Help centre

Got a question about your upcoming booking, membership or online account? We’re here to help.

What do you need help with?

Get the information and answers you need, all in one place.

How can we help with your account?

We have a multiple answers to your question

We all forget sometimes! Don't worry, resetting your password is easy - simply request a link to reset your password.

To change your password, simply log into your online account and select 'My profile'.

From there, you can change the password for your online account.
To change your address, simply log into your online account and select 'My Profile'. From there, you can change your address, reset your password and more.

Log in to your account
To delete your online account, simply log into your online account and select 'My Profile'. From there, you can update any of your details as well as delete your online account.

Log in to your account
What type of booking do you need help with?

How can we help with your dorm, private room or Camping & Cabins booking?

If your plans have changed, you can cancel your booking online.

All booking cancellations are processed in line with our booking terms & conditions (cancellation charges apply). Bookings made with a promotional code are non-refundable.

If you booked via a third-party such as Booking.com, we’re unable to cancel your booking. Please contact the third-party directly.

Once a booking has been placed, it cannot be altered. If your plans have changed, you can cancel your booking online (cancellation charges apply).

We have multiple questions relating to this topic

If you would like to add breakfast or meals to your booking, you can do this at the time of placing your booking or on arrival at the hostel.
To add extra nights to your stay, please make a separate booking for the additional dates. We cannot guarantee the same room will be available. For any booking queries, feel free to call our team on 01629 592700.
 
If you would like to add another room to your booking, please book it separately using the website.
Unfortunately, we're unable to make changes to bookings made through any third-parties. Please contact the third-party directly.

Unfortunately, once a booking has been placed, the location cannot be altered. If you wish to change the location, this is treated as a cancellation. You can cancel your booking online.

All booking cancellations are processed in line with ourbooking terms & conditions (cancellation charges apply). Bookings made with a promotional code are non-refundable.

Some of our hostels may have varied opening patterns across the year.

If you can't get in touch with a hostel directly, don't worry – our highly trained advisers will be happy to answer your questions. You can contact them in a few different ways. 

If you are due to stay with us tonight and need to contact us urgently, please use the phone number listed on your pre-arrival email to reach the hostel reception.
 

We aim to process all refund applications within 28 days. Our refund process is not automated and all refunds are processed manually by our team.

If your refund application has been submitted, it is in our processing queue. We are working hard to get all applications processed as quickly as possible and we thank you for your patience.

The best way to find availability is to use the calendar on each hostel page. If you're not seeing any availability for a specific type of accommodation, it may be that the hostel is fully booked, space is being temporarily held for potential group bookings or the specific type of accommodation is not available in that season.

Every property is different - most hostels offer Exclusive Hire (where you can book the entire place) between October and Easter. Please see each hostel page for the latest availability.

When you choose to stay with YHA you are supporting one of the nation’s leading youth charities. Our hostels welcome people of all ages, and one of the unique features of YHA is how our hostels can accommodate school and youth groups, adult groups, families and individual travellers. 

In 2020, YHA appointed an independent safeguarding auditor to review YHA admissions arrangements. YHA asked what a leading youth charity could do to further improve its arrangements to provide a safe environment for all of our guests and, in particular, young people. The recommendation was to implement a request for photographic ID to those that wished to use our services. As a result we have implemented these recommendations and updated our admissions policy and booking terms & conditions.

When staying with YHA, all guests over the age of 18 need to provide photographic ID for dorms, private rooms and Camping & Cabins bookings. Only the lead booker for Exclusive Hire needs to provide photographic ID.

Thank you for your support in making YHA an even safer place.

If you haven’t received a booking confirmation email, please check your spam or junk folder.

To view your bookings and order summary, you can log in to your account.

If you still haven’t received your confirmation email within 24 hours, please contact our team on 01629 592700.

Bookings should always be made in the name and address of the person who will be staying. We cannot change the name on a booking once this has been placed.

If you booked using the wrong name, this is treated as a cancellation. You can cancel your booking online (cancellation charges apply) and rebook in the correct name.

How can we help with your Exclusive Hire booking?

When you make an Exclusive Hire booking for more than 8 weeks in advance, we require a 20% deposit to secure a booking which is part of our terms and conditions. 

Bookings made less than 8 weeks (56 days) in advance require full payment at the time of Booking.

