What is the YHA?
The Youth Hostels Association (YHA) was founded in the 1930s "to help all, especially young people of limited means, to a greater knowledge, love and care of the countryside, particularly by providing hostels or other simple accommodation for them in their travels, and thus to promote their health, rest and education".
The YHA operates hundreds of Youth Hostels across England and Wales (despite the name they're open to all ages), in both rural and urban locations. Joining the association allows you to stay in them as well as the 4,500 hostels operated by other hostelling associations world-wide.
You can find out more about the YHA at their web site. If you're interested in other countries' hostelling associations (including Scotland and Northern Ireland) check out our Links page.
