If you’re happy to stay in the UK and show your loved ones the beauty of the Isles, hostelling is a great way to do so on a budget. Here are our pick of the bunch from across the UK
Parents looking for cheap places to take their kids this summer holiday need to search no further.
As the school holidays begin, the big questions are where to go and how much it’ll cost. If you’re happy to stay in the UK and show your loved ones the beauty of the Isles, hostelling is a great way to do so on a budget.
As I wrote earlier this year, there are many misconceptions about hostelling – chiefly that it’s for youth only, but also that you have to sleep in a dorm. There are loads of beautiful hostels that are really family friendly and provide cheap private rooms.
The Mirror has worked with Independent Hostels to find some of the prettiest and cheapest hostels that have free beds over the coming summer holidays.
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Snowdonia
Perched above Cardigan Bay with stunning views of Cader Idris, Bunkorama offers self-catering accommodation ideal for walkers, cyclists, climbers, and families. This converted stone stable sleeps up to 10 and is perfectly located near top routes like the Wales Coast Path, Cambrian Way, and Cycle Route 8.
Barmouth’s beach, shops, and pubs are just a mile away, and outdoor adventures like climbing, mountain biking, and paddleboarding are right on your doorstep. From solo travellers to group getaways, Bunkorama offers great value – just £92 per night for a family room or £184 for exclusive use. A separate camping pod adds extra flexibility. Dogs welcome with group bookings.
Best price: £92 per dorm
Lake District
Elterwater Hostel is located in the peaceful village of Elterwater, in the Langdale valley, 15 minutes drive from Ambleside. The area has many walks for people of all abilities, from gentle riverside meanders to the challenge presented by the Langdale Pikes, Bowfell and Scafell.
Pubs, shops and other amenities are available nearby. The area is also a favourite for both on and off-road cycling, rock climbing and many other outdoor activities. An established overnight stop on the Cumbria way. The hostel is also ideal for individuals, families, outdoor groups, schools and college trips.
Best price: £25 per person
Scotland
Located in the heart of the coastal village of Findhorn in northeast Scotland, this self-catering hostel sits near the Moray Firth, offering easy access to the beach, Findhorn Bay, and Culbin Forest, all rich in wildlife like ospreys, seals, and dolphins.
Just a short drive from the Speyside whisky region and the Cairngorm Mountains, it’s an ideal base for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Housed in a converted village school, the hostel welcomes both groups and individuals, featuring a well-equipped kitchen, lounge with Netflix, Freeview TV, WiFi, central heating, and optional conference rooms.
Accommodation includes two 10-bed dormitories, a private double room (“The Mates Cabin”), a four-person family room with en suite (“The Captains Suite”), and a modern studio flat sleeping up to six.
Best prices: Dorms from £25pp, mates’ cabin £50. Discount for groups.
West Wales
Escape to the wild and beautiful Pembrokeshire Coast National Park with a stay at the Old School Hostel in Trefin, a charming village just quarter of a mile from the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. The area offers circular walks to beaches and harbour villages, and it’s just a 20-minute drive to St Davids and Whitesands Bay.
This 4-star hostel is full of character and offers private double, twin, and rare single rooms and family/friends rooms with en suite showers. A light breakfast is also included, and it’s dog-friendly.
Best price: Single occupancy from £45.
Yorkshire
Wharfeside House is a self-catering group hostel in the heart of the unspoilt village of Kettlewell, within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Ideal for youth groups, families, and adult groups, it sleeps 10 to 32 people and is popular with walkers, cyclists, bird watchers, climbers, artists, and team-building retreats.
Opened in 1969 by the Huddersfield Wharfeside Youth Trust, it offers warm, comfortable accommodation with a fully equipped kitchen, communal lounge with open fire, dining/conference room, conservatory, and a drying/boot room. Outdoors, there’s a large garden with stunning views and parking for four vehicles. The village shop is nearby, and several pubs serve home-cooked food.
Best price: The whole hostel can be rented out for £220, with a 300% reduction for midweek bookings.
Cornwall
Located in the centre of St Ives, Cohort is stylish and comfortable. Specialising in educational trips, Cohort offers catering for groups and support with all aspects of trip planning, including assistance with developing enriching itineraries. It is open to the general public at Easter and during the Summer holidays.
Fantastic facilities include a hot, outdoor shower, laundry and dry room, big guest kitchen, super fast WiFi, a TV room & pod beds – all with USB ports, lights, curtains & under-bed storage. afés, bars, galleries, Tate St Ives, and four spectacular beaches are within a 10-minute walk.
Best price: From £26 per person
Norfolk
Deepdale Rooms offers comfortable private self-catering accommodation in the scenic village of Burnham Deepdale on the North Norfolk Coast, within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Guests can choose from a variety of room types—double, twin, triple, quad, family, and group rooms—most with en suite bathrooms, underfloor heating, and access to shared facilities including a well-equipped kitchen, dining area, lounge with TV, and free WiFi.
Bedding is provided; guests just need to bring towels. The Deepdale Visitor Information Centre serves as reception and offers local guidance. Passionate staff celebrate the area’s seasonal beauty—coastal walks, birdwatching, and starry skies—and invite visitors to discover it for themselves. Large groups are welcome by arrangement, and there’s an adjoining campsite for those who prefer to stay outdoors.
Best price: From £42 for a private room
Lochness
A multi-award-winning hostel with a range of rooms to meet all needs and budgets in the bustling village of Fort Augustus on the banks of Loch Ness. The perfect base to explore the Loch Ness area and an ideal stop off on the Great Glen Way.
Surrounded by stunning mountain scenery and set in wooded grounds, this is the perfect budget accommodation option in the Hub of the Highlands! A variety of room types include dorms, doubles, twins and family rooms; 24 hour self-catering facilitates, excellent home-made meal options, a rustic bar stocked with a great selection of local beers and malts, a beer garden, free WiFi, activity booking service, ample car parking, an awesome team to look after you, plus a whole lot more. 4 Star VisitScotland. GOLD Green Tourism Award.
Best prices: From £27pp in dorm beds, doubles/twins from £33pp and family rooms from £86.