7 best hostels in Birmingham

Birmingham is part of England’s West Midlands metropolitan county and is the second largest city in the United Kingdom, second only to London. Originally a market town during the medieval period, the city went through major developments during the Industrial Revolution and at one point was referred to as the world’s first manufacturing town. Today, Birmingham is considered as a commercial, cultural and financial hub for the Midlands region and one of the UK’s most visited destinations.

Whether you have plans to visit Birmingham for business or pleasure, one of the things that you need to consider is where to stay during your trip. Fortunately, there are numerous accommodation options available in the city, from five-star hotels to bed and breakfast inns. Another affordable but quality option is a hostel; these establishments are not only generally cheap, but they also give you the opportunity to meet and mingle with other travelers.

In Birmingham, you can find a wide selection of hostels that cater to all needs and budgets. Below is a list of our picks for the best hostels in Birmingham that you may want to consider during your upcoming trip to the city. Bounce has partnered with some hostels in the city so that you can take advantage of our Birmingham luggage storage services. In the event you pick a non-Bounce partner, take advantage of one of our several luggage lockers scattered across the city.

Selina Birmingham

Located in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter, just walking distance from Birmingham City Centre, Selina is one of the best places to stay in the city. Housed inside a historic building that was once a Victorian factory, the hostel’s interior features eye-catching murals and curated experimental art.

Selina Birmingham caters to travelers of all budgets with accommodation options ranging from dorm-style rooms to spacious lofts. Selina Birmingham is also a Bounce partner, which means you can safely store your luggage here before heading out.

What makes Selina Birmingham unique

More than its good location, Selina is one of the best Birmingham hostels because of its selection of amenities. There’s free WiFi throughout the hostel and guests have access to a shared kitchen, an in-house bar and restaurant, a yoga space and a wellness area. If you’re traveling with your furry friends, you’ll be glad to know that Selina is also a pet-friendly establishment.

Selina Birmingham pricing

Selina Birmingham offers shared dorms as well as private rooms, all of which include towels, linens and toiletries. The price of bunk beds starts at $40.00 per night while a private room starts at $85.00 per night.

Birmingham Central Backpackers

When it comes to value for money, the best hostel in the city would have to be Birmingham Central Backpackers. Situated in Birmingham’s City Centre, the hostel is a short distance from the National Express Coach Station and just a 5-minute walk from the famous Bull Ring Shopping Centre.

The award-winning hostel offers guests a range of amenities, including free WiFi, free snack buffet, free clean linens and no charge use of hairdryers and iron. There’s also a communal area where you can socialize with other guests as well as a shared kitchen equipped with cooking tools.

What makes Birmingham Central Backpackers unique

It's undoubtedly one of the best and most popular hostels in Birmingham, and for good reason. Apart from being affordable and centrally located, Birmingham Central Backpackers is also beloved for its friendly staff; they answer any questions you may have about traveling around Birmingham and they go above and beyond to make sure that you have a fun and comfortable stay. The hostel also hosts a range of events for its guests, including film screenings, quiz nights and even an outdoor barbecue during the summer season.

Birmingham Central Backpackers pricing

Birmingham Central Backpackers offers dorm-style accommodation with shared bathrooms as well as private rooms with both shared and en suite bathrooms. Bunk beds start at $30.50 a night while a private room starts at $81.00 a night.

Comfort Inn Birmingham

Although not a hostel, Comfort Inn Birmingham is one of the select hotels we'd recommend as budget friendly. Set in a charming Victorian building, Comfort Inn Birmingham is an affordable choice with well-appointed rooms and an unbeatable location in the city centre.

An ideal choice for both tourists and business travelers, Comfort Inn Birmingham offers private rooms of varying sizes with modern amenities, including free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee facilities, hair dryers, television and toiletries. The hotel also has a business center and conference spaces that guests can use for meetings, workshops and the like.

What makes Comfort Inn Birmingham unique

Within walking distance of Birmingham New Street Station and the Bull Ring Shopping Centre, the hotel is surrounded by an array of establishments, such as bars, restaurants, theaters and more. A hotel with many rooms, Comfort Inn also has an in-house bar, called Station Bar, which offers an extensive selection of drinks, including wines, beers, ales and more.

Comfort Inn Birmingham pricing

Comfort Inn has 40 en-suite bedrooms that come in a range of sizes — from Single, Double, Twin to Triple; the price of one room starts at $55.00 per night.

Ibis Budget Birmingham Centre

Part of Accor Group’s chain of budget hotels, Ibis Budget Birmingham Center is one of the best options for low-cost accommodation in the city. The Birmingham outpost is located just a short distance from the city centre and is within walking distance from the Birmingham Grand Central.

Ibis Budget boasts 250 private rooms with en suite bathrooms and an array of modern amenities, including free WiFi, television and a work desk; there is also an on site café that offers different types of hot and cold snacks.

