Hotel Review: YHA, Brighton

Perched on the Old Steine, a busy thoroughfare in central Brighton, the hostel entrance is set back from the road and around the corner from the seafront. The back of the property overlooks the coach station, which can get noisy at night, while a bus stop is a 30-second walk. It's a minute's walk from the Lanes and the buzzy Mesmerist bar and five minutes from the opulent Royal Pavilion.

By car: Brighton is about two hours' drive from central London. There is no parking at YHA Brighton. The nearest available spaces can be found at The Lanes car park. However, there is an unloading bay outside the hostel for drop-offs.

By train: The train station is 15 minutes' walk away and six mins by taxi, with regular services from London Bridge and London Victoria (around one hour), as well as Gatwick Airport (around 30 minutes). Book trains to Brighton.

Opened as the Royal York hotel in 1819, while the rooms are simple and straightforward, there is still some Regency flair in the public areas with huge floor-to-ceiling bay windows, grand chandeliers and arched doorways. While it's clean and uncluttered, the hallways and public areas are looking a little tired.

The ground floor café-bar serves good value meals and cheap beer (the bar is open until 2 am), there's also a games area with a ping pong table and foosball. The communal kitchen has 24-hour access. Staff are young and friendly, and happy to make recommendations for fun places to go.

• Restaurant
• Bar
• 24-hour desk
• Family rooms
• Facilities for disabled guests
• Free Wi-Fi

Rooms and dorms have simple, neutral decor. TVs are the extent of the facilities - no air conditioning or double glazing - so it can get hot and noisy. Bathrooms in the private rooms can be spacious, some even have baths, plus complimentary toothbrushes, ear plugs and shaving kits.

Room types: Bed In Shared Room, Private Room, Private Ensuite Room

Key amenities: Shared shower and toilet facilities, TV, free Wi-Fi

On the ground floor, the Brighton Grind café bar is open all day for food and until 2 am for drinks at the weekend. Food is served until 10 pm and is the usual pub grub affair with burgers, sandwiches and nachos all on offer. Snacks and soft drinks are available 24/7.

Café-bar: unlimited breakfast served daily (continental option available) from 7:30am. Snack bar menu, pizzas and nachos. Food served between 11am-8:30pm