My husband and I are going to London this winter to visit our son, who is studying there. For one or two nights, we'd like to leave the city and go to York.

We plan to take the train and rent a car, so we can drive up to Fountains Abbey and Hadrian's Wall.

Questions: recommendations of places to stay? We'd like a small hotel or B&B. Preferably under 120 GBP for the three of us. It doesn't have to be in the city but could be on the outskirts.

Advice for car rental? If we take the train from London Saturday morning, is there somewhere to rent a car right near the train station?

Any other advice welcome: good places to eat (on somewhat of a budget).

Thanks.

We've stayed at Hedley House just outside the city walls and enjoyed the experience. Food was excellent. As I recall, they posted the dinner menu in the morning, you told them if you were going to eat in that night. One morning, we looked at the menu when we went in to breakfast; when we came out, the menu had changed. The explanation: "When Dad went to the market, the mackerel was beautiful so he bought some."

You might see something you like on this web site, www.wolseylodges.com

Group of independent B&B's around the UK which benefit from group advertising and I believe have to meet certain criteria.

The one I stayed in outside York, Newburgh House, was very good (16 miles from York). Several properties are listed for Yorkshire.

For your planning purposes, Fountains Abbey can take most of the day.

You pick up a rental car at or near the York train station. We always get an automatic in Britain to allow us to concentrate on the narrow roads and wrong-side (I mean, other-side) driving.

It'll be at least a 2-hour drive to Hadrian's Wall. That's long on a short winter day.

Finally beware of the weather. Might be snow, almost certainly cold and rain and wind. Both Hadrian's Wall and Fountains Abbey are more or less outdoor sights. Bring lots of warm layers as well as a waterproof outer layer and sturdy footwear.

Actually there's plenty to see in York, and it's mostly indoors. Other indoors sights -- once you get to them -- are Castle Howard and Durham.

IMO Hadrian's Wall/Northumberland on a 2-day trip to York, in the winter is <u>awfully</u> ambitious. The days are short, the weather cold and dreary (if you're lucky) or dreadful (if you aren't)

The Wall is an amazing site - but you will have PLENTY to keep you busy in/near York.

Note: Castle Howard does not open for the season until mid-March

Advice - book your train tickets 8-12 weeks in advance for the best fares through

http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/

I'd look into the Bootham Guest Househttp://boothamguesthouse.insideyork.co.uk/index.html. It says they have free parking and a &quot;family room. It's right outside the city walls(no more than a 5 minute walk.

Hi
I completely agree with Janis that Hadrian's Wall and Fountains is too much. There's lots to see and do around York, and Fountains Abbey (along with Studley Royal Watergardens which are part of the same estate) covers a huge area with loads to see.
If you let me know a bit more about your interests I am sure I can think of plenty of suggestions, but do remember that many places are 'put to bed' for the winter and don't open again until March/April.
I think though that you are getting an exaggerated view of the apparently poor weather up here. I live in North Yorkshire, close to Fountains, and it certainly isn't dank and drear throughout the winter months. And we rarely have snow these days - so far this winter we've had one significant fall at the beginning of December which disappeared within 48 hours. Nothing since whatsoever. And this weekend, whilst blustery, was also blue skies and sunshine, and I was walking in the Dales with the sun on my face. Yo would certainly need to bring warm clothes, but please don't just assume it will be raining and horrible because that is just not true - we get lots of winter sunshine here, and lots of dry days. Having said that, today has been absolutely dreadful!
You may also find this link helpful - there is a 'local expert' on York and what she doesn't know about the place isn't worth knowing. If you are registered you can send her a personal message with questions, or just read through the forum postings - I am sure you will find lots of good info.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum...e_England.html

Over 20 years ago we spent 2 nights in York at the Best Western Dean Court Hotel. Our room had a view on the front of York Minster which was an amazing site.

Rob

Thank you to Morgana and all others who have responded. This information is very, very helpful, and helps us be more realistic in our planning. We were thinking of spending the time in York and then when we looked at our Michelin Guide and saw Fountain Abbey as one of the key not-to-be-missed sights, and then saw Hadrian's Wall, we got seduced by those ideas.

We will be leaving London February 28--so not the heart of winter but definitely not spring. Thanks to your comments, we will be a little more modest in our planning, probably staying in and around York but still renting a car to see a bit of the countryside. We have seen much of England but not this part.

We definitely will want to see York Minster and Clifford's Tower. All three of us generally like art and history museums.

The Ascot House looks like a reasonable place to stay, and can accommodate us on our budget; the Boothbay also looks quite nice. Does anyone know both, who can recommend one or the other, or highly recommend somewhere else?

Again, many, many thanks!

Penel,

I had forgotten about Dean's Court until Paris/Amsterdam posted her comment. I stayed there with my parents--we had an &quot;away break&quot; rate for two rooms that was fantastic.

The location is excellent and it is a small to mid-sized hotel. Close the station if you arrive by train, and right across from the Minster. I would email them directly to see what they're offering in your time frame.