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I planned our recent trip to Cornwall around visiting the Eden Project. It's somewhere I've wanted to visit for years and it did not disappoint (check out my 10 reasons to visit here). I've worked with YHA on a couple of occasions in the past and they invited me along to review YHA Eden Project a few years ago but it was a bit of a long way to travel for one night. So when I was planning my trip, I got back in touch and we organised a night in one of their recycled shipping containers.
Checking In Process
The YHA Eden Project reception is open from 5pm-10pm. You cannot check in before or after this. The shipping containers are on the same site as the Eden Project and the free shuttle bus can drop you off at the entrance (just ask the driver). There is ample free parking. We arrived around 10 minutes before check-in and just waited in our car for the doors to open. I had read some reviews that the YHA entrance was a little tricky to find but I found the entrance to be very well signposted from the main Eden Project car parks and our satnav took us straight there.
The staff were super friendly, provided us with all the info we needed and answered everyone's questions. They were super knowledgable about the local area (recommending taxi companies and takeaways to some other guests) and check in was nice and straight forward. You're given a plastic hotel-style door key to open your door.
The YHA Eden Project is home to three rows of recycled shipping containers which house 60 individual en-suite Snoozebox bedrooms which can sleep 1,2,3 or 4 guests. We booked two of the biggest rooms next door to each other. Rooms are available from £19 (single) and £35 (for 4 people) up to £50 (single) and £80 (for 4 people) which I think is a fab price. You can also bring your own tent and camp overnight from £8pp in the summer months or try glamping in a bell tent or land pod.
The staff were super friendly, provided us with all the info we needed and answered everyone's questions. They were super knowledgable about the local area (recommending taxi companies and takeaways to some other guests) and check in was nice and straight forward. You're given a plastic hotel-style door key to open your door.
The YHA Eden Project is home to three rows of recycled shipping containers which house 60 individual en-suite Snoozebox bedrooms which can sleep 1,2,3 or 4 guests. We booked two of the biggest rooms next door to each other. Rooms are available from £19 (single) and £35 (for 4 people) up to £50 (single) and £80 (for 4 people) which I think is a fab price. You can also bring your own tent and camp overnight from £8pp in the summer months or try glamping in a bell tent or land pod.
YHA Eden Project Room Tour
We honestly loved our room. They've been very cleverly designed to make the most of the space. In our 4 person room, there was a comfortable double bed at one end which seemed to be full size (Steve and I aren't exactly skinny and we didn't feel squashed) with a TV and air conditioning unit above the bed.
At the other end is your en-suite with a toilet and wet room. The toilet seemed to use the same mechanism as an aeroplane (where it kind of sucks everything away when you flush) and it was super noisy and the door between the bedroom area and bathroom is very thin so these rooms are probably best-suited to those who are more than comfortable with each other.
Between the double bedroom and bathroom is a bunk bed and unit with a mirror, safe and plenty of storage. I liked that all of our beds were made up on arrival for us and that there were lots of options for storage either under our beds or in the storage unit. There are even hangers provided. There is also free WiFi and multiple plug sockets for all of your charging needs.
We didn't feel overcrowded at all and were all very comfortable. I think these Snoozeboxes would be ideal for a 1-2 night stay whilst you're exploring the area (you can convert your Eden project ticket to an annual pass if you fancy making a weekend of it and visiting more than once).
Our rooms were absolutely gleaming too and although they've been open for 4-5 years, everything felt brand new.
At the other end is your en-suite with a toilet and wet room. The toilet seemed to use the same mechanism as an aeroplane (where it kind of sucks everything away when you flush) and it was super noisy and the door between the bedroom area and bathroom is very thin so these rooms are probably best-suited to those who are more than comfortable with each other.
Between the double bedroom and bathroom is a bunk bed and unit with a mirror, safe and plenty of storage. I liked that all of our beds were made up on arrival for us and that there were lots of options for storage either under our beds or in the storage unit. There are even hangers provided. There is also free WiFi and multiple plug sockets for all of your charging needs.
We didn't feel overcrowded at all and were all very comfortable. I think these Snoozeboxes would be ideal for a 1-2 night stay whilst you're exploring the area (you can convert your Eden project ticket to an annual pass if you fancy making a weekend of it and visiting more than once).
