1. Riverhouse Backpackers,
Cardiff,
Wales
Only bettered at the
Hoscars by a trio of
Lisbon-based hostels,
Riverhouse is officially
the best hostel in the
world outside of the
Portuguese capital. It also
picked up the Best Staff
award, so you can be
assured of a friendly
welcome at this city centre
hostel on the banks of the
river Taff. They've more
facilities than seem
humanly possible in one
place including a small
shop and a bike hire
centre, making it ideal for
those wanting to take on a
section of
the Taff
Trail
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2. Downhill Hostel,
Castlerock, Northern
Ireland
Rarely will you see another
hostel with such a look of
permanent surprise on its
face. This lovely detached
villa, parked under the
cliffs, stares out wide
eyed over a country railway
line to the longest beach
on the north coast of
Ireland and the Atlantic
Ocean beyond. Inside, the
decor and furnishings give
the unmistakeable feeling
that you're a guest in
someone's enviably
comfortable home. The
Giant's Causeway is just a
short bus ride away ... but
perhaps we'll curl up with
a book and go
tomorrow.
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3. Kipps Independent
Hostel, Canterbury,
England
The talking point of this
Victorian townhouse, 10
minutes' walk from
Canterbury Cathedral, is
what can only be described
as an aisle extension in
search of a nave. Handy for
a break for the border via
Dover's ferries or
Ashford's Eurostar
connection, there's also a
lot going on at the hostel
itself, with an event
taking place each night,
including "Luigi's free
pasta and sing-a-long
evening" (Fridays) and
"Free Wii and pancakes"
(Tuesdays). As a taster,
visit their pleasingly
eccentric website before
you go.
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4. Castle Rock Hostel,
Edinburgh,
Scotland
This self-styled palatial
hostel lives up to its name
with its foundations deep
in the rock on which the
Scottish capital's famous
fortress is built. Based in
one of those elegantly
austere piles that
Edinburgh does so well,
there are terrific views
over the city, a real fire
in the lounge for chilly
nights and a baby grand if
you fancy a tinkle. A free
pub crawl takes place every
Thursday night and, to
clear your head, there's a
free walking tour of the
city every
morning.
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5. Skyewalker Hostel, Isle
of Skye,
Scotland
Formerly the Portnalong
village school (lets hope
the children still get
educated somewhere),
Skyewalker's owners, Brian
and Lisa, are accomplished
musicians and encourage
guests to bring along an
instrument for a jam in the
evening. Situated close to
the Cuillin hills on the
gorgeous Minginish
peninsula, the hostel
boasts extensive grounds,
an amazing glasshouse in
which to chill, and a
campsite for guests who
fancy an even closer walk
with
nature.
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6. Budget Backpackers,
Edinburgh,
Scotland
If you don't mind sharing
with a slew of room mates,
the ever-popular Budget
Backpackers delivers what
its name suggests (if you
fancy a quiet night, there
are a couple of twin rooms
thrown in). A turreted
three-storey corner house
in the centre of Auld
Reekie, bold colour schemes
are the order of the day
with idiosyncratic lighting
that looks like a fleet of
miniature UFOs has attached
itself to the walls and
ceilings, which perhaps it
has.
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7. Derry City Independent
Hostel, Derry, Northern
Ireland
Not far from the Derry City
walls, this unassuming
hostel has a trick or two
up its sleeve. The dining
room, for instance, has
been transformed by the
globe-trotting owners into
a little piece of old
Bombay complete with low
tables, wall hangings and
sundry Indian exotica
garnered in backstreet
markets. The prices are
sub-continental too: up
until 31 March, they're
offering a "stay one night,
get another night free"
deal. Hold off until the
summer, however, and you
can enjoy one of their £3
all-you-can-eat barbecues
instead.
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8. Chase the Wild Goose
Hostel, Banavie nr Fort
William,
Scotland
Right on the Great Glen Way
(and Cycle Route) and the
Caledonian canal, and just
4km from Ben Nevis, this is
a hostel made for walkers,
cyclists, climbers and
canoeists (they've got a
canoe store). There's snow
up there right now too,
which gives the astonishing
scenery that little extra
edge. When you do finally
get indoors you can try
your hand at the game of
Crockinole, brought over
from Skye especially to
thwart unsuspecting
travellers.
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9. YHA London Central,
London,
England
Lest we forget, even in
these stricken times London
remains one of the most
expensive cities in the
world, so to be able to
stay in a smart modern
establishment just south of
Regent's Park for a sliver
under sixteen quid is
pretty remarkable. With
over half of their 290 beds
in rooms sleeping four or
five, it's ideal for
families who might also
appreciate the hostel's
cafe, friendly staff and
easy going
atmosphere.
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10. smartcityhostels,
Edinburgh,
Scotland
The third of the Edinburgh
trio, this large (620-bed)
ultra-modern, five-star,
dare one say
corporate-looking hostel in
the old town seems to be
tailored for the
flashpacker (backpackers
who enjoy a bit of luxury)
whilst cleverly appealing
to absolutely everyone.
There are family rooms,
rooms for wheelchair users,
dorms for the penniless
traveller, rooms for
business execs (yes!), and
special women-only rooms
with a whole host of extras
to make female guests feel
completely at home. Oh, and
a roof
terrace.
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