We’re celebrating 90 years of adventure for all. Take a look at then and now – our trip back in time offers a taste of how life has changed during YHA’s history.
1930
Price of a pint of beer: Approximately 5p
Take in the view: Blackpool Tower (158m/518ft)
UK population: Estimated at around 45 million
Monarch: King George V
League champions: Sheffield Wednesday
Technology: John Logie Baird installs a TV receiver at 10 Downing Street
Film: Anti-war epic All Quiet On The Western Front wins Best Picture at the Oscars
Music: Bing Crosby makes his first recording as a solo vocalist
Kids: The Mickey Mouse comic strip makes its first appearance
The outdoors: The Kinder Mass Trespass, asserting walkers’ ‘right to roam’, is just two years away
In the news: On April 18 1930, the BBC announces ‘There is no news’ and fills its 15-minute bulletin with piano music
Trailblazer: Amy Johnson lands in Australia, becoming the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia
Nobel Peace Prize: Nominees include British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald
Protest: Mahatma Gandhi begins a 200-mile march to protest against British rule in India
Books: Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons is published, showcasing the wonders of the Lake District
And so it begins
YHA is founded, with the stated aim ‘to help all, but especially young people, to a greater knowledge, use and love of the countryside, particularly by providing hostels or other simple accommodation for them on their travels’
2020
Price of a pint of beer: Approximately £3.70
Take in the view: The Shard (310m/1,017ft)
UK population: Estimated at around 65 million
Monarch: Queen Elizabeth II
League champions: Liverpool
Technology: Apple becomes Wall Street’s first $2 trillion company
Film: Korean black comedy thriller Parasite wins Best Picture at the Oscars
Music: Taylor Swift’s new album streamed more than 80 million times on its first day
Kids: The Disney Plus channel reaches 60 million subscribers, nine months after its launch
The outdoors: The 2,795-mile England Coast Path nears its completion, becoming our 16th National Trail
In the news: On April 18 2020, at the height of the coronavirus outbreak, veteran Captain Tom Moore breaks the £20m barrier in his NHS fundraising
Trailblazer: Runner Liz Warner completes her 30th marathon in 30 different countries to raise money for local, woman-empowered communities
Nobel Peace Prize: Nominees include 17-year-old Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg
Protest: A statue of slave trader Edward Colston is torn down in Bristol
Books: Sales surge in March as readers stock up on books over lockdown
And so it continues
YHA marks its 90th anniversary, releasing a 10-year strategy that ‘will see us reaching more people and growing our impact, with a particular focus on those who could benefit the most, in an era that needs us more than ever’
