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No. 1 by GuestHouse, York

York, Yorkshire, England

A grand Georgian townhouse, 10 minutes from York Minster, brilliantly and sympathetically brought into the 21st century with bold colours, old-school charm, modern art and dollops of whimsy. Pared-back bedrooms are cool in white, plus the basement has an intimate spa.

Location

9 / 10

Just outside the city walls and the Bootham Bar gate, and surrounded by fine Georgian townhouses, this is a smart choice if you want somewhere close to York's attractions but without the tourist masses. The Minster is 10 minutes away, the walls and York Art Gallery even closer, while most of the shopping streets and major sights such as Jorvik Viking Centre and the National Railway Museum are within a comfortable 20-minute walk.

Style and Character

9 / 10

The handsome grey-brick Georgian townhouse, with its stone-pillared portico and tall sash windows, is a bit of a show-stopper. A hotel since 1990, it’s now part of the niche GuestHouse group who have reinvigorated the interiors with a mix of old-school cool, bold colours, a lounge-like vibe and a dash of whimsy. A model train runs around the walls of the fire-warmed bar where a turntable plays classic vinyls; the Marmalade Lounge is sunny in shades of gold and orange; the dining room breezy in eau-de-nil with striking displays of white porcelain; a black-walled staircase, hung with black violins, sweeps up to a glass canopy. Curios – vintage toy trains, a chemist’s cabinet – catch the eye while original art crowds the walls.

Service and Facilities

9 / 10

The sitting room and bar, with grand sash windows, offer space to relax, plus there’s a small street-facing terrace for warmer days. A five-room spa in the cocooning brick-vaulted basement has a short menu of bespoke facials and massages. Anyone who can resist the complimentary Pantry – a mini tuck shop of crisps, ice cream, old-fashioned sweets and soft drinks, plus home-baked goodies – is too saintly for their own good. Dogs get their own treats (£25 per night to include blanket, bowl and treats), and owners and dogs can eat in the bar. On-site parking costs £20 per night while guests arriving by train can have their bags collected by the hotel’s luggage bike; a free service that reflects the warm and friendly nature of the staff. 

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  • Bar
  • Laundry
  • Parking
  • Restaurant
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Wi-Fi

Rooms

8 / 10

Spread over three floors, the 39 bedrooms share the same light and pared-back style but differ widely in shape and layout. Milky-white panelled walls and sheer curtains framing windows and four-poster beds create an illusion of airiness in often smallish spaces (Large rooms and suites, aside) while sleek, minimalist furniture and bare floorboards, both painted rust-red, lend warmth. There’s a kooky appeal in the lack of clutter save for a white dolls house (containing a coffee machine and accessories) and a portable turntable with a selection of vinyls. Underfloor-heated, cream-coloured bathrooms are similarly fuss-free.

Food and Drink

8 / 10

Menus are a mix of comfort food and retro dishes, cooked with confidence rather than fancy flourishes, and with plenty of proud Yorkshire sourcing. Mussels with Yorkshire cider, or steak tartare could be followed by Scarborough woof (a local word for catfish) and posh mushy peas or homemade shepherd’s pie (mains average £18).

Breakfast is nicely off-beat with smoked haddock omelette, sausage baps, and mushrooms on toast as well as the full Yorkshire with vegetarian alternative.

The bar has a decent choice of Yorkshire spirits and cocktails while the short wine list has lesser-known choices including several English, even Yorkshire, varieties.  

Value for Money

8 / 10

Double rooms from £165, year-round. Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi.

Access for guests with disabilities?

One room is fully adapted.

Family-Friendly?

Very. Children are welcomed with mini-tipis in the room, books, a city trail and instant cameras (from £25, including breakfast), and there are free cots, interconnecting rooms and children’s menus.

1 Clifton, York YO30 6AA, England.
01904 644744
Rooms from £ 124
per night
Rates provided by
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