It's located smack in the centre with the best bar just beside it the brewery centre that also has…read morethe only cinema in it cool!

For those whose vision of a YHA hostel is as some sort of bleak army barracks set-up for…read moremasochists, an overnight stay at this pace will not only convert you but will show you what you've been missing. Located in a lovely and unspoiled street, rich in Victoriana and with well-preserved Georgian architecture, the hostel is a huge old townhouse, handily placed in front of the famous 'Brewery Arts Centre' venue, so check the listings before you make your booking, you might be pleasantly surprised. Immaculately clean and modern throughout, the hostel provides shared dormitories for the budget-conscious (usually around £13.95 per night) or shared family rooms, for families (naturally) or couples. A well laid out and fully-featured communal kitchen, is ideal for self-catering purposes, but meals (and breakfasts) can be booked in advance, or on arrival. The rooms are warm and comfortable, and the bathrooms are first-rate (although the pressure of the showers could do with being reduced a bit ranging from 'invigorating' to 'dermabrasion'). Plenty of recreational facilities; a well-stocked library, tv, mountain-bike hire at cheap rates. But if you get Room 6, keep the lights on it's haunted.

This is the first time I have stayed in a YHA hostel and I was very impressed with it. We arrived…read moreat 4pm, which was before it opened, but there was a note inviting us to come in and make ourselves a cup of tea. You can buy tea and coffee and homemade cake. The tea and coffee was a little expensive so if you are on a budget I would recommend bring some with you. The hostel has just been refurbished and it really shows. The living area is tidy and comfortable, with a real log stove and the kitchen is big enough for a few people to be cooking in it and is well stocked. You can buy dinner at night £11 for a 3 course meal; we didn't have it as we were cooking for ourselves, but the other guests seemed to enjoy it. You can buy Organic wine and beer, but only alcohol bought on the premises can be drunk. Right next door there is a camping barn which is very basic, but looked really good fun and I plan on giving it a go next time I stay. The access is by car, but there is not a lot of parking. The track coming up to it is not paved so it can look like you are going the wrong way. It is situated in a beautiful area, but it is very cut off so if you are expecting to walk to the pub you will be disapointed! It is on the Coast 2 Coast cycle path and many walks.

From the owner: If you want to get away from it all and catch a true taste of the Lake District, then YHA Ennerdale…read morereally is the hostel for you. Situated in a remote wooded valley and surrounded by fells, ridges and famous peaks, these converted forestry cottages make for a cosy rural retreat. Perfect for outdoor activity breaks, the hostel is surrounded by great terrain for walking and cycling holidays, scaling ridges and scrambling. For the eco-conscious, YHA Ennerdale has an off-grid, hydro-electric power supply and even generates its own drinking water!

While driving, I found this place on Expedia only a couple hours before we were going to arrive. So…read morewe were pretty much in a time crunch. That was kind of the point of the experience we were looking for, to find something random and unplanned. We were definitely lucky to find this place, though! It was a bit complicated figuring out everything when we first arrived. When we got there, the door was locked and closed. We were about to walk away, but luckily I double checked Expedia, and they sent us a message for us to knock (usually this is frowned upon; there was even a sign saying not to do so). It was a bit more difficult for us, because we didn't have access to the internet, and the wifi device I used wasn't always reliable, so it took a minute for that to function properly. Technically it was after hours, but the proprietor was kind enough to wait for us. PROS: -Tidy, neat rooms with plenty of space for two. -Near the downtown area, so within a couple blocks, you'll find pubs and restaurants. (Easily accessible and within walking distance.) -Very affordable accommodations, starting at £45 per night (for double occupancy). -Very accommodating proprietor, who stayed late to ensure that we were able to check in. -Super quiet, so though I know there were other people around, I didn't really notice, other than the occasional slamming of doors. -Free wifi is included... And it actually worked! Woohoo! -Free tea and coffee included in the rooms, though we didn't end up drinking any. Still a nice addition! CONS: -Limited open hours for the office (from 4-7pm). You have to buy ahead, and make sure the owner knows if you're going to be late. -Each door has a sign on it to shut it slowly, but I honestly kept forgetting at night (when the lights were off), and I slammed the door several times on accident. :( THE VERDICT: The room was simple: double beds, a small desk, sink and mirror, and a window. No air conditioning unit, which is pretty common in the UK, but we cracked the window and that was sufficient to keep the room cool. Since this is arranged more like a hostel or guest house, bathrooms were located on the floors for communal use. It was a simple, bare bones place, with a generous and polite proprietor, neat, clean accommodations, and quiet, too. I found myself thinking that it was the kind of place I would easily stay for a few weeks, because of its proximity to interesting place downtown, the cleanliness of the rooms, and the kindness of the owner. I tried to add the website, but it wasn't approved by Yelp, so here it is: http://www.kingswood-stockton.co.uk/

I have been deraling with Jays Properties for the last 5 years and would highly recommend…read more Thanks

From the owner: Welcome to Jay's Properties we offer accomodation for family's and the homeless, established in…read more1986 for the purpose of providing accommodation from 'single person to family's in need'. We are committed to treating individuals with dignity and respect. Jay's is determined to offer individuals the opportunity and the support necessary to encourage and enable personal growth and self-development, regardless of their; gender, marital status, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, religious belief, disability or political allegiance. Our aim is to encourage individuals to develop the necessary skills through a programme of high support and educational opportunities, which will enable them to move into independent living and successfully sustain their own accomodation. We have the largest hostels in the Blackburn area, as well as move-on flats, Houses and Bedsits. We are one of the largest organisation in East Lancashire who provide friendly and safe enviroment to live.