Top 10 Best Hostels in Exeter

Budget Accommodation in a Compact City

Exeter attracts a steady stream of travellers who need somewhere clean, safe and inexpensive rather than luxurious. Long-distance walkers pause here before heading onto Dartmoor or the South West Coast Path. Cyclists ride the Exe Estuary Trail and the National Cycle Network routes that converge on the city. International students and their families arrive at the start of term. Backpackers travelling between Bristol and Cornwall break the journey. Contract workers need weekly accommodation near a job site.

The hostel sector here is smaller than in a major tourist city, but it is supplemented by budget guesthouses, university accommodation let during vacations and independent bunkhouses on the moor fringe. Knowing the full range widens the options considerably.

What Distinguishes a Good Hostel

Price is the obvious starting point, but it is rarely the deciding factor for experienced travellers. Security matters most: individual lockers large enough for a full pack, keycard access and staffed or monitored entrances. Cleanliness in shared bathrooms and kitchens is the single most common subject of reviews and the clearest signal of management quality.

Beyond that, look for practical details that make a real difference: reading lights and power sockets at every bunk, curtains or pod-style privacy, laundry facilities, secure bike storage and drying space for wet gear, which in Devon is genuinely important. Sociability varies enormously, from party hostels to quiet walkers' bunkhouses, so read reviews to gauge atmosphere before booking.

The Top 10 Hostels and Budget Stays in Exeter

1. Exeter Globe Backpackers. The city's best-known independent hostel, located within walking distance of the centre and the Quay. It offers dormitory and private rooms, a shared kitchen and communal lounge, and has a long-standing reputation for a friendly, sociable atmosphere and helpful local advice.

2. YHA Exeter and Regional Hostels. The Youth Hostels Association network covers Devon extensively, with properties positioned for walkers and cyclists. YHA standards are consistent, family rooms are widely available, and membership brings discounted rates for frequent users.

3. University of Exeter Vacation Accommodation. During summer and Christmas vacations the university lets student rooms and en-suite flats at modest rates. Accommodation is clean, secure and well located on campus, and it is one of the best-value options in the city for stays of several nights.

4. Topsham Bunkhouse. A budget option in the estuary village a short train ride from the city, favoured by birdwatchers, cyclists on the Estuary Trail and travellers who prefer quiet evenings and waterside walks to city nightlife.

5. Dartmoor Bunkhouses and Camping Barns. A network of simple, characterful accommodation on the moor's edge, typically converted farm buildings offering bunk space, a kitchen and drying rooms. Essential for multi-day moorland walking and often bookable by the whole barn for groups.

6. Exeter Quay Guesthouse. Small independent guesthouses near the Quayside offering single and twin rooms at rates competitive with private hostel rooms, with breakfast included and a more private experience than dormitory accommodation.

7. The Globe Inn Budget Rooms. Pub accommodation remains an underrated budget category in Devon. Rooms above traditional inns are typically simple but comfortable, with the advantage of food and company downstairs.

8. Exeter Airport Budget Lodges. Low-cost lodges near the airport serving early departures and late arrivals, with straightforward parking and predictable standards. Practical rather than atmospheric, but well suited to their purpose.

9. Countryside Camping and Glamping Sites. Within a short drive of the city, campsites and glamping operators offer pitches, pods and shepherd's huts. In summer these can undercut hostel prices while providing far more space, and several are on bus routes into Exeter.

10. Independent Homestays and Room Rentals. Rooms in private homes booked through established platforms remain a reliable budget route, particularly for solo travellers wanting local knowledge and a quieter environment than a dormitory offers.

Practical Advice for Hostel Stays

Book early for term-start weekends, graduation and summer school holidays, when Exeter's limited budget stock disappears quickly. Check whether bedding and towels are included or charged separately, and confirm kitchen access hours if you plan to self-cater.

Bring a padlock for lockers, earplugs and an eye mask for dormitories, and a lightweight travel towel. Confirm check-in times, since smaller hostels do not always staff reception around the clock, and arrange late arrival in advance rather than assuming someone will be there.

Getting Around on a Budget

Exeter's compactness is a budget traveller's greatest asset. Most of the city centre, the Quay and the station are within twenty minutes on foot. Local bus services cover the suburbs and nearby villages, and day or weekly tickets substantially reduce costs. The Exe Estuary Trail provides a traffic-free cycling route to Topsham, Exmouth and Dawlish, and bike hire is available near the Quay.

For Dartmoor access without a car, seasonal moorland bus services and regional routes reach several key villages, though timetables are limited and require planning. Rail services along the Exe Valley and the coastal line to Dawlish and Teignmouth offer inexpensive scenic day trips.

Free and Low-Cost Things to Do

Exeter rewards visitors who are watching their spending. The Royal Albert Memorial Museum is free to enter and genuinely excellent. The Red Coat guided walks are free and cover a wide range of themes. The city walls, Rougemont Gardens, Cathedral Green and the Quayside cost nothing to enjoy, and the canal towpath provides hours of walking. Exeter's covered market and independent bakeries make assembling a picnic straightforward and cheap.

Final Thoughts

Exeter's budget accommodation market is modest in size but broader than a simple hostel search suggests. Include university vacation lets, pub rooms, bunkhouses and campsites in your search, prioritise security and cleanliness over the lowest nightly rate, and book early around university dates. Done well, a budget stay in Exeter costs little and still puts a cathedral city, an estuary and a national park within easy reach.