The Ayre Hotel

3.0 star property

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Photo gallery for The Ayre Hotel

Exterior
One Bedroom Apartment | Living room | TV
Bar (on property)
Lobby
Soundproofing, free WiFi, bed sheets, wheelchair access

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Room service
$102
includes taxes & fees
Dec 18 - Dec 19

Explore the area

View in a map
Ayre Road, Kirkwall, Scotland, KW15 1QX
  • Place, Orkney Museum
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, St. Magnus Cathedral
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Earl's Palace
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Airport, Kirkwall (KOI)
    ‪7 min drive‬

Room options

Standard Double Room, 1 Double Bed

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(13 reviews)
  • 19 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Panoramic Double or Twin Room, Sea View

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(2 reviews)
  • 10 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Standard Double or Twin Room

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • 13 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Panoramic Double Room, 1 Double Bed, Sea View

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • 10 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Budget Double Room

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(9 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

One Bedroom Apartment

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(4 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Family Room

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed

Apartment, 2 Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 2 Twin Beds

Similar properties

About this property

The Ayre Hotel

3-star Kirkwall hotel with restaurant
This smoke-free hotel features a restaurant, a bar/lounge, and coffee/tea in a common area. Free WiFi in public areas and free self parking are also provided. Additionally, laundry facilities and a TV in a common area are onsite.
The Ayre Hotel offers 51 accommodations with coffee/tea makers. This Kirkwall hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Bathrooms include bathtubs or showers. Housekeeping is provided daily.
The hotel offers a restaurant. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. Wireless Internet access is complimentary. This Kirkwall hotel also offers coffee/tea in a common area, laundry facilities, and a television in a common area. Complimentary self parking is available on site.

The Ayre Hotel is a smoke-free property.

Buffet breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 6:30 AM and 9:30 AM.
The Ayre Hotel has a restaurant on site.
Room service is available.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site

Food and drink

  • Daily buffet breakfast available 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM for a fee: GBP 15 for adults and GBP 15 for children
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant
  • Coffee and tea in common areas

Things to do

  • TV in common areas

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities
  • Soundproofed rooms

Conveniences

  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Elevator
  • Wheelchair accessibility
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)

More

  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Bathtub or shower
  • Private bathroom
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • TV

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Room service

More

  • Heating
  • Phone
  • Soundproofed rooms

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

Pets allowed for an extra charge of GBP 25.00 per pet, per stay
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Fee for buffet breakfast: approximately GBP 15 for adults and GBP 15 for children
  • Pet fee: GBP 25.00 per pet, per stay
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available

We should mention

Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms

National rating

This establishment has received its official star rating from VisitScotland, the National Tourist Board for Scotland.

Property is also known as

Ayre Hotel Kirkwall
Ayre Kirkwall
Ayre Hotel
The Ayre Hotel Hotel
The Ayre Hotel Kirkwall
The Ayre Hotel Hotel Kirkwall

The Ayre Hotel Reviews

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 114 out of 223 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 74 out of 223 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 21 out of 223 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 9 out of 223 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 5 out of 223 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

8.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

2/10 Terrible

Adam

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Clifford

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Our stay only spoiled by our dinner on the final night. While our chips were lovely and hot, the pie was stone cold. And the 250 ml glass of wine came as a 175 ml glass. Only little things but enough to take the shine off our stayh
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

MIKHAIL

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Enjoyable stay, let down by small details

A good hotel overall. We enjoyed our apartment and had two dinners there. However, my spouse disliked their so-called eco-friendly toilet flushing system. They also keep losing restaurant reservations and seem indifferent to online bookings. The location is excellent, especially for those arriving by ferry from Aberdeen.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Pauline

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Outside looks a little tired from front but inside very nice. Lovely welcome. Staff made sure I was ok as I have mobility issues. Lift easy to use and spacious. definitely recommend the jug
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

BAREND

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Brent

Traveled with partner
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Problems from the start to finish. Arrived an hour before listed checkin time realizing that we may need to wait. No one at registration. Asked wait staff in hotel restaurant about checkin. She said rooms were not ready. We asked about checking our luggage to which she responded that we could just leave the luggage in the lobby. We decided to have lunch in the hotel restaurants we could be there at the start of checkin . We were given a room shortly thereafter. When entered the room, it was clear that a mistake had been made because it was a handicap room. Drain in center of bathroom for shower, handrails everywhere, and sink at wheel chair height. Returned to registration to inform them if the error. The person at registration claimed that it was not a handicap room and they were full so no other room was available. Since we checked in within minutes of the checkin time it was hard to believe this was true. The room we were assigned was on the first floor with a sidewalk running alongside and entrance to the building next to our room. We heard people coming and going and doors slamming all night. The next morning, I got down on my knees so I could use the mirror to shave (only 6 ft tall). When my wife went to use the hair dryer it did not work. Figures. I cannot recommend this hotel given our experience.
Bathroom shower
Toilet and sink. You had to squeeze your legs under sink to sit on toilet and kneel on knees to shave face.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Catherine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great place to stay

A great place to stay. Convenient for harbour and town centre. Delicious food. Friendly and helpful staff.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Heather

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was nice and central.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Lovely stay on the Harbourfront

Very central hotel overlooking the harbour a close walk to the main street and all the sights in town. The restaurant & bar area were great and rooms were quite comfortable. Staff were very friendly :) The only downside was the unusually hot summer weather made the rooms quite hot and stuffy.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great location

This hotel is convenient for seeing the sights of Kirkwall. Rooms are charming and comfortable. Breakfast has a good variety of choices.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Keith

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Perfectly agreeable for our one-night stop-over.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeremy

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We stayed in the apartments which were simply perfect. Ample parking; excellent location which means you can walk to everywhere in Kirkwall and drive anywhere on main island. The apartments had a huge amount of space and a nearby Lidl and Tesco meant that it was easy to self cater with the facilities provided. A lovely bath and comfortable bed.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

6/10 Okay

Deirdre

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tom

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Ayre is conveniently located and we we very pleased with the accommodations. The staff was friendly and helpful. It is a great place to stay when arriving on the late night ferry.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sarankumar

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Really pleasant atmosphere and people at hotel. Really the best stay experience that I ever had. Really good team of professionals catering up to your needs. Would definitely recommend them to friends and family for a stay when in Orkney.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dane

Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Michael

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Convenient for the late night ferry arrival. Budget double room clean and comfortable but over-priced. Dinner in the restaurant was excellent.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Caj

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Excellent apartment accommodation
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Steve

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Deborah

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Only stayed one night, but it was dreamy!
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Mark

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location, walkable to the town centre and restaurants. Mattress was like sleeping on a box spring. Pillows were terrible. Good breakfast. Nice bar/lounge area.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Colin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

8/10 Good

Alison

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service

Expensive but good location

Room was nice with clean bedding and overall hotel was very nice . Doors were noisy as no soft closers . Dining at dinner was very slow and inconsistent and took an hour for us to get our dinner served and it was lukewarm on service . Maybe kitchen is understaffed as dining staff seemed to be plentiful but not particularly organised. We had to ask twice for one of the party’s ice cream dessert and the rest of our group were finished theirs before it arrived. When we arrived receptionist seemed initially to not find our booking! No view for the extortionate price . Maybe we would have got a better view if we had been staying longer
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

David

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property was very accommodating to our visit to Orkney.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Karen

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Location on the harbor was great, although a little noisy at night with traffic.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025