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Everything You Need to Know Before You Stay

Whether you’re planning to stay at The Loft or The Court, we’ve gathered the most common questions guests ask. If you can’t find an answer to your question, please contact us using our contact form.

Booking

Yes! And it’s the best way to book — we offer our lowest rates exclusively on our website. Plus, enjoy a £1 Waffle during your stay when you book direct.

You can find all the details on our Terms & Conditions page. It depends on the rate type you chose when booking.

This depends on your cancellation policy based on the rate you have booked. Please, check you cancellation policy before contacting our team

We’ll always do our best! If you want a 100% guarantee, book a private dormitory on our website.

Guests under 18 can’t stay in shared or private dorms. They’re welcome in private ensuite rooms only if accompanied by an adult.

We welcome group enquiries, however please note we do not accommodate school or other under 18 years old groups, we do not accept stag or hen parties. From April to October, we accept groups of up to 10 guests. From November to March, we may accept groups of up to 25 guests.
To enquire about a group stay, please complete our group enquiry form and our team will get back to you.

Facilities & Amenities

We serve a great breakfast at Code The Court, in our newly opened cafe-bar – John’s Coffee House & Tavern. Breakfast is served from 7am until 11.30am. Takeaway breakfast is also available. As a Code guest, you also get 15% off our food menu.

Please note, we don’t offer breakfast at Code The Loft, but you are welcome to use the fully-equipped shared kitchen located on the ground floor. 

Absolutely, enjoy free high-speed WiFi throughout all our properties.

Yes, all beds are made up for your arrival.

At Code The Court, towels are included in private rooms and can be rented from reception for a small fee if you’re in a dorm. At Code The Loft, towels are included for free.

We do at The Loft, our fully equipped kitchen is located on the ground floor.

CODE The Court also now has a brand-new snack space in The Pend, our new social area. There are microwaves, fridges, a sink, a kettle and a dishwasher in the space for guest use.

Yes! Female-only dorms are available in both properties. Check availability on our booking page.

Yes, each pod has a personal locker, and we offer free secure luggage storage before check-in.
 We can store luggage after check-out at The Court, but space is limited. For overnight or long-term storage, we recommend Bounce Storage or Radical Storage.

Yes, we have hairdryers available at reception (small deposit required).

At The Court, we offer laundry facilities for our guests. At The Loft, we do not have laundry facilities, however Loft guests are welcome to do their laundry at The Court.

Yes, at The Court you can enjoy lunch (served from 12pm until 3pm) and dinner (served from 5pm until 9pm) at John’s Coffee House & Tavern. At The Loft, you can use our fully equipped guest kitchen located on the ground floor.

We’ve partnered with Q-Park Omni Centre for discounted parking.
 Use code CODE45 for 45% off prepaid parking:
Book your parking here

There is a lift at The Court available between the LG Floor and the 3rd Floor. Please note that our Superior Rooms on the 4th Floor are steps-only access from the 3rd Floor. 

There is no lift at The Loft.

About

Our signature capsule beds are private sleeping spaces inside dorms – think of them as your own mini-room! Each capsule includes: Mood and reading lights, Power sockets + USB chargers, Shelf & hooks and Curtain for privacy. 

The capsule dimensions are 2m (L) × 1m (W) × 0.9m (H) and the mattress sizes are 190cm × 90cm (standard single).

No, sorry — we don’t accept pets. Service animals are welcome though — please notify reception in advance so we can prepare the right room.

Check-in: From 15:00 (if your room’s ready earlier, we’ll check you in early!)

Check-out: By 11:00

The Court: 24-hour reception — no problem!

The Loft: You’ll receive self check-in details by email on your arrival day. We also have team members available on the phone 24/7 if needed.

No smoking is allowed inside the rooms or the properties.

Yes — some of our private rooms at The Court come with twin beds. Check your properties’ page for availability.

Yes, they’re welcome in the communal areas only.

Yes, but only at The Loft. Please don’t bring food or drinks (besides water) into dorms or private rooms.

At The Court, outside food and drinks aren’t permitted — but our café & bar have you covered!

No, we don’t provide cots or infant bedding. Guests with infants must stay in private rooms with private bathrooms.

Working With CoDE

We’re always looking for great people to join our team!

You don’t need tons of experience — just motivation, good energy, and a love for travel and people.

Check out our current roles on our Jobs page, or send us your CV — we’d love to hear from you!

Location & Getting Here

  • CODE The Court is located on Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile in the heart of the Old Town, just a short walk from Edinburgh Castle, St Giles’ Cathedral and Waverley Station.
  • CODE The Loft is located in Edinburgh’s New Town, close to George Street, Princes Street and St Andrew Square, with excellent access to shopping, dining, and transport links.
  • The Court: Approximately 10 minutes on foot.
  • The Loft: Approximately 15-20 minutes on foot.
  • The Court: Around 5 minutes’ walk.
  • The Loft: Around 10 minutes’ walk.

Both properties are easily reached via the Edinburgh Tram or Airlink 100 bus service to the city centre. From there, each hostel is a short walk or taxi ride away.

