YHA Swanage

Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2BS
YHA Swanage exterior

Overview

A large, sea-facing Victorian villa, YHA Swanage is situated five minutes' walk from the award-winning beach of Swanage – the only Blue Flag beach along the entire Dorset Jurassic coast. Spend a restful holiday building sandcastles, paddling in the sea and sampling local ice cream or give coasteering or diving a go on this rugged coastline.

Our hilltop location gives rooms spectacular panoramic views of Swanage town and bay. The town is a classic British seaside resort and the perfect gateway to the Jurassic coast, a world heritage site. With the steam train and Corfe Castle nearby, you’ll be spoilt for choice for things to do.

Accommodation at this hostel

  • Bed in a shared room   is offered here
  • Private room   is offered here
  • Entire place   is offered here
  • Camping & Cabins   is not offered here

Why guests love this hostel

  • Minutes from a Blue Flag beach
  • Lovely hilltop location
  • Great for seaside family breaks

Accommodation at YHA Swanage

YHA Swanage Bedroom

Bed in a shared room

If you're happy to share, dorm rooms have multiple beds - ideal for budget breaks.

YHA Swanage Bedroom

Private rooms

Like your own space? Private rooms offer the hostelling experience with more privacy.

YHA Swanage Bedroom

Private en-suite rooms

Enjoy your own space with a private en-suite room, including bathroom facilities.

YHA Swanage lounge

Hire the whole place

With YHA Exclusive Hire, you can take the entire building for you and your group.

Room with white painted walls and rows of green plastic chairs

Meeting rooms

Our flexible and affordable meeting rooms are a great choice for any occasion.

YHA Swanage Dining Room

Group booking

Serviced group stays for 16 to 87 people

A grand, sea-facing Victorian villa situated just five minutes' walk from an award-winning beach, YHA Swanage offers an incredible location for a seaside break. This well-equipped hostel is perfect for activity breaks with walking, fossil hunting, geography/geology activities and an award-winning beach all close by.

This hostel is great for secondary school fieldwork activities. Try beach profiling in the friendly, colourful seaside town of Swanage, fossil hunting and geology at Kimmeridge and Durlston or other studies around coastal processes at Studland and Old Harry’s rocks. Primary schools and other groups can enjoy a more classic seaside residential and head down to the beach, which is easily accessible from the hostel. With the steam train and Corfe Castle nearby, you’ll be spoilt for choice for things to do.

Group-friendly facilities

Sleeping arrangements

Most of our bedrooms are dormitory style rooms with bunk beds. We always try to allocate bedrooms close together and will never ask your group to share bedrooms with anyone not in your group.

Upgrades are available for sole use of an area, floor or the entire place.

Shared spaces

YHA Swanage offers modern facilities including four classrooms, on-site parking and free Wi-Fi. Groups benefit from the use of our open plan social areas with an oak-panelled lounge and dining room, complete with comfy chairs.

Group catering

With tasty breakfasts, packed lunches and evening meals, groups are sure to find something delicious to eat at YHA Swanage (see sample menu).

Meal plans range from bed and breakfast up to full-board catering. Vegetarian options are available and we aim to cater for any special dietary requests.

Parking

There is parking at the hostel.

Accredited site

YHA Swanage holds a Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge (105573).

This accreditation means that this hostel has externally audited risk assessments, verified insurance provision, quality checked safety logs and delivery observed by national reviewers.

Hostel facilities

  • 24-hour access after check-in
  • Ambulant accessible
  • Classroom(s)
  • Coach parking on premises
  • Corridor zoning
  • Cycle store
  • Dining room
  • Evening meals
  • Free parking on premises
  • Full mobile coverage
  • Group meals
  • Highchair
  • Licensed bar
  • Minibus parking on premises
  • Near airport
  • Near bus stop
  • Near ferry port
  • Near train station
  • Outdoor seating
  • Restaurant
  • Sea view
  • Self-catering kitchen
  • Shared drying room
  • Shared laundry room
  • Shared lounge
  • Sole use available
  • Unlimited breakfast
  • Vending machines
  • Water refill station
  • WiFi

Hostel need to know

Reception opening hours: From 07:30 - 10:00 and 17:00 - 22:00.

Food and drink: Breakfast is served to guests daily from 07:30 – 09:00.

Licensed bar: This hostel has a licensed bar offering a range of alcohol and soft drinks. It is not possible for guests to bring their own alcohol, except when hiring the whole hostel through YHA Exclusive Hire.

Self-catering : Guests have access to a self-catering kitchen.

Parking: There is parking at the hostel.

WiFi: Free WiFi is available in shared social spaces.

YHA Swanage - Access Statement

(PDF download - 146.5 KB)

Food and drink at YHA Swanage

Location of YHA Swanage

YHA Swanage

Map references

OS Map:
195
OS Grid Ref:
SZ031785
Lat/Lng:
50.60615, -1.95783

Contact information

Things to do around YHA Swanage

More about this hostel

Volunteering

Volunteering with YHA is a fantastic way to have fun, learn new skills, boost your CV and travel to different places. We have a variety of different opportunities to choose from and volunteering roles to suit everyone.  

The tasks are varied and in return you will meet some great people, who both work and stay in our hostels, as well as enjoying your time off discovering the local area and attractions.

Find out more and apply to volunteer

History

This fine seaside villa was built by the Captain of the Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s colossal ship ‘The Great Eastern’; Sir James Anderson. He built the house with the proceeds of laying the first ever transatlantic cable from Ireland to the Americas, thus connecting the old world with the new worlds. During WWI the house became a Red Cross hospital for soldiers returning from Europe. YHA has owned this fine building since 1949. The wood panelling in the building is believed to have come from the old English courts of law.

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