We Received 11 Insect Hotels From Suppliers – The Handcrafted Ones Were Our Favourite

Insect hotels are not just a trendy garden accessory, but a meaningful step towards boosting biodiversity.

They provide shelter for a variety of insects – from solitary bees to ladybugs and butterflies – creating a hub of insects to help bolster garden pollination and pest control.

I was actually inspired to research more about them after noticing this huge bug hotel on Russell Square (a public park) in Central London – I thought it an intriguing concept.

As part of my research I have personally held, tested and reviewed each of the products listed below – to give you the best idea possible about which might be the right fit for you and your garden critters.

With that in mind, I’ve arranged this list with my favourites at the top, with durability, ornamental appeal, environmental considerations and quality being the main criteria under consideration.

Disclaimer: while each retailer featured sent us their product to review hands-on at zero cost, we were not compensated to include their product in this list. Each is included based on merit alone. That being said, depending on the retailer, we may earn a small commission if you click on links we provide - at no additional cost to you.

Short on time? Here’s a quick run-down of our favourite picks:

Below are our favourite 11 insect and bug hotels currently available to purchase in the UK.

1) Bug Home Made From Recycled Tins

• BRAND: Devine Bits and Bugs
• RETAIL PRICE: £30.00
• OUR RATING: 5/5
• AVAILABLE FROM: Etsy

Our favourite pick from this brilliant list is this bug home from the Etsy shop, Devine Bits and Bugs.

There is clearly a heap of creativity and craftsmanship that has gone into making this product.

In fact, this bug home was handcrafted in the UK from used materials that would have otherwise been disposed of.

This makes it not only a great gift for the wildlife in your garden but also for the planet, as it is completely recycled and is a great use of waste materials.

From testing all of the hotels, I particularly loved this product for its diversity of habitats.

The hotel contains 6 recycled tins, each of which is filled with either wood shavings, pinecones or hollow bamboo canes.

The bamboo is perfect for solitary bees, whilst the pinecones and shavings make a great home for natural predators such as ladybirds or lacewings.

I found that another big plus is that there are no nails or pins in this product that could potentially pose a threat to other local wildlife – the product is held together by rope made from a natural material.

The hook on top of the hotel is also a welcome addition for easy installation.

Personally, I chose to hang it from a wooden fence to avoid any disturbance, but you could also leave this bug hotel in the corner of your garden on the floor.

Either way, I couldn’t recommend this fantastic hotel enough and, after testing, believe it is one of the best in the business.

2) Bug House

• BRAND: Cameron Bespolka Trust
• RETAIL PRICE: £16.00
• OUR RATING: 5/5
• AVAILABLE FROM: Cameron Bespolka Store

As above, I loved this product for its handcrafted quality.

It was made at Minstead Trust in Hampshire, a charity which helps to support people with learning disabilities.

It’s not just made with people in mind, but the critters in your garden too!

The wood is untreated to make it safe for all bugs and there is a slanted, overhanging roof which will help prevent rain from getting into the home.

From testing, I also loved the ornamental value this bug house provided – in particular the little decorative ladybird that was set against the blue-painted wood.

It also has a handy piece of wood at the top and bottom, making it suitable for fixing to a garden shed or wall, which is how I would recommend installing it.

The small, birdhouse-sized hotel is filled with hollow bamboo canes that are tightly packed to make the house as effective as possible.

Although it is advertised as suitable for all bugs, I would argue that the habitat provided is best suited to solitary bees, so if you are looking to facilitate a wider range of insect habitats, this might not be the best choice.

Having said that, in terms of value for money and the quality of the product, I think that this is a top choice that won’t disappoint.

3) Large Insect House

• BRAND: Garden Locker
• RETAIL PRICE: £19.99
• OUR RATING: 4.5/5
• AVAILABLE FROM: Amazon

Affordable whilst packing a punch, this large insect house from Garden Locker has the makings of a great home for insects.

This product is probably closest in size and similarity to the extra-large custom bug house I found in London’s Russell Square earlier this year.