Yes. Both CODE properties are within walking distance of Edinburgh’s tram network, bus routes, and Waverley Station.

Edinburgh is a very walkable city, and both The Court and The Loft are perfectly located for exploring the city. Within walking distance of The Court: Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, St Giles’ Cathedral, Holyrood Palace, the National Museum of Scotland, and Victoria Street. Within walking distance of The Loft: George Street, Princes Street, St Andrew Square, the Royal Mile, Dean Village, Edinburgh Castle, and the Scottish National Gallery.

Rooms & Accommodation

At The Court, we offer three types of rooms – our capsule beds, which give you mini private rooms inside a shared space, including blackout curtains, charging points, reading lights and premium bedding; our Private Cells, real jail cells that have been converted to comfortable bedrooms full of history; and our Superior Rooms, our most luxurious rooms inspired by historical characters from our building’s past. At The Loft, we offer capsule beds, and we also have our female-only Penthouse Dorm with full-height capsules – a UK first! – with access to a private roof terrace.

A CODE capsule offers greater privacy than a standard bunk bed, with a privacy curtain, reading light, charging point and personal sleeping space.

CODE The Court is a former courthouse and jail in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. Guests can stay in converted Private Cells, while many original features, including historic cell doors, remain throughout the building. Beneath the hostel lies The Lost Close, a hidden part of Edinburgh that survived the Great Fire of 1824. Today, guests can visit The Lost Close for whisky tastings, gin tastings, and unique historical experiences. Guests staying at CODE also receive an exclusive discount.

Capsules provide privacy within a shared room. While the dormitory is shared, each capsule has its own enclosed sleeping area with a privacy curtain.

Yes. Lockers are available for guests staying in shared accommodation.

The Court offers two options for private rooms – our Private Cells and our Superior Rooms.

Private rooms are generally the best choice for couples seeking additional comfort and privacy. Each pod sleeps one person only.

At The Court, we have a designated Family Room perfect for small groups or families. The Robert Louis Stevenson room offers a king bed plus two private capsules. It also offers stunning views of Arthur’s Seat and the Old College.

We have mixed-gender and female-only dorms at both The Court and The Loft.

Our capsule dorms range from 6 capsules to 28 in our historic Courtroom! Each capsule only sleeps one person.

Digital Nomads & Remote Workers

Yes, both The Court and The Loft are excellent options for digital nomads. The Court recently opened The Pend, which has a large co-working area, with two private call pods perfect for calls or Teams meetings. There is also a bookable studio with a screen, which works well for small group meetings (2-4 people). The Loft has a common area with tables which also works well for co-working.

Yes, both The Court and The Loft have places to work remotely. The Court has a dedicated co-working area perfect for digital nomads and remote workers.

Both The Loft and The Court offer free high-speed WiFi for guests, suitable for video calls and streaming.

Yes. Each pod includes convenient charging facilities and power access. Due to fire safety restrictions, only USB-A and USB-C chargers can be plugged in in each individual pod, however we have plenty of power outlets throughout the building for your use.

Yes, at The Court we have The Pend, our dedicated co-working space with two call pods for use. The Pend is open until midnight each day. Late night call? Our Reception area is open 24/7. At The Loft, our common area is accessible 24/7.

Safety & Security

Guest safety is a priority at both CODE properties. We operate secure entry systems and provide staff support throughout your stay. Each guest is given a unique code that allows them to access the property, their room, and common areas.

Yes. Lockers are available in shared accommodation areas.

We have 24/7 Reception at The Court. At The Loft, our team is there until the evening, but our team is only a call or WhatsApp away is you need anything in the night.

Your code will give you access to the building. Checking in late? Keep an eye on your emails, as we will send you instructions.

Security systems operate throughout the properties to help maintain a safe environment.

Our capsule dorms are accessible to registered guests only and are supported by secure building access and storage facilities.

Food & Drink

Breakfast is not included in your stay, but you do receive an exclusive guest offer in John’s Coffee House & Tavern. You can see our menu here.

Yes! We offer both vegetarian and vegan options at John’s Coffee House & Tavern.

At The Court, our social and snack space closes at 12AM daily.

At The Court, our café-bar John’s Coffee House is located in Reception.

Our team is always on hand to help you find the perfect restaurant for what you’re looking for!

Local Area

Both The Court and The Loft are located in the city centre. Near The Court: Explore Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace, museums and historic closes. Plus, don’t miss a whisky tasting at The Lost Close, right below The Court! Near The Loft: Enjoy George Street, Princes Street, St Andrew Square, Dean Village, Edinburgh Castle and the city’s shopping district.

Lots! Visit free museums, climb Arthur’s Seat, walk the Royal Mile, explore Dean Village, and relax in Princes Street Gardens.

Yes. The Royal Mile is one of Edinburgh’s most sought-after locations thanks to its history, atmosphere, and proximity to major attractions. It is also one of the most scenic and picturesque streets in Scotland!

Most visitors spend 2-4 days exploring the city, though longer stays allow time for day trips and hidden gems.

Both The Court and The Loft offer walking access to Edinburgh Castle, museums, galleries, shopping districts, and historic landmarks.

