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YHA South Downs - Hostel

4.0 star property
Hostel in Lewes with a coffee shop and a restaurant

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for YHA South Downs - Hostel

Building design
Fireplace
Property entrance
Lounge
Shared kitchen
YHA South Downs - Hostel offers a peaceful rural getaway with a garden, library, and bar. Enjoy convenient laundry facilities and free self-parking, making it easy to focus on your stay.

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Laundry
  • Kitchen
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 12 of 12 rooms

View all photos for Shared Dormitory, Women only, Shared Bathroom (Sleeps 6)

Bed sheets

Shared Dormitory, Women only, Shared Bathroom (Sleeps 6)

Highlights

Heating
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Shared Dormitory, Men only, Shared Bathroom (Sleeps 6)

Bed sheets

Shared Dormitory, Men only, Shared Bathroom (Sleeps 6)

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)

Highlights

Heating
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Room (2 Bed Private)

Room (2 Bed Private) | Bed sheets

Room (2 Bed Private)

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(2 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Double Room

Bed sheets

Double Room

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Room, Ensuite (3 Bed Private including Double Bed)

Bed sheets

Room, Ensuite (3 Bed Private including Double Bed)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
Private bathroom
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed

View all photos for Room (4 Bed Private)

Room (4 Bed Private) | Bed sheets

Room (4 Bed Private)

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Twin Bunk Beds

View all photos for Room, Ensuite (4 Bed Private)

Bed sheets

Room, Ensuite (4 Bed Private)

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
Private bathroom
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Twin Bunk Beds

View all photos for Room (6 Bed Private)

Bed sheets

Room (6 Bed Private)

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 6
  • 3 Twin Bunk Beds

View all photos for Room, Ensuite (6 Bed Private)

Shower, soap, toilet paper

Room, Ensuite (6 Bed Private)

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
Private bathroom
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 6
  • 3 Twin Bunk Beds

View all photos for Room (5 Bed Private)

Bed sheets

Room (5 Bed Private)

Highlights

Heating
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 5
  • 2 Twin Bunk Beds and 1 Twin Bed

View all photos for Room (5 Bed Double Private Ensuite)

Room (5 Bed Double Private Ensuite) | Bed sheets

Room (5 Bed Double Private Ensuite)

Highlights

Heating
Private bathroom
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed, 1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed

View all photos for Tent

Tent | Bed sheets

Tent

Highlights

Heating
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 Double Bed, 2 Twin Beds and 1 Twin Futon

About the neighborhood

Map
Itford Farm, Beddingham, Lewes, England, BN8 6JS

What's nearby

  • Glyndebourne Opera House - 7 min drive - 5.9 miles
  • American Express Stadium - 11 min drive - 9.6 miles
  • University of Sussex - 11 min drive - 9.6 miles
  • Brighton Marina - 19 min drive - 14.8 miles
  • Brighton Beach - 20 min drive - 15.0 miles

Getting around

  • Southease Station - 3 min walk
  • Gatwick Airport (LGW) - 46 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Padella d'Oro - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The Depot - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪The Ram Inn - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪The Abergavenny Arms - ‬4 min drive

About this property

YHA South Downs - Hostel

Upscale hostel near South Downs National Park
At YHA South Downs - Hostel, you can look forward to a coffee shop/cafe, a garden, and a library. Free WiFi in public areas is available to all guests, along with laundry facilities and a bar.
Additional perks include:
  • Free self parking
  • Full breakfast (surcharge), secured bicycle storage, and games
  • Books, 1 meeting room, and a vending machine
More conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Showers and soap
  • Communal kitchens, heating, and limited housekeeping

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Front of property

West Beach Hotel Brighton

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  • Free WiFi
  • Breakfast available
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8.4 out of 10, Very Good, 511 reviews
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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site
  • Free RV/bus/truck parking on site

Food and drink

  • Daily full breakfast available 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM for a fee: GBP 6.75 for adults and GBP 3.50 for children
  • A bar/lounge
  • A coffee shop/cafe
  • A restaurant
  • Snack bar/deli

Things to do

  • Bicycle storage
  • Books
  • Games
  • Library
  • TV in common areas

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities
  • Snack bar/deli

Conveniences

  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (once per stay)

Business services

  • Meeting room

Outdoors

  • Garden
  • In a national park
  • Outdoor furniture

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • No elevator
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)

More

  • Communal living room
  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper

Food and drink

  • Shared kitchen access

More

  • Heating

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 5 PM; Check-in end time: 10 PM
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open Sunday to Thursday (7:30 AM – 10 AM), Sunday to Thursday (3 PM – 10 PM), and Friday to Saturday (3:00 PM – 10:30 PM)
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation
All adult guests are required to present a valid government-issued photo ID card at check-in.
The name and address on the booking must match the photo ID presented by the guest at check-in. This property does not accept name changes for existing bookings.

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Fee for full breakfast: approximately GBP 6.75 for adults and GBP 3.50 for children
  • Towels fee: GBP 2.50 per person, per stay (or guests may bring their own)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
Special cancellation policies or charges may apply for group reservations (more than 8 rooms for the same property / stay dates)
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
Please note that this property does not charge an additional temporary membership fee. Discounts are not available for members of YHA (England and Wales) or IYHF as part of this booking.

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

National rating

This establishment has received its official star rating from VisitEngland, the National Tourist Board for England.

Property is also known as

YHA South Downs Hostel Lewes
YHA South Downs Hostel
YHA South Downs Lewes
YHA South Downs
YHA South Downs - Hostel Lewes
YHA South Downs - Hostel Hostel/Backpacker accommodation
YHA South Downs - Hostel Hostel/Backpacker accommodation Lewes

Frequently asked questions

Is YHA South Downs - Hostel pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at YHA South Downs - Hostel?

