Clear evenings are perfect for stargazing. Dr Sheila Kanani of the Royal Astronomical Society guides us through Britain’s night sky and teaches us how to stargaze. Astronomy can be hugely rewarding, whether you have a substantial telescope and accessories such as a...
Winter can be a difficult time for birds. They need to eat lots of winter bird food, for energy and warmth, but the days are colder and darker. We can help by leaving out things for them to feed on. If you have a bird-feeder, remember to keep it nice and full with...
A new year, a new decade, a map full of possibilities. 2020 is shaping up to be a special one for both England and Wales – and don’t just take our word for it. Lonely Planet recently named England the world’s second best tourist destination for the year ahead,...
When Visit England named the winners of its 2019 ROSE Awards – given to a select group of hotels, hostels, guesthouses and holiday rentals, all of which have shown outstanding customer service – YHA appeared not just once on the list, but twice. YHA Holmbury St...
Unfurl a map of England and Wales, and before you know it your feet start to itch. All those hills, all those valleys, all those coastal paths. It’s no exaggeration to say that the vast majority of our rural hostels – and a fair few of our city properties too –...
Why do leaves fall off trees? Every year, the leaves of trees like oaks, beeches and willows lose their green colour and fall to the ground. But why? The answer to 'why do leaves fall off trees?' is simple. Without growing new leaves every year, trees wouldn’t be...
We welcome two exciting new city properties to our portfolio. There’s magic on the Mersey and treasure on the Tyne. Liverpool and Newcastle would sit near the top of any list of colourful British cities, so we’re thrilled to have recently taken over city-centre...
It’s very easy to rush through life – to charge about the place like a hare in a hurry, dashing here and darting there, never standing still. After all, everyone loves adventure. But sometimes, slowing down can show us things we would normally miss. When was the...
Each issue we’ll be sharing some special moments you’ve had while staying with YHA. We’d love to hear about your most memorable experiences at [email protected]'s Discovery“We stayed in a youth hostel in the middle of the woods [YHA Tanners Hatch]. It was...
Few things in life beat a trip to the seaside, and more than 35 of our hostels sit on – or within strolling distance of – the endlessly varied shoreline of England and Wales. These include classic options like YHA Boggle Hole, as well as a whole host of lesser...
While one of the country’s best-known adventurers was locked up, five children were let loose in the mountains. Here’s what happened... We called it The Adventure Effect – but it was an imprisonment of sorts. We invited...
Each issue we’ll be sharing some special moments you’ve had while staying with YHA. We’d love to hear about your most memorable experiences at [email protected].“The bell tent at YHA Stratford-upon-Avon was perfect for our first family break with our new puppy....
