Birmingham is often overlooked – but this place has A LOT going for it. It’s the second-largest city in the UK and packs a punch with a plethora of places to see, eat, drink and (importantly) shop – there are a few massive malls here, including the Bullring. There’s history, too, and a sizeable Chinatown in the form of the city’s Chinese Quarter.
Like we said: there’s loads going for it. Whether you want nightlife, fonts of foodie greatness, or if you want canalside districts, culture and historical monuments, you’ll be able to find it in Birmingham.
The problem is that choosing exactly what sort of accommodation in Birmingham that’s right for you can be tricky – especially if you want something on a budget since there aren’t many hostels. Airbnbs, hotels, guesthouses; which do you choose?
But don’t worry. We’re here to help out with a list of the best hostels in Birmingham. We’ve even thrown in a few choice budget hotels and awesome Airbnbs to make sure there’s something for everyone.
So if you’re ready, let’s get stuck in and see what’s going on with Birmingham’s best accommodation, shall we?
Quick answer: The Best Hostels in Birmingham
- Best Overall Hostel Birmingham – Birmingham Central Backpackers
Best Hostels in Birmingham
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Best Overall Hostel in Birmingham – Birmingham Central Backpackers
- $
- Free Breakfast
- 24 Hour Security
- Free Parking
Award-winning, genuinely fun, and definitely the sort of place you’d come back to if you’re backpacking in the area, Birmingham Central Backpackers is quite easily the overall best hostel in Birmingham. One of the best things about it has got to be the staff: they’re helpful, friendly and nothing ever seems like to much trouble for ’em.
Then there’s the place itself. This Birmingham backpackers hostel has a zany common room and bar area where things turn up, and spacious, colourful dorms to match the welcoming, laid back and social vibe that they’ve got going on here. There’s even a lil’ garden for summer BBQs!
Selina Birmingham
- $$$
- Amazingly Cool
- Shared Kitchen
- 24 Hour Reception
The only other viable Birmingham backpacker hostel is actually one of the most stylish places to stay in town. With its design-led furnishings, boutique-style private rooms, polished dorms, as well as the setting in a beautiful historic building, there’s a lot of effort been put into making this the coolest hostel in Birmingham.
We reckon couples would dig this place. It definitely suits people looking for the more high-end of things, that’s for sure: it’s not exactly the cheapest hostel in Birmingham, but it’s way nicer than a lot of the budget hotel options available in this city!
Best Budget Hotels in Birmingham
Comfort Inn Birmingham
- $$
- Flat Screen TV
- 24 Hour Reception
- Wake-Up Calls
Comfort Inn Birmingham doesn’t pull any punches: the traditional-style rooms are modern, at least, and provide a decent base for your trip to the UK’s second city. It’s the location of this budget hotel in Birmingham that’s one of the best things about it, with the Bullring a few minutes’ stroll away and the city’s New Street (main) train station just 3 minutes on foot from the hotel.
For a less commercial shopping experience, the independent shops of the Custard Factory (that’s its real name, yes) are also easily reachable by foot. This hotel is a little dated, but everything is nevertheless spotless and very clean. One of the better budget hotels in Birmingham.
BLOC Hotel Birmingham
- $$$
- Free Breakfast
- Free Shuttle (To Hot Springs!)
- Bicycle Hire
Sleek, stylish and fancy, BLOC Hotel Birmingham is a great option for a hotel in Birmingham. This place is all about keeping it chic and modern. Not mega cheap, but super cool. Beds here are large and comfy, and each room comes with a tiled bathroom complete with a decent power shower.
The location of this Birmingham budget hotel is another that makes it as good as it is. It’s set right in the Jewellery Quarter, a buzzing area of the city that’s packed with plenty of cafes, bar and restaurants to make sure you never get bored on your trip.
Holiday Inn Express Birmingham, Snow Hill
- $$
- Gym
- Free Breakfast
- On Site Bar
With Birmingham Snow Hill? Railway Station in easy walking distance – connecting you with Birmingham’s airport – staying at this branch of Holiday Inn Express is a great option for convenience fans. Even better is it’s close to nearby attractions in Birmingham, with Brindleyplace canal district reachable on foot, too.
This budget hotel in Birmingham offers up a free continental breakfast every morning, served up in its stylish eating space: the Great Room. Elsewhere the rooms are contemporary, clean and comfortable, giving you everything pretty much everything you could need out of a hotel.
