YHA Bath

The hostel had a £2.5 million renovation in 2018 so it is in excellent condition, making it a great accommodation option for the budget traveller who doesn’t mind staying a little out of town.

Accommodation is in 133 beds, which are split between shared dormitories and private rooms with some rooms in the older main building and others in the newer annexe. Rooms in the newer annexe are a little nicer with extras such as bedside reading lights and USB charging ports, although rooms are better than your average hostel regardless of which building you’re staying in.

Some rooms have en suite bathrooms but guests staying in other rooms need to use shared bathroom facilities.

YHA Bath has extensive common areas, which include a quiet lounge room plus a TV lounge with Internet access, laundry facilities and a small kitchen with a big dining area. The kitchen means that you can save some money by cooking your own meals, although the kitchen is not quite as well equipped as many other hostels.

The hostel also has its own cafe/bar, which serves affordable meals in a surprisingly nice environment. The food is basic but tasty, and consists of simple meals such as chilli con carne, jacket potatoes, panini or pizza and there is usually a vegetarian option or two available.

The recent renovation means that the historic features of the old building have been preserved with ornate ceiling features and a colour scheme that is in keeping with the historic nature of the building. However, there are still some splashes of the YHA’s trademark bright green, most noticeably on the bed linen, although this is toned down somewhat in comparison to other YHA hostels elsewhere in England.

The hostel is in a lovely neighbourhood, although there is not much in the way of places to eat and drink in the immediate vicinity. It is around a 25-minute walk uphill from the city centre but the walk back into the centre is an easier 20-minute downhill walk. The U1 bus runs regularly into the centre and only takes around seven minutes. A lot of people staying here walk downhill to the centre but take that bus back when they’ve finished their day of sightseeing.