I loved the look of this hotel and was really excited to try it out – it was certainly the largest of all the products I tested.

Therefore, it is no surprise that I found that this is definitely the best bug hotel for you if it’s variation you’re after.

The bamboo is great for bees, the pinecones will suit beetles and other crawling bugs, whilst the bark at the top is perfect for ladybirds, crickets and other flying insects.

There is even a slit purposefully included for butterflies; a feature that is unique to this and only one other product I selected for this list.

The only downside to this hotel is its durability.

Due to its metal roof, I would say that it is definitely prone to rust caused by rain and cold weather, which is something I’d suggest keeping in mind when it comes to garden placement and shelter.

Because of this, I’d recommend hanging this product rather than letting it stand freely, as this will hopefully minimise the risk of rot at the base and rust around the edges.

4) Dewdrop Bee & Bug Hotel

• BRAND: The Wildlife Community
• RETAIL PRICE: £22.99
• OUR RATING: 4/5
• AVAILABLE FROM: The Wildlife Community Store

Diverging from the usual house-like structures that make up the bulk of this list, the Dewdrop Bee & Bug Hotel from The Wildlife Community is great if you’re looking for something a little different.

Best suited to solitary bee species, this hotel is shaped like a teardrop and has a unique layer of woven bamboo encasing the hollowed canes, giving it an ornamental value that can’t be found elsewhere.

Due to its shape, this is the only option on the list that must be hung up and doesn’t have the option of free-standing.

However, I think this is the best way to display this hotel anyway, as it can fill a spot against a garden wall or fence.

After testing, I did find that the wood and bamboo, particularly on the front of the hotel, was quite rough and prone to splintering – but this is certainly not something that would prevent it from being used for its primary purpose.

This might also be something to keep in mind if you are going to be handling it without gardening gloves.

Having said that, the ornamental appeal of this product, and the fact it hasn’t been treated with any chemicals, makes this hotel a great choice for both bees and humans alike!

5) Two Tier Wildlife House

• BRAND: The Green Woodpecker Co
• RETAIL PRICE: £32.50
• OUR RATING: 4/5
• AVAILABLE FROM: Etsy

One of my personal favourites in terms of aesthetic appeal – this stunning two-tiered wildlife house from The Green Woodpecker Co, is perfect for providing ornamental value to your outdoor space as well as providing a home for bees and other insects.

I adore the detailing on this product and love that it provides a habitat for multiple different creepy crawlies.

The different-sized holes make it great for different species of solitary bees, whilst the wood chips in the lower section are ideal for other-sized bugs.

The product comes with a hook, making it easy to affix to a wall or fence.

However, I would opt for placing this bug hotel nearer to the ground, so that non-flying insects could also find a way to make use of the habitat.

It is slightly pricier than the other options on this list, but the fact that it feels homemade and the attention to detail that has been poured into this product makes it worthy of its price tag.

Why not support a small UK business and give this home a go?

6) DIY Wooden Bug House

• BRAND: Endless Resources
• RETAIL PRICE: £9.75
• OUR RATING: 4/5
• AVAILABLE FROM: Etsy

I’m breaking up this list by adding something a little different.

Endless Resources is a small UK business on Etsy that produces unique handcrafted gifts that can be used by children to learn about various subjects.

For just £9.75, this includes a DIY bug house kit with bamboo canes that be put together by children, newbie gardeners and experts alike.

When put together correctly, this bug hotel is especially suitable for solitary bees and other small, winged insects.

I thought that although the completed design was rather basic, it would work well in most gardens, no matter what the existing scheme looks like.

It was slightly frustrating that there was no glue provided, as this meant I could not put it together myself without finding more supplies.

However, I love the idea of this product and think it would be a great way to engage younger people with the outdoors.

If you are thinking of choosing this DIY kit, just make sure that you have some glue at the ready and the patience to put it together yourself – if you do, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the process!

