Social walk from YHA Manchester
Friday 19th September 2025 Distance: 3-4 miles (4.6-6.4km) Duration: 2-3 hours Led by: Canal & River Trust Discovery and connection A short and leisurely walk from YHA Manchester learning about the...
YHA Manchester
Overview
Situated next to a canal and just a gentle 15-minute walk from the city centre, YHA Manchester is a purpose-built hostel. It is ideal for travellers looking for vibrant social spaces and the comfort of well-appointed en-suite bedrooms.
Manchester itself is one of the UK’s most exciting cities, with attractions aplenty to enjoy – whether it’s art, museums or music that takes your fancy. Sports fans are spoilt for choice – we have two of the biggest football clubs in Europe right here in the city as well as the National Football Museum, Old Trafford cricket ground and the National Cycling Centre and Velodrome. We even have ski slopes in Manchester with real snow!
With 24-hour access available, YHA Manchester also makes a great base for visitors seeking to take advantage of the city’s vast nightlife options.
Accommodation at this hostel
- Bed in a shared room is offered here
- Private room is offered here
- Camping & Cabins is not offered here
- Entire place is not offered here
Why guests love this hostel
- Located in Castlefield, close to the city centre
- Free onsite parking for cars and coaches
- Open 24 hours a day
Accommodation at YHA Manchester
Group booking
Serviced group stays for 16 to 212 people
YHA Manchester is a large, modern hostel situated in the beautiful, historic Castlefield area of the city. We’re only a 15-minute walk away from Manchester city centre. Why would you stay anywhere else?
This hostel is in a great location for groups. Some attractions, such as the Science and Industry Museum, are a short walk away. Sports fans are spoilt for choice – we have two of the biggest football clubs right here in the city as well as the National Football Museum, Old Trafford cricket ground and the National Cycling Centre and Velodrome.
Group-friendly facilities
Sleeping arrangements
Most of our bedrooms are dormitory style rooms with bunk beds. We always try to allocate bedrooms close together and will never ask your group to share bedrooms with anyone not in your group.
Upgrades are available for sole use of an area, floor or the entire place.
Shared spaces
This hostel offers a stylish licensed bar and a large open plan seating area. On sunny days you can also make use of our canal-side outdoor seating with tables! This hostel is staffed 24 hours a day and has a secure key card system in place.
Group catering
With tasty breakfasts, packed lunches and evening meals, groups are sure to find something delicious to eat at YHA Manchester (see sample menu).
Meal plans range from bed and breakfast up to full-board catering. Vegetarian options are available and we aim to cater for any special dietary requests.
Parking
The property has a free on-site car park for guests and patrons. This car park is controlled by an ANPR parking system and includes a disabled parking space. Upon arrival, motorists are required to validate their presence by entering their car's registration number at reception.
Accredited site
YHA Manchester holds a Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge (Site Only) (105565).
This accreditation means that this hostel has externally audited risk assessments, verified insurance provision, quality checked safety logs and delivery observed by national reviewers.
Hostel facilities
- 24-hour access after check-in
- 24-hour reception
- Coach parking on premises
- Contactless payments
- Cycle store
- Defibrillator
- Dining room
- Evening meals
- Free parking on premises
- Full mobile coverage
- Games
- Group meals
- Highchair
- Licensed bar
- Minibus parking on premises
- Near airport
- Near bus stop
- Near train station
- Packed lunch
- Restaurant
- Self-catering kitchen
- Shared lounge
- Sole use available
- Unlimited breakfast
- Vending machines
- Water refill station
- Wheelchair accessible
- WiFi
Hostel need to know
Closed facilities: The lift is temporarily unavailable at this hostel until at least mid July 2025.
Reception opening hours: 24 hours.
Food and drink: Breakfast is served to guests from 07:30 – 09:00 on weekdays and 07:30 – 10:00 at weekends. Meals are also available from 10:00 – 20:30.
Licensed bar: This hostel has a licensed bar offering a range of alcohol and soft drinks. It is not possible for guests to bring their own alcohol.
Self-catering : Guests have access to a self-catering kitchen.
Parking: The property has a free on-site car park for guests and patrons. This car park is controlled by an ANPR parking system and includes a disabled parking space. Upon arrival, motorists are required to validate their presence by entering their car's registration number at reception.
WiFi: Free WiFi is available in shared social spaces.
Dogs: Pets are not permitted at YHA Manchester. Assistance dogs are welcome.
