The £16-a-night hostels that beat five-star hotels hands down on location - from the Yorkshire YHA that overlooks Whitby Abbey to an 800-year-old Norman Castle in the Wye Valley

Most often associated with screaming hordes of school children on group trips, creaky bunk beds and shared bathrooms, youth hostels haven't usually been a go-to for your average holidaymaker. The idea of switching your four-star hotel for dorm-style accommodation might not instantly appeal...but don't dismiss them entirely because they can make for a fantastic – and great value – holiday, particularly in the UK. Hostels across the country are increasingly a far cry from those distant memories of school residentials – many now have private rooms with ensuites and standout locations that can trump even the most upmarket hotels.Since 1930, the Youth Hostels Association (YHA) has operated with one basic premise: everyone should have access to the benefits of adventure, regardless of background and without compromising on activities and amazing locations.And some of the best ones across the country are even housed in stunning historic buildings.Here, we take a look at some of the top choices, from an 800-year-old castle to a London property that puts you just minutes from some of the UK's top attractions...Whitby Right beside Whitby Abbey you'll find this unique youth hostel - with rooms from £22 You can also book a premium bell tent, which sleeps up to five people When you hear the words 'Grade I listed mansion', it's likely you'll be picturing an imposing property, antique interiors – and eye-watering prices.For the most part, this Whitby spot fits the bill, but not so when it comes to paying the bill for your stay.From £22, book a shared room at this hostel located right next to the historic ruins of Whitby Abbey. You can soak up views over the harbour and the North York Moors, with the town just a short walk away via the famous 199 steps. For £30, you can enjoy the privacy of a single room, while premium five-person bell tents (with one of the best views camping can buy) go for £125. St Briavel's Castle Fit for a king! Stay inside this castle from as little as £23 a night Briavel's Castle even has a historic dining room fit for a (minor) aristocratThe former hunting lodge of King John I, St Briavel's Castle dates back more than 800 years.For that amount of history, £23 shared rooms and £110 private suites seem like an absolute steal.Sleep in a building oozing with history, including an original oubliette – a secret dungeon.Join the discussionWould you trade luxury for location and history when choosing where to stay on holiday?What's your view?The castle is a Grade I listed ancient monument, and staying inside its walls will rival the likes of pricier castles across the UK.'Spending three nights in an actual castle at an affordable price was pretty amazing,' one visitor wrote. 'The staff were so friendly and helpful and the castle itself was clean, warm and had everything we needed. 'It was also great to get to roam around the castle during the day. There are some beautiful walks nearby that are peaceful and wonderful.'London St Paul's London St Paul's YHA hostel is a budget-friendly, tourist-appropriate city break place to stayIn the heart of the city, YHA's London St Paul's hostel is among the cheapest London stays you can find.Hotels around St Paul's usually come with steep price tags – a night at the Leonardo Royal London St Paul's, for instance, starts from £215 for a double. At this hostel, however, you'll pay just £21 for a bed in a private room, and from £64 for a private room depending on the number of guests. A private room for up to five people – perfect for a family – is just £115.'Repurposed after nearly 100 years as a school for choirboys, this remarkable building boasts the ultimate location for exploring one of London's most fascinating tourist attractions – it's literally seconds from St Paul's cathedral', the YHA listing reveals.It has old-school choirboy graffiti (in a wood-panelled classroom no less), atmospheric spiral staircases and an elaborate exterior.Treyarnon Bay Right by one of Cornwall's top beaches, you'll find Treyarnon Bay hostelRight on the beach in Cornwall, with a prime surfing position and a wonderful outdoor space where the hostel often hosts live music events through the summer, is YHA Treyarnon Bay.It's just 50 metres from the sea, and offering some of the best coastal views of any hostel, it's the perfect location for a family break in Cornwall.Treyarnon Bay has a sandy, family-friendly beach, and is just four miles from popular Padstow.Private rooms start from £46 for three people, and camping pods go from as little as £80 for four people in a 'land pod', this resort's take on updated camping.'Excellent breakfast. Stunning sunset. Great beach,' one guest said. 'Being just a stone's throw from one of Cornwall's most beautiful beaches is something we never take for granted,' another added. Boggle Hole Boggle Hole hostel in popular Robin Hood's Bay is a top-tier holiday destination Designed with a pirate theme in mind, it will satisfy your children - or your own inner childA pirate-themed retreat in Robin Hood's Bay should be on your radar if you have young children – or if you consider yourself to be a child at heart.The youth hostel is set in a former smuggler's cove right on the beach which is amazing for fossil hunting and rock pooling. Robin Hood's Bay in North Yorkshire has often been dubbed one of the most beautiful locations in the country, and even came fourth in the top ten prettiest UK villages in 2021.Here, rooms start from £42 for two people. Guests can make full use of shared spaces in the hostel's main building – Old Mill – including a comfy lounge, dining room and well-equipped self-catering kitchen. Ambleside Few locations can beat this hostel on the shores of Lake WindermereLocated right on the shores of Lake Windermere, this stylish hostel is right in the heart of the Lake District National Park – and in one of the most coveted parts of it.Nothing beats an early morning breakfast at the hostel looking out on to the misty, still lake surrounded by the Lake District's beauty.It's perfect for activity breaks with walking, watersports and climbing nearby.'I visited with my eight-year-old daughter staying in a two-bed room, this was just what we needed for a couple of nights away from home. 