7) Eco-Friendly Bug House

• BRAND: Gate 35
• RETAIL PRICE: £15.99
• OUR RATING: 4/5
• AVAILABLE FROM: Amazon

For just under £16, this Bug House is a great option in terms of value for money; there are 5 different sections suitable for a range of insects incorporated into the design.

There are slots for butterflies to make their home, as well as habitats for several different species of bees and various crawling bugs.

The blue roof is the only ornamental detail, but I rather like the natural softwood used for the rest of the model.

It is a sturdy choice, so I’d recommend placing this hotel close to a busy garden bed for bugs to crawl into and bees to fly around.

Some of the holes in the wood for bees have not been entirely hollowed out and there are rough edges on the surface of this product, but for such a low price tag, this is definitely one of the best value options on the list.

8) Small Bug House

• BRAND: Garden Locker
• RETAIL PRICE: £13.99
• OUR RATING: 4/5
• AVAILABLE FROM: Amazon

Another affordable option, this small bug house from Garden Locker comes with a cleaning stick and an overhanging roof, which makes it easy to care for.

Although not the most ornamental option, the compact nature of this product makes it ideal for smaller gardens or for discreetly attaching to a narrow wall or fence.

I really like that there are different-sized holes made in the wood and bamboo.

This added variety allows for different species of bees to access the bug hotel, making it more accessible and, therefore, more likely to be used by the wildlife in your space.

As mentioned with all the metal-roof products on this list, I do worry about this rusting in our rainy British climate, which is my only real complaint with this product.

So, this might not be the one if you’re after a longer-lasting option for your garden – but I would still say that this hotel for bees will still be a worthy purchase for your space.

9) Eco-Friendly Bee House

• BRAND: Gate 35
• RETAIL PRICE: £19.99
• OUR RATING: 4/5
• AVAILABLE FROM: Amazon

This small eco-friendly bee house is ideal for fitting into a corner of your garden that might not be suitable for anything much bigger.

This hive from Gate 35 can also be attached to a fence or wall and seems reasonably sturdy, although its lightweight feel might be challenged by strong winds.

I love the vibrant appearance of this bee hotel and found that the sunny yellow colour painted on the exterior really brightened up my outdoor space.

I did find that some of the bamboo holes were too small for most average-sized insects, but they might be suitable for smaller insects such as spiders or beetles.

I also found that the outside of the bee hotel was still quite rough and had not been completely sanded down.

10) Solitary Bee Hive

• BRAND: The Wildlife Community
• RETAIL PRICE: £32.99
• OUR RATING: 4/5
• AVAILABLE FROM: The Wildlife Community Store

Perfect for attracting solitary bees, this small bee hive from The Wildlife Community is ideal for placing amongst wildflowers in your garden as an ideal resting place for the visitors your flowers will attract.

The real highlight of this house is the fact that you can take apart the trays of the hive to examine the contents inside.

This also makes it a lot easier to clean and offers you a chance to examine any eggs that might have been laid!

The only real problem with this hotel was the untreated wood, as although it is great for the environment, the hotel itself is sure to rot fairly quickly if exposed to inclement conditions.

Despite being more expensive, this bee hive is likely to not last as long as some other hotels on this list.

Having said that, the feet at the base will slow down the process and prevent the hotel from rotting at the bottom.

11) Wild Bee House

• BRAND: Garden Locker
• RETAIL PRICE: £13.99
• OUR RATING: 2/5
• AVAILABLE FROM: Amazon

With an overhanging roof to protect wildlife visitors from the rain, this affordable option from Garden Locker is the final product to make it onto my list.

This bee house comes in a lovely pale green shade that would be appealing when affixed to any garden wall or fence and luckily, it is easy to do so, as the metal hook at the back of the hive makes it easy to slide onto any hook with little to no hassle.

Unfortunately, not all of the bamboo had been hollowed out correctly, which meant insects would not be able to access some of the holes.

And, like the other products with metal roofs on this list, I am worried about the susceptibility the hotel has to rust if left in the garden.

However, this is an affordable option which will still be a lovely addition to a garden where a habitat for bees is a necessity.