YHA Manchester - Access Statement
(PDF download - 125.38 KB)
Food and drink at YHA Manchester
Things to do around YHA Manchester
Tatton Park
With acres of Parkland and Gardens to explore, an impressive 18th century Mansion, historic working Farm and adventure playground, Tatton Park makes for a perfect family day out. They have activities...
Walking and Rambling in Manchester
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Airkix Indoor Skydiving
Try indoor skydiving - perfect for group bookings, first time flyers, skydivers and pro flyers.
Climbing in Manchester
Try your hand at mountain climbing in a safe and secure environment, taster sessions and full courses are available at Chill Factore. This amazing indoor facility is great for a fun fuelled day out...
Trafford Centre
The Trafford Centre is a large indoor shopping centre and leisure complex with over 200 retailers, regular events and a cinema. With lots of places to eat and drink plus laser quest, miniature golf...
John Rylands Library
One of Manchester’s standout buildings, The John Rylands Library is, well, not particularly library-like. Commissioned in memory of the man whose name it bears, the library is more reminiscent of a...
Trafford Golf Centre
The best practice facilities to help you learn, practice, improve and enjoy your golf. There's also a Dino Falls Adventure Golf course for children. Visit the website
Manchester Marathon
The Manchester Marathon is one of the UK’s premier running events, famous for its fast, flat and friendly route. Take on the 26.2 mile challenge for YHA and change young lives forever.
Chill Factore
Learn to ski and snowboard on an incredible 180 metre long, real snow slope. Little ones will love the magic of the snowplay area.
Alcotraz – Manchester's speakeasy cocktail bar prison experience
Alcotraz Cell Block Three-Four promises to be one of the most unique cocktail bars in Manchester. Once convicted, inmates are taken into an exciting world of mischief as they are instructed by a...
The Lowry
One of Lancashire’s favourite sons, LS Lowry’s work is on permanent display at The Lowry. The Lowry is an architectural flagship, consisting of a state-of-the-art gallery and theatre complex, with...
Museum of Science and Industry
A fascinating museum tracking the developments of the industrial revolution in Manchester, including the return of Stephenson’s Rocket to Manchester for the first time in over 180 years. One major...
Manchester's Museums
Manchester’s vast and varied history is celebrated across a number of excellent museums which span the city. Perhaps best known are the IWM North , a superb, modern museum depicting stories of...
Watersports in Manchester
Salford Water Sports Centre is a state of the art facility. Learn how to sail, canoe, windsurf, kayak, and drive a power boat in a safe and secure environment. Trained instructors will be with you...
Old Trafford Tour
Visit the home of Manchester United and see the stadium through the eyes of the legends themselves.
National Cycling Centre
4.5 miles The amazing home to British cycling. From elite athletes to novices, the cycling and BMX tracks offer sessions for everyone. Visit the website
Sporting Stadia
A hotbed of sporting activity, Manchester is proud to boast three magnificent sporting venues. Old Trafford is familiar to most as the Theatre of Dreams, home of Manchester United, but to others as...
More about this hostel
Volunteering
Volunteering with YHA is a fantastic way to have fun, learn new skills, boost your CV and travel to different places. We have a variety of different opportunities to choose from and volunteering roles to suit everyone.
The tasks are varied and in return you will meet some great people, who both work and stay in our hostels, as well as enjoying your time off discovering the local area and attractions.
Find out more and apply to volunteer.
History
YHA Manchester was opened in 1995 and enjoys a stunning canalside location in the historic Castlefield area of Manchester. Castlefield was England’s first urban heritage park and features prominently in the history of Manchester, from the birth of the city at the roman fort “Mancumium” via the railways, canals and warehouses of the industrial revolution, to the buzzing culture and nightlife of today.
The hostel is on Potato Wharf, an unusual street name with a tory of it’s own! Legend has it that it’s so called because in the 19th century food and comestibles were unloaded all along the basins, but it was at this wharf that the staple food of poor working Mancunians, the humble potato, was unloaded and taken along the narrow lane to the nearby St John's Market.
Meet the team
Our staff at YHA Manchester are from all over the world, Ecuadorian, Spanish, Australian... and there’s even a few true Mancunians too, what unites us all is a love of Manchester and we’re always happy to share our local knowledge with our guests.
Manager recommends: If you're in Manchester for a weekend break, book a taster session at the Chill Factore and learn to ski or snowboard indoors on real snow. Airkix indoor skydiving centre offers an experience like no other. Learn the basics of skydiving on the indoor wind tunnel and have a blast on your city break!
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