What makes Ibis Budget Birmingham Centre unique

Ibis Budget offers hotel-like service and amenities at hostel prices, which is why it has become a popular choice for leisure and business travelers. The budget hotel has a 24-hour reception and friendly staff that is more than willing to assist you with your requests — from giving you tips on where to go to arranging airport transfers.

Ibis Budget Birmingham Centre pricing

Ibis Budget Birmingham Centre has 250 rooms of varying sizes available; the lowest nightly price of a private room starts at $50.00, based on the check in selected.

BLOC Hotel Birmingham

Set in the iconic Jewellery Quarter, a vibrant area near Birmingham City Centre that's surrounded by various establishments, BLOC Hotel Birmingham is an ideal choice for travelers looking for more upscale accommodation without breaking the bank. Featuring a sleek and stylish look, the hotel boasts a range of well-designed rooms that are all fully fitted with modern amenities.

Guests of the hotel all get access to free Wi-Fi throughout the property as well as free shuttle services and an option to add breakfast to your room rate. In addition, BLOC has partnered with numerous establishments nearby so that guests can avail of exclusive offers and discounts.

What makes BLOC Hotel Birmingham unique

One of the best features of BLOC Hotel Birmingham is the Smart Room Control; with this feature, guests can skip lines at the reception and check in using their mobile phones. Moreover, they can control all the amenities in their room with one click of a button — from adjusting the temperature and lights to changing the TV channels.

BLOC Hotel Birmingham pricing

BLOC Hotel Birmingham offers private rooms of various sizes — from comfy studios and twin sharing to family rooms and apartment-sized lofts; the price of a room per night starts at $80.00.

Royal Square Hotel Birmingham

The Royal Square Hotel Birmingham is one, if not the best hotel for travelers coming to the city for business purposes. In business for nearly half a century, the hotel is run by experienced management and staff; they take pride in providing the best service at highly competitive rates. Royal Square sits just a mile away from the Birmingham International Airport and is strategically located near commercial areas such as the Birmingham Business Park, the National Exhibition Centre and the Elmdon Trade Area.

Royal Square Hotel is also near the Birmingham International Rail and Marston Green stations, which means that you can easily get to the Birmingham City Centre and other places in the city in just a short train ride. All rooms at the hotel come with amenities such as central heating, flat screen TVs, complimentary tea and coffee, towels and luxury bedding. Guests also have access to free Wi-Fi throughout the property; there’s also an in-house desktop in case you don’t have your own laptop.

What makes Royal Square Hotel Birmingham unique

Royal Square Hotel Birmingham provides a unique, homey feel while still providing hotel-like service and facilities. More than the amenities that come with the room, guests of the hotel can also enjoy either the sun lounge or reception lounge; here, they can socialize with other guests and grab a drink from the licensed on site bar. The hotel also has its own restaurant as well as a dedicated parking area for guests traveling with their own vehicles.

Royal Square Hotel Birmingham pricing

An attractive lodging option, the Royal Square Hotel has 24 well-appointed rooms available, ranging from singles and doubles to twin and family rooms; the latest prices start at $65.00 a night.

Premier Inn Birmingham City Centre

The Premier Inn has a few available properties scattered across the city, with the most centrally located being the Birmingham City Centre outpost. Located along Waterloo Street, the property overlooks the famous Birmingham Cathedral and St. Philips Square and is just a stone’s throw away from some of the city’s top attractions, such as the Bull Ring Shopping Centre and the Hippodrome Theatre.

Premier Inn also has a range of private rooms that are all equipped with modern amenities; guests also get access to free WiFi and daily housekeeping services.

What makes Premier Inn Birmingham City Centre unique

Compared to other properties of the Premier Inn chain, the one in Waterloo Street boasts the most central location and is close to some of Birmingham’s most popular areas and attractions. If you don’t feel like going out, the hotel also has its own on site bar, which serves drinks and light snacks until the wee hours. During the morning, you have the option to “build” your own breakfast for an additional fee; their breakfast bar has an array of options such as bacon, eggs, sausages and even some vegan-friendly meals. In addition, Premier Inn caters to guests with special needs; the hotel offers accessible rooms that have unique features suited for guests with accessibility requirements (e.g. wheelchair access).

Premier Inn Birmingham City Centre pricing

Premier Inn Birmingham City Centre offers multiple rooms that come in different types, including single, twin, double and family rooms; they also have special accessible rooms for wheelchair users. The lowest nightly price at Premier Inn starts at $85.50 depending on the selected date.

The best hostels in Birmingham for all budgets

The Birmingham hostels mentioned above are select hostels with unique features. They're the ideal choice for accommodation if you’re looking for a clean, comfortable and central place to stay in the city that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. These hotels and hostels in Birmingham are not only reasonably priced; they also give you the opportunity to meet different travelers and make friends during your stay in the city.

Once you've found your lodging, head to Broad Street for entertainment As you continue to plan your trip to the Magic City, we highly recommend that you check out our Best Time to Visit Birmingham and 3 Days in Birmingham guides to help you create the perfect itinerary.