However, if you need to be invoiced or can only pay by cheque, we will hold the booking for up to one week. If payment is not received within this time, the booking will be cancelled

If your payment details change after we have taken the deposit but before the next payment, We are required to make at least one attempt to process your refund to your original payment method. If this attempt fails, a member of our team will contact you to collect your bank details so that we can issue the refund via bank transfer.

If your plans have changed, you can cancel your booking online.

All booking cancellations are processed in line with our booking terms & conditions (cancellation charges apply). Bookings made with a promotional code are non-refundable.

Once a booking has been placed, it cannot be altered. If your plans have changed, you can cancel your booking online (cancellation charges apply).

We have multiple questions relating to this topic

If you want to add an additional night to your booking, please call our team on +44 (0)1629 592700.

Unfortunately, once a booking has been placed, the location cannot be altered. If you wish to change the location, this is treated as a cancellation. You can cancel your booking online.

All booking cancellations are processed in line with our booking terms & conditions (cancellation charges apply). Bookings made with a promotional code are non-refundable.

Dogs are welcome to stay at many of our Exclusive Hire sites. You can add up to 4 dogs to your booking for a charge of £50 per dog for the duration of your stay.

To add a dog to your booking, please call our team on +44 (0)1629 592700.

You can book up to 18 months in advance. Every property is different - most properties offer Exclusive Hire between October and Easter, however, some are available outside of these periods. Please see each hostel page for availability.

We aim to process all refund applications within 28 days. Our refund process is not automated and all refunds are processed manually by our team.

If your refund application has been submitted, it is in our processing queue. We are working hard to get all applications processed as quickly as possible and we thank you for your patience.

For most Exclusive Hire stays, the check-in is available from 4.00pm on the day of arrival. On the day of departure you are asked to vacate by 10am.

Please check the hostel you are staying at for the most accurate information as the check-in times can vary depending on the hostel. 

Yes - the manager will meet you on arrival to show you around and hand over the keys. After that the property is all yours - you can come and go as you please!

At some of our properties, the hostel manager or staff may live on site. Other guests may be elsewhere onsite at some properties but will not have access to the building you've hired (see hostel pages for details).

Please rest assured that they are always in a separate area and will not invade your privacy.

Some of our hostels have varied opening patterns across the year. If you can't get in touch with a hostel directly, don't worry – our highly trained advisers will be happy to answer your questions. You can contact them in a few different ways. 

If you are due to stay with us tonight and need to contact us urgently, please use our out-of-hours emergency number: 0333 800 1503

If you have a question relating to invoices, payments of receipts then please contact YHA’s group payment team who will happily assist you.

When you choose to stay with YHA you are supporting one of the nation’s leading youth charities. Our hostels welcome people of all ages, and one of the unique features of YHA is how our hostels can accommodate school and youth groups, adult groups, families and individual travellers. 

In 2020, YHA appointed an independent safeguarding auditor to review YHA admissions arrangements. YHA asked what a leading youth charity could do to further improve its arrangements to provide a safe environment for all of our guests and, in particular, young people. The recommendation was to implement a request for photographic ID to those that wished to use our services. As a result we have implemented these recommendations and updated our admissions policy and booking terms & conditions.

When staying with YHA, all guests over the age of 18 need to provide photographic ID for dorms, private rooms and Camping & Cabins bookings. Only the lead booker for Exclusive Hire needs to provide photographic ID.

Thank you for your support in making YHA an even safer place.

If you haven’t received a booking confirmation email, please check your spam or junk folder.

To view your bookings and order summary, you can log in to your account.

If you still haven’t received your confirmation email within 24 hours, please contact our team on 01629 592700.

When a property is being hired out through YHA Exclusive Hire, we need to make sure that all the facilities, such as kitchens and bathrooms, are sufficient for your stay. This could mean that sometimes we need to limit bed numbers in order to ensure a comfortable experience. It may also be for health and safety restrictions so the information provided in the access statement may differ from the hostel page.

Bookings should always be made in the name and address of the person who will be staying. We cannot change the name on a booking once this has been placed.

If you booked using the wrong name, this is treated as a cancellation. You can cancel your booking online (cancellation charges apply) and rebook in the correct name.

How can we help with your group booking?

Enjoy great value group accommodation, dedicated group facilities, tasty catering options and adventurous activities designed to excite and inspire your group.

