Places to stay in York
 

Any advice on good B&B's, farm stays or apartments close to or in York? Is parking a problem in York?

We stayed at 23, St. Marys B&B in York. It was nice and the hosts were very helpful with directions etc. I would try and get a room on a lower floor as we were on the 4th floor and there was only stairs. It is in a good location and short walking distance to inside the wall, and there is a path to train station if you don't have a car, but they do have parking; which we also needed.

www.23stmarys.co.uk

I stayed at The Bentley Guest House last year. £40 per night. Good breakfast. It seemed to be parking by permit on the street so you'll have to ask Margaret about parking. It was a £4.50 taxi from the station for me. It is walking distance to the center.

As I recall there are several other B&Bs on that street, Grosvenor Terrace.

We LOVED #34
http://www.number34york.co.uk/

Of the 9 B&B's we stayed in in August this was one of our 2 favorites.

Parking, beautiful, helpful hostess, nice breakfast, walking distance to town, everything needed

The area just north of the centre, where the above three B&Bs are situated, is a good place to look for accommodation. Frankly there is little to choose between them - all offer comfortable, good-value accommodation. Parking is an issue in York, but almost all B&Bs have their own parking or have a guest permit to allow you to park outside.
One I've stayed at and recommended to others is http://www.queen-annes-guesthouse.co.uk/index.htm

We stayed The Sycamore- excellent location. Elizabeth was the perfect host. Breakfast was excellent. We did not have a car but I know others did and parked right outside.

How many days? If several, and you plan on exploring other parts of Yorkshire in addition to York city, I'd stay in a village out in the countryside. That would be my base for a day trip into York and also for touring around -- Castle Howard, Fountains Abbey, the Moors and Dales, etc.

However -- if it is mainly just York you want to see then any of those already mentioned would be fine.

What is your budget?

We really enjoyed our stay at Abbeyfields http://www.abbeyfields.co.uk/prices.html in York. The rooms were beautiful, the hosts were terrific and the breakfasts were delicious and filling. Just a great stay altogether. They have guaranteed parking according to their website. We took the train and it was easy walking from the train station also.

Michele :)

Janisj we are planning on 1 day in York the rest in the countryside.

I stayed at the Hotel du Vin when I was in York for a wedding this past June. LOVED the rooms and the restaurant is very good.

"<i>we are planning on 1 day in York the rest in the countryside.</i>"

York is really lovely -- but for several days, and only one of them actually IN York -- I'd stay elsewhere. Many of the sites are quite a drive from York and the driving out and back each day can be a pain.

Somewhere near Thirsk for example would have you closer to many places you'll want to visit plus you could take the train into York for a day trip and not have to hassle the parking. There are other areas that would work as well.

How many days? There are many cottages for rent all over North Yorkshire

Actually it will be 3 days (tight schedule this time!) 1 in York and 2 in the Countryside. We would like to visit Whitby, Robin Hood Bay, Rievaulx Abbey, Castle Howard and Helmsley if we can fit them all it. I know it is an ambitious schedule.

I don't think it's too ambitious with some forward planning.
1) One day visiting York
2) One day Rievaulx, Helmsley, Castle Howard
3) One day Whitby and Robon Hood's Bay

Helsmley itself would be a good place to stay. It has a variety of nice places including the Feversham Arms if you are looking to treat yourself a little! And an excellent deli called Perns in the marketplace if you want some nice picnic food, plus lots of teashops.

www.fevershamarmshotel.com
Or the Feathers -
www.feathershotelhelmsley.co.uk
Or, if you want to stay in a village, the Pheasant Hotel in Harome
www.thepheasanthotel.com
You can actually walk from Helmsley to Rievaulx but as the Abbey is in a sheltered valled it does mean fairly steep gradients in places! There is a car park at the Abbey which is pay and display but you get the money refunded when you buy your ticket to the Abbey.
Rievaulx is beautiful but an hour or so would let you explore pretty fully. It does have a small exhibition centre which is worth a look before you explore the ruins themselves. They also do a free audio tour which I would recommend. I assume you are going to visit the castle in Helmsley? Again an hour would be ample.
So, if you stayed in Helmsley you could have a walk round the village first thing whilst it was quiet, be at the castle at 10 when it usually opens, then to Rievaulx and then on to Castle Howard for a late lunch! Their Courtyard cafe is good.
LOADS to see at Castle Howard, both in the house and the grounds so you'd have all afternoon to do this.
Maybe a drive home via Byland Abbey. It would be closed by the time you got there I would imagine but you can park opposite and view most of it very well from the road.
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/d...s/byland-abbey
Then you would have a third day to drive out to the coast across the Moors and explore Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay.
Do give me a yell if you have any questions - I live in North Yorkshire and know all the places you plan to visit very well, plus we eat out a lot at the local pubs and restaurants (there are some excellent ones in the area and the local produce is superb) if you need some advice on good food. In particular we like the Hare at Scawton.
www.thehareinn.co.uk

Meant to add - when I said you can walk from Helmsley to Rievaulx I meant by public footpath which is well signed from Helmsley - don't go the road route!