Our many readers who have enjoyed reading about Alex and Jaffa's adventures while testing out various of our dog friendly… Read more
Independent Hostels UK
We are the UK’s largest network of hostels and bunkhouses.
Hostels and bunkhouses have self-catering facilities and provide great value accommodation for one night or more.
They range from rural barns to city houses and are ideal for independent travel and exploring the great outdoors. Groups, families and individuals of all ages can be sure of a friendly welcome.
What is a hostel, bunkhouse or a camping barn? Find out here.
We believe in Direct Booking and on this website everything you pay and everything you say goes direct to your hosts. Book a room, book a bed or hire the whole place for a holiday with family and friends.
All over the UK
There are over 400 bunkhouses, hostels and camping barns in our network with locations all over England, Scotland and Wales.
From Shetland to Cornwall, there are independent hostels in the national parks, on the coast, on mountains and in historic cities.
Some provide simple accommodation, others are luxurious. Many have private rooms, some en-suite and there are often bunks in dorms.
What they all have in common is shared areas for relaxation like kitchens, lounges and gardens.
News from the Network
Read the latest natter from hostels and bunkhouses across the UK
Rhossili Bunkhouse is within a short walk of Rhossili Bay.
June 18th 2019
Rhossili Bay is said to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world! View details
Long Mynd for walkers and mountain bikers
June 18th 2019
Immediately accessible from All Stretton Bunkhouse View details
Ex YHA Downham Camping Barn has joined Independent Hostels
June 18th 2019
Recently refurbished this gem of a camping barn was sadly missed by cyclists and walkers. The good news is that… View details
Come crabbing in Caernarfon
June 17th 2019
Stay at Totters. Right in the centre of the old walled town of Caernarfon. View details
Barrington Bunkhouse’s area of outstanding natural beauty… is decorated with colourful caravans!
June 15th 2019
Being on The Weardale Way and Pennine Journey, and directly on the cycling Coast to Coast route, the bunkhouse is… View details
Book Direct at Inveraray Hostel
June 14th 2019
A great stop of on a tour of the Southern Highlands of Scotland. View details
Seahouses Hostel – Through the Keyhole…
June 13th 2019
The Quiet Lounge is our smaller lounge ideal for Leaders to rest after a busy day, perfect for meetings or… View details
Just in case you can’t find the car park at The Star Bunkhouse – winner of the Silver award in TGO Best Bunkhouse.
June 13th 2019
Star Bunkhouse in the Brecon Beacons National Park is winner of the Silver award in TGO (The Great Outdoors) magazine's… View details
Special Offers & Late Availability
Four nights for the price of Three throughout August, at Earby Hostel in Lancashire.
June 18th 2019
With lots of availability throughout August in this newly re-opened village hostel. This is a great opportunity to get away… View offer
Summer discounts at Cote Ghyll Mill
June 14th 2019
Come and explore the North Yorkshire Moors offering scenic walking, exceptional cycling and comfortable accommodation. View offer
Choose Lockerbrook Farm for an unforgettable view of sunrise for Summer Solstice
June 13th 2019
The Summer Solstice is always a special event marking the longest day of the year. What better place to stay… View offer
Green discounts at Eco Camping Barn
June 11th 2019
Claim a Green voucher worth £3 off your next stay when you arrive at Puttenham Eco Barn by foot, cycle… View offer
Fabulous 400 year old barn on the edge of Gisburn Forest.
June 6th 2019
Dale house Barn is available to hire for the weekend of 26/27th July. It sleeps up to 14 people with… View offer
Up to 40% June discounts at the Old Brooder in Suffolk
June 5th 2019
Our seriously comfortable Old Brooder bunkhouse in Suffolk sleeps 20 but for the last three weekends in June we’re welcoming… View offer
Late availability offer for 28-30 June in the Tudor barn, Suffolk
June 5th 2019
We have a rare discounted weekend with no one booked into the Tudor barn .... take a break, explore Suffolk's… View offer
June at The Star Bunkhouse in the beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park
June 3rd 2019
The Star Bunkhouse in the beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park is running a special offer throughout June. View offer
Stay at Lockerbrook this June: a mountain biking paradise!
June 1st 2019
Lockerbrook is in an incredible location on one of the most popular mountain bike trails - Lockerbrook Loop - in… View offer
LATE AVAILABILITY IN JUNE AT THE OLD BROODER BUNKHOUSE IN SUFFOLK
May 29th 2019
June is a heavenly time on our environmentally-friendly Suffolk farm and the local countryside - buttercup-filled meadows, hedgerows full of… View offer
Fancy getting a 4 for 3 that doesn’t clutter up your kitchen cupboard and comes with views like this? At Snowdon Lodge in Tremadog you can!
May 22nd 2019
If you are looking to take your group or family to a great location in North Wales between the mountains… View offer
12th-14th July 2019 newly available at The Chellington Centre, Bedfordshire
May 22nd 2019
Due to a last minute cancellation we have the 12th-14th July available, sleeping up to 30 people, The Chellington Centre… View offer
Get Inspired
Articles and inspiration from our travel writers
Independent hostels, like youth hostels, have dorms and private rooms, flexible lengths of stay and self catering kitchens ideal for groups. Many of the former youth hostels, bunkhouses and camping barns sold by the YHA and now operating independently are listed on this website. Only five percent of the accommodation featured on this website is affiliated to the YHA ( Youth Hostel Association ) or SYHA ( Scottish Youth Hostel Association ), so you are doubling your choice of self catering accommodation by using both Youth Hostel and Independent Hostel networks. Most of our accommodation is ideal for walkers, cyclists and family holidays while City, Backpackers and Boutique Hostels cater for young or independent travellers. Unlike holiday cottages, hostels/bunkhouses are ideal for a stop-over to break a long journey. They are often available for stays as short as one night and are much better value then hotels. Hostels are sustainable by nature and many are Eco Hostels with green awards. Some are ideal for retreats. Over a quarter of the accommodation on this website is dog friendly and many have some level of accessibility. There are hostels in England, Scotland and Wales. A selection of hostels and bunkhouses welcome stag and hen parties and over a hundred are within walking distance of a pub. Nearly every hostel and bunkhouse has a self catering kitchen and many provide a Best Price Guarantee, ensuring the prices they offer you through this website are the lowest you will find. Hostels and bunkhouses provide self catering accommodation by the Sea, in the Mountains and in National Parks. They also provide Group accommodation ideal for schools, groups and reunions of families and friends. The head office of Independent Hostels UK has achieved the Green Tourism Gold Award. Keep in touch with our newsletter follow our facebook or twitter, view a map of UK hostels or buy the guidebook.