The Youth Hostels Association is a charitable organisation, registered with the Charity Commission, providing youth hostel accommodation in England and Wales. It is a member of the Hostelling International federation.

Hostelling International (HI) is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation working with UNESCO and the World Tourism Organisation UNWTO. Formerly known as International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF), Hostelling International is a grouping of more than 70 national youth hostel associations in over 80 countries, with over 4,000 affiliated hostels around the world.