Youth hostelling - UK and Europe

[Hephebe]

I stayed at hostels a bit in Europe in my youth, and having recently spent a nice weekend at a UK YHA with our kids it's got me thinking more about the value of that kind of accommodation for us at the mo - where there's often communal outdoor space and other kids to run around in it with, games room/pool table etc, meals sometimes provided if required but also self-catering kitchen etc.

So I'm after recommendations please, for really great hostels in the UK and mainland Europe for families with kids ca. 9-12yrs, and ideally some activities or running-around space on site (or great locations in terms of proximity to interesting sites).

The Ginger Monkey in Slovakia is great!
We went a few years ago and I've heard recently it's still good. We had a family room for 4.
We also used hostels travelling round Iceland and Denmark.
We always got a family room and if it was for 6 people we would pay the difference to ensure privacy.
Hostels in the UK aren't a cheap option anymore ( in my opinion)

Ooh I fancy Slovakia, @notacooldad!

Yes I think the YHA prices in the UK now don't always even beat the Travelodge/Premier Inn. We got a good deal (20% off) on our recent trip, otherwise it wouldn't have been so tempting.

My vague plan at this stage is maybe for a European trip next summer - Eurostar over and then some mooching about via train in Luxembourg/Germany/Austria.

We have stayed in tbe one in Liverpool
It's in a pretty good location ( near the docks and a Tesco nearby)
Kitchen , bar, pool table etc
Think also a tv room ( but when we stayed there was a massive group of foreign students ans I think the teachers were using jt as their base - we stayed out!)
It was ok, we will prob go back, and on the basis of it, look for others

Not stayed for along time but York, Liverpool, Manchester all great for city hostels.
Whitby is nice next to the Abbey. Did a few up that coastline which was nice. Boggle hole, Scarborough, Dalby forest.
I think though it became more expensive. We did them because of food allergies, the self catering element made it worthwhile.

Thanks both - I love Liverpool, and I'd forgotten there was one at Boggle Hole (we've camped near RHB before but the weather can be pretty dramatic up there so a hostel makes sense!)

Interested for any more European recs, if anyone has any? I stayed in the hostel in Nuremberg castle as a teen - my kids would LOVE that - and I understand there's a cool one on Barcelona.

I've only stayed in yhas in England. Kettlewell is fantastic. It's independent but affiliated with YHA. Buttermere, Keswick, Skiddaw house (have to walk to it) Ambleside, Helvellyn, Elterwater, Ennerdale, Borrowdale are all good. Grinton lodge in swaledale is our favourite as it's remote with amazing views and great value. It's 1.5 miles from Reeth. 1/2 mile from Grinton. There's a bus stop at Grinton and you can get the bus to Richmond or drive. Not far from Hawes either. Just stunning scenery. Reeth has a museum and visitor centre. A great ice cream parlour. A big green.

Ds1 has stayed in lots of hostels in Europe but they were more for younger crowd socialising.