Hostels in Essex 
Looking for the best hostels in Essex? You are in the right place!
On this page, we have listed every city in Essex with backpacker hostels and budget-friendly stays. Hostelz.com makes it easy to find your ideal Essex hostel by comparing prices across major booking platforms. Save money while backpacking Essex and sleep comfortably on a budget.
All Backpacker Hostels in Essex
We have got you covered with a complete list of every hostel in Essex, across 4 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 Essex 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 Essex. 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 Essex
Do you know where you can find the oldest door in the world, the longest pier, the largest village green and the oldest timber frame barn? Answer: You can find all of these and more in the county of Essex.
Located just northeast of London, Essex is proud of the fact that it has the longest coastline of any county in England. It is bounded by the River Thames in the south and the North Sea to its east.
The area is known for its history and culture. Proud of its heritage, the council in Essex has set up “listening benches” throughout its neighborhoods so people can get to know the historical significance of the region. Long-time community residents were asked to provide oral history that has been recorded. While resting on the listening bench, visitors can push a button and listen to a narration of stories about Essex. Should you have a bench mate, be sure to strike up a conversation by asking him to tell you about the Flitch Trials or inquire where you can find a corn dolly.
Some of the popular spots for a day trip include Clacton-on-Sea, a seaside resort with an amusement park. Finchingfield, considered to be the most beautiful village in England; and Colchester castle, the largest castle ever built in Britain. Another interesting spot, Kelvedon Hatch Nuclear Bunker was decommissioned in 1992 and is open to the public.
Add to the fun while visiting Essex with a visit to its museums, airshows, theatre, regattas, fairs, festivals and concerts. Active travelers may want to try the exhilarating white water rafting or climbing on the high ropes. No visit to Essex would be complete without a visit to some of the beautiful gardens that grace the region.
Football, basketball, cricket and ice hockey are popular entertainment venues in this region that also boasts a bevy of sports stars who received their training in Essex.
Accommodations in this area include hotels – some with spas, B&B’s, guest houses, self-catering cottages, camping in tents or glamping in a wigwam or cargo pod, holiday parks, seaside resorts, and hostels that cater to youth as well as seniors. Hostels may also be found under the categories titled backpackers or bunkhouses. Additionally, there are some hostels offering programs that encourage student cultural exchange programs.
Handwritten by local expert for Essex hostels Jakob Lombardi
Travel Tips for Essex - 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 Essex. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Essex. 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 Essex
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 Essex?
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 Essex 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 Essex 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.