Riego Street is hands-down the best located Edinburgh accommodation. Excellent bus connections (six stops within a five-minute walking radius). Also a five minute walk to the nearby Grassmarket. The accommodation is also closely located to the city's clubs, but it is far enough away that it is often quiet at night. The flats themselves aren't the prettiest, but are nice enough. I wouldn't choose anywhere else if I had the opportunity!
University of Edinburgh Hall Rankings
| Haymarket | #27 |
| iQ Fountainbridge | #28 |
| Arran House | #29 |
| Meadow Court | #30 |
| Darroch Court | #31 |
| Kincaid's Court | #32 |
| Riego Street | #33 |
| Deaconess | #34 |
| Morgan Court | #35 |
| O'Shea North | #36 |
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Riego Street is hands-down the best located Edinburgh accommodation. Excellent bus connections (six stops within a five-minute walking radius). Also a five minute walk to the nearby Grassmarket. The accommodation is also closely located to the city's clubs, but it is far enough away that it is often quiet at night. The flats themselves aren't the prettiest, but are nice enough. I wouldn't choose anywhere else if I had the opportunity!
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Read Riego Street Reviews
Riego Street is hands-down the best located Edinburgh accommodation. Excellent bus connections (six stops within a five-minute walking radius). Also a five minute walk to the nearby Grassmarket. The accommodation is also closely located to the city's clubs, but it is far enough away that it is often quiet at night. The flats themselves aren't the prettiest, but are nice enough. I wouldn't choose anywhere else if I had the opportunity!
Has its ups and downs. While in a great central location with lots of bus routes, shops, cafes, it is still extremely overpriced for what you get. £713 a month in 2022/23 for self-catered and shared bathroom, while other accommodations offer the same for much cheaper. The communal areas get cleaned once a week however we have had a bug infestation nearly all year and even after reporting it nothing was done about it. Loads of bugs in the kitchen, bathroom and even a few in the bedrooms. Wifi is fine, a bit slow sometimes but not too big of an issue. Circuit laundry is good value: £2 wash, £1 dry, and they’re big so you can wash a lot at once. Would have been better if there were more washers and dryers as there is only 4 of each for about 300 people so they get busy. It’s not a bad accommodation just don’t expect much for what you’re paying! Surely got to be UoE’s most overpriced accommodation.
It is so loud!!! when my flatmates close their doors, it shakes my room and door, I can hear all of the conversations in the courtyard. At the weekend it can be really loud when people are drunk, their voices echo throughout. I can hear every movement from the person above me, and when they open their wardrobe and draws. It has been a very overwhelming year, very difficult to focus on uni work as it is so loud. I can hear my flatmate across the hall speak on the phone or while they listen to music, and they can hear me. If you are sound-sensitive I do not recommend!!!
I didn't apply to Riego so was nervous when I found out it's where I'd be living, and some of the reviews on here didn't help. However, never fear. It's a great place to meet some lovely people, the rooms are not bad at all in terms of size (and lots of wardrobe space!) and can be made to feel very homey, and I've never had any issues with noise. The RAs hosted lots of events during Freshers which were great for meeting people and these events continued through the year. The common room is very nice and modern (although I personally didn't use it much), and the kitchen facilities, while not the most sightly, do the job. I've never had any issues with the washers and dryers, and there has never been a time where I haven't been able to find at least one free. On top of it all, Riego is in a great location, both for getting to uni (you can take a walk through the Meadows that takes you right to the library) and for getting to clubs etc :) I hope this has helped ease your mind about Riego!
I've lived in Riego for a month now and I really like it. If you're reading this because you didn't apply and were just put here, I was too! My advice would be to join/make a groupchat for the whole accom find your flat and just see who they are. I panicked when I found out id not been put in one I applied for but honestly Riego is great. Social Space - The common room is really really nice. Well-maintained, clean and modern. There's a pool table and a tv. The RA's organise really great social events quite frequently, especially at the beginning. Things have slowed a bit more now and some of the events you have to pay for but they still look good. Bedroom - Small - as to be expected, basic - same again, the are beds aren't comfortable so I would buy a mattress topper. Location - absolutely no complaints - the location is great, really near Grassmarket and Cowgate, but not overly loud. I hope this helps! Don't panic, you'll be fine!!
