juice and coffee and we ordered waffles (with banana means with banana chips not sliced banana) and son had waffles with Nutella and marshmallows which he loved. Staff were really friendly and made us feel welcome. Kids had fantastic time and it was a comfy sleep.
We hope to come back soon.
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Date of stay: August 2020
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Highly recommend sleep studio 106- where we were!! 8 pod room. Quiet at night with not too much...
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 Ben Scheelings, General Manager at Code Pod Hostels - The Court
Responded Aug 4, 2020
Hi Kate, Many thanks for the nice feedback. We are really happy to hear that you all have had a lovely stay. We hope to see you again. Safe travels :) Silvia, The CoDE Team
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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 Jun 9, 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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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
C$107 - C$274 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
United KingdomScotlandEdinburghCowgate / Old Town
NUMBER OF ROOMS
43
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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