GOOD HOSTELS IN YORK

• York History in many layers from the Romans to the Railways
• Leeds A busy city with a fine centre, gateway to the Dales
• Sheffield A large varied city with industry
• Blackpool Britain's favourite family resort, crowded but not sleazy

YORK

York is on the tourist trail so it's crowded with visitors, but well worth a visit with abundant evidence of its long history. It has played a major role in Britain for two millennia, and has museums relating to Roman and Viking periods, a majestic cathedral, a castle, shopping streets dating from the Middle Ages, and a railway museum (free). The Viking museum is expensive and is said to be strong on effects more than facts, but if you want to go, your hostel may offer discounts.

Hostels

The YHA hostel is very good, sociable but not partying. Although a km out of town, it has all you need including good meals and a bar with local beers. It is expensive, but includes a very good breakfast and free parking.

There is now a budget hotel that has dorm rooms (although their prices given on booking engines differ greatly from those on their own website!). It doesn't seem to have the intimacy of a hostel, but appears to be comfortable. It is actually in a building which was formerly a hostel in Micklegate.

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Leeds is a busy city, but it does not have a hostel.

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SHEFFIELD

Sheffield is a large city with much industry but also fine shopping areas. It is built in valleys and ridges, so there are many hills.

It has not had a hostel for many years. Now a student residence, Reliance Hostels, is offering low-cost accommodation for individuals, which might suit you if you need a stop in Sheffield, but just treat it as a place to stay:

RELIANCE Hostels

BLACKPOOL

Blackpool is unique. It has one of the best and longest beaches in Britain with firm sand; you can walk for miles along the beach or the traffic-free promenade. It has the widest range of entertainment and attractions, of the artificial kind, in Britain. It is clean and tidy, and is the favourite resort of a million British families and children. In the autumn, the illuminations are a star attraction. Trams run the length of the seafront: you can take one as far as Fleetwood, a pleasant old fishing town.

Though not a natural backpackers' magnet, it's a most interesting place to spend a day or two, as a complete contrast from the hills and natural scenery of the neighbouring Dales and Lake District.

Transport

There are frequent trains to Preston which is on the main line from London to Glasgow. There are 3 buses a day to London. Transport within the town is good and frequent (day rover tickets 4 pounds).

Accommodation

There are no hostels in Blackpool, but hundreds of hotels. Some of these are very reasonably priced, especially in the quiet season.

The Mayfield Hotel gives single travellers a single room but does not charge them any extra, so solo travellers should try here first:

The Traveller's Rest has dorms, but it appears to cater mainly for stag and hen nights.

The Fylde calls itself a Backpackers, but has only private rooms, so solo travellers have to pay twice as much as anyone else.

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