SIC code 55202 covers youth hostels businesses. With 294 active companies, this is a specialised niche within the UK business landscape. It falls under Section I (Accommodation and food service activities) of the UK SIC 2007 classification system, which is used by Companies House to categorise all registered businesses.
See the full industry analysis on the Youth hostels industry page.
With a 79% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 23 of 371 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. Companies in this sector average 10.0 years old, reflecting a balanced mix of established businesses and newer market participants. Growth has been exceptional recently: 47% of all active companies were formed since 2020, marking this as one of the fastest-expanding classifications. The 2010s contributed another 34%, meaning the vast majority of businesses are relatively new. The leading locations for this sector are LONDON (83), BIRMINGHAM (19), MANCHESTER (10), which together account for 38% of active companies.
SIC code 55202 stands for "Youth hostels" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section I — Accommodation and food service activities. Companies use this code when registering with Companies House to indicate their primary business activity. The code is required for annual confirmation statements and is used by HMRC, ONS, and other government bodies for statistical and regulatory purposes.
There are currently 294 active companies registered under SIC code 55202 in the UK, out of 371 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 79%, meaning 21% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for youth hostels companies (SIC 55202) are: LONDON (83), BIRMINGHAM (19), MANCHESTER (10), EDINBURGH (6). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 47% of currently active SIC 55202 companies were formed since 2020, and 34% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for youth hostels services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 55202 have an average age of 10.0 years. This suggests a balanced sector with both established players and newer entrants. Notable companies include YHA (ENGLAND AND WALES), WOODCRAFT FOLK, YMCA LONDON CITY AND NORTH.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 55100 (Hotels and similar accommodation), 55209 (Other holiday and other collective accommodation), 55900 (Other accommodation), 55300 (Recreational vehicle parks, trailer parks and camping grounds). Companies may use multiple SIC codes if they operate across several of these related activities. When registering with Companies House, businesses should select the code that best represents their primary activity.
You can search for companies with SIC code 55202 (Youth hostels) using UVAGATRON's company explorer, which allows filtering by SIC code, location, and company status. Alternatively, Companies House offers a basic search on their website. Our platform adds risk intelligence, director networks, and signals from 50+ government databases to each company record.
Search, filter, and analyse 294 companies classified under this SIC code with AI-powered risk intelligence.
Data sourced from Companies House, HM Land Registry, FCA Register, and 50+ government databases. SIC classification follows the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (SIC 2007). Last updated: 2026-08-22.