Boutique Hostels
You might be on a budget, but you can still stay in style at one of the new breed of posh hostels that take their comforts very seriously. Spurred on by the success of budget hotels in city centres and holiday locations across the UK, the YHA, Safestay and other independent hostels and backpackers have upped their game in recent years. You can still choose to share a bunk-room or stay with your family in a multi-bedded room, but in hip hostels and boutique backpackers alike gleaming en-suite bathrooms, in-house cafe-bars, art galleries, chill-out zones and roof terraces are often part of the package too. We've picked out our favourite boutique-style hostels in the UK, proving that you don't have to spend a fortune to live the high life.
You might also like – our guide to the best boutique B&Bs in the UK
Best budget digs in Keswick at this refurbished riverside hostel
YHA Keswick, Station Road Keswick CA12 5LH
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Keswick
Historic YHA hostel with a range of lovely rooms in a great location in Whitby.
YHA Whitby, Abbey House East Cliff Whitby YO22 4JT
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in North Yorkshire
Holidays in Whitby
An updated and contemporary waterfront youth hostel with double rooms, family rooms and dormitories.
YHA Bristol, 14 Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Somerset
Holidays in Bristol
Relaxed exclusive-hire-only hostel on the edge of Sherwood Forest, with Robin Hood country right on the doorstep
YHA Sherwood Forest, Forest Corner, Edwinstowe, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG21 9RN
Holidays in East Midlands
Holidays in Nottinghamshire
Holidays in New Ollerton
Grand hostel and activity centre perched in the Peak District with views to match
YHA Edale Activity Centre, Rowland Cote, Nether Booth, Hope Valley, Edale, Derbyshire S33 7ZH
Holidays in East Midlands
Holidays in Derbyshire
Holidays in Edale
A YHA that feels rural, yet just half an hour from London Liverpool Street station
YHA London Lee Valley, Windmill Lane, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire EN8 9AJ
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hertfordshire
Holidays in Cheshunt
Scenically positioned hostel in a elevated spot above the Pembrokeshire Coast Path
YHA Manorbier, Skrinkle Haven, Manorbier, nr Tenby, Pembrokeshire SA70 7TT
Holidays in South Wales
Holidays in Pembrokeshire
Holidays in Manorbier
Peaceful exclusive-hire-only hostel surrounded by the woods and waterways of the National Forest
YHA National Forest, 48 Bath Lane, Moira, Swadlincote, Derbyshire DE12 6BD
Holidays in East Midlands
Holidays in Derbyshire
Holidays in Swadlincote
Modern, affordable hostel in the heart of London, moments from Oxford Street and the West End
YHA London Central, 104 Bolsover Street, London W1W 5NU
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Westminster
Spectacular hilltop hostel in Derbyshie above Millers Dale, with panoramic White Peak views and direct access to the Monsal Trail
YHA Ravenstor, Millers Dale, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 8SS
Holidays in East Midlands
Holidays in Derbyshire
Holidays in Buxton
Seaside hostel just minutes from Sheringham’s beach and the North Norfolk coast
YHA Sheringham, 1 Cremer's Drift, Sheringham, Norfolk NR26 8HX
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Sheringham & Cromer
Modern hillside hostel with knockout views of a medieval castle, right on the doorstep of Snowdonia
YHA Conwy, Larkhill, Sychnant Pass Road, Conwy LL32 8AJ
Holidays in North Wales
Holidays in Conwy
Holidays in Conwy
Grand Victorian mansion just above Grasmere, with fell views and some of the Lake District’s best walks within easy reach
YHA Grasmere Butharlyp Howe, Easedale Road, Grasmere, Cumbria LA22 9QG
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Grasmere
Purpose-built hostel offering some of central Manchester's most comfortable budget accommodation
YHA Manchester, Potato Wharf Castlefield Manchester M3 4NB
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Greater Manchester
Holidays in Manchester
A seaside hostel that enjoys a unique location high above the booming Atlantic surf of north Cornwall.
