I've got a load of respect for anybody who sets up a shop selling traditional paper and art…read moresupplies in a city that has lost all but the one independant art shop - The Art Shop on the Shambles. This place really reminds me of when I was younder and obsessed with statioinery in all of its weird and wonderful forms. Strange to find such a quirky shop on this street but it has such a expansive feel to it if you are a creative person, on others I think you might get lost between wondering if it was a gift shop or an art supplies shop - but it caters equally. If you love using your creative mind, try this shop! I would despair if people passed it over as another souless paperchase!!

My wife and I stopped in at North South for breakfast in September 2024 before heading out of town…read moreon a road trip. Had a good sized breakfast that set us up nicely for the day. Delicious too. I had some kind of breakfast sandwich and my wife had avocado toast. Big pot of tea too.  The cafe had a really cool independent vibe, cozy and chill. A good mix of tourists (like us) and townies. The place was bustling in the morning, which is a good sign. Service was very cheerful and attentive. I understand this place doubles as a bar in the evening, which is a great idea. Well worth seeking out if you are in York. Our hotel recommended it and we weren't disappointed.

We sat outside in The Fat Badger's lovely hidden garden, with a perfect view of York Minster's bell…read moretower--and were even treated to the sound of its bells ringing while we ate. The food was excellent, the beer was cold, and the waitstaff could not have been nicer. A beautiful setting, delicious food, and warm hospitality in the heart of historic York--what more could you ask for?

Love to see smaller plate options on the menu. The pea risotto and octopus salad tasted very nice…read more We also ordered fish and chips. Service was polite and quick. The atmosphere was pleasant.

My wife and I stayed at Jorvik House for one night in September 2024. It's a lovely little…read moreguesthouse in a great location. We were able to schlap from the train station, with all our luggage, in a very short and pleasant walk. It's very close to the picturesque river walk, and literally across the street from the absolutely magnificent Abbey of St Mary. We were really lucky with the weather, so walking everywhere was very enjoyable. No need for a car. The staff were really friendly and helpful. We were able to drop our luggage off early while our room was readied and we explored the city. We were up and out to grab breakfast in town next morning so we did not take advantage of the room service.  Our room was up a couple flights of stairs - fun with our suitcases, but manageable - and was really clean and modern. Overall its well designed boutique style is very welcoming and comfortable. Our room had no windows, save for a skylight (complete with remote control blind) but it was fine for one night. The room also had all modern conveniences like snack bar, fridge (with drinks, we enjoyed some wine) TV, etc. I'd certainly stay here again. York is a wonderful city. Fell in love with it the minute I stepped off the train. I can't wait to return.   So close to the city center, either through the park grounds of St Marys Abbey and the York Museum, or up the street to the main road. Its a short walk to almost everything the town has to offer; York Minster, Shambles, the riverwalk. 10 minute walk. Marygate is a quiet street. Parking is on one side of the street, and there is some traffic occasionally. But we walked it several times and it was really safe. York city centre has everything you need. Food, drinks, attractions, history. It's all right there and there is SO much to take in. Dining I recommend is Fat Badger pub, White Horse pub, Valhalla bar, North South cafe, Shambles market. Museums we enjoyed Jorvik Viking Center, Barley Hall, York Minster, Cliffords Tower. Our room had only a skylight for natural light. It was only for a night, and we were out all day, so really not a problem. Other rooms surely have views. The comfort and conveniences in the room were top notch. Comfortable bed, large bathroom. Modern and stylish.

Hotels in York are surprisingly expensive, especially during tourist season. Alas, the closer you…read morewant to be to the city center, the more expensive they get. The Jorvik Hotel is a nice alternative to the pricey options, but you get what you pay for. The staff were friendly enough and even let us check in early. The Jorvik Hotel was one of the few places I could find a room with two twin beds near the city center. At first it was a bit difficult to find, but basically it is on the back side of the York Museum gardens. When the gardens are open you can just walk straight through them to the main shopping/attraction area with no problem. Also, it is only about a 10 minute walk from the train station. This hotel doesnt come with many frills, although the stay did include a nice breakfast in the morning. But, when they say breakfast is over at 9:30am, they mean it. We were finishing up the last of our coffee at 9:31am and were getting the serious side-eye. The rooms are decent enough though cramped and with a bit of a musty smell. The beds arent the most comfortable in the world and the amenities are at a minimum. Also, there are several doors and some steep stairs to up which might be a problem for people with disabilities. Overall if you are looking for a low-cost alternative and dont need a lot of the fluff, The Jorvik works.

