Best City Hostels in the UK
Hostelling has changed, and you might be surprised to know that these days a youth hostel is often the best – and best-located – option for people taking a city break on a budget. Many hostels – especially official HI ones – occupy prime city centre spots that are the envy of the top hotel chains, and as well as the usual dormitory beds for single people, they also have well-equipped en-suite private rooms that are usually a much nicer choice than a grungy one or two-star hotel – and cheaper too. Not only that, they are generally loaded with better facilities, with free wifi, a cafe and restaurant, and a kitchen if you prefer to self-cater,. They are also a particularly good choice for families – with triples, quads and large family rooms in all but the smallest hostels.
The YHA (and SYHA in Scotland) have the biggest selection of city-based hostels, and as YHA city breaks compare favourably in price with budget hotels in places such as London, it always pays to book well in advance. Safestay is another quality hostel provider, with upscale city hostels in major locations. From the capital cities of London, Edinburgh and Cardiff to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge or smaller city gems like Canterbury or Stirling, there's a city-break hostel that's bound to be right up your street.
Best Town and City Hostels
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
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
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
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
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
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
Recently refurbished YHA hostel in an atmospheric old friary in the heart of Beverly.
YHA Beverley Friary, Friar's Lane Beverley HU17 0DF
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in East Riding of Yorkshire
Holidays in Beverley
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
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
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
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
Well-placed hostel skirting the south of the river close to Rotherhithe
YHA London Thameside, 20 Salter Road, Rotherhithe, London, SE16 5PR
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Southwark
Ideally-located hostel in West London, housed in a grand building
YHA London Earl's Court, 38 Bolton Gardens, Earl's Court, London, SW5 0AQ
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Kensington
Budget rooms with a touch of style in England's most fought-over border town.
YHA Berwick, Dewars Lane Berwick-Upon-Tweed D15 1HJ
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in Northumberland
Holidays in Berwick upon Tweed
Ideally situated, this family-owned hostel continually tops the polls for best budget stay
Birmingham Central Backpackers, 58 Coventry Street, Birmingham, West Midlands B5 5NH
Holidays in West Midlands
Holidays in Birmingham
Friendly atmosphere, good craic and a decent night's sleep.
Vagabonds Hostel, 9 University Road, Belfast BT7 1NA
Holidays in Ulster NI
Holidays in Antrim
The best budget place to stay in the bustling West End of Glasgow.
Glasgow Youth Hostel, 7/8 Park Terrace, Glasgow, county of Lanarkshire G3 6BY
Edinburgh's facility-laden central youth hostel is a great budget base for the city
Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel, 9 Haddington Place Edinburgh Midlothian EH7 4AL
A great budget base for seeing the best of Stirling and around
Stirling Youth Hostel, Saint John Street Stirling FK8 1EA
Holidays in Central Scotland
Holidays in Stirlingshire
Argyle Backpackers, 14 Argyle Place, Edinburgh EH9 1JL
Holidays in Central Scotland
Holidays in Edinburgh
Brilliant budget place to stay occupying a beautiful Georgian townhouse within York's city walls.
Safestay York, Micklegate House 88-90 Micklegate York YO1 6JX
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in North Yorkshire
Holidays in York
A great budget hostel location with a wide choice of accommodation in a central Edinburgh location.
Safestay Edinburgh, 50 Blackfriars Street Edinburgh EH1 1NE
Holidays in South Scotland
Holidays in Lothian
Holidays in Edinburgh
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