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The Thistle

3.0 star property
Guests can unwind at the bar or enjoy karaoke nights while taking advantage of convenient express check-out and complimentary parking at this welcoming inn

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Photo gallery for The Thistle

Exterior - The Thistle (Stranraer)
Family Room (X 3) | Premium bedding, memory foam beds, individually decorated - The Thistle (Stranraer)
Free toiletries, hair dryer, towels - The Thistle (Stranraer)
32-inch flat-screen TV with digital channels, TV - The Thistle (Stranraer)
Front of property - The Thistle (Stranraer)
Located in a shopping district, Thistle Inn welcomes travelers with its inviting atmosphere. The bar is perfect for relaxing after a day of exploring. Enjoy practical amenities like WiFi, express check-in/out, karaoke, and free self-parking.

Reviews

8.0 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Bar
  • Housekeeping

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 4 of 4 rooms

View all photos for Double Room

Double Room | Premium bedding, memory foam beds, individually decorated

Double Room

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(6 reviews)
  • City view
  • 15 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Family Room (X 3)

Premium bedding, memory foam beds, individually decorated

Family Room (X 3)

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • 15 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Standard Twin Room

Premium bedding, memory foam beds, individually decorated

Standard Twin Room

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • 15 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 2 Twin Beds
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Standard Room

Premium bedding, memory foam beds, individually decorated

Standard Room

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(2 reviews)
  • 15 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 2 Twin Beds
  • Free WiFi

About the neighborhood

Located in Stranraer, The Thistle is in the city center and near a train station. Castle of St John and Ardwell Gardens are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Gkenwhan Gardens and Dunskey Garden. Visit our Stranraer travel guide
View more Guest Houses in Stranraer
Map
47 DALRYMPLE STREET, Stranraer, Scotland, DG9 7EY

What's nearby

  • Stranraer Museum
    Stranraer Museum
    8 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Castle of St John
    9 min walk - 0.5 miles
  • Mull of Galloway Trail - North
    18 min walk - 1.0 mile
  • Castle Kennedy Gardens
    9 min drive - 4.4 miles
  • Cairnryan Stena Line Terminal
    12 min drive - 8.3 miles

Getting around

  • Stranraer Station
    12 min walk
  • Glasgow (PIK-Prestwick)
    87 min drive

Restaurants

  • The Fig & Olive
    8 min walk
  • Henry's Bay House
    15 min walk
  • The Coffee Bean
    6 min walk
  • Hong Kong City
    3 min walk
  • Wee Aird Dairy
    2 min drive

About this property

The Thistle

Guesthouse in a shopping district
The Thistle provides a bar and more. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi.
You'll also enjoy perks such as:
  • Free self parking
  • Express check-out, express check-in, and smoke-free premises
  • Karaoke
Room features
All guestrooms are individually furnished, and boast comforts such as premium bedding and laptop-friendly workspaces, in addition to perks like free WiFi and desk chairs.
More amenities include:
  • Free toiletries and hair dryers
  • 32-inch flat-screen TVs with digital channels
  • Electric kettles, heating, and daily housekeeping

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Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transportation

  • Free uncovered self parking on site
  • Limited onsite self parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Food and drink

  • A bar/lounge

Things to do

  • Karaoke

Family friendly

  • Soundproofed rooms

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.
  • Grab bar near toilet
  • Low-height counter and sink
  • No elevator
  • Raised toilet seat
  • Wheelchair accessibility
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel

More

  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes
  • Memory foam mattress
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 32-inch flat-screen TV with digital channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Free bottled water

More

  • Desk
  • Desk chair
  • Heating
  • Individual decor
  • Individual furnishings
  • Laptop workspace
  • Soundproofed rooms

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 11:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

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

Special check-in instructions

There is no front desk at this property
Guests planning to arrive outside of normal check-in hours will receive an email within 24 hours before arrival with check-in instructions and key retrieval information; access will be through a private entrance
Prior to arrival, you must complete online registration via a secure link
If you are planning to arrive after 9:30 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Key retrieval, private entrance

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available

Property payment types

Important information

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, debit cards, and cash
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Alcohol is not permitted at this property

Property is also known as

Thistle Inn Stranraer
Thistle Stranraer
The Thistle Inn Stranraer
Thistle Inn
The Thistle Stranraer
The Thistle Guesthouse
The Thistle Guesthouse Stranraer

Frequently asked questions

Is The Thistle pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Self parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at The Thistle?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 11:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Thistle?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Thistle located?

Located in the heart of Stranraer, this guesthouse is within a 10-minute walk of Stranraer Museum and Castle of St John. Mull of Galloway Trail - North is 0.7 mi (1.2 km) away. Stranraer Station is 12 minutes by foot.

Can I cancel my reservation for free and receive a full refund?

