The first youth hostel in Scotland was a converted row of four cottages in Broadmeadows and opened on 2 May 1931.

Hostels vary from modern purpose-built premises to historic buildings and country cottages, sited in major towns and cities and in rural locations, including remote islands.

For example, the most modern hostel, Edinburgh Central, has many single and twin-bedded rooms with ensuite facilities.

[citation needed] Today it faces competition from the more numerous independent hostels, and from rural hotels which provide bunkhouse accommodation.

[citation needed] It has been claimed that it has left its roots as a working class movement to "provide accommodation to people of limited means" behind, and become too expensive.