YHA Chester Trafford Hall

We're always going on about how the YHA nabs some of England's best buildings for its hostels, and YHA Chester Trafford Hall is just the latest example – a grade-II-listed 18th-century mansion situated in the bucolic Cheshire countryside not far from Chester, which blends what is essentially a characterful country house with an array of great facilities and some of Chester's best value accommodation. Not only that, Trafford Hall is one of the YHA's most sustainable properties, with eco-friendly accommodation that's powered by renewable energy.

Like many YHA hostels these days, Trafford Park offers both traditional shared rooms with bunk beds and also a range of private rooms, both with and without en-suite bathrooms; some of these are housed in a series of outdoor chalets. The hostel has over 200 beds available or equal to 38 private rooms. When on exclusive hire it can accommodate The Stables, with 11 bathrooms 11 bedrooms and sleeping up to 43 guests. There's a cosy, fully licensed bar, a cafe serving excellent breakfasts, a self-catering kitchen and a games room with table football and pool. Nearby, The Stables can be rented on an exclusive basis to groups, and the house also has the bonus of no less than 14 acres of grounds to explore, including landscaped gardens and nature trails.

Just four miles from the centre of the city, the hostel is equally well located for exploring Chester's historic walled old town or exploring the  attractions of rural Cheshire. It's also very close to the nearby designer outlet of Cheshire Oaks, so you can shop till you drop, too!  All in all it's one of the Northwest's best budget places to stay.