'There can't be a better located YHA than this one, such a beautiful location and my daughter made the most of being on the edge of the lake!'Shared rooms start from £22, and single private rooms from £37. Black Sail Quiet, serene and highly remote, Black Sail is a unique hostel, immersed in iolationIs this the most remote youth hostel?Nestled in the Ennerdale Valley, Black Sail can only be reached on foot or by pushbike but the views are worth it once you get there.'Located in a traffic-free valley, it's as tranquil as a stay in the Lakes gets. Those on walking, hiking and climbing holidays will value the superb access to nearby peaks including Great Gable, Pillar, Red Pike and Steeple,' the YHA website explains.Shared rooms start from £53, private ones from £198.One visitor this summer said: 'This is one of the most special places in the countryside that I've experienced in a long time.' Castle Rock Hostel, Edinburgh A stay at the Castle Rock Hostel is right under Edinburgh castleRight under the castle in Edinburgh's historic old town, you'll find the Castle Rock Hostel, perhaps one of the best located in this whole list.'Multiple lounges, self-catering kitchen, movie lounge, pool table, guitars, piano and plenty more, to give a wonderfully social backpacker vibe,' the website reveals.It's been a top hostel in the city for years, and is a hub for travellers keen to connect, with a social ambience.One review read: 'Incredible location! Clean! Super affordable! Each room has a different Scotland-related theme, and the decor overall is super fun. I would 100 per cent stay here again and would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Edinburgh.' Rooms start from as little as £17 per night. Skyewalker Hostel, Isle of Skye The Isle of Skye's Skyewalker Hostel should also be added to your listThe Skyewalker Hostel on the Isle of Skye is not only ideally placed to visit sights such as the Cuillin Mountains, the magical Fairy Pools and the Talisker whisky distillery – it also has an igloo-like sky dome from which to enjoy the incredible starry sky.'This hostel is a hidden gem on Isle of Skye!' said one visitor.'By far our fave accommodation from our road trip around Scotland! The staff were all so attentive and enjoyed chatting and giving really useful advice.'It was even voted as Hostelworld's 'Best in Scotland' for 2020, 2019, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2012.Rooms start from £78. Kick Ass Grassmarket, Edinburgh The Kick Ass Grassmarket has incredible views Located in Grassmarket, in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, Kick Ass Grassmarket is another castle-adjacent option.Except this time, you can see the castle itself directly from the window of one of the dorms.The adults-only property has a common room with a view of the landmark too, and a vibrant cafe and bar to meet fellow travellers. 'Obviously the location is spectacular,' one guest said. 'The lounge room and some rooms have a beautiful view of the Edinburgh. It's literally the first thing you see when you step outside the door.'The grassmarket area has a lot of great cafes, bookstores and a few small markets for groceries, snacks and other small needs.'Rooms start from £20 a night. The Sill at Hadrian's Wall Visiting Hadrian's Wall? Check out the specially built Sill hostelA stunning, purpose-built youth hostel is just a few hundred metres from a key UK landmark: Hadrian's Wall. It's also home to the Northumberland National Park Visitor Centre, making it a great place to stay to follow in the footsteps of Roman Legionnaires. Keilder Forest, Carlisle, Newcastle, Holy Island and Alnwick are within driving distance too. Shared rooms start from £19, while private ones go from £49 for two people.Snowdon Pen y Pass YHA Snowdon Pen y Pass is situated more than 1,000 feet above sea levelCould this be the highest hostel? Located more than 1,000ft above sea level at the foot of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in Eryri (Snowdonia), it sits directly at the starting point of two major hiking routes up Snowdon: the Pyg Track and the Miners' Track.'This much-loved and famed location is now a state-of-the-art accommodation base in the heart of Eryri (Snowdonia),' the YHA website explains.'The hostel also pays tribute to its famous past and information about the surrounding mountains can be seen throughout the building.'Shared rooms start from £19, private rooms from £45 for two people.One guest wrote in a review: 'A fab location for everything mountainous. Clean and friendly rooms with nice staff. A great starting point for a summit walk up.'Hartington Hall Hartington Hall in the Peak District National Park has all the hallmarks of luxuryA grand, Grade II listed 17th-century manor house in the heart of the Peak District National Park might not sound like what you expect from a hostel.But with stained glass, oak panelling and plenty of original features, Hartington Hall should absolutely be on your list.This hostel is located next to a working farm, with shared spaces spread across three separate buildings. There's a cosy lounge and library in the hostel's main building, as well as a self-catering kitchen plus drying facilities. Landpods and premium bell tents are available in the hostel grounds too.YHA Hartington Hall makes a great base for exploring the tourist attractions of Alton Towers, Chatsworth House, Haddon Hall and Thornbridge Hall nearby. Rooms are from £17 for shared, £32 for private and £60 for a four-person land pod.Malham Malham Cove is a popular tourist attraction in the Yorkshire Dales National Park near the YHA hostelNestled in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, this youth hostel is close to the iconic Malham Cove, a towering limestone cliff formation that leaves visitors in awe. It even featured in the film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1) – so is great for any film buffs or Potterheads out there.A bed in a shared room starts from £16, while private rooms are from £38.Camping pods, for more outdoorsy types, are from £58.50 for two people.One visitor commented: 'A great place to stay and in a great location, very close to the centre of the village. The staff on arrival were very helpful and efficient. The whole hostel was spotlessly clean, we had a great room and the breakfast choices were excellent. Thank you, and keep up the good work!' But aren't hostels just for kids? James Blake, CEO of YHA (England & Wales), told the Daily Mail: 'I fell in love with youth hostels many years before I ever imagined I would work for YHA. As a young person, they gave me and my friends an affordable way to explore England and Wales. 'Later, when I became a parent, I discovered youth hostels all over again through my children's eyes. YHA hostels are ideal for families with young children because they are relaxed, welcoming and genuinely set up for family life. 'There are indoor games for rainy days and, at many hostels, plenty of outdoor space where children can run around, meet others and let off steam.'What makes them particularly special is shared kitchens, dining rooms and lounges. 'Anyone who has travelled with a hungry young child will understand just how welcome the sight of a kettle and toaster can be.'