Very interesting walls, housing reasonably priced standard pub grub…read more It took us a while to get a menu, and there wasn't a huge selection, but my friends were very pleased with their burgers, and it was just far enough out of the centre on a bank holiday weekend to actually be able to sit down and eat, which is always a winner!

On top of my list right now: Get back and take a photo of the inside of this place! I only went…read morehere last week after already living in York for almost 3 years and practically working right next to it! It was such a great surprise to find a great pub atmosphere in here. Everywhere is super comfortable and the beers are alright but the best thing is the incredible amount of photos, art, metal figurines and some real crazy stuff on the walls. I have been back twice since last week and never found it very packed but I am not sure why that is. It's clean, the beer is alright, it's central, the guys at the bar are lovely as well. Will have to get back and find out!

Ask for an upgrade. Rooms are SMALL. VERY SMALL. The concierge is simply AMAZING and can help you…read morewith all your needs. Very VERY attentive and multitasking. The hotel is old and overwhelmingly big, but the location couldn't be better and the buffet breakfast with their beetroot smoked salmon was something we are STILL talking about. One of the spa employees was a real ditz, killing a star off the review. But on another visit, we had a tour of the vault, because my curious george husband HAD to see it (that is where the manicures happen). Upgraded room was super spacious and made for a lot of comfort with all the ammenities that make a "getaway" vacation special!

This is a lovely hotel in an excellent location. The concierge and valets were outstanding-helpful,…read moreattentive, and very personable. The one gentleman shook all of our hands as we left which was so nice. We had breakfast at the Rise twice, very good, and dinner once, which was good though only as one server was working our side of the busy dining room, it was slow. We stayed in the modern wing in a family room which was spacious and lovely. In terms of negatives, the mattress was hard and lumpy, and there was the only one small hook to hang towels and robes, so not much room for our party of three. I mention this because the Grand has a sustainability focus and encourages guests to re-use towels, which we did: more hooks are needed. The reading lamps on the headboard did not work. The major problem we had was the temperature of our room: the thermostat read 16 but it was more like 20; too warm for sleeping. I called down to reception and concierge and there was no answer - multiple times - I think perhaps the phones were malfunctioning. I reached an operator who said she'd leave a note as she was leaving in five minutes. I went down to the front desk and the staff member told me she could adjust it from a control panel in the lobby (?), however, the room stayed too warm. This definitely took away from the experience as I didn't sleep well and expected better from a five star hotel. Lastly, and this is small, but the greenery out front (topiaries and flowers) and in the hallways are plastic, again, not five star. For a hotel focused on sustainability, natural plants would be much more suitable.

Staff was amazing. Great location. The restaurant was also…read moregood. The breakfast options were great and they accommodated GF with several options.

Location, location,location!…read more You honestly can't beat the location of the Dean Court Hotel which is situated across from the York Minister. Prime location for walking the city walls, the Shambles, and more. Our room was tiny but there was room to prop suitcases on the desk and luggage rack. The bathroom was nice and modern and a good size in comparison to the room. Breakfast was included and I enjoyed coffee, yogurt and fruit. Some of the items on the breakfast line weren't available such as the breakfast lemon cake. Our only problem was that there was no hot water for showering in the morning!! Apparently there was a power outage in the middle of the night and hot water was not restored yet. When we checked out in the morning they were very nonchalant about it and didn't even really apologize for the inconvenience. They just stated the fact that it was out. It was definitely disappointing to not be able to start our day with a hot shower.

Being big fans of All Creatures Great and Small, we couldn't not visit the Drovers Arms! We…read morehappened to come through on Sunday, so the roast was not to be missed. The adults enjoyed two cask ales, which were superb, along with the sirloin Sunday Roasts. Our smallest shared the adults, but the older kids enjoyed the cheeseburger and chicken sunday roast from the children's menu. Everything was delicious, service was great, and the perfect conclusion to our holiday. As far as the show goes, they mention it on some things, and there are photos in a few places. Overall, just a lovely pub atmosphere. We'd love to stay overnight sometime.

Great food! Friendly service. They were out of ham on the Ploughman's lunch but gave us a very…read moregenerous portions of extra pork pie and cheese. All very good!