Planning Your Trip

CODE combines an exceptional city-centre location, unique capsule-style accommodation and a friendly social atmosphere, making it a popular choice for travellers visiting Edinburgh. We offer experience-led stays, which means we love helping you connect with the city and with fellow guests as well! We have a daily events calendar full of events to take part in, from our popular free Walking Tour to our guest-favourite Social Dinner.

Our signature pod-style beds provide more privacy than traditional hostel bunks while maintaining the social atmosphere that makes hostels so popular. Alongside unique accommodation such as our historic Private Cells at The Court, we offer a daily programme of events including walking tours, social dinners and community experiences designed to help guests connect with Edinburgh and fellow travellers.

Yes. Both hostels are popular with solo travellers thanks to their social atmosphere, daily guest events, social areas, central locations, and private pod design. We also have a WhatsApp group to help you make plans with other guests.

Absolutely. Many of our guests are travelling solo for the first time. Our capsule-style accommodation offers additional privacy and comfort, while our social spaces and daily events make it easy to meet other travellers. From social dinners and walking tours to recommendations from our local team, we’re here to help make your first solo trip enjoyable and stress-free.

Absolutely! We get first-time solo travellers staying with us every single day, and our team is here to support you on your first solo journey. Plus, we offer plenty of opportunities to connect with other solo travellers during your stay. We have a great daily programme of events, including our popular Social Dinners, plus our common areas have been specially designed to support social experiences.

Yes, CODE is a great choice for digital nomads. At The Court, we have plenty of space for digital nomads, and we also have two private call pods, perfect for Teams meetings! You can also speak to our team about booking The Studio, a small meeting room in The Pend. We have high-speed WiFi and a co-working space with plenty of power outlets.

Yes. The Royal Mile places visitors in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town and close to many of the city’s most famous attractions.

Hostels often provide better value and a more social atmosphere, while hotels offer greater privacy. CODE provides a balance between the two, with our unique pods offering privacy, and our social spaces and daily events offering plenty of community during your time in Edinburgh.

The best hostel for first-time solo travellers depends on what you’re looking for, but many visitors choose CODE because it combines privacy, comfort and a social atmosphere in the heart of Edinburgh. Unlike traditional bunk-bed hostels, CODE’s signature capsule pods provide your own private sleeping space with a blackout curtain, reading light, charging points and comfortable bedding. This can be particularly appealing for first-time solo travellers who want the social benefits of a hostel without sacrificing personal space. Both CODE The Court and CODE The Loft host travellers from around the world and offer daily opportunities to meet people. From social dinners and walking tours to communal spaces and local recommendations from our team, it’s easy to connect with fellow travellers if you want to, while still having your own space to retreat to at the end of the day. CODE The Court is ideal if you want daily events and to stay in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, just off the Royal Mile, while CODE The Loft offers a New Town location close to George Street, Princes Street and St Andrew Square.

The best hostel in Edinburgh depends on the type of trip you’re planning, but many travellers choose CODE because it combines a central location, private capsule accommodation and a social atmosphere. CODE The Court is located just off the Royal Mile in Edinburgh’s Old Town, while CODE The Loft is based in the New Town. Both offer comfortable accommodation and easy access to Edinburgh’s main attractions.

Yes! Our mission is ‘travel far, share local.’ We believe that some of the best travel experiences are shared. We have daily events at CODE The Court, from our free daily walking tour to our free daily beer sampling. We also have a dedicated WhatsApp group for our guests to help you make plans with others to explore the city.

About Edinburgh

For first-time visitors, the Old Town and New Town are both excellent choices. CODE The Court is a great choice if you want to be located in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. Just off Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and across from St. Giles’ Cathedral, this former courthouse and jail turned boutique hotel and hostel offers daily events, including a free walking tour. Key visitor attractions including Edinburgh Castle and The Real Mary King’s Close are just a short walk away.

Lots of tourists enjoy staying in the Old Town, surrounded by Gothic architecture and picturesque streets. The Old Town is compact, with many key visitor attractions close to each other. CODE The Court is centrally located just off the Royal Mile across from St. Giles’ Cathedral and offers three different types of rooms – signature capsule pods, Private Cells and Superior Rooms.

Yes. Most of Edinburgh’s major attractions are within walking distance of both CODE properties.

Visit Edinburgh Castle, explore the Royal Mile, see the National Museum of Scotland and finish with views from Calton Hill.

Add Holyrood Palace, Arthur’s Seat, Dean Village, Princes Street and Edinburgh’s food and drink scene to your itinerary.

Edinburgh is a year-round destination. Summer is ideal for festivals and longer days, while autumn and winter offer a quieter experience and seasonal events.

Both The Court and The Loft offer excellent Fringe locations. The Court places you in the heart of the Old Town festival atmosphere, while The Loft offers easy access from the New Town.

The Court is the closest CODE property to Edinburgh Castle and is ideal for visitors who want to stay in the heart of Edinburgh’s historic Old Town.

Edinburgh

Enjoy a £1 Waffle during your stay if you book directly with us at The Court or The Loft.