Best Overall Budget Hotel in Birmingham – Premier Inn Birmingham City, Waterloo St.
- $$
- On Site Bar
- Air Conditioning
- 24 Hour Reception
This branch of Premier Inn is one of a few that you’ll find in Birmingham, but none of them have the central location that this Waterloo Street hotel has. This makes exploring central Birmingham super easy, with the city’s cathedral and St Phillip’s Square just on the doorstep, and nightlife (as well as the massive Bullring shopping complex) just a 10 min stroll away.
For all your eating and drinking needs, this top Birmingham hotel comes with its very own bar, serving up snacks and alcoholic beverages till late. The rooms may be pretty no-frills, but they’re comfy and spacious enough for a short stay.
Premier Inn Birmingham City, Waterloo St. is one of our favourites in Birmingham but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Best Airbnbs in Birmingham
Coach House in Edgbaston
- $$$
Set in Birmingham’s “fancy” area of Edgbaston – a district with a leafy, affluent, suburban feel – this is a great Airbnb in Birmingham for couples, we’d say. The place is set in a building with plenty of character, with a tiled entryway and spiral staircase to reach the apartment – not so cool if you’re laden with bulky baggage, but fine if you’re travelling light.
This place is sparkling clean and stylish decorated, making it the perfect high-end feeling place to hang out and plan your days in Birmingham. The top sights of the city, including the very cool Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Glasshouses, are just a short walk from this place, which is a major bonus!
Quirky Victorian Flat
- $$
- Big Kitchen
- Free Parking
- Spacious
Especially good if you’re travelling in a group, but still definitely affordable if you’re here by yourself (or in a couple), this quirky Victorian flat is, well, exactly what it says it is. The result is a homely feeling place to stay in Birmingham with nicely decorated rooms and a decent sized kitchen to rustle up meals for yourself. It’s got a nice vibe.
With free parking on offer, too, this top Airbnb in Birmingham is set in leafy Edgbaston; whilst not central, getting into the thick of things in the city couldn’t be more simple thanks to the nearby bus.
Best Overall Airbnb in Birmingham – Barclaycard Arena Apartment
- $$
- AMAZING Wi-Fi!
- Netflix
- Good, Modern Kitchen
Location, location, location, right? This has got to be the very best Airbnb in Birmingham for that killer location alone. It’s a short walk to the cafes and boutiques of Brindleyplace, as well as Symphony Hall and (obviously) Barclaycard Arena, making this an even more perfect option if you’re in town for events.
One of our favourite things about this place is the inclusion of a smart TV (yes, please), which comes with Netflix that you can use for rainy nights or lazy mornings. Another great thing is the ultra-fast wi-fi, another welcome addition – especially if you’re a digital nomad!
Barclaycard Arena Apartment is one of our favourites in Birmingham but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Bullring Studio City Apartment
- $$$
- AWESOME location
- Cool City Views
- Cable TV
One thing: the views. Waking up and sitting at the table in this place, you get to see the tangle of railway tracks that lead into New Street Station and the whole load of shiny buildings around it. The station itself is literally RIGHT outside, and so is the Bullring, making for a killer location for transport and shopping as much as food and drink!
The bars and clubs of Broadstreet are just over a 10 minute stroll away, which means this could be the best Airbnb in Birmingham for you if you feel like getting into the nightlife here. A perfect, compact studio for one – or couples.
Bullring Studio City Apartment is one of our favourites in Birmingham but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
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What to Pack for your Birmingham Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from us, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straight forward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art we have perfected over many years.
Check out our definitive Hostel Packing list for our top packing tips!
FAQ about Hostels in Birmingham
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Birmingham.
Travel Safety Tips for Birmingham
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Conclusion
There you have it, folks – that’s the end of our guide to the best cheap places to stay in Birmingham. There’s a lot of choice!
But no matter if you want privacy, self-catering apartments or a cool hostel, you’ll find something for you.
This list of the best Birmingham backpacker accommodation is all about some mega diverse options. We made sure to find everything from plush (but budget) boutique hotels all the way to some amazing Airbnbs in super central locations.
If you can’t decide, that’s totally fine. We would suggest stripping it back to basics and opting for the overall best hostel in Birmingham, Birmingham Central Backpackers. This place is a classic for (and favourite of) backpackers, so you can’t go wrong with this one.
Do you own or run a kick ass hostel? Want to be featured in this list? Get in touch at [email protected]
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
