We are YHA.

We’re here to give every young person the chance to experience amazing places, share extraordinary journeys and discover the skills and confidence that will take them places.

Every bed, in every hostel, on every night of the year can make a positive difference to somebody – be they holiday-maker, short-breaker, business traveller or backpacker. But that’s just for starters. As a youth charity, we intensively support travel opportunities for young people – especially those for whom adventures are otherwise out of reach. And our particular focus is on improving physical and mental health and wellbeing through these experiences – and passing on crucial life skills that improve young people’s life chances.

We are YHA. We transform young lives forever through travel and real adventure.

Because where you go changes who you become.

In the early years, clusters of hostels sprang up regionally. And, as the decades rolled on and our membership expanded, more hostels were added to create a large, varied network. Hostels in towns and cities opened, democratising access to centres of culture and heritage. Standards improved. Opportunities grew.

Over the last ten years, we have transformed the sustainability of our charity. By operating on the principles of social enterprise, we continue to offer everyone affordable access to the countryside, our coasts and the culture of towns and cities.

Today, YHA is in impressive shape. We have a stable financial base. We top the Hostelling International list for customer satisfaction. Our operational standards are at their best. And our 150 uniquely characterful properties are well placed to enable us to tackle some of the most pressing social issues of the day.