YHA Tintagel, Tintagel Cornwall PL34 0DW
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Cornwall
Holidays in St. Ives
One of the YHA's most atmospheric hostels, in an ancient castle on the edge of the Forest of Dean.
YHA St Briavels Castle, St Briavels Lydney Gloucestershire GL15 6RG
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in St Briavels
A beautiful small-scale seaside hostel, right on the harbour and just just a short walk from the South West Coast Path
YHA Boscastle, Palace Stables, Boscastle, Cornwall, PL35 0HD
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Cornwall
Holidays in St. Ives
Expect to walk the halls of a Gothic styled castle with a real sense of its self and indulge either active activities or take the children to Alton Towers, and don't forget to enjoy the view of this National Trust Park.
YHA Ilam Hall, Ilam Hall, Ilam, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 2AZ
Holidays in East Midlands
Holidays in Derbyshire
Holidays in Ashbourne
One of the best beachside places to stay on a budget in the UK, with both hostel rooms and camping options.
YHA Treyarnon Bay, Tregonnan Treyarnon Padstow Cornwall PL28 8JR
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Cornwall
Holidays in Padstow
A remote backpackers hostel, six miles from the nearest car park, which sits majestically amongst some of the Lake District's highest peaks.
YHA Black Sail, Ennerdale Cumbria CA23 3AY
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Kirkby Lonsdale
A great choice from which to see the Peak District on any kind of budget.
YHA Castleton Losehill Hall, Castleton Hope Valley Derbyshire S33 8WB
Holidays in East Midlands
Holidays in Derbyshire
Holidays in Glossop
Good-value accommodation right in the heart of Liverpool city centre.
YHA Liverpool Albert Dock, 25 Tabley Street off Wapping Liverpool Mersyside L1 8EE
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Merseyside
Holidays in Liverpool
Amazing views and beautiful landscapes – and a hostel that's more like a country house hotel.
YHA Hartington Hall, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 0AT
Holidays in East Midlands
Holidays in Derbyshire
Holidays in Glossop
An elegant Italianate mansion hostel in a super central spot in World Heritage Bath.
YHA Bath, Bathwick Hill, Bath, BA2 6LA
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Somerset
Holidays in Porlock
Brilliant family-friendly hostel tucked into a cove on the rugged coast of the North York Moors National Park.
YHA Boggle Hole, Mill Beck, Fylingthorpe, Whitby North Yorkshire YO22 4UQ
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in North Yorkshire
Holidays in Scarborough
A stunning new hostel on Hadrian's Wall, set in fabulous Dark Sky country
YHA The Sill at Hadrian's Wall, Military Road, Bardon Mill, NE47 7AN
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in Northumberland
Holidays in Hexham
Great value for city-break visitors and families in the north's most historic city.
YHA York, Water End Clifton York North Yorkshire YO30 6LP
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in North Yorkshire
Holidays in York
Hostel, camping and glamping accommodation in a beautiful location overlooking Esthwaite Water.
YHA Hawkshead, Ambleside Cumbria LA22 0QD
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Ambleside
Housed in a mansion near Chester, this is the North West's grandest and most eco-friendly budget place to stay.
YHA Chester Trafford Hall, Ince Lane, Wimbolds Trafford, Chester, Cheshire CH2 4JP
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cheshire
Holidays in Chester
Helmsley is the gateway to the North York Moors National Park, and this hostel is the perfect place from which to enjoy it.
YHA Helmsley, Carlton Lane, Helmsley, North Yorkshire, YO62 5HB
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in North Yorkshire
Holidays in Helmsley
A grand and well-equipped hostel above Swaledale with beautiful views and camping and glamping in the grounds.
YHA Grinton Lodge, Grinton Swaledale North Yorkshire DL11 6HS
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in North Yorkshire
Holidays in Richmond
YHA Malham
North East England, North Yorkshire, Malham
Malham North Yorkshire BD23 4DB
82 beds (private and en-suite rooms available), cot available, restaurant/dining room, self-catering kitchen and dining room, meals available, shop, lounge, tv room, library/quiet room, laundry, drying room, garden/grounds, luggage store, parking, cycle store and facilities for climbing, walking and mountain biking.
