The best luxury hotels in York, including elegant drawing rooms and beautiful gardens
Please note our writer visited York prior to the coronavirus pandemic
Few cities in the world can rival York for history and character and while its Roman and Viking heritage is firmly established, not so many people realise it has a wealth of luxury boutique accommodation and a thriving cultural scene. York’s luxury hotels run the gamut from grand country mansions to trendy boutique options in a variety of locations, from the historic centre, near the famous racecourse or in one of the city’s buzzing local neighbourhoods. Whether you’re looking for a spa, heated indoor swimming pool or a decadent afternoon tea, you’ll find something that more than meets your needs. Here's our pick of the best luxury hotels in York.
This small country house hotel charms with its striking looks, comfortably traditional rooms and flawless service. Two Edwardian cottages have been converted into a small spa, with indoor pool. A flagstone terrace overlooks 20 acres of grounds – including a walled garden, parkland and small lake – as does the drawing room; one of several sitting rooms, all heaped with newspapers and magazines. With genuine antiques, pretty little armchairs and old-fashioned dressing tables, the 29 rooms feel like the guest bedrooms of a well-heeled friend's house in the country. Some have window seats, all have books, fresh flowers, fruit and homemade biscuits.
As well as occupying what has to be one of the city's best locations, The Grand also offers tip-top service, a good choice of eating options, a spa and a pool. The colossus of a building was formerly the Edwardian headquarters of the wealthy North Eastern Railway Company and original features such as parquet flooring, hefty dark-wood doors and a sweeping stone staircase have been blended with a colour scheme of deep purple and charcoal greys plus swathes of velvet in chairs and sofas. Bedrooms are generous to a fault; even the entry-level Classics have space for a small party, and bathrooms feature baths as well as showers.
This hotel, in arguably York's smartest address, positively vibrates with the past, from its medieval stone-flagged entrance hall and leaded windows to the bow-windowed Georgian dining room and 90ft long, Jacobean, oak-panelled gallery on the first floor. It feels elegant but relaxed, with a mix of English and French antiques, modern sofas and contemporary artwork and reportage photography. Fireplaces and leaded windows add character to the rooms while Jo Malone diffusers and thick curtains add luxury. Bathrooms, on the other hand, are sharp and modern perhaps with a copper bath or glitzy tiled wall.
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From the outside, it looks like a monolithic, Victorian station-hotel (which it was) but inside, The Principal York is sleek and modern, with lots of soft greys and soft carpets, elegant velvet armchairs and walls hung with mirrors, all set against Corinthian pillars and lofty corridors. Expect traditional, luxury-hotel service levels – concierge and porters, even someone to meet you off the train – brought up to date with staff that crack a joke. Suites spoil with huge beds and a small hamper of local produce; it’s worth paying extra for Minster views.
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This hotel is in prime position opposite the Minster – right at the heart of the city’s history – and exudes a friendly, old-fashioned charm. That said, inside it's been given a pleasant contemporary styling with dark-wood floors and shiny wallpapers. Throws and silky headboards add touches of luxury to the rooms, and bathrooms are bright and well thought-out, some with glitzy tiling; a refreshing lack of clutter makes the most of space, so even small rooms don’t feel cramped, and the best rooms have views of the Minster. The big plus of this hotel, location aside, is the warmth and friendliness of the staff.
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The handsome dark-brick building, with stone pillars, sash windows and decorative cornice, is a bit of a showstopper. Inside, Georgian grandeur – red-granite pillars and a sweeping staircase, dado panelling and gilt-framed horse-racing paintings – has been cleverly combined with a contemporary townhouse feel. There are several areas to relax à deux, from a large club-like bar with wall-size tapestry to the elegant first-floor drawing room with its fine plasterwork and sweeping sash windows. The rooms, spread over three floors, run the gamut from classic country house four-poster to cool townhouse contemporary.
Contribututions by Helen Pickles