Had heard bad stories about this place in the past but ever since University of Edinburgh took over from Napier things are much better. There is a new and modern common room, same can't be said for the flats but they are clean and spacious. The only problem os the matress....takes a bit of time getting used to it but other than that its a great place to be. Everything from nightclubs, theatres, grocery, pharmacy, movie theatre are just 2-3 minutes away. Its only about a 13 minute walk from george square and old college. Staff is nice and friendly and the RA's do organise social events quite often.
I’d rather live on a cardboard box in the street
The place is okay, however, it needs complete refurbishment. The University again has no clue on how to make social cohesion and has employed a third rate company, Reslife, to try and fix the holes in the system. It is utter s***, and the only way people cope is by binge drinking.
Great location, lovely new common room, RAs were easy to reach out to
The location of the accomodation is probably one of the biggest selling point - a 10-15 minutes walk to uni and princess street. It is also close to pubs (including spoons) and nightclubs. The common was refurbished last year and is equipped with a TV, sofas, a pool table, kitchen area and a study area. The flats themselves are not up to the same modern standard of the common room, but they do the job. The rooms have a large double wardrobe. Unlike pictures shown online, the kitchen doesn't have a washing machine installed, and the circuit machines malfunctioned frequently. The RAs made an effort to organise events throughout the whole year, and not just during freshers.
Really enjoyed my stay here this year! The common room was newly refurbished last year, and has a pool table, TV, and study space. The RAs put in effort to organise events throughout the year, making it easy to meet new people. The major issue was with washing machines— they tend to malfunction frequently, but hopefully that will be sorted for next year.
Average hall, try get into another one. 2 pound to use the washing machines each time, and no hot water after around 3pm onwards, just runs out and the boost button doesn't do anything FYI not run by Edinbugh Napier anymore. The University of Edinburgh runs it now
Riego Street is an amazing place to find a new family. Most students don't apply to this place and are randomly allocated, but that only adds to the vibe. Yes, this place is expensive, but the location is amazing. It's a 12 minute walk to uni, which is especially nice in the mornings. Close to a number of pubs (and spoons) and to three sisters and classy nightclubs such as hive. The flat and room sizes are decent and if you add a s*** ton of fairly lights you can make them into homes. People are generally friendly, and the warden Geraldine and the RAs work really hard to make this place nice. If you are lucky your flat mates are.amazing and even if they are not, other flats have adopted flat members. There are a lot of 0res happening and if you want to you can find a place to socialize every night. You are super close to the shops as well and costcutter is just around the corner so if you ever want to have a snack in the middle of the night, don't worry. You will enjoy your time he
really bad. just really bad. can't wait to get out of here.
Probably the greatest place in the whole world. A proper uni experience.
I felt that these halls were RIDICULOUS. The inspector was unnecessarily harsh and looking for easy fines (eg: was going to charge each tenant £35 for professionally cleaning the sofa when we managed to get stains out with soap and water, despite his reluctance). The halls were not presented in an initial perfect state (eg: stains on couch, cooking surfaces and carpet) which later was to be blamed on us? I won't lie, Riego Street is a great place to live. It is in a central location and is somewhat prepared for a first time renter. However it's serious issues of lack of drying facilities, uncaring security staff and urgency for profits by inspecting team make it difficult to live in. DO NOT LIVE HERE IF YOU CANT COPE WITH NOISE AND PARTYING
Halls over all were okay. Accommodation officers are harsh and uptight about everything, and like to make a quick bit of money from fining you over stupid things. Theres an infestation of bugs in the communal areas that wont go away.