Yes, this property offers free cancellation on select room rates, because flexibility matters! Please refer to the property cancellation policy on our site for more details about any exclusions or requirements.

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Reviews

The Thistle Reviews

8.0

Very Good

8.6

Cleanliness

6.8

Location

8.4

Staff & service

7.8

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 39 out of 96 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 36 out of 96 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 11 out of 96 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 96 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 8 out of 96 reviews

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sarah

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Overall great. Good location and friendly staff
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Karey

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Quiet property close to grocery store and restaurants. It was a short wslk from the train station. Staff was very friendly.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Odessa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was very comfortable
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Susan

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

Overnight stay.

Stay was good. Onsite parking good. Room comfortable. Small shower space but very clean and nice hot water. Bed comfortable. Pillows a bit saggy.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024
Verified

6/10 Okay

Chris

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities

Out dated

Pictures very deceiving. Very out dated and tired. Friendly enough guy checked us in, gave advice about the area. If the nighly charge would be halved it would be about right.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Sally

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

Not the best

We’re a family of three (13 year old child) and I’m also pregnant. We were expecting the stay to be basic due to the price, but the reviews looked ok and it seemed ok based on our purposes of staying to visit a relative in hospital for a couple of nights. We arrived at the hotel to find a dilapidated, boarded up old pub of the same name at the front. We arrived just before 6pm and the door had been left unlocked with the keys on the windowsill. The step and flower beds outside the room were covered in cigarette butts, the room smelled of smoke and damp and was generally run down. There were white stains on the curtains on the bathroom toilet mat, out of date buscuits with the complimentary teas and coffees, the walls were that thin we could hear the ‘neighbours’ argument very clearly at 2am in the morning on both nights (although there were ear plugs provided in the room which was helpful). We only had 2 towels despite there being 3 of us and despite requesting a third, we never received this. The bed was comfy enough and the shower worked although the bathroom was quite compact. The TV didn’t work and we just received pixelated images.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Martin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Nice stay really helpful host ideal for the town centre
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Fine
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Marc

Very compact, but clean and cosy. A more budget option for ferry catchers.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Linda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely owner Sandy, very helpful, near town and ferry port just what we needed
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Paul

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Good stay
Stayed 1 night in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Patrick

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Place was great. Clean and comfortable.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Thomas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Couldn’t ask for more on a short notice booking
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Elaine

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Friendly
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024
Verified

6/10 Okay

Dean

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Small & very basic
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Carol

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I was greeted with friendliness and helpfulness by the two people who care for the property. The town was much larger than I first imagined and am glad I stayed a second night so that I could wander the town on my second day.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023
Verified

6/10 Okay

JAMES

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Car park very tight spaces
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

ALAN

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
It is in a rundown area , and the road and pavements are very dirty, although the owner of the property was very kind and helpful.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

allen

Liked: Cleanliness
Handy for ferry but no welcoming 😕
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023
Verified

6/10 Okay

Evelyn

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort

Cheap and cheerful

Very friendly on phone although never seen the owner. There was no warm water and I felt cold overnight. Good location though but wouldn’t stay for any more than an overnight
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024
Verified

4/10 Poor

Rod

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A bit low rent and tired But this is most probably why it is a low cost. Had to ask for the reheating to be turned on and the beds were a bit tired.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023
Verified

2/10 Terrible

William

Having travelled extensively across the UK this trip, this was the worst example of accommodation we have seen. We knew we had booked a budget hotel as we simply needed a spot to sleep close to early ferry to Belfast. We couldn’t imagine how bad things were based on the price paid. First, we had to call to get access to our room, which had been left unlocked and key sitting on shelf. We never did get the door to lock from outside when we went to leave for dinner. The towels could be used as sandpaper and were no longer white but dingy yellow. The room was very tired. Gobs of caulking around shower looked like it was applied by a child. Carpets had seen much better days. Critically, there was no heat. We asked and were told it would come on at 5pm. Didn’t happen. Asked again - message ignored. It is unthinkable that a room not have working heat in late September. Fortunately the bed covers were warm or we couldn’t have stayed. On a positive note, the shower water was hot but weak stream. Avoid if possible. The cheap price was not worth the poor accommodation and lost night sleep.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Vance

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Once found up a side road (I was looking for the property as per photo) once found all that was required was provided for.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Claire Barbara

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

Perfect for requirements

Perfect for what we needed. Great location for the Ferry crossing. Not an issue with no breakfast now being offered as we were travelling early morning anyway. Owner very friendly and informative.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey

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

A hidden Gem.

What a little gem of a place. A very warm welcome received by the owner Sandy which is very important when you are a solo traveler. Yes it’s a basic hotel but the room was immaculately clean, warm, cosy and comfy. I had the best nights sleep. As a regular traveler to the area, I will be back for sure. Thank you Sandy for making me feel so welcome. Highly recommend this little hidden gem.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2022