Hostels in Durham 
Looking for the best hostels in Durham? You are in the right place!
On this page, we have listed every city in Durham with backpacker hostels and budget-friendly stays. Hostelz.com makes it easy to find your ideal Durham hostel by comparing prices across major booking platforms. Save money while backpacking Durham and sleep comfortably on a budget.
All Backpacker Hostels in Durham
We have got you covered with a complete list of every hostel in Durham, across 3 cities! Not all cities have hostels, but many offer alternative budget options like guesthouses and affordable hotels. Use our filters to quickly find cities with hostels or other budget accommodations to simplify your trip planning.
All Durham hostels on a map
Alright, you are more the visual type? Planning your trip with a map is always handy.
Therefore, this map shows you all cities with hostels in Durham. It will help you to plan your trip. Just zoom in the map and click your destination for more details. Just so you know: If we do not have a hostel in a city, it is likely that there is no hostel in that city.
Our handwritten guide on Backpacking Durham
Whether you are considering a visit to Durham the City or Durham the County, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to tour this enchanting part of the country. Located in Northeast England on the River Wear, Durham is a hilly city with steep wooded riverbanks. The region is home to Durham University which is ranked in the top 100 universities in the world. Another favorite, Durham Castle, has been named a UNESCO Heritage site and is today a residential home for university students as well as a hotel.
There are market towns to peruse, foodie tours, theatre productions and Heritage events to enjoy. Spa days are another popular way to while away the day. High rope activity parks and parachute jumps might be appealing options for those seeking adventure.
Sports lovers will be able to enjoy watching football or rugby, cricket, or an ice hockey match. It could be that perhaps a rowing tournament at the Durham Dales would be more enticing. For those who desire a quieter pastime, there are plenty of places one can golf, fish, or cycle in the region. Hamsterley Forest offers walking, cycling and horseback riding trails.
Rail enthusiasts will enjoy a trip to Locomotion where there are 60 railway vehicles on display. Another place for rail buffs to go is Tanfield which offers visitors an opportunity to take a ride on the world’s oldest railway.
Killhope is a 19th century lead mining museum where one can don a mining hat, wellies and a cap lamp and travel down into the mine. The living museum Beamish is another popular tourist spot where visitors can learn about life in Northeast England in the 1800’s, 1900’s and 1940’s. Bowes Art Museum and the ruins at the Egglestone Abbey are additional destinations worthy of a visit. Two more castles worth a look are Auckland which has a deer park on the premises and Barnard.
Visitors to Durham will find ample selection to meet their taste in accommodations. There are hotels, guest houses, cottages, B&B’s, rooms at Durham Castle, camping in tents or glamping in camping pods and yurts, hostels, and caravan parks to suit every budget. Hostels may be located under that name, adventure center, or YHA. Some of the listings will advertise hostels as bunkhouses.
People who use a mobility device should note that it may be difficult to get around in Durham because of the cobblestone paths which are narrow and can be winding and steep.
Handwritten by local expert for Durham hostels Jakob Lombardi
Travel Tips for Durham - from the Community
Hey fam! Here are a few more tips from the community, from them to you, and you to them. This space is dedicated for travellers to share their best tips on backpacking Durham. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Durham. Everyone is welcome to add something useful, funny, unexpected and the "absolutely necessary to know before you go" - share, share and then share a little more!
FAQ on Hostels in Durham
There is a lot of travel planning to do. So let us help you once again by putting together the frequently asked questions:
Finding Hostels and Prices
What hostel booking sites are best to use?
There is several hostel booking sites, such as Hostelworld.com, Hostelsclub.com and Booking.com. While every platform has its pros and cons, there is a universal truth you as a traveler should be aware of: Not a single booking site can always offer the best prices.
This is where Hostelz.com comes in. You can compare all major booking portals with one click.
For you as a traveler, Hostelz.com is the best booking site to actually save money.
How much are hostels in Durham?
Prices always vary, depending on various factors. Weekends tend to be more expensive, same goes for special holidays. Please also take into account local vaction time.
You can search for exacty hostel prices in Durham here on Hostelz.com. Pick your destination and pick a date. The system will track down the prices to give an idea of what budget and prices you can expect.
When to book hostels?
If you want to stay at the best hostels, it is a good idea to have your hostel booked around 1 month before you travel. For the regular hostels, booking one week before should be okay. Yet again, this always depends.
We dedicated a full article to the topic of when to book hostels.
Safety and Packing
Are hostels in Durham safe?
Generally speaking, hostels are as safe as you make them. We highly recommend always to bring your own padlock, using the lockers and taking care of your belongings. Make sure you pick a safe hostel, offering lockers and a safe location. Please always pay attention to the reviews; they can give you a great insight on what to expect and safety tips.
What to pack when staying in hostels?
There is a few basics you should always pack when staying in hostels.
There is more actually. We wrote a complete guide with more details. Read our full hostel packing list.