If your plans have changed, you can cancel your booking by calling our team on 01629 592700.

All booking cancellations are processed in line with our booking terms & conditions (cancellation charges apply).

We have multiple questions relating to this topic

To add more guests to an existing group booking, please submit our change my booking form.

Your request will be reviewed and the changes will be applied (subject to availability). We’ll send you a revised booking confirmation including details of the additional charges.

Groups can reduce guest numbers once by up to 15%, up to 12 weeks before arrival, free of charge. Simply use our change my booking form.

A cancellation fee will be charged for any additional decreases or decreases made within 12 weeks of arrival in line with our booking terms & conditions.

Once your booking is finalised, hostel staff will contact you 6-8 weeks before arrival to confirm your guest breakdown as well as arrival times, activities and itineraries. You'll also need to discuss meal requirements and room allocations.

To change the board basis on an existing group booking, please submit our change my booking form.

Your request will be reviewed and the changes will be applied (subject to availability). We’ll send you a revised booking confirmation including details of any additional charges.

Unfortunately, once a booking has been placed, the arrival and/or departure dates cannot be altered.

If you wish to change dates, this is treated as a cancellation. You can cancel your booking by calling our team on 01629 592700 (cancellation charges apply).

Unfortunately, once a booking has been placed, the location cannot be altered.

If you wish to change the location, this is treated as a cancellation. You can cancel your booking by calling our team on 01629 592700 (cancellation charges apply).

If you have a question relating to invoices, payments of receipts, please call our group payments team 01629 592529

The availability calendar on each hostel page shows availability for dorm rooms, private rooms, Camping & Cabins and Exclusive Hire. If you're not seeing any availability for a specific type of accommodation, it may be that the space is being temporarily held for potential group bookings.

To check availability and pricing for groups, simply contact our dedicated groups team – they can help put together the perfect stay for you.
 

When you choose to stay with YHA you are supporting one of the nation’s leading youth charities. Our hostels welcome people of all ages, and one of the unique features of YHA is how our hostels can accommodate school and youth groups, adult groups, families and individual travellers. 

In 2020, YHA appointed an independent safeguarding auditor to review YHA admissions arrangements. YHA asked what a leading youth charity could do to further improve its arrangements to provide a safe environment for all of our guests and, in particular, young people. The recommendation was to implement a request for photographic ID to those that wished to use our services. As a result we have implemented these recommendations and updated our admissions policy and booking terms & conditions.

When staying with YHA, all guests over the age of 18 need to provide photographic ID for dorms, private rooms and Camping & Cabins bookings. Only the lead booker for Exclusive Hire needs to provide photographic ID.

Thank you for your support in making YHA an even safer place.

If you haven’t received a booking confirmation email, please check your spam or junk folder.

If you still haven’t received your confirmation email within 24 hours, please contact our team on 01629 592700.

How can we help with your travel trade booking?

YHA travel trade partners have access to a wide range of options for great value accommodation in major cities and tourist destinations across England and Wales. To qualify for YHA travel trade rates you must complete our travel trade partner application form.

To make a booking you need to be an approved travel trade partner. Existing travel trade partners can book by completing our group booking enquiry form.

Not a travel trade partner yet? Complete our trade partner application form to qualify for YHA travel trade rates.

If you have a question relating to invoices or payments of receipts, please call our group payment team on 01629 592529.

If you need to make a change to the number of guests in your group booking, provide the guest breakdown or change your meal choices, please submit our change my booking form. 

Groups can reduce guest numbers once by up to 15%, up to 12 weeks before arrival, free of charge. A cancellation fee will be charged for any additional decreases or decreases made within 12 weeks of arrival in line with our booking terms & conditions.

Unfortunately, once a booking has been placed, the location, arrival and/or departure dates cannot be altered. If you wish to change location or dates, this is treated as a cancellation.

To discuss or cancel your booking please call our team on 01629 592700 (cancellation charges apply).

The availability calendar on each hostel page shows availability for dorm rooms, private rooms, Camping & Cabins and Exclusive Hire. If you're not seeing any availability for a specific type of accommodation, it may be that the space is being temporarily held for potential group bookings.

To check availability and pricing for travel trade, simply contact our travel trade team.

When you choose to stay with YHA you are supporting one of the nation’s leading youth charities. Our hostels welcome people of all ages, and one of the unique features of YHA is how our hostels can accommodate school and youth groups, adult groups, families and individual travellers. 

