Bath has four real budget options, not two: YHA Bath, a grand Italianate mansion about a 10-minute walk from the centre; St Christopher's Inn Bath, a backpacker hostel right by the Roman Baths; Bath Backpackers, an independent hostel on Pierrepont Street in the city centre; and YMCA Bath, a budget hostel tucked just off Broad Street. All four are significantly cheaper than Bath's hotels, and none of them requires you to give up much in the way of location.
Why budget accommodation is worth knowing about in Bath
Bath has a reputation as an expensive place to stay, largely because its hotel stock leans towards boutique and heritage properties in Georgian buildings. Hostels and simple budget hotels don't get much attention in most guides to the city, but there are more of them than you'd expect, and they put you in walking distance of everything that matters just as well as a pricier hotel would. See our guide to Bath on a budget for how to keep the rest of your trip affordable too.
YHA Bath
YHA Bath occupies an Italianate-style mansion with a mix of original period features and modern hostel facilities, set in its own grounds about 10 minutes' walk from the city centre. It has dorm rooms for the classic hostel budget, plus private rooms if you want the same building and price bracket with more privacy. Facilities include a garden, a licensed bar, laundry facilities and a restaurant, so you're not relying entirely on the city centre for food and downtime. YHA's dorm beds across its network start from around £15 a night, though the exact rate for Bath on any given date depends on demand and season, so check YHA's own Bath page for current pricing before you book.
St Christopher's Inn Bath
St Christopher's Inn is part of a well-known UK and European hostel chain, and its Bath branch sits right in the city centre, within easy walking distance of the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey. It's built around a bar and cafe with a full food menu, happy hour specials and a sociable, backpacker-friendly atmosphere, which makes it a good fit if meeting other travellers is part of what you want from the stay, rather than just a cheap bed.
Bath Backpackers
Bath Backpackers is an independent hostel at 13 Pierrepont Street, in the heart of the city centre, built around a community feel rather than a chain's house style. It runs its own social programme of walks, events and dinners for guests who want to meet other travellers, and it's one of the few remaining independently-run hostels in the city rather than part of a national group.
YMCA Bath
YMCA Bath is a budget hostel in a quiet courtyard between Broad Street and the Walcot Street artisan quarter, close to the Guildhall Market and the Podium. It describes itself as a budget hostel "with a social purpose," run by the YMCA Bath and Brunel Group charity, and offers a wider mix of single, double and twin rooms alongside dorm-style options, which makes it worth a look if you want something between a classic hostel dorm and a private room.
Comparing the four
| YHA Bath | St Christopher's Inn | Bath Backpackers | YMCA Bath | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | ~10 min walk from centre | City centre, near Roman Baths | City centre, Pierrepont Street | City centre, off Broad Street |
| Run by | YHA (national charity) | International hostel chain | Independent | YMCA Bath and Brunel Group (charity) |
| Atmosphere | Quieter, grand mansion setting | Sociable, backpacker bar scene | Community-based, social events | Budget-focused, social purpose |
| Rooms | Dorms and private rooms | Dorms, some private options | Dorms and private rooms | Singles, doubles, twins and dorms |
| Best for | Some quiet alongside the budget price | Meeting other travellers, nightlife on-site | A community feel, independent character | Flexible room types, charity-run ethos |
Budget hotel chains as an alternative
If a hostel dorm isn't for you but you still want to keep costs down, Bath also has branches of the UK's standard budget hotel chains (Premier Inn and Travelodge among them) on the edge of the centre, trading a slightly longer walk in for a private en-suite room at a lower price than the city's boutique hotels. They won't have the character of a central Georgian townhouse, but they're a reliable fallback if hostel dorms and heritage hotels are both off the table.
What you give up at this price point
The trade-off with any hostel is less privacy, and in YHA Bath's case, a short walk into the centre rather than a doorstep location. None of the four will match a boutique hotel's finish or a spa-hotel's amenities, but for a short stay built around the Roman Baths, the Georgian streets and Bath's walkable centre, that's rarely the point. For current rates and availability, check directly with each hostel or a booking site, since nightly prices shift seasonally and around major events.
Frequently asked questions
Are there hostels in Bath?
Yes, four well-established options: YHA Bath, in an Italianate mansion about 10 minutes from the centre; St Christopher's Inn Bath, a backpacker hostel near the Roman Baths; Bath Backpackers, an independent hostel on Pierrepont Street; and YMCA Bath, a budget hostel just off Broad Street.
Which hostel in Bath is most central?
St Christopher's Inn, Bath Backpackers and YMCA Bath are all within the city centre, a short walk from the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey. YHA Bath is set slightly further out, about a 10-minute walk from the centre.
Do Bath's hostels have private rooms, or only dorms?
YHA Bath, St Christopher's Inn and Bath Backpackers all offer a mix of dorm and private rooms. YMCA Bath goes further, with single, double and twin rooms alongside dorm-style options.
Are there budget hotel chains in Bath as an alternative to hostels?
Yes, Premier Inn and Travelodge both have branches on the edge of Bath's centre, offering private en-suite rooms at a lower price than the city's boutique hotels.
Is Bath expensive for accommodation generally?
It has a reputation for it, largely because much of its hotel stock is boutique and heritage-focused, but hostels and budget chain hotels bring the floor price down considerably if you're not set on a Georgian townhouse stay.
Is St Christopher's Inn Bath good for solo travellers?
Yes, its bar-and-cafe setup and backpacker atmosphere are built around meeting other guests, which makes it a natural fit for solo travellers as well as groups. Bath Backpackers' social programme of walks and events serves a similar purpose for independent-minded solo travellers.