Travel Inspiration

Your one stop hub for travel inspiration

A stay with YHA is more than just a place to sleep, it’s the chance to explore, reconnect with nature, and discover some of the most beautiful parts of England and Wales. Whether it’s rolling countryside, stunning seaside, breathtaking mountains or lively cities you love to explore, at YHA, we’re confident we’ll have something for you.

Whether you’re solo travelling, exploring with loved ones, or adventuring as a group, take a look at some inspiration below on all things location, accommodation type, blog articles and more…

Places to stay

View of sea over cliffs at sunset, Lizard, Cornwall

Area guides

Amazing activity breaks

Ready to plan your next holiday in the UK?

Popular travel blogs

We have a range of travel tips to help you out, whatever the subject. From how to pack for camping and how to stay safe on a winter hike, to getting a good night's sleep while travelling and more.

Rolling hills surrounding a lake at sunrise

10 ways a YHA stay could help the environment

With properties in all corners of England and Wales, YHA is committed to making it easier for people to enjoy the natural countryside around them while minimising their impact on the environment.

A summer bucket list for families

YHA makes it possible for families to do it all. So, here’s a bucket list for you to tick off this summer.

Beginner’s guide to hostelling: top tips for sharing a dorm room

Here are some top tips to help you make the most of your dorm stay with YHA...

Free things to do at hostels

Dive into unforgettable experiences without stretching your budget and explore further for less.

Alan Turing Memorial

The Alan Turing Memorial is a sculpture of the well-known mathematician and scientist who is famous for helping to break the Enigma code, which is believed to have saved millions of lives during World...

Ambleside Roman Fort

History buffs, families with children, and outdoor lovers will all enjoy a visit to Ambleside Roman Fort. Located close to the bustling town of Ambleside in the Lake District, this slice of the...

Arbor Low Stone Circle

Arbor Low Stone Circle is a Neolithic henge in the Peak District. It is one of the most important and best-preserved prehistoric sites in Derbyshire and consists of around 50 white limestone slabs...

Ashbourne

Ashbourne is a Georgian market town in Derbyshire. With over 200 listed buildings, cobbled streets, and a traditional market place, it’s the perfect place for just pottering around. The town is also...

Betws-y-Coed

Betws-y-Coed is a beautiful village that serves as the gateway to the Eryri National Park (Snowdonia) in North Wales. You’ll feel like you’ve just stepped into the Alps with a visit to this rural...

Borrowdale Rainforest

Did you know that there’s a rainforest in England? Borrowdale Rainforest, or Borrowdale Oakwoods as it’s also known, is one of the largest areas of temperate rainforest in England. This National...

Bowder Stone

The Bowder Stone is one of the most recognisable rocks in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria. Located in the Borrowdale Valley, not far from the market town of Keswick, this large rock has a...

Bridge House

Bridge House, also known as Little Bridge House, in Ambleside, is one of the most recognisable features in this popular Lake District town. The historic building has had many uses over the years...

Brockhole on Windermere grounds

Brockhole on Windermere is an Arts and Crafts villa and estate on the shores of Windermere in the Lake District. Although the house itself is not open to the public, you can explore the historic...

Brompton Cemetery

Brompton Cemetery is a Grade I listed area in London where over 200,000 people are buried. Many of graves feature incredible memorials, including intricate mausoleums and gothic monuments. It’s also...

Buxton

Made famous by its top-quality water, Buxton is a thermal spa town on the edge of the Peak District National Park. A trip here is like stepping back in time as you’ll find gorgeous ornamental gardens...

Carsington Water, with sail boats and other boats on shore

Carsington Water (Reservoir)

Carsington Water is the ninth largest reservoir in England. Situated in Derbyshire, in between the market towns of Wirksworth and Ashbourne, the reservoir offers a whole host of activities for all age...

Castlefield Roman Fort

Discover Manchester’s ancient history with a visit to Castlefield Roman Fort, the remains of the Roman fortress Mamucium, in the city centre. With original stone foundations and reconstructed walls...

Castlefield Viaduct

Castlefield Viaduct is a steel viaduct in the heart of Manchester dating back to the Victorian era, which has been transformed into an urban sky garden. Managed by the National Trust, this peaceful...

Castlerigg Stone Circle

Castlerigg Stone Circle, a Neolithic monument close to Keswick in the Lake District, is one of the earliest stone circles in Great Britain. Erected around 3,000 BC, it also has one of the best...

Chapel Stile

Chapel Stile is a beautiful village near Ambleside in the Lake District. The picturesque village is nestled in the Great Langdale valley and surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery. It makes for a...

Climb Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)

Yr Wyddfa, also known as Mount Snowdon, is a mountain in the Eryri National Park (Snowdonia National Park). It is the highest mountain in Wales and the highest mountain in the British Isles, south of...

Colville Place

Colville Place in Fitzrovia is a quirky street in central London that is free to look around. With its row of charming Georgian houses and wide array of potted plants outside, this picturesque...

Coombe Gill Mill

Coombe Gill Mill, or the old Borrowdale water mill as it is sometimes known, is a Grade II listed building in Borrowdale in the Lake District. Built in the early 18th century, it was originally a...

Crow park

Crow Park is a large green area in Keswick in the Lake District that’s completely free to visit. Situated on the shores of Derwentwater, it’s the perfect spot for children to run around and let off...

Dean’s Park

Dean’s Park is a relaxing green space in the heart of the city of York. It’s free to visit and sits in a fantastic location, on the north side of York Minster. It offers spectacular views of the...

Dolbadarn Castle

Dolbadarn Castle, or Castell Dolbadarn, is a Welsh castle built on a hill overlooking Llyn Padarn in Caernarfon, North Wales. Dating back to the late 12th century, the castle is on the outskirts of...

Dubwath Silver Meadows Nature Reserve

Dubwath Silver Meadows Nature Reserve is a wetland nature reserve at the northern end of Bassenthwaite Lake, the only official ‘lake’ in the Lake District National Park. Here you can spot wildlife and...

Earl’s Court TARDIS

The Earl’s Court TARDIS is a blue police box outside the London Underground station at Earl’s Court. Although its intended use was as a local base of operations for the police, and it isn’t officially...

Entrust Sculpture at Derwentwater

The Entrust sculpture, also known as ‘the hands sculpture’, is an impressive wooden carving of two hands together in a cupping movement. The sculpture is by local artist John Merrill and can be found...

Evensong at York Minster

For an uplifting experience at the end of a busy day exploring York, head to the Choral Evensong at York Minster. The service includes incredible choral music, seasonal readings, and evening prayers...

View of Skiddaw in autumn, Lake District

Fitz Park

Fitz Park is a large park close to the town centre of Keswick in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria. With its beautiful location right next to the riverside and spectacular views over the...

Galeri Betws-y-Coed

Galeri Betws-y-Coed is an independent craft and design gallery in the heart of the beautiful village of Betws-y-Coed, the gateway to Eryri National Park (Snowdonia). The gallery showcases paintings...

Garden Lodge

Garden Lodge is a large mansion in Kensington, West London. Originally built in the early 1900s for artists Cecil Rea and Constance Halford, it is now best known for being the home of legendary...

Guildhall Art Gallery

The Guildhall Art Gallery is an art gallery in the City of London which is free to visit. The gallery contains an extensive collection of world-famous masterpieces and artworks by some of the most...