YHA Brighton Hostel Review Contents:
Overall Rating | The Atmosphere | The Staff | The Room | The Location | The Price
About three years ago, the UK’s Youth Hostelling Association (YHA) decided to launch a modern city hostel in the heart of Brighton!
They took over the historic Royal York Hotel, just a two-minute walk from Brighton Palace Pier, and created a luxurious city break hostel for travellers and young people on a budget.
The hostel changed the way a lot of people thought about old school youth hostels (including me). And since I first visited for the opening, I’ve been meaning to return and spend the night.
So, last week I decided to revisit the city I studied in for four years with a friend of mine. As a quick note, I wasn’t travelling solo on this trip, so this review is a little different to others.
However, if you’re looking for my experiences in YHA Hostels as a solo traveller, check these reviews:
YHA Bath | YHA Manchester | YHA Cambridge
And read on to find out all about my luxurious overnight stay in YHA Brighton!
YHA Brighton Hostel Overall Rating
YHA Brighton Hostel Review
The Atmosphere
Despite being just a two to three-minute walk from some of the biggest clubs in Brighton, the atmosphere at YHA Brighton was undeniably chilled during my mid-week stay.
There is a huge bar and café area where you can grab a beer, or a coffee and cake. And they even offer 24-hour pizza for those of you heading to the city to party!
But the beauty of this hostel is that no matter how crazy your weekend might be, the classic design of the common areas creates a really soothing and versatile atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of the city!
Why versatile? Because the design of the common areas means that you can do almost anything you want at YHA Brighton!
Grab a book and chill out in the alcove that looks out on to the busy street outside. Or get to know your roommates in the guest kitchen.
Prefer a drink? Grab a bottle of wine at the bar and share it with your friends before heading into the city!
The Staff
As I only had 24 hours in Brighton on this trip and was visiting with a friend of mine, I didn’t get to spend as much time with the staff as I would usually do, and have done during my previous YHA Hostel stays.
However, every interaction I did have with the staff at YHA Brighton was really friendly and most of all… super helpful!
When we arrived, we checked in with two really friendly guys who helped us sort out our late check-out (for £15 you can check-out at 12 pm/noon rather than 10 am).
And on our way back into the hostel after a few cocktails in town, I saw the night receptionist chatting with a group that came in after us. She clearly seemed to know the guests, and was chatting away to them asking them how their night had been and if they needed any water before going to their room.
Finally, the next morning, I saw the extent of just how friendly the staff are when we turned up ten minutes before breakfast finished. I’ve worked late shifts in a pub, and know just how annoying it is when customers walk in just when you’re ready to close up.
But the staff in the kitchen were really kind. And one girl even offered to cook us up more eggs for the hot buffet, and gave us a fresh batch of hash browns!
The breakfast buffet at YHA Brighton costs £6.25 and contains everything you see below and more! But, if you book online in advance, then you can claim 10% off your breakfast at checkout!
The Room
I’m being slightly dramatic here. But sinking into the double duvet on my king size bed at YHA Brighton was like sinking into a fluffy cloud!
Despite being a hostel, YHA Brighton hasn’t skimped on high-quality mattresses and duvets. The bed might look too cosy to be true, but I can assure you it really is comfy!
As well as the thick duvet and mattress, the bed had four thick pillows. And trust me, I’ve slept on some extremely thin and lacklustre hostel pillows in my time to make me appreciate this!
They were super soft, so in the end, I only slept with one for better neck support. But having the option really was a luxury!
Another aspect of the room that I really appreciated was the space to move around and to work.
These days, modern hostels are offering more facilities that you’d usually find in budget hotels. Such as the beautiful desk and chair set in my room at YHA Brighton, complete with hanging wall art and a huge gold-colour framed mirror.
There was even a wardrobe and tv! So if you’re planning a longer break to Brighton, or fancy using YHA Brighton as your break when visiting the city for business, this room is definitely one that you can feel at home in.
However, by far the best thing about my en suite private room at YHA Brighton was the view that I woke up to in the morning.
I discuss the location a bit later. But this photo of my window view during my stay is an example of just how central this hostel is!
The En Suite Bathroom
The majority of the shared dormitories at YHA Brighton don’t offer an en-suite bathroom. Unless you book a private dormitory with friends.
However, the private rooms are all en suite. And by en suite, I don’t just mean that they offer a shower and toilet.
Nope, my room had a bath tub! In fact, I think it’s the first hostel room I have ever stayed in that offers a bath tub as well as a shower…
The Location
The location of YHA Brighton is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the hostel! Sure, not all the rooms have a view of the seafront. But the front door is just a 2-minute walk from Brighton Palace Pier!
Which means that not only can you hear the waves crashing as soon as you leave the hostel. You’re also in the centre of the city, surrounded by all the main shopping areas, restaurants, bars and clubs!
The main shopping centre, Churchill Square, is just a ten-minute walk from the hostel. The famous Brighton Lanes are just a five-minute walk. And the seafront nightclubs are right on your doorstep!
YHA Brighton Parking
If you’re travelling to Brighton by car, then make sure to add a parking allowance to your budget because the city parking isn’t cheap and unfortunately, YHA Brighton doesn’t have its own car park.
As I was spending 24 hours in the city with a friend, we decided that splitting the cost of 24-hour parking in one of the closest car parks was work it. We paid £23 for 24 hours in The Lanes Car Park, which is just a four-minute walk from the hostel!
If you’re willing to take more time to find a better deal, then I highly suggest using Just Park. I didn’t use the site on this trip, but I’ve used it multiple times to find great overnight deals on parking in London and couldn’t recommend it more!
Directions to YHA Brighton By Train
If you’re travelling to Brighton by train, then YHA Brighton is about a fifteen-minute walk from the train station. But, you’ll be glad to know that the walk there is entirely down hill!
Directions to YHA Brighton By Bus/Coach
If you’re looking to keep to a tight budget, I highly recommend travelling with National Express! I use National Express coaches to get to London and back frequently (I live on the South Coast of England), and they also have regular routes to Brighton.
It might not seem as stylish as the train. But the coaches are comfortable, and have free WiFi. Which is more than can be said for the trains in the UK.
But most importantly, you can get tickets from National Express for as little as £5 when you book online in advance!
BOOK YOUR BUS BOOK YOUR TRAIN BOOK PARKING
The Price
The cost of a bunk-bed in a shared-sex dorm room at YHA Brighton begins from as little as 13.00GBP* on weeknights, and increases to around 37.00GBP* on weekends. Which makes YHA Brighton the perfect hostel for a mid-week city break!
To stay in a private double room en suite like I did, prices can begin from as little as 39.99GBP* during the week. On a weekend, prices begin around 79.99GBP*.
The private room prices can seem pretty steep. But if you’re travelling with a friend then you can get yourself a private en suite on some days for the same price as two bunk-beds in a shared dorm! Not to mention that the location of the hostel is fantastic, and you’d be paying much more for a shabby hotel room elsewhere in the city.
Personally, I think the cost is well worth it for a clean, modern bed or room in YHA Brighton. Put it this way, I’ll definitely be returning again with friends!
*Prices for Sept-Oct 2017
YHA Membership: If you like what you see here, or are planning to stay in a number of YHA Hostels during your travels, then it’s well worth investing in the YHA Membership Card.
Not only do you get up to £3 off each night’s stay in a YHA, you also get discounts on outdoor activities with partners of the hostel association. This isn’t a plug and I get no commission for recommending the membership, I just think it’s a great way to save money on your travels in the UK, which is why I have one too!
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I would like to thank YHA Brighton for organising my stay with them, but as always opinions are honest and entirely my own.