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  5. Reviews of The Ben Doran Guest House

Reviews of The Ben Doran Guest House 4 stars

11 Mayfield Gardens, Newington, Edinburgh, EH9 2AX, United Kingdom

#126 of 188 B&Bs and Inns in Edinburgh

Guests' Choice

Review score

Based on 460 hotel reviews

7.7

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    8.2

  • Comfort

    8.0

  • Location

    8.3

  • Facilities

    7.4

  • Staff

    9.0

  • Value for money

    7.1

  • Free WiFi

    8.6

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Showing 1 – 25

  • Reviewed: 28 August 2025

    7.0
    We enjoyed our stay, made better by the friendly staff.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Ensuite Double
    • Stayed 4 nights

    Bathroom was a little cramped.

    Very good breakfast. Staff were very polite and helpful including assistance with getting luggage upstairs.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 20 August 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Ensuite Double
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Bedroom was dated

    Breakfast was good Localisation suited us ideally

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 6 August 2025

    8.0
    I finished a two and half week stay in the UK with three days in Edinburgh; this guesthouse was a good location for thos
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Standard Single, Shared Bath
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Few outlets.

    Quiet, pleasant, accommodating staff who responded quickly to questions, on the bus route.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 5 August 2025

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Executive Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Nothing

    All

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 3 August 2025

    7.0
    TLC required with more personality
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Ensuite Double
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Property and some furniture needed repair and updating. No greeting when arriving at the property. You are greeted via a ring doorbell and instructed on how enter the property.

    The character of the building and the bus stop out side. A great breakfast.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 1 August 2025

    7.0
    Comfortable and very clean.
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Standard Single, Shared Bath
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The hot water gets very hot quickly. It would be good to have a caution sign in the bathroom as I nearly scalded my self in the shower.

    It was very clean and the bed was very comfortable. It was great to have a bus stop opposite which made travelling into the city easy.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 14 July 2025

    9.0
    Great Location to Old Town
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Ensuite Double
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Be aware there are only stairs to the rooms, pack accordingly and no fridge in rooms. Parking spaces are limited but it can work

    Proximity to Old Town. Bus stop right across the road. The English style buffet breakfast options were plentiful, & great coffee. Rooms & furnishings a bit tired and worn however the room satisfied our purpose for our stay

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 5 July 2025

    8.0
    A lovely guest house
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Executive Double Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The only improvements I might suggest is having the breakfast time window be a little wider. 8-9 aside from Sundays is a bit too late if you need to be somewhere early and a bit too early if you fancy a lay in.

    The location was lovely with friendly staff and clean, well organised rooms. The breakfast was very tasty with varied options available.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 7 June 2025

    9.0
    Nice accommodations in a good location
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Ensuite Double
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Bathroom could use updating - tv didn’t work well

    Location - close to Holyrood park and nice restaurants in Newington. A nice walk from south bridge // excellent breakfast, friendly staff

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 5 June 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Executive Double Room
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Breakfast was a bit weak. Christmas decorations in May a bit weird

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 3 June 2025

    9.0
    Short sweet stay, great location just short walk to city centre
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Executive Double Room
    • Stayed 2 nights

    Spacious room and great view of Arthurs seat from the window! Slightly dated/Classic decor but as displayed in pictures. Great stay would stay again for sure

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 7 May 2025

    7.0
    AVERAGE SHABBY CHIC
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Standard Double, Shared Bath
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    It's on a main road so there is traffic noise. If you are after a lovely hot shower at any time- don't count on getting it here! The shared bathroom is small, the actual shower cubicle is tiny, and the toilet should really be separate as there are 4 rooms sharing the facilities.The showering mechanism is sub standard - volume and pressure of water( it's a multi story house). Our bed was not particularly comfortable. We were in a standard room(#7) which was a bit over priced for what it was.

    The best thing about this establishment is the location. Very convenient with bus stops close by. On site parking. Good brekkie though not full Scottish as advertised(no problem for us) Nice to have a basin in our room.Good size towels!Everything clean.

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 5 May 2025

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Ensuite Double
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Very homely feel, great location, nice and quiet yet easy to get to town with many buses on the doorstep. Lovely breakfast.

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 8 April 2025

    7.0
    Ok for a short stay.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Executive Double Room
    • Stayed 3 nights

    No heating when we arrived. It was turned on after a few guests must have complained.

    Cleanliness. Easy access to city centre on bus route.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: 4 April 2025

    8.0
    A good place to stay
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Ensuite Double
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    See above

    Good location within easy walking distance to the city. Large comfortable room, Facilities good with free tea and coffee available at all times. Friendly staff, good system for key access with individual key box codes. Breakfast adequate, described as full Scottish but didn’t have bacon, black pudding or haggis. Free on site parking and wifi.

    Stayed in March 2025

  • Reviewed: 27 March 2025

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Standard Single, Shared Bath
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Oddette was very hospitable

    Stayed in March 2025

  • Reviewed: 23 March 2025

    8.0
    It was an ok experience. The room was a bit worn. Staff was excellent with communications and the breakfast was wonder
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Executive Double Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Room was a bit worn

    Close to the city center (about 20 min walk). Breakfast was good, staff was very friendly.

    Stayed in March 2025

  • Reviewed: 23 March 2025

    8.0
    Brill location, friendly staff and house very clean.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Executive Double Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The only things that brought down a top rating was the "full Scottish breakfast" wasn't even a third Scottish breakfast. No bacon, no tattie scones etc. the lighting in the room was lacking. Thankfully we only needed it to get changed and into bed but there was more light from the moon coming through the window than the light in the room. The beds were unbelievably hard and very uncomfy which made it difficult to sleep. No complaint made to the owners as these are things which cannot be rectified for my stay. And not a complaint now .. just wanting others to know.

    We phoned on the day of check in to see if we could check in early and the owner was fab and let us in the room around 2 hours early. The location is fab, the staff were very friendly and helpful and the room was clean.

    Stayed in March 2025

  • Reviewed: 21 February 2025

    9.0
    very enjoyable.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Executive Double Room
    • Stayed 3 nights

    cooked breakfast was very limited.

    Very clean and the staff were very helpful.

    Stayed in February 2025

  • Reviewed: 16 February 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Standard Double, Shared Bath
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Very noisy road

    Amazing breakfast and Odette was very friendly and helpful

    Stayed in February 2025

  • Reviewed: 9 February 2025

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Standard Single, Shared Bath
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Everything from the friendliness of the staff to the location Good breakfast in the morning

    Stayed in February 2025

  • Reviewed: 1 February 2025

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Executive Double Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    It was very cold at night, as they turned the heating off and there's only 1 radiator in the room. We were on the second floor and there's no lift, so you have to climb stairs

    It was clean, spacious and free coffee and tea and the beds were good

    Stayed in January 2025

  • Reviewed: 9 January 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Executive Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The price was very high but being new year's eve it was to be expected! The room smelt a little musty and the bathroom was a noisy when water was being run, but overall we had a pleasant stay.

    Comfortable guesthouse in a good location to get into town. Breakfast was tasty and check-in was very easy. The staff were friendly too.

    Stayed in January 2025

  • Reviewed: 1 January 2025

    9.0
    lovely experience
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Ensuite Double
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    we really loved the kind staff which made us breakfast every morning and cared for us. They were all really nice. The room was really charming and comfy. There’s a bus stop right across the street, so perfect for traveling to town. We really enjoyed our stay and would come back :)

    Stayed in November 2024

Showing 1 – 25

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