Our rooms were absolutely gleaming too and although they've been open for 4-5 years, everything felt brand new.
YHA Eden Project Menu & Bar
You don't need to stay stuck inside of your Snoozebox during your stay at YHA Eden Project, there's a fantastic communal area which is open for guests to use between 5pm-10pm and 8am-10am. It's filled with information, a small toy area, a self-catering kitchen, tables and chairs, vending machines and a small bar serving drinks, pizzas, nachos and paninis.
We popped down at 6pm and ordered pizzas, a bottle of wine and soft drinks for the kids. I loved the atmosphere in here - there was a group of 3 mams and their 10 little kids all sitting down to a meal of pasta and everyone was watching out for the little ones and helping which was lush.
Service was on the slow side (around an hour) and I will be honest, we were disappointed with our pizzas and they weren't the best BUT they filled us up which is the main thing. Despite our food disappointment, our evening here was one of my favourites from the trip. Families sitting together, playing cards and chatting was just lush and the wine went down a treat. If I was to visit again, I'd probably pick up a takeaway or eat in a local pub and then pop back here for drinks.
We popped down at 6pm and ordered pizzas, a bottle of wine and soft drinks for the kids. I loved the atmosphere in here - there was a group of 3 mams and their 10 little kids all sitting down to a meal of pasta and everyone was watching out for the little ones and helping which was lush.
Service was on the slow side (around an hour) and I will be honest, we were disappointed with our pizzas and they weren't the best BUT they filled us up which is the main thing. Despite our food disappointment, our evening here was one of my favourites from the trip. Families sitting together, playing cards and chatting was just lush and the wine went down a treat. If I was to visit again, I'd probably pick up a takeaway or eat in a local pub and then pop back here for drinks.
YHA Eden Project Self-Catering Facilities
If you want to keep the costs of your trip down, there's a small self-catering kitchen which is well-equipped with cooking rings, fridge, freezer etc..... Lots of families were taking advantage of these facilities and although busy, communal cooking seemed to work well.
Did We Sleep Well?
After our evening eating pizza and drinking wine, I loved snuggling up in our Snoozebox watching TV before sleep time. There is air conditioning (and heating) in the room and we were lovely and warm. The unit was a little noisy though so we ended up turning it off after a while but our room stayed nice and warm so they must be nicely insulated. Our beds were super comfy and there's a window cover you can pop over the window so it was nice and dark too.
If you use your shower, you need to keep the door firmly closed otherwise it can trigger the fire alarm and I've read a few disgruntled Tripadvisor reviews where this has happened in the middle of the night and everyone has had to evacuate. Thankfully, this didn't happen for us and we slept really well.
If you use your shower, you need to keep the door firmly closed otherwise it can trigger the fire alarm and I've read a few disgruntled Tripadvisor reviews where this has happened in the middle of the night and everyone has had to evacuate. Thankfully, this didn't happen for us and we slept really well.
YHA Eden Project Breakfast
Check-out is 10am and we headed to reception just before 9am. We had planned to grab some breakfast from the bar but it was just SO busy and there weren't any free tables so we decided to stop at the nearest service station instead. Breakfast here does look like good value but I'd recommend getting there early if you're staying during a peak time.
YHA Eden Project - Final Thoughts
We absolutely loved our stay at YHA Eden Project. It was hassle-free, comfortable and super convenient after our busy day walking around the Eden Project. The Snoozebox rooms were quirky too and it was nice to try something a little different. I can't imagine spending a full week here (hello cabin fever) but a 1-2 night stay is ideal. Staying in Cornwall can be expensive and this is a very affordable option. We spent 9 nights exploring Cornwall and our evening in the communal marquee at YHA Eden Project really stands out as one of my best memories. It was just so relaxed and family friendly and who doesn't like a game of cards over wine and pizza?
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Disclosure: YHA covered the cost of our accommodation in return for coverage. We paid for our evening meal and other expenses. YHA has had no editorial control over this post.
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This looks like such a cool place to stay - what an utter adventure! x
ReplyDeleteIt was so much fun - we loved it x
DeleteThe review for Eden project have served well in deciding me to go for it. Thanks for sharing the article.
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