In 2020, YHA appointed an independent safeguarding auditor to review YHA admissions arrangements. YHA asked what a leading youth charity could do to further improve its arrangements to provide a safe environment for all of our guests and, in particular, young people. The recommendation was to implement a request for photographic ID to those that wished to use our services. As a result we have implemented these recommendations and updated our admissions policy and booking terms & conditions.

When staying with YHA, all guests over the age of 18 need to provide photographic ID for dorms, private rooms and Camping & Cabins bookings. Only the lead booker for Exclusive Hire needs to provide photographic ID.

Thank you for your support in making YHA an even safer place.

If you haven’t received a booking confirmation email, please check your spam or junk folder.

If you still haven’t received your confirmation email within 24 hours, please contact our team on 01629 592700.

We have a multiple answers to your question

You can leave a review for the hostel that you stayed at via Tripadvisor. View our full list of hostels that you can leave a review at.
You can leave a recommendation for YHA via our Facebook page or you can search for the hostel you stayed at on Facebook.
You can leave a review for YHA on Trustpilot and share your experience with us.
If you would like to leave a Google review for your latest hostel stay, simply search the name of the hostel you stayed at on google and add the review.
If you would like to provide feedback on any aspect of our work, you can contact our Customer Resolutions team.

How can we help with your accommodation?

As well as dorm rooms, YHA offers various types of experiences and accommodation.

Plenty of our hostels have private rooms and many even have en-suite bathrooms. 

Hostels are great places for groups to enjoy a break away. YHA Exclusive Hire allows you to hire out the whole of the building for you and your group at a set price during the year. Perfect for family gatherings, celebrations and activity breaks. 

We also offer a range of camping options too. You can stay in camping barns, camping pods, airstreams, landpods and much more. You can also bring your own tent to some hostels too.
All bedding is provided including pillows. Please do not bring your own bedding or sleeping bags. This allows us to maintain a high-quality, clean environment for all guests.
Towels are not included in your booking. Please bring your own towel when staying with us, or you can rent a towel (bath sheet size) from the hostel.
We do not provide hairdryers in our rooms. 
We do not provide tea/coffee making facilities in our rooms. Most hostels have a self-catering kitchen that guests can use.
Highly trained assistance dogs are welcome at any YHA site free of charge. Please let us know if you plan to bring an assistance dog during the booking process. You can leave a note in the 'Special requests' section when booking online or tell an adviser if booking over the phone.
Some of our hostels offer car parking, but not all. Please check the hostel page for more information.
WiFi is available at many of our hostels. It is free for guests to use in communal areas or throughout the hostel at selected locations. Check the facilities section of the hostel page for more information.

We have a multiple answers to your question:

Our dog policy varies depending on what type of accommodation you have chosen. 

Pets - including dogs - are not permitted in our hostels when staying in a dorm or a private room. This is a consideration of other guests who may be allergic as well as the logistics of pets staying.

Dogs are welcome to stay at many of our Camping & Cabins and Exclusive Hire sites.

Dogs are welcome to stay at many of our Camping & Cabins sites.

There is a charge of £10 per dog per night in our Camping & Cabins accommodation. It is free to bring your dog if you are sleeping in your own tent. Up to two dogs are permitted per booking.

Dogs will have access to the public areas within the hostel but are not permitted in bedrooms or kitchens. They must not be left unattended in the hostel, vehicles or grounds. Owners are responsible for their dogs at all times. Any damage caused by a dog must be paid for by its owner.

Dogs are welcome to stay at many of our Exclusive Hire sites.

There is a charge of £50 per dog for the duration of your stay. Up to four dogs are permitted per booking.

Dogs will have access to the public areas within the hostel but are not permitted in bedrooms or kitchens. They must not be left unattended in the hostel, vehicles or grounds. Owners are responsible for their dogs at all times. Any damage caused by a dog must be paid for by its owner.

Some properties are able to provide luggage storage, but it is not provided as a standard facility in every hostel. Please check the relevant hostel page.
Many hostels have secure cycle stores available. You can search for hostels with cycle storage or check the relevant hostel page.

Some of our hostels have some adaptations which may make them suitable for wheelchair users and people with mobility impairments. View a list of accessible hostels. For more details, please read the access statement on each hostel page (below the facilities section).