82 beds (private and en-suite rooms available), cot available, restaurant/dining room, self-catering kitchen and dining room, meals available, shop, lounge, tv room, library/quiet room, laundry, drying room, garden/grounds, luggage store, parking, cycle store and facilities for climbing, walking and mountain biking.
YHA Malham, Malham North Yorkshire BD23 4DB
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in North Yorkshire
Holidays in Malham
Spacious and modern accommodation at a beach-facing hostel in Pembrokeshire’s Broad Haven
YHA Broad Haven, Millmoor Way, Broad Haven, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA62 3JH
Holidays in South Wales
Holidays in Pembrokeshire
Holidays in Haverfordwest
A Grade II-listed hostel set in a grandiose mansion in Penzance
YHA Penzance, Castle Horneck Lodge, Penzance, Cornwall TR20 8TF
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Cornwall
Holidays in Penzance
Historic charm and budget beds in the shadow of St Paul's Cathedral.
YHA London St Paul's, 36 Carter Lane London EC4V 5AB
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in City
The perfect eco- and walking-friendly hostel, easily reachable by train and bang on the South Downs Way.
YHA South Downs, Itford Farm, Beddingham. Near Lewes, East Sussex BN8 6JS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Lewes
Great outdoors hostel, right at the base of Snowdon itself.
YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass, Pen-y-Pass Nantgwynant Caernarfon Gwynedd LL55 4NY
Holidays in North Wales
Holidays in Gwynedd
Holidays in Llanberis
One of the YHA's most spectacularly sited seaside hostels, with a stunning clifftop position on the Pembrokeshire Coast.
YHA Pwll Deri, Goodwick, Pembrokeshire SA64 0LR
Holidays in South Wales
Holidays in Pembrokeshire
Holidays in Fishguard
Recently refurbished hostel in a great location for visiting Cambridge.
YHA Cambridge, 97 Tenison Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB1 2DN
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Cambridgeshire
Holidays in Cambridge
A great budget choice just minutes from Canterbury's city centre.
YHA Canterbury, 54 New Dover Road Canterbury Kent CT1 3DT
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
Hostel in a grand Victorian townhouse a short walk from the beach.
YHA Swanage, 20 Cluny Crescent Swanage BH19 2BS
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Dorset
Holidays in Ashley Heath
One of the UK's grandest hostel locations, set amidst the beautiful Shropshire Hills.
YHA Wilderhope Manor, Longville in the Dale Shropshire TF13 6EG
Holidays in West Midlands
Holidays in Shropshire
Holidays in Acton Scott
Fantastic YHA hostel perched in a brilliant location on the edge of Windermere.
YHA Ambleside, Waterhead Ambleside LA22 0EU
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Kirkby Lonsdale
Well kept traditional youth hostel in an enviable position near Coniston Water.
YHA Coniston Holly How, Far End Coniston Cumbria LA21 8DD
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Coniston
A very welcoming, cosy walkers' hostel nestled in the midst of some of the Lake District's most beautiful scenery.
YHA Borrowdale, Longthwaite Borrowdale Keswick Cumbria CA12 5XE
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Keswick
A superb hostel in a Georgian mansion, just a mile and a half from Stratford.
YHA Stratford-upon-Avon, Hemmingford House Alveston Stratford-Upon-Avon Warwickshire CV377RG
Holidays in West Midlands
Holidays in Warwickshire
Holidays in Stratford upon Avon
One of the most scenically sited hostels in England, with stunning lake and mountain views.
YHA Windermere, Bridge Lane, Troutbeck, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 1LA
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Windermere
The perfect place to enjoy the best of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
YHA Brecon Beacons, Libanus, Brecon, Powys, LD3 8NH
Holidays in Mid Wales
Holidays in Powys
Holidays in Ystradfellte
