Best hotels in York, from grand hotels and country houses to contemporary newbies and pubs with rooms
York always comes up top in the UK’s best cities – what’s not to love about the pretty (old) city? Especially as hotels in York continue to up their game in a bid to attract discerning world travellers.
As a tempting weekend break within easy reach by rail from London (under two hours from King's Cross St Pancras), York’s deep history and walkable sights, evolving food scene and roster of festivals are always a big draw.
It took a while to get a winning balance of classical and modern luxury but finally, York is acting like more of an international player with the arrival of some seriously design-focused, avant-garde hotels and spas. And, there are more in the works – watch this space. With there being a total of 74 hotels in York, we’ve had to be selective – but, here’s our pick of eight of the best hotels we think you should know about.
More inspiration on where to stay and what to do in York
How we choose the best hotels in York
Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has stayed at that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider both luxury properties and boutique and lesser-known boltholes that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We’re always looking for beautiful design, a great location and warm service – as well as serious sustainability credentials. We update this list regularly as new hotels open and existing ones evolve. For more information on how we review hotels and restaurants, please look at our About Us page. This is our pick of the best hotels in York.
The Grand
The Grand, York’s five-star hotel, was once the headquarters of the North Eastern Railway, and its mighty façade is a true city landmark. Originally built in 1906, you can appreciate the Edwardian details, gloriously restored in the hotel's design and architecture. What the hotel does best is classical grandeur, the great hotel experience with all the embellishments.
There are 207 deluxe, comfortable rooms and suites with sky-high ceilings – try a heritage suite. The ritzy new health suite SubRosa (opened this December, following a £2.5 million refurbishment) has five treatment rooms, new wellness technology, new treatments, a double hammam, mud rasul and immersive sunlight experience, plus a sleek new restaurant. Book one of the three new rituals, the ‘Rosa’: a full-day experience that includes a Rasul ritual plus a 60-minute treatment for two.
Make sure to try the sumptuous eight-course tasting menu at Legacy; it’s one for a special event. Helmed by executive head chef Kevin Bonello and head chef Ahmed Abdalla, the restaurant also recently launched a two-or-three-course weekend lunch menu – book ahead. The good-looking, oak-panelled Edwardian dining space sets the tone for Legacy’s classics with standouts such as North Sea pollock with scallop mousse and dry-aged duck breast with chorizo jam. Save room for the honey and yoghurt soufflé.
Rise is the hotel’s main (AA Rosette-awarded) restaurant serving mod-British dishes: a bountiful breakfast is served here with keen and friendly service and afternoon tea.
Address: The Grand, Station Rise, York YO1 6GD
Your Creative SauceGrays Court
Take a peek down hushed Chapter House Street to find a charming hidden surprise: Grays Court – one of the most iconic hotels in York. It offers one of the best locations in the city, neighbouring York Minster and Treasurer’s House. The old-school luxury that is delivered in spades at Grays is what makes it such a precious and private stay.
Among the medieval cobbles, spy the elegant entrance to the hotel and the flourishing green gardens fringed by York’s Bar Walls. On entering the luxury hotel, the snug lounge is rich and enticing: think soft leather sofas, blankets, and fireside chess. Of the 12 rooms, book the Somerset – it comes with a super king, a lovely lounge area, and views of York Minster and its gardens.
Once the dinner bell rings, go to the bar for a York Gin and a Ploughman’s or go all-out and book the tasting menu, a theatrical dining experience that is all about the produce. In summer, book a table for lunch on the hotel’s garden terrace. It’s an enviable spot for a treat, overlooking the ancient walls – a surviving piece of York’s history.
Address: Grays Court Hotel, Chapter House Street, York YO1 7JH
No.1 York
Created by a band of brothers – Tristan, James and Tom – with a plan to design home-from-home, wonder-filled stays in cities, GuestHouse is a hot hotel brand for a reason. The whimsical and playful details in each uniquely sourced hotel, decadent details, fine food and amiable staff all add to the winning hospitality mix. With 39 decadent bedrooms and three sensational suites, a stay in this York hotel is like opening a treasure chest of antiques.
The hotel is set in a beautiful Grade II-listed Regency townhouse in leafy, upmarket Bootham and the design is all about the little details. Spy a grand winding staircase with violin-clad walls; the sunny-gold Marmalade Lounge and its bright art, plump sofas and embellished lounge tables (try the Old Fashioned Parkin cocktail, you won’t regret it); and the handcrafted doll's house at the reception that is home to the room keys.
Meanwhile, in the rooms – book either the Bootham or Clifton suite – there are mighty four-posters with Sealy mattresses and 300-thread-count Egyptian cotton linen, lovely lofty windows draped with fine sash curtains, and the symbolic White Rose of York is beautifully woven into the wall decor. However, there are some other special elements to bring out your inner child: the signature in-room doll houses that double as coffee cupboards, Crossley record players, and access to the much-loved communal treat pantry, a highlight for all.
Book a Sunday roast at Pearly Cow: I think it’s one of York’s best. There’s high-quality meats (beef, chicken or pork belly), I can confirm they are all excellent – and my family are roast dinner-obsessed. Each plate comes with a formidable Yorkshire pudding, roasted root vegetables and crispy yet gooey cauliflower cheese to share. If there’s room, finish with a vanilla-laden crème brulée. The afternoon tea served in Saffron-hued Marmalade Lounge is a must and gets top marks: try slender sandwiches and cod tacos, warm scones with jam and cream alongside a pot of tea or glass of Chapel Down fizz.