If you have any access requirements, please leave a note in the 'Special requests' section when booking online or tell an adviser if booking over the phone. We will do our best to meet your needs.

Some properties are able to provide these facilities but they are not provided as standard. Please check the relevant hostel page.

Many of our hostels have a licensed bar offering a range of alcohol and soft drinks. It is not possible for guests to bring their own alcohol to these sites, except when hiring the whole hostel through YHA Exclusive Hire.

If the hostel is not licensed, you can bring your own alcohol. Please check the hostel page for details.

For details on the hostel layout, it is best to check the individual hostel page and read hostel’s access statement. The access statement can be found on each hostel information page below the facilities section.

People of all ages are welcome at YHA.

Guests aged under 16 must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 years or older. Under 12s are not permitted in dorm rooms.

Children under 3 can stay with us for free. Please inform us if there is an infant in your group during the booking process. You can leave a note in the 'Special requests' section when booking online or tell an adviser if booking over the phone.

If you are booking the entire place through YHA Exclusive Hire, the lead booker must be aged 21 or older.

While most hostels don’t have age restrictions, some sites may be unsuitable for young children. It is always good to check beforehand by viewing the relevant hostel page.

We have cafés, bars and restaurants across England and Wales. For opening hours, visit the relevant hostel page and check the need to know section.

Catering is not available when using a hostel on an Exclusive Hire basis. Most of our properties have self-catering facilities available for guests to use.

If you want a fully catered experience for your group, speaking to one of our groups advisors may be the best option for you. 

The maximum length of stay at one location is 14 nights. Following any period of stay of 14 nights, guests may not return to any hostel for at least 7 nights.

The from prices shown for accommodation products on yha.org.uk are YHA's lowest available rate in each accommodation category, based on a per product, per night basis over the next two months. Prices may vary for stays at different times of the year.

  • 'Bed in a shared room from' refers to the lowest available rate for the use of a single bed within a shared dorm.
  • 'Private rooms from' refers to the lowest available rate for a private room.
  • 'Camping & Cabins from' refers to the lowest available rate for our Camping & Cabins accommodation - this could be pitch-up camping (if offered by the specific hostel) or one of our glamping products.
  • 'Entire place from' refers to the lowest available price for hiring the whole building through YHA Exclusive Hire.

When you enter dates and guests into the search, the from prices shown are YHA's lowest available rate in each accommodation category, based on a per product basis for the specific dates provided. Prices may change during the booking process.

How can we help with your membership?

There are three different membership options, all providing the same great benefits.

Paying by Direct Debit is the most convenient and cost-effective option, making sure you don’t miss out on all the benefits with automatic renewal each year. This option is £20 per year.

Your annual membership fee will be taken from your chosen account on or around the 1st of the month after your original purchase. We'll remind you before the payment is taken and you'll get a new membership card in the post each year.

With a large network of hostels, YHA offers unique and affordable accommodation in incredible locations across England and Wales. So why limit yourself to just one adventure? As a YHA member, you’ll get 10% off every stay, plus exclusive discounts on top outdoor brands.

By becoming a YHA member you're also supporting a charity working to ensure everybody has the opportunity to connect to nature, heritage and the great outdoors – for the first time and a lifetime.

Sound good? Become a member today!

A single-year YHA membership lets you enjoy all the fantastic benefits for up to 12 months at a time. Your gateway to adventure in the UK and across the world! This option is £25 for a year.

Your membership fee will be taken at the time of purchase by debit/credit card or PayPal. You'll get a membership card in the post and we'll remind you when your membership is up for renewal.

With a large network of hostels, YHA offers unique and affordable accommodation in incredible locations across England and Wales. So why limit yourself to just one adventure? As a YHA member, you’ll get 10% off every stay, plus exclusive discounts on top outdoor brands.

By becoming a YHA member you're also supporting a charity working to ensure everybody has the opportunity to connect to nature, heritage and the great outdoors – for the first time and a lifetime.

Sound good? Become a member today!

Life membership truly lasts a lifetime – enjoy all the benefits of YHA membership with a single one-off fee while supporting our charitable mission. This option is £500.

Your membership fee will be taken at the time of purchase by debit/credit card or PayPal. You'll get an exclusive life member welcome pack, membership card and pin badge in the post.

