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 Yorkshire Towns Hotels
Dotted throughout Yorkshire's varied landscape, with rugged moorland in the east and the lush green valleys of the Dales in the west, the county's communities are equally varied, from picturesque limestone villages to busy modern cities. York is almost more museum than city, remembering its ups and downs since the Romans founded it in AD71, which makes it a particular shame that there's a dearth of good hotels here. We wish we could wholeheartedly recommend one, but we can't. However the choice of character hotels is between Middlethorpe Hall, luxurious, pricey and just outside the centre, the Grange, in a Regency house on a busy road, the Bloomsbury, a solid B&B a brisk walk from the famous Minster, and Bar Convent, which offers simple self-catering accommodation. Our other recommendations are in the bustling metropolis of Leeds, fastest growing city in the UK and a paradise for shopoholics; in the pretty hilltop town of Richmond; and the prosperous market towns of Helmsley, near Rievaulx Abbey, Pickering, starting point for the North Moors Steam Railway, and Harrogate. The last of these, a traditional spa town, has shaken off its reputation as a genteel backwater and blossomed into a much cooler destination, confirmed by the recent opening of the buzzing Hotel du Vin. The hotels are listed by price category, and their order bears no reflection on our preference.
 Reviews by Fiona Duncan |
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| Mid Price: One of the latest in the growing chain of alluring city hotels |
| Location: YORK; The Mount, outside the walls, within easy reach of the Racecourse |
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| Fashioned from a Grade II building that’s done service as offices, an orphanage and a 19th century family home, York’s Hotel du Vin may not be one of the chain’s more characterful examples (most rooms are located in purpose built extensions) but it’s certainly our best recommendation for a stay in town. The well-appointed bedrooms – with warm splashes of colour –are reasonably priced and there’s a fine example of Hotel du Vin signature bistro, with a racing theme, as well as a wine room for tastings and a cigar shack for puffings. |
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| Mid Price: Part of the hip Hotel du Vin group brings a buzz to Harrogate |
| Location: HARROGATE; Prospect Place, a 3-minute walk from Betty's teashop |
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| This once genteel town, a place for tea and scones at Betty's famous teashop, is changing and the hip Hotel du Vin has caught the zeitgeist. If there's a slightly corporate feel to this upmarket chain, it is forgivable because it goes with professionalism and means that the power shower is piping hot and the rooms, done out in fashionable greys and browns, are spotless. There's also an excellent bistro, sophisticated champagne and claret bar, and pool table in the 'snug'. |
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| Mid Price: Handsome boutique hotel that blends the old and the new |
| Location: HARROGATE; central, in Franklin Mount, between Skipton Road and Parliament Street |
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| The 100-year-old York stone building that was the old Balmoral has been transformed into a new boutique hotel. Many of the traditional features remain - fireplaces, cornicing, skirting, polished floorboards - but the design is contemporary. Bedrooms are plush and well lit, furnished with four-posters, LCD TVs and black marble bathrooms. There are real fires and a mingling of classic and modern furniture in the warm public rooms. Harrogate Grille is a laid-back, lively bistro. |
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| Mid Price: Leeds' first boutique hotel is still the place to stay |
| Location: LEEDS; central, overlooking the River Aire |
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| The first boutique hotel to open outside London 16 years ago, 42 The Calls is still the place to stay in Leeds. An imaginative conversion of an 18th century corn mill, the building bristles with beams, girders and cast-iron pillars, all giving robust character to the rooms. Contemporary art softens the masculine-style bedrooms, which are faultlessly well-equipped. Don't miss Nigel Stanley's award-winning breakfast, served in a cosy beamed room. |
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| Mid Price: Friendly York stone inn with a chic, modern interior |
| Location: HELMSLEY; near the church, on the edge of the North York Moors National Park |
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| New owner Simon Rhatigan has given this York stone inn in the picturesque market town of Helmsley a welcome makeover. The result: a sophisticated, laid-back, contemporary hotel with 20 individual bedrooms, heated oudoor pool, spa and well-regarded restaurant. The little touches are all in place too: Egyptian cotton bedlinen, duck down duvets (unless you prefer sheets and blankets), breakfast room service at no extra charge, and huge soft towels. Unfailingly courteous staff. |
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| Mid Price: 16th-century coaching inn with imaginative modern decoration |
| Location: PICKERING; Market Place, in the centre of town |
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| When Victor Buchanan took over this 16th-century inn from his parents in the mid-1990s, he refurbished it with imagination. The new bedrooms, fashioned from former workshops, in restful colours and with slate floors, are contemporary without being bland, with elegant touches such as tall glass bedside lamps and Perspex armchairs. The Club Room is an inviting modern version of the residents' lounge, with pool table, daily papers, magazines and honesty bar. There's also a convivial wood-panelled bar/sitting room and restaurant serving superior bistro food. |
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| Inexpensive: Attractively furnished B&B with a wonderful garden |
| Location: RICHMOND; Millgate, in the centre of town |
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| Behind an unpretentious facade lies this handsome Regency home, a treasure trove of family heirlooms and good antiques amassed by owners Tim Culkin and Austin Lynch. Leading down to a river, the imaginatively planted garden is full of colour and surprises, and not surprisingly has won a clutch of awards. Two of the three large, attractively furnished bedrooms overlook it. First-rate breakfasts and dinner parties for a minimum of 16. |
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| Inexpensive: Unusual guesthouse in an elegant living convent |
| Location: YORK; outside the walls, five minutes' walk from station |
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| Here’s a novel way to save money on a night’s accommodation in York: stay at the Bar Convent, England's oldest living convent, established in 1686. Behind an elegant Georgian façade you'll find a beautiful chapel, a museum and self catering and ensuite accommodation, plus a café, kitchen, laundry facilities, sitting rooms with TV and wifi internet access. |
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