As a family of 4, we look for good value, well-located accommodation wherever we travel. Anyone who has travelled as a family can tell you rooms for four in any city can be hard to come by and expensive.
We have stayed in hostels in Europe and Asia in the past and hope to do so in the future because they really work for us. So on our recent trip to Kent, we were looking at places to stay in the Cathedral City of Canterbury, we put the YHA Canterbury Hostel to the test!
Many families do not consider a stay at hostels as they think of them of a party place where families are not welcome but many hostel are now trying to change that and the YHA brand hostels are leading the way in this area.
Have you stayed at a YHA Hostel?
The Canterbury city YHA is located in a gorgeous Victorian-era multi-story house. There is a small amount of car parking out the front (9 car parks) The friendly staff will happily check you in and tell you about the facilities available on-site as well as ones in the local area.
Like all good hostels, the YHA do this very well for visitors to the hostel. There will be a rack that is full of brochures and pamphlets emphasising the sights and attractions of the area.
What facilities does the YHA Canterbury have?
The friendly staff will happily inform you about any of this historic town’s local attractions. Local knowledge is the absolute best!
Being a refitted repurposed house, you won’t find a big all-in-one common room, bar and cafe like you would at, say, YHA Central London. Everything is done from the small but central office. It is like being back in school and waiting in line to see the principal.
At the office, you can order coffee and cake, 5 different types of pizza, beer, wine and cider. The YHA Canterbury offers a rotating meal deal every evening. You can get a 2-course meal for 9.95 GBP. Some of the meals on offer include
- Beef Lasagne and Orange sponge with custard
- Cumberland sausage and mashed potato with honey sponge & custard
- Chicken Tikka Masala and lemon meringue pie
As a progressive company, YHA also offers a vegetarian option for all meals and a vending machine for snacks.
The communal room features couches for relaxing and chairs for playing board games and cards. The office has a large selection of board games that you can borrow and play, perfect for families staying in a hostel. There is also a bookcase full of reading material and a TV on the wall to keep you entertained.
Do I need travel insurance in England?
We always say if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. Get your travel insurance to protect your epic holiday in England from any small hiccup.
For Australian travellers, we recommend Fast Cover Travel Insurance
For worldwide travellers, we recommend AXA Travel Insurance
What are the rooms like at the Canterbury YHA Hostel?
The 15 rooms are mainly 4- —and 6-bed dorm-style rooms with bunk beds. Some rooms have ensuites available; make sure you ask for this when booking.
There are toilets and showers on every floor for those without an ensuite. Towels and toiletries are not provided but are available to hire or purchase from reception.
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YHA Canterbury and The Shire
The real charm lies in the Shire, an area out the back of the main house. There, you will find 3 large deluxe cabins. They remind me of hobbit houses from Lord of the Rings.
These cabins sleep 5, with 3 single beds (2 elevated) and one queen bed. The cabins feature shower and toilet facilities, fridge and microwave. The kids loved the cabins, it gave you camping like feel but in the middle of a city.
Can you cook, clean and wash at the YHA Hostel Canterbury?
In the main house’s basement, you will find a laundry for clothes washing, which is always handy for families travelling. The kitchen features 2 stoves with oven tops, plenty of pots and pans and cooking utensils.
