YHA Penzance

I spend 4 comfortable and restful nights in this excellent and relaxed hostel. The room was roasting hot when I arrived but it was soon a more acceptable temperature when I opened the window and turned the radiator off. The self catering kitchen is well equipped and spacious, I didn't have any of the meals on offer but it they provide a range of evening meals and a cooked or continental breakfast. The showers were fine, the hostel is clean and the staff polite, helpful and kind.

Nice simple accommodation. Make sure to note the check in times (not open until 5pm.) walkable to visit Penzance.

Fabulous spacious YHA. It's a little out of Town, but easily walkable. It's in a secluded location & has trees & grass surrounds. The facilities are great & well maintained. I really enjoyed my stay there.

The staff I met was very welcoming and helpful. The dorm was spacious and secure and with a bedside lamp and electrical socket for each bed. I found the members kitchen to be totally impractical and too small when the hostel is full. There is not enough equipment for many people to cook at the same time and no sink and soap for washing hands before cooking. People are asked to wash up and dry items immediately but with a busy kitchen there are way too few teatowels! They were often all wet and dirty, probably because they were also used as towels and I saw one guy using a teatowel to wipe a table in the diningroom after having "washed" it with a sponge.I guess he put it back on the rack with the other teatowels for people to use drying their used items? The different items in the kitchen are spread out in each corner so you have to walk around a lot to get or put back cutlery, plates etc. The 3 fridges were all totally full, I could hardly find a little space for my food in one of them. Maybe the kitchen should be in the diningroom and vice versa!

Disappointing. In the 30 years I’ve been coming here, it’s not changed for the better. The camping grounds have been moved to an unkempt, rooted, wasp ridden, stinging nettle & bramble covered hill, further away from the toilet/kitchen block, that no longer provides a kettle or fridge that it did in the past. The ‘lovely wooded path’ to the camp grounds have no lights - unlike the rest of the grounds. The camping area was moved to make way for permanent bell tents and land pods for glamping, which considering that they are sleeping on beds and are carpeted would be better suited to the ‘new’ camping area. Side note - the camp grounds are now no longer wheelchair accessible as they have replaced that area with an abundance of unused picnic benches. The hostel itself hasn’t changed, the kitchens/dining room still the same as it was in the 90s. Be aware they will police your breakfast intake at the restaurant regardless of it being unlimited. The lounge, which has always been more geared towards teens and children is completely lacking in games, puzzles & books like it used to, but that is probably because guests are not leaving behind items like they used to. Most of the staff are really lovely, especially in the restaurant and two ladies at reception - both willing to impart a bit of knowledge or suggest places to visit - the gentleman however seems to be in a consistent mood, not willing to actually hold a conversation or be helpful when asked a question - this was clear with how he spoke to staff and other guests. And finally the power sources and wifi are atrocious. The wifi is an issue with most of Cornwall, but the electricity here needs to be sorted as nothing charged properly. I will probably not come back again, which is sad as it’s been a staple holiday location since I was 4. Considering the amount of money that they are now making daily from the glamping, and the restaurant, you’d think they would have updated/fixed the camping area. It’s cheap to camp, but it always has been, so I don’t understand how there is even less amenities than previously.

A fabulous Youth Hostel in a perfect location. The staff are so friendly and welcoming and help to make your stay so enjoyable. It's very clean and tidy and an absolute pleasure to stay there. The breakfast and evening meals are delicious.

Very nice place! A bit far from the bus station when coming as a backpacker. The private room for two was really small and rather expensive ( 100 £ without breakfast) but the location and the common rooms are nice and comfortable. I would have really appreciated a real coffee for breakfast and not the instant one ☕️.I think a coffee machine would be a good investment 😀

Location - The YHA is very easily found on the A30 above Penzance and well sign posted. It is an easy 20 minute walk from the hostel over the A30 and right to the sea front or left into the city centre. Newlyn is just over one mile away. Lots of busses run along the sea front to St Michaels Mount or Mousehole. There are no shops in the immediate vacinity of the hostel so be prepared to walk 10 minutes to the pub or eat in house if you have not brought anything with you. Sunday - Note that almost nothing in town is open on a Sunday. Staff - Staff are very friendly and keen to help when needed. Security - personal key card system works for all rooms and main entrance doors. Doors are locked to new stayers until registration at 17:00. Size - The biggest YHA I have yet to stay in. Loads of rooms, showers, toilets all over the upper floor but all maintained to the YHA standard. The building is a bit creaky but very quiet at night. I think we were lucky to be here just outside of high season as the ratio of up to 90 potential guests to limited public areas might get very crowded. As it is the self catering kitchen was at times something of a scrum being used by both main building and camping people. If you like meeting up with the eclectic eccentric characters that frequent hostels then you will have lots of opportunity here. Scilly Isles - Seems many people use the YHA as an overnight before or after time on Scilly Isles. Many left early in the morning by taxi for the ferry terminus. Don't forget to check in one hour before departure. Wifi - The Wifi is ok but not strong. ground floor is not bad but other floors and in the rooms is very patchy. Food - can't comment on the food as I was self catering. All in all had a great time - lots of great beaches and small towns within short distance. Great drive down on A30 which is now dual carriage-way from Exeter except the last 10 miles which is being worked on. Hope you enjoy your stay.

Lovely bell tents, great facilities, but like most camping experiences no on sight management meant that we were disturbed until well past midnight by the noisy children of parents who just don't care, young people opening and closing the car doors of nearby parked cars, campers chatting loudly etc etc. As said wonderful facilities though.