With a large network of hostels, YHA offers unique and affordable accommodation in incredible locations across England and Wales. So why limit yourself to just one adventure? As a YHA member, you’ll get 10% off every stay, plus exclusive discounts on top outdoor brands.

By becoming a YHA member you're also supporting a charity working to ensure everybody has the opportunity to connect to nature, heritage and the great outdoors – for the first time and a lifetime.

Sound good? Become a member today!

YHA members get 10% off the cost of accommodation and any meals selected at the time of booking.

Our member discount cannot be applied in conjunction with any other offer. See full details.

Don’t say this is goodbye!

Our members are a valuable part of YHA. Not only do you get access to some great member discounts, you’re also part of a support network for the important work we do as a charity for young people.

If we can’t convince you to stay and membership just isn’t for you right now, please complete our membership cancellation form.

YHA membership is non-refundable unless you're still within the 14-day cooling off period. You'll be able to claim a refund as long as you haven't booked a discounted stay within two weeks of purchasing your membership.

You'll need to log in if you are already a member or sign up as a member on YHA.org.uk before you make your booking to obtain the 10% member discount.

If you aren't already a member, you can purchase membership in the checkout when you book.

Your online membership and membership number is personal to you.

YHA members get 10% off the cost of accommodation and any meals selected at the time of booking. This discount is applied when you are the lead booker so, as long as the booking is made in your name, your member discount applies to the whole booking.

Member discount is not available for groups of 16 or more, except for Exclusive Hire bookings.

To access exclusive member-only promotions and claim your discounts with our partners, follow these steps:

  1. If you do not already have an online account, sign up at yha.org.uk
  2. If you already have an online account, simply log in at yha.org.uk
  3. Once you arrive at the 'My Account' dashboard, select 'My YHA Membership'

You should now see your full member benefits, and instructions on how to use them.

If you've lost your YHA membership card, don't worry!

When travelling in England and Wales, you don't need to present your membership card at check in. Your discount will be valid as long as your membership is active at the point of booking and your membership number is visible on your reservation.

If you make a booking in person at a hostel, you will be asked to provide proof of active membership to access your 10% discount. You will also need your membership card if travelling outside of England & Wales.

Please call us to order a replacement membership pack. A £2.00 fee applies for single year and annual (Direct Debit) memberships. A £20.00 fee applies for life memberships including an exclusive welcome pack and pin badge.

If you pay for your membership by Direct Debit, you’ll get a new membership pack each year when your membership is automatically renewed.

You don’t have to be a member to stay with YHA. However, when you become a member, you save on every booking with us and gain access to a range of brilliant member benefits.

You'll also get automatic membership with Hostelling International – perfect if you’re planning to travel outside England and Wales.

Yes. You can cancel your YHA membership within 14 days of purchase if you no longer wish to be a member. You'll be able to claim a full refund as long as you haven't booked a discounted stay within this two-week period.

If you purchased membership on yha.org.uk, your membership will be linked to your online account automatically. You don't need to do anything except enjoy your benefits!

To check whether YHA membership is already linked to your online account, simply log in to your online account and select 'My Membership'.

If an existing membership is not showing, you can request for this to be linked to your account.

Link my YHA membership to my online account

If you live outside the UK, you will not be eligible to purchase a YHA membership online.

We suggest that you buy Hostelling International membership (recognised in over 2,500 hostels worldwide) or buy membership in your home country before you travel.

To use your Hostelling International membership discount, simply enter your membership number manually at the checkout when making a booking.

You'll need to show proof of an active membership on arrival at the hostel. If you cannot provide proof of membership, you will be required to pay the difference between member and non-member rates at check-in.

If you purchased membership on yha.org.uk, your membership will be linked to your online account automatically. You don't need to do anything except enjoy your benefits!

To check whether YHA membership is already linked to your online account, simply log in to your online account and select 'My Membership'.

If an existing membership is not showing, you can request for this to be linked to your account.

Link my YHA membership to my online account

What do you need help with?

How can we help with your job related question?

All of our roles are listed on our jobs website. From there, you can apply for a role at YHA

We aim to make your experience as easy as possible. Take a look at our recruitment process for some guidance on what to expect from the process.  

If you have all of your details ready, your application should only take a few minutes to complete.  

Most of our vacancies close at 23:59 on the date they are due to expire. The expiry date is listed on each job advert.  

