Holding a claim to being capital of the North of England, in spirit if not in size, York is one of those towns that’s both incredibly pleasant to be in, and that offers and embarrassment of tourist riches. Be you a steam train buff, an enthusiast for Roman history, or in search of one of the best tea rooms in all of Britain (York’s famous Betty’s), there’s something here for you. The trick is packing it all into one visit.
When it comes to accommodation, meanwhile, York has the advantage of being a big, functioning city and a tourist mecca, meaning you’re spoiled for (good value) choice. The B&Bs we’ve selected for you here are the best of the best, with many located in beautiful old buildings virtually worthy of a trip in their own right.
Georgian House & Mews
From £44/ night
An unlikely combination of a 17th Century farmhouse located close to the city centre, this guest house offers truly incredible value for money, with comfortable, well accommodated rooms, and WiFi throughout the property. With most of York’s major sights less than a fifteen minute walk away, it’s an ideal place to base a visit to the city, and allows you to stay caught up in its history from night till morning, as well as morning till night.
Dovecote House
From £75/ night
With its sumptuous, iron framed beds, plush carpets, and proximity to some of the most visited sights in York, Dovecote House offers a little slice of luxury to any stay in the city. The friendliness of the guest house’s owner, Matthew, also gets remarked on by near everyone who drops by, while, of course, mod cons such as WiFi come as standard.
The Sycamore Guest House
From £75/ night
Family run, and situated inside an elegant Edwardian townhouse, this B&B offers a straightforward comfort that you can relax into and switch off your brain. Richly coloured wallpapers and bed clothes dominate in the most calming of ways. Tea and coffee making equipment, meanwhile, comes as standard in all the rooms, while internet is available throughout the property.
Brentwood Guest House
From £65/ night
A trendy interior design is just the most surface level attribute that the Brentwood has going for it. For this guest house has also won several awards for the high quality of its food – the spacious airy dining room representing the ideal space for a morning feast before striking out into the streets of York, and being transported back into England’s past. En suites are standard, and luxurious soap is in plentiful supply.
Bootham City Centre Guest House
From £60/ night
Decorated in bright and airy themes, there’s something irresistibly happy about this B&B, in a way that will delight even on the dreariest of winter days. This style is extended right the way to the front garden, where extravagant flower baskets welcome guests and let them know what they’re in for the rest of their stay. The breakfast comes highly recommended, and all the conveniences of modern travel are here: WiFi, en suites, TVs etc.
The Beckett Guest House
From £58/ night
A stylish Victorian town house with rooms to match. This place offers the archetype of a kind of British-comfort that if you’re not from these isles will have you pinching yourself to believe, while if you are, will feel like a kind of coming home. In terms of value, it’s hard to beat; an excellent place to base an exploration of York from, where a good night sleep is as good as guaranteed.
Diamonds Villa
From £45/ night
A diamond among other diamonds, this family-run guest house, which was built in the 1870s, offers everything you could possibly want from a B&B: WiFi, amazing breakfasts, TVs in every room, even a packed-lunch service for those days you might want to head further afield and explore some of the incredible countryside that surrounds the city itself. It’s also good if you’re driving, with its own private parking spaces, should you need them.