Self parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at YHA South Downs - Hostel?

Check-in start time: 5 PM; Check-in end time: 10 PM. After-hours check-in is not available.

What time is check-out at YHA South Downs - Hostel?

Check-out is at 10 AM.

Where is YHA South Downs - Hostel located?

Situated in a national park, this hostel is 1.5 mi (2.4 km) from Monk's House and within 6 mi (10 km) of South Downs National Park and Newhaven Ferry Port. Seaford Beach and Newhaven Fort are also within 6 mi (10 km). Southease Station is only a 3-minute walk.

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Reviews

YHA South Downs - Hostel Reviews

8.4

Very Good

8.8

Cleanliness

8.2

Location

8.8

Staff & service

9.0

Eco-friendliness

8.6

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 41 out of 80 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 24 out of 80 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 7 out of 80 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 80 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 5 out of 80 reviews

Reviews

8/10 Good

S

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Suitable room for 3

Beds OK and it was good to have an ensuite. Breakfasts very good and so was the evening meal, despite a long wait. Very convenient for the train.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It is absolutely unique in its proximity to Southease railway station on the line between Seaford and Lewes/Brighton and its access to the South Downs Way voa the pedestrian footbridge over the A25.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

2/10 Terrible

SUI PIK

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Traffic noise and power failure inside room

the power supply stopped as circuit breaker tripped at around 22:00 .... the electric roof window cannot be closed leaving the room suffered from extremetraffice noise throughout the night. all bedside lights and wall power sockets failed.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024

6/10 Okay

Alan

Liked: Room comfort
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Great location, could be improved with better mgmt

Beautiful location with lovely views from the garden. Very convenient for Newhaven ferry and for walking on the South Downs. Welcome at check in was not great. Two staff members ignored us whilst taking their time to finish their conversation first. Lack of attention to detail. Light fittings had dozens of dead flies. Not cleaned for months. One ceiling light in our private room did not work. Also one of the bedside lamps didn't work. Bath screen allowed the shower to leak all over the floor and corridor carpet. Bathroom floor was dirty. Kitchen had a faulty cooker. Several spiders in the bathroom and bedroom. We had dinner at restaurant and food was excellent. Such a shame that 3 staff members were chatting with each other and loudly berating previous clients while we were eating. Not a nice atmosphere, unfortunately.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Ella

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely setting, nice and clean.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Emma Jane

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great access to the south downs way
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mark

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Fantastic

Comfy, friendly, spacious, green!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Penelope

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing breakfast. Great quality to start the day!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Mike

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Ideal location when tackling the South Downs Way. Staff were very hospitable and helpful.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Peter

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Country comforts

We loved our x2 night stay in an en-suite room in the long barn. YH combines a peaceful countryside location with everything needed for a comfortable trip. Walked to nearby villages and caught the train from Southease station to get further afield. Staff were really helpful and we enjoyed eating at the cafe during our hassle-free visit.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alexey

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Right on the South Downs trail, close to a train station or by car. Staff was friendly and nice, and the food was great. I really liked their morning English breakfast
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Steven

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Chris

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Friendly people, lovely room, great cafe, breakfast and supper, will definitely stay again. Thank you
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023

6/10 Okay

CLAIRE

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Room comfort

Convenient but overpriced

Stayed here whilst walking the south downs way. Food was very good both evening and breakfast. Beds very uncomfortable, plastic matress makes you very hot. Quite noisy as near main road and unmanned railway station next to it means trains use their horns everytime the pass. Charge 4* hotel prices for private room with a bunkbed.
Stayed 1 night in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Really convinient location for South downs way walk, very helpful staff, safe, clean and comfortable. Lovely setting and property.
Stayed 1 night in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jorge Manuel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very well located and very comfortable rooms.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Amazing

A beautiful place to stay, the staff were friendly and the rooms were clean. It was really useful that there is a very nearby train station. I enjoyed exploring the incredible nature surrounding the hostel, but a trip into the city was made easy too. I definitely reccomend and i'll be back next time i'm in the area
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

8/10 Good

Richard

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great stay for the price

The stay was very good overall for the price. Staff were friendly, the hot full english breakfast was really good, the room was ok all be it a bit on the small side and is just a bumk bed with nothing else, a little table or a stool would have been uswful. The sheets were clean and the beds comfy, only thing was its right next to the road and the cars going by are loud however they did put a pair of ear plugs in the room although this was more for if people snored.
Stayed 1 night in May 2022

8/10 Good

Sue

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Worth the stay

Staff very helpful as arriving very late. Beautiful position. Very clean. Plenty of amenities. Mattress a little hard
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dr M J

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Very clean and friendly accomodation.

Comfortable,spotlessly clean room. Nice firm matress. Cheerful andvery helpful staff. I slept very well but my wife was disturbed by traffic noise from the road to Newhaven. Amazing value for money.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Super spot, good communication, staff very welcoming..shame I couldn’t stay longer ..will be back!
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lara

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Friendly staff, great location (close to South Downs Way), and well maintained facilities.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Zoe

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great stay no complaints at all. Friendly helpful staff, clean, organised and accessible.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Very Helpful staff

Great stay, very friendly staff who were very helpful.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2021

2/10 Terrible

Shirley

Not suitable for wheelchair user

We didn't get to stay as the disabled room that was booked was on the first floor with no lift. Impossible to get to with wheelchair. Were shown a ground floor room but this had no private bathroom and the shared bathroom had a step into it and no room for a wheelchair to fit in if we could get up the step. We were left with nowhere to stay at 5.30pm
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021

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