youth hostels, the history, people and ideas behind them
A family member is asking for advice on careers. Would I suggest a career in travel, tourism and hospitality? I'd have wasted my life if I didn't recommend the career I followed all my working days! The one that has taken me to this blog, books and history. Career is a poor description of the... Continue Reading →
The impact of tourism captures headlines. Overtourism. Too many visitors destroying the places they come to see. Reports of changes in places we love to visit. And tourism still remains the pursuit of the wealthy, despite the efforts of Thomas Cook, Billy Butlin and TA Leonard to bring travel within the reach of millions. Their... Continue Reading →
Youth hostels found new roles in the pandemic. Some housed families at risk of domestic violence. Others housed the homeless or distributed food to their communities. The period echoes the Second World War when youth hostels also turned themselves to other ways. Lands End Youth Hostel The outbreak of the Second World War caused confusion.... Continue Reading →
Continuing the story of Hilary Hughes, based on the log book of her cycle tour in the South of England in August 1936, a fascinating glimpse into the lives of two young women in 1936, when they were alone in the world, unaided, for a week. Breakfast was nothing, Hilary declared to her diary; a... Continue Reading →
John Martin has been making his historical profiles available on this site. Here, in a guest post, he writes about the history of the project and explains how he became involved. Rock Hall, courtesy YHA Archive I’ve been involved with archiving the records of the British and Irish youth hostels associations since 2000, but my... Continue Reading →
SIMPLY HOSTELS 