If a high volume of applications are received for a role, YHA reserves the right to close the vacancy early. 

The details of each of our roles will be different. Our job description will provide you with the most relevant information. 

Details such as working hours vary dependant on the role – details will be specified in each job advert. For many hostel roles, weekend, bank holidays, early and late shifts may be required.

If you want to know more about a job vacancy, for hostel roles, you can also find contact details on the relevant hostel page.

If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, please contact our Jobs team.

Our application form asks you for your CV and contact details such as your name, address, email and phone number. You can also add a cover letter to support your application if you wish, though this is optional.

Our Equal Opportunities form is for statistical use only and won’t affect your application. Your input helps us promote fairness and inclusion. This is optional and all information shared with us is confidential. We will also ask you to confirm that you can provide Right to Work documentation and agree to a DBS check.

We take the safety and security of our staff and customers very seriously. We have certain roles which will require additional checks around safeguarding and working with young people. Employment for these roles is subject to satisfactory checks.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to complete your application or attend your interview, please contact our Jobs team and we will be able to help.

If you are unable to complete the online application form, please contact our Jobs team and we will assist you.

Unfortunately, YHA cannot sponsor visas at this time. For visa information, please see the UK Government website. 
Absolutely! If you’re interested in completing work experience with YHA, please contact our Volunteering team. 
You can make edits to your job application as long as it's in the 'Inbox' status and hasn't yet been processed by the hiring manager. Log in to your Connect dashboard, click on the job application, then select the pen icon in the top right corner to make changes.
Please contact our Jobs team and a member of our team will help you to apply for your chosen role. 

Take a look at our guide on  preparing for interview and set yourself up for success.

If you can’t attend an interview at the date/time confirmed, respond to the invite email to contact the hiring manager directly.

When you start your job at YHA, you will provide your bank details so we can pay you directly into your bank account. You will usually be paid on the 25th of the month or – if this falls at the weekend or on a bank holiday – the last working day before this.

If you are working full-time or in a salaried role, the payment you receive on the 25th of the month is for the full calendar month. If you are working a flexible or zero-hours contract, you will be paid hourly and the payment you receive on the 25th of the month will be for the hours you have worked from the 17th of the previous month up to the 16th of the current month. This means that you are paid fully in arrears.

We review pay on an annual basis at the beginning of our financial year, which starts from March. Increases are implemented at YHA’s discretion.

We don’t currently offer a bonus scheme. However, we offer our employees many great benefits, from free hostel stays and discounts to life assurance. Find about our benefits and rewards.

Recruitment events are usually (but not always) for our temporary roles. We tend to hold them in regional groups, so you can meet different managers from that region, learn a little about each hostel, get involved in some activities and attend an interview.

If you can’t attend, don’t worry – contact our Jobs team and we can arrange an interview with one of the hiring managers.

All offers of employment are conditional, subject to two satisfactory references. If we aren’t able to obtain references, we will ask your line manager to conduct a risk assessment.

If your DBS check comes back with some areas of concern?

All information will be treated sensitively and in confidence. Minor, irrelevant misdemeanours are unlikely to affect your role. Your line manager would be contacted if an unclear result is received and may need to conduct a risk assessment. This would be a conversation with you to understand the circumstances and further details.

Depending on the circumstances, we may have to retract the offer of employment, but we would discuss this with you as part of the risk assessment process.

We offer our employees many great benefits, from free hostel stays and discounts to life assurance, to discounted meals for the hostel when working. Find about our  benefits and rewards.
If we have roles available at a hostel close to where you are moving, we could certainly consider a transfer to another site. If you have already left the organisation, we recommend that you sign up for job alerts and make an application when a suitable role becomes available.
YHA does not provide transport to and from work. Another member of your team may be willing to car share if you work the same shifts. If you have concerns around getting to work, please raise this with your hiring manager.
Please ask the hiring manager if this could be accommodated as each site is different.
We have a company profile Glassdoor, where you are welcome to leave feedback. Alternatively, contact our Jobs team and we will respond to you. 

For hostel roles, you should be given at least one set of uniform in your size. You may not have your uniform ahead of your first day, so please ensure that you know what you should wear before you arrive by contacting your line manager beforehand. We do not ask you to pay for your uniform.

Colleagues working in National Office or network-based roles are asked to ensure that they look smart and well-presented, whether working from home, in the office or attending sites for meetings.

