Gillis Centre

Additional Features

Bed & Breakfast
Tea & coffee in room
Bed & Breakfast option
Continental breakfast
Full Scottish breakfast

Special Offers

Gillis is a beautiful historic house in Bruntsfield, a quiet residential area near Edinburgh city centre. We welcome guests for short breaks and longer holidays.

Description

Gillis in Edinburgh: a historic guest house

Gillis is a beautiful historic house in Bruntsfield, a quiet residential area near Edinburgh city centre. Our large walled garden provides complete tranquillity. Gillis is five minutes’ walk from shops, visitor attractions, restaurants, pubs, cinemas, and the King’s Theatre. There is a frequent bus service to Princes Street and the Royal Mile. Blackford Hill is nearby, with its walks and beautiful views.

We welcome guests for short breaks and longer holidays. Our 20 bedrooms are newly refurbished, with 18 en suite and 2 with private bathrooms. We have singles, doubles and twins; small children can be accommodated in their parents’ room. One twin room is VisitScotland Category Two, assisted wheelchair-accessible. We have free car-parking.

Price: £35 a person, including a continental breakfast, in single or sharing. See our website for special offers.

We welcome groups. Please ask us for information.

VisitScotland 3 stars Guest House (

What to see and do:
Enjoy plays and musicals in the King’s Theatre
Visit the National Museum of Scotland and the Royal Mile
Hop on the bus to Princes Street and George Street
Browse in the varied shops in Bruntsfield
Visit Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse

The Gillis History

The Gillis Centre is interesting for everyone, including church and architectural historians. Its known history dates from the 15th century when it was part of a small estate, but the most interesting period starts in 1834 with the founding by Bishop James Gillis of the first post-Reformation convent in Scotland. For over 150 years the Gillis Centre was well known as St Margaret's Convent and School under the ministry of the Ursulines of Jesus. In 1986 the complex was renamed Gillis College and housed the senior seminary for the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh until 1995.

The Gillis Centre now comprises the guest house and St Margaret's Chapel, designed by James Gillespie Graham and opened in 1835. The gatehouse and convent building were also designed by Gillespie Graham, and the famous architect Edward Welby Pugin designed the school building.

This architectural gem and walled garden provide the ideal spot for a peaceful retreat or a short break.

Accommodation

Gillis has 18 bedrooms en suite (showers) and two with private bathrooms; all rooms have tea/coffee-making facilities. Breakfast is self-service, continental-style, with cereals, fresh fruit, toast, yoghurt, and fruit juice.

One twin room is fully wheelchair accessible (with assistance) with a roll-in shower. The lift connects the main reception floor, bedroom and dining room and there is a ramped entrance. Meeting rooms are also wheelchair accessible.

Conferences, meetings and retreats:
Gillis has a range of meeting rooms of all sizes, available by the hour, a half day or longer. Please call us for information or check out our website.

Open: Gillis Centre is open all year apart from the Christmas and New Year period.

Contact us:
Monday - Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm,
Gillis Centre,
100 Strathearn Road
Edinburgh EH9 1BB
Tel 0131 623 8933
Email gilliscentre@staned.org.uk
Web: www.gilliscentre.org.uk

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh is a Charity registered in Scotland - number SC008540