Europe’s biggest privately-owned hostel brand opens first UK location in Edinburgh's Old Town

The biggest privately-owned hostel brand in Europe has expanded its portfolio by opening its first hostel in the UK in the centre of the Scottish Capital.

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a&o Hostels Edinburgh location, which will be the group’s 40th opening has 131 rooms and 610 beds.

It will be located in the Old Town, just a stone's throw from the Royal Mile, and will open its doors to welcome the first guests in July.

Whether guests are interested in experiencing a World Heritage Site or a lively pub and club scene, a&o Edinburgh is always only a few minutes away.

With its fascinating architecture and history, incredible surrounding hikes and unique food scene, Edinburgh makes for a perfect city break for anyone looking to make the most of a staycation this year, particularly those on a budget.

In addition to its central location, the hostel also offers the opportunity to enjoy social drinks at the large public bar located in the hostel’s courtyard.

Additionally, the property has adapted to the corporate design of a&o during operation with some of the rooms already reserved for long-stay guests.

From September to May 2022, a&o Hostels will be occupied by students temporarily making the hostel their home.

CEO of a&o Hostels, Oliver Winter said: “Edinburgh is a fabulous destination and we are very pleased to be able to celebrate a&o’s 40th hostel opening with our first UK property in Scotland’s Capital city. The pandemic slowed us down but didn't stop us - we used the time to further sharpen our search profile for new and exciting acquisitions.”

Last year, a&o Hostels opened three new locations in Warsaw, Budapest and Copenhagen. Edinburgh is the first new acquisition of 2021, with further locations secured in Florence and Heidelberg. The group is continuing to focus on its expansion of properties, with sights set on Glasgow, London and Dublin.

Rooms can be booked as normal on the a&o website as well as through OTAs and travel agents. Rooms are available from €12 (£10.08) per person, per night.

More information on a&o can be found and bookings can be made on the website.

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