How can we help with your volunteering related question?

We offer volunteering opportunities across our YHA hostel network, which spans England and Wales. Available volunteering locations will be dependent on your role of interest.

View volunteering opportunities

You can register as a YHA volunteer on our volunteering website.

Once registered, you can apply to our volunteering opportunities on our volunteering events page.

You can volunteer with YHA for up to 12 weeks as part of a residential hostel placement. There is no maximum time limit for non-residential hostel placements.
If you are 16-17 years old, you can get involved in a non-residential hostel placement and our DofE Gold Residential opportunities. If you are over 18 years old, you can get involved in a wider variety of volunteering, including residential hostel placements and working parties. There is no upper age limit for volunteering with YHA.
You can take part in a hostel placement to complete a student placement or work experience. You will need to be aged over 18 to take part on a residential basis. 
YHA provide DofE gold residentials throughout the year at a number of our hostels in England and Wales. Our residentials are approved by Duke of Edinburgh for completion of the Gold Residential Award.
A DBS check (or criminal record check for non-UK citizens)  is required for some of our volunteering roles,  If the volunteer role requires a DBS/criminal record check, this will be stated in the opportunity description. 
If you are not a UK citizen, you will need a VISA that grants you the legal right to be in the UK Your volunteering allocation will depend on your type of VISA, so we recommend you check your volunteering allowance before applying to a volunteering role.  
YHA is unable to act as a sponsor (or provide references about your intention to volunteer while in the UK) to support visa applications. For visa information, please see the UK Government website.

It is important to us to make sure our volunteers feel supported. As part of your volunteering role with YHA you will be allocated online training to complete ahead of your role . This will be on our Learning Management System called Mapal  

All volunteers are given a nominated contact (line manager) who will support them during their time with YHA, as well as a role induction upon arrival at the hostel. Depending on your role, you may also receive additional in person training to fully equip you for your volunteering.

YHA offers some opportunities to volunteer away from home. This gives you the chance to visit a new location and helps to build your skills through independent travel. If the volunteer role you are applying for has accommodation included, this will be stated in the opportunity description and provided without charge  

Where accommodation is provided, this is only available for the duration of your volunteering. Accommodation is usually offered in a shared  room – this means you would be sharing the room with other volunteers of your gender.

Pets are not generally permitted at our hostels; however, assistance dogs are welcome. If you are supported by an assistance dog, please state this on your application or contact our Volunteering team.
We can provide you with a volunteering reference for employment or academic study. Please contact our Volunteering team to request a reference.

How can we help?

There are plenty of ways to donate to YHA. 

Give a regular gift, sign up for a sponsored event, hold a fundraiser or remember us in your will. Donations big and small all make a major difference to the young lives we aim to improve.

You can find out more how to donate through our donation website.

There are many ways to support YHA beyond booking a stay at a hostel. As a charity, we are ever grateful for all the support we receive, whether that’s through you becoming a member, giving up your time to volunteer for YHA or even making a donation.

How you can support YHA

We have been enriching the lives of young people since 1932, so you can trust us to provide you with expert guidance on how to plan a residential that is perfectly tailored to your needs. Over 60 of our sites have LOtC accreditation, the most of any provider in the UK, so you can be confident that you are making the right choice for your educational school trip.

To find out more contact our friendly team today. We’ll ensure you have all the information you need to start planning the school trip of a lifetime at the great value prices you can expect from YHA.

Contact our groups team

YHA offers flexible meeting and conferencing facilities, high-quality accommodation and spacious communal areas.  

With meeting and conference facilities for up to 100 delegates, YHA gives you access to the luxury of a Grade I listed building, the breath-taking scenery of a National Park, or the convenience of a city centre - all at an unmatchable price.  

You can book a meeting room by completing our meeting room enquiry form.

View all meeting rooms

Not found what you're looking for?

Sometimes the answer isn't clear and you need to contact someone. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.

National Office is not open to the public. All products and services must be purchased online or over the phone.

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Let YHA take care of your stay with our group booking service. You'll be allocated private bedrooms close together with all bedding. Upgrades are available for sole use of an area/floor or the entire place.

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Think you know our hostels? You may be surprised by the range of locations and accommodation on offer. We have dorm rooms, private rooms (including en-suites and accessible rooms) plus camping & glamping.

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