People have been flocking to York for centuries. The Romans, Vikings, and the Britons have all claimed it as their home. On a visit you can see what they all left behind, so there’s a ton to do in and around the city (like the Jorvik Viking Center and Minster Cathedral).
Even just walking through the gates of the city wall and on the cobblestoned streets, you’ll get a feel for how awesome it all is. After a night out at the restaurants, bars, and clubs, you’ll know why all these legends have called this place home!
York is a major tourist city, so hostels in the area are really accommodating and won’t make you go broke. Most have a bar and restaurant on-site, but the ones in the city center are totally walkable. Plus, free Wi-Fi and luggage storage is the norm, so not much to worry about there.
Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in York
- Overall Best Hostel in York – The Fort Boutique Hostel
- Best Party Hostel in York – Astor York
- Best Hostel for Solo Travelers in York – Safestay York
- Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in York – YHA York
- Best Hostel for Couples in York – The Vanguard
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The Best Hostels in York
The Fort Boutique Hostel – Best Overall Hostel in York
The Fort Boutique Hostel has the trifecta – good price, great location, and awesome atmosphere. If you want to stay inside the city walls, steps from the bars and restaurants in the center of town, then this is your place.
The restaurant/bar downstairs offers discounts to hostel guests, and you’ll have free hot drinks available throughout your stay. The rooms are all uniquely decorated, which adds a nice touch.
Astor York – Best Party Hostel in York
The Astor York understand that a hostel is more than just where we sleep for the night. With a private bar and weekly events like ‘Free Dinner Friday’ – you’re bound to have a great time.
The Astor also helps us with the things that aren’t so fun, like renting adaptors and padlocks when you forgot yours, printing boarding passes, and late checkout when you just don’t feel like rolling out of bed at the crack of dawn.
Safestay York – Best Hostel for Solo Travelers in York
Safestay York is a place for the solo traveler. It’s close to the city center and only a seven-minute walk to the train, making it all super accessible for someone on their own.
Their cosy rooms and comfortable beds, as well as quirky antique furnishings make the space feel relaxing and homely. On top of that, you can have breakfast in the communal dining hall every morning, which makes this one of the best B&Bs in York.
Safestay’s goal is to make all guests feel safe (hence the name). So if you’re not feeling comfortable about hostel life they will act to fix it for you – even if that means asking another guest to leave.
YHA York – Hostel for Digital Nomads in York
The tech-savvy can rest easy at YHA York, making it our top pick for digital nomads. YHA has free Wifi and high-tech equipment throughout the hostel, including full AV equipment in their conference rooms.
YHA York is also an eco-friendly hostel which uses rainwater for plumbing and solar heat for hot water. The hostel is right on the River Ouse, so you can easily experience the nature you’re helping to protect.
The Vanguard – Top Hostel for Couples in York
If you and your significant other are planning a getaway to York, you should definitely check out The Vanguard. Although not a traditional hostel, these guestrooms offer a luxury stay at prices compatible with private rooms at other places.
Located just outside the city wall, it’s about a ten-min walk to the bustling center. This way, it’s a quiet and cozy base for your weekend away, but still close to everything York has to offer.
OYO Diamonds Inn – Best Cheap Hostel in York
You can’t beat the prices offered at Diamonds if you’re traveling on a budget or after a private room and bathroom. It’s technically located outside the city center, but the city wall is an easy walk away.
Free refreshments are available to all guests, as well as free-wifi and room service (at a surcharge). Don’t worry if you can’t get a room here though – Diamonds have four guesthouses in York to choose from.
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Want more deetz on why these packs are so damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!
View on Osprey View on REIChurchview B&B – Best Hostel with a Private Room in York
If you want privacy without splashing out on a York AirBnB, Churchview B&B is the place to go. It offers a number of private room options, so you can choose what’s right for you depending on your needs.
Cottages have a number of rooms and kitchen setups, while individual rooms range from just one to multiple beds. You can even reserve a room of six for you and your mates – so you won’t have to worry about being split up.
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It looks exactly like a normal belt except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash, a passport photocopy or anything else you may wish to hide. Never get caught with your pants down again! (Unless you want to…)
Hide Yo’ Money!More of the Best Hostels in York
Stableside at York Racecourse
Stableside at York Racecourse is located literally on the stable side of the York Racecourse, so you’ll be right next to the animals! Stableside is also pet-friendly, so you can bring your own little furry friend along.
The center of York is a 20-minute walk away, and the bus runs about every 10 mins. Stableside offers different rates depending on whether or not you want meals included, which is super handy.
Student Castle Short Stay – York
Student Castle Short Stay – York is the super modern oasis in the center of medieval York. Accommodation is super sleek, and high-tech stuff is present from the common spaces to the individual rooms.
The gym is what makes Student Castle unique – it’s open 24/7 and has everything you need to get a good workout in on your travels. You’ll be totally in shape and ready to climb the Minster Tower!
Elmbank Hotel
You can tell by the name that Elmbank Hotel is not a traditional hostel. However, it does have everything you could want from a hotel at a super affordable rate.
It’s only half a mile from the city wall of York (which is totally walkable) and next door to the York Racecourse. It’s pretty cushy, and although there’s no common kitchen, they do have a restaurant/bar and serve free breakfast.
What to Pack for your York Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from me, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straight forward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art I have perfected over many years.
Ear Plugs
Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.
Hanging Laundry Bag
Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.
Sea To Summit Micro Towel
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.
Monopoly Deal
Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.
Grayl Geopress Water Bottle
Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!
Check out my definitive Hostel Packing list for even more top hostel packing tips!
FAQ about Hostels in York
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in York.
How much does a hostel cost in York?
Hostels prices in York varies, private rooms is $110-$200 and the average price per bed for dorms is $25.
What are the best hostels in York for couples?
The Vanguard is a great private accommodation for couples. It has a great location in the city and you can do various activities in the area, like walking tours, cycling and hiking to name a few.
What are the best hostels in York near the airport?
You can book to Leeds Airport and travel by land to reach York. There may not be any airport near York, however I recommend staying in The Fort Boutique Hostel. It’s conveniently located at the center of the city so you can save on further transport fees.
Travel Safety Tips for York
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Final Thoughts
With our list of the best hostels, we hope we’ve made it simple for you to find the right place to stay in York. We’ve taken out the guesswork, so you can focus on having an epic time in the city that’s been loved for centuries.
Whether it’s a cute little cottage for a couple on holiday or the party place to make new friends, York has you covered! We think The Fort checks all the boxes for an awesome stay, making it our top pick for the best hostel in York. But you be the judge – pick the one that’s right for you to get the most out of your UK travel experience.
- Check out our extensive guide to backpacking in UK for a wealth of info!
- Not sure what to do once you arrive? We’ve got all the beautiful places to visit in UK covered.
- Skip the dorm and find a super cool Airbnb in York if you’re feeling fancy!
- Check out the best places to stay in York before you arrive.
- Remember to grab yourself an international sim card for Europe to avoid any issues.
- Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list.
- Get ready for your next destination with our ultimate Europe backpacking guide.
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