The small basement spa is superb. The mellow, lavender-scented treatment rooms exude peace – as do the expert masseurs and their healing hands – take some Pinks Boutiques peppermint oil home. After a sound night, breakfast in bed is nothing short of wonderful, too. Top tp: book ahead.
Address: No.1 by GuestHouse, 1 Clifton, York YO30 6AA
Middlethorpe Hall and Spa
On arrival, Middlethorpe Hall, a William III luxury country house hotel and spa, looks like it’s straight out of Bridgerton. Set just outside the city near Bishopthorpe and only a few minutes walk from York Racecourse itself, it has the advantage of being away from the city hustle yet not far from the action. But who needs to venture too far anyway?
There are 29 rooms and suites. The cottage suite is in a Victorian cottage with its own little garden and is best for family stays. The spa has a swimming pool and health suite; choose the bamboo massage.
Head chef Ashley Binder helms the two-AA-Rosette restaurant: it’s a more formal affair with a smart dress code. Go for the tasting menu or a classic afternoon tea on the lawns. There are 20 acres of beautiful gardens and parkland surrounding the place, and a host of local walks, including the river walk to Bishopthorpe Palace, so blissing out in the Bridgerton bubble is easy.
Address: Middlethorpe Hall and Spa, Bishopthorpe Road, York YO23 2GB
Tim WinterThe Milner York
Formerly The Principal, The Milner (paying homage to William Milner, a station foreman and rebranded after a late 2024 makeover) and its formidable, melodramatic late-Victorian architecture is a historic York hotel that has grand, competitively-priced rooms, moments from York station. The hotel’s location is ideal for a weekend in York, given that it’s a five-minute walk to York’s core and York’s crown jewel, York Minster.
The sweeping statement iron staircase inside is the hotel’s showpiece; there are so-high ceilings and meticulous craftsmanship in this nostalgic railway hotel – it’s quite palatial. There are 155 spacious bedrooms and suites in a classical, muted colour palette, a petite health club, Peachey’s Bar and Grill, The Swollen Gambler (the hotel bar) and the York Gin Terrace. But The Garden Room is the heart of the hotel and afternoon tea here is popular: there’s fancy tiers of dainty food including huge scones and great vegan options – but the creative chocolate delicacies designed around York’s chocolate dynasties are a total treat. The gardens are a pleasing base for pop-up THOR’s Tipi during summer and winter.
Address: Station Rd, York YO24 1AA
Tim WinterHotel du Vin
Hotel du Vin’s classically handsome style is all over this York hotel – a 19th-century former orphanage – ideally positioned for both the city and the racecourse on the affluent Mount and tucked among a row of lofty, gasp-inducing, so-chic Georgian townhouses. Interiors reflect the decadence of a private members’ club and the rich tones and textures like earthy wood (the floors and furniture), leather and velvet (the chairs) are all part of the understated luxurious design.
Once inside the redesigned rooms, there are bold patterns and colours: there are russet and orange hues with pops of muted pinks. The finer details include upcycled furniture, new French farmhouse and British-made pieces, crisp white linens and deep, standalone bathtubs adorned with herbaceous L’Occitane samples, making for a sound night. The hotel’s Parisian bistro features all the French hits: steak frites, fish pie, ratatouille, chocolate mousse, French cheeses and chutneys and a great wine list with plenty of champagnes – go without the kids to fully appreciate the hotel’s charms.
Address: 89 The Mount, York YO24 1AX
Malmaison
A retro-70s insurance building in its former life, York’s Mal might be part of a chain, but it is no ordinary Malmaison. After a total design overhaul, the dated building has been reborn into the feisty new Malmaison York, a 150-room hotel bursting with bold colours.
Step into the golden elevator, which takes patrons whizzing high above the city to Sora Sky Bar. Once there, sample delicious sushi plates and snazzy sundowners over epic views of the butterscotch-jade patchwork of York and beyond. Chez Mal, the hotel’s cool grill restaurant, dishes out the classics including baked scallops and New York strip and fillet.
In the signature design-savvy rooms and suites, there are luxuriant beds and lounges you’ll happily sink into. With added treatment rooms for some pampering, a trip down to the spa for a massage means you can detox before you retox, on York’s best rooftop terrace bar. Being a skip-and-a-hop from York’s centre, the super central location and clubby feel is perfect for meeting with pals.
Address: Malmaison, 2 Rougier Street, York YO90 1UU
The General Tarleton
Tommy Banks' much-anticipated new restaurant with rooms is just a 20-minute drive from York in Ferrensby, and it is an inviting, cosy-cool North Yorkshire pub with top-grade food, making it a welcome addition to any York trip. It’s Jeopardy Hospitality’s debut project, a new venture, where the team restores and reinvents old pubs, with a focus on community – a great initiative that will also create many local jobs.
Book one of the eight stylish rooms in the revamped 18th-century coaching inn with home-from-home comforts, soothing natural, earthy hues and fabrics and luxurious super king-size beds. The pub restaurant is led by executive chef wizz Aled Williams and it’s a tempting place to eat. Staff are attentive and warm – it’s great to spy some who have been with the group for years.
The Sunday roast offering is next-level, of course: try the succulent and so-tasty porchetta (go on, add a pork-filled Yorkshire pudding) and share a sticky toffee dessert. The GT is the perfect bolthole – after a country ramble or trip to Knaresborough, eat and sleep exceptionally well here.
Address: The General Tarleton, Harrogate Rd, Ferrensby, Knaresborough HG5 0PZ
