Home grown holidays lead the way in 2009

Perhaps it is the credit crunch, perhaps it is the severely weakened pound but it seems that travellers are becoming wise to the idea that the best place to travel to from the UK this year is - the UK. Data from Google shows that the number of Brits searching for UK holidays has significantly risen over the past few months.

Hostelworld.com, the largest online provider of hostel bookings, has developed a list of hostels in the top 10 most googled UK destinations, meaning that people can save even more money on their home-grown holidays.

1. London
2. Edinburgh
3. Liverpool
4. Glasgow
5. Brighton
6. Bath
7. Cambridge
8. Cardiff
9. Inverness
10. Birmingham

Palmers Lodge, London
Victorian elegance at a budget price - Palmers Lodge is one of the most beautiful hostels you will find the world over. Built in 1881 and the former home of Samuel Palmer of the Huntley and Palmers biscuit empire, this substantial house has been restored to its original glory to offer guests a unique experience during their stay in London. The winner of multiple hostel industry awards, Palmers Lodge offers spacious private rooms and dormitories as well as free internet access and daily breakfast. A tour desk, restaurant, lounge area and bar with flat screen TVs is also available in this high standard hostel. Accommodation from £14 /night

smartcityhostels Edinburgh, Scotland
New and spacious with modern interiors, this 5 star hostel is right in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town within walking distance of the city’s top tourist attractions, bars, shops and restaurants.

With an onsite cash machine, lockers for each guest, mobile phone chargers and free wifi – this hostel offers all the modern conveniences a guest could ask for. All rooms are private with cosy beds and powerful showers, catering for groups of one to 12, families and single female travellers. The hostel’s cafe and bar are open all day and night serving a great range of food and drinks with an extensive selection of games on offer. Accommodation from £21/night

YHA Liverpool
Rated as a four star hostel by Visit Britain!, this is a modern, purpose-built building with all the facilities one could need. Adjacent to the Albert Dock and only a 10-minute walk from the heart of the city, the YHA Liverpool has a lounge bar and restaurant open for guests as well as internet, bicycle hire and a games room. This new hostel acts as a very comfortable base to explore all of what Liverpool has to offer. Accommodation from £15.95 /night

Euro Hostels, Glasgow
With comfortable rooms for 1-14 people, Euro Hostels caters for families, singles, groups and disabled travellers. The hostel’s famous bar, Osmosis serves up quality drinks at cheap rates. Staff can organise adventure activities, local tours and pub crawls to explore Glasgow’s infamous nightlife. Breakfast is included in all room rates and twin rooms come with TV. Guests can cook up a storm in the fully equipped kitchen and chill out in one of the two lounge rooms with TVs, internet access, pool tables and 24 hour drink service. What more could you need for a memorable trip to Glasgow? Accommodation from £13.95 /night

Seadragon Backpackers, Brighton
Ideally located just off Brighton’s seafront, this small independently owned backpackers is a great base from which to enjoy everything that Brighton has to offer. The hostel itself offers private double rooms or four bed dorms while downstairs the brand new basement kitchen takes you back in time with a unique eating and drinking area with benches made from Brighton’s old sea defences! Just a short hop from London, this is perfect for a short break. Accommodation from £20/night

YHA Bath, Bath
A beautiful Italianate mansion in its own gardens, YHA Bath offers a comfortable base for exploring this elegant city and offers all the facilities you would expect of such a prestigious location. After a day discovering all that Bath has to offer, relax and enjoy a drink and meal at the hostels own café and bar, Café Di Fiesole. With rooms ranging from a four bed room with ensuite facilities to 10 bed, single sex dorms, this offers something for everyone. Accommodation from £15.95/night

YHA Cambridge, Cambridge
Offering a wide selection of rooms of between two and eight beds, this Victorian townhouse makes a great base for a city break in Cambridge where you can relax by the river and visit colleges, museums and art galleries galore. Breakfast (included in the price) and evening meals are both available while the hostel chefs can also prepare a packed lunch for those who are planning to spend a day in the city. The hostel also offers a bar, a common room and internet access. Accommodation from £21.95/night

The Riverhouse Backpackers, Cardiff
Claiming the prize for the top hostel in Britain in the recent Hoscars, this four star hostel, run by a brother and sister team is located in the heart of beautiful Cardiff. The Riverhouse, as its name suggests, offers rooms with beautiful views of the River Taff. Opened late 2007, this hostel caters for everyone from independent travellers and couples to business visitors and families. The hostel offers 24 hour CCTV surveillance and is placed just five minutes walk from the central train and bus station. Accommodation from £17 /night

Inverness Tourist Hostel, Inverness
This newly modernised, high quality tourist hostel has just been given a 4 star rating by the Scottish Tourist Board and it’s not hard to see why. It is located in the heart of the city and offers 10 rooms of between 4 and 10 beds. The features of this hostel include a fully equipped kitchen/dining room and a comfortable lounge with 42’ Plasma TV, cable and internet access, along with its own bar hosting live music many nights of the week. The city of Inverness has many delights including Inverness Castle, St. Andrews Cathedral and of course the legendary Loch Ness Monster! Accommodation from £9/night

Hatters Hostel, Birmingham
Well established as Birmingham’s favourite backpackers, this hostel is part of the chain voted the second best in the world at the Hoscars awards ceremony 2008. Centrally located in the vibrant Jewellery Quarter, Hatters has upped the norm in hostel accommodation, offering a fusion of hotel style facilities and all the fun and character of a hostel. A continental breakfast buffet is included in the price and runs all day and all night! Accommodation from £12 /night

For more information and bookings, log on to Hostelworld.com.