What hotels are recommended for visit to York? We want quiet location but also city center. Traveling with kids. Do we need air conditioning in June, or do we need it just to allow us to keep windows closed (and noise out)? Thanks, Susan.

I have a feeling you might have a difficult time finding a hotel that is both "quiet" and "city centre." The centre of York is very dense.<BR><BR>You might do better to pick a location on one of the bus lines. We stayed in a B&B that was a 20 minute bus ride from downtown, and 2 minutes from the ring road ... but it was out in the country and *extremely* quiet. They have both B&B rooms and self-catering "holiday cottages." It's called Churchview: http://www.s-h-systems.co.uk/hotels/churchview2.html<BR><BR>Right next door was another one that looked about the same, called Orilia House: http://www.s-h-systems.co.uk/hotels/orillia.html

p.s. No, it is highly unlikely you will need air conditioning in June.

Check into these two B&B<BR>'s that are within a walk of the walls: Nunmill House and Dairy House. We stayed with our two children at Nunmill House in March. It was wonderful. The rooms were lovely, breakfast was great, host family was really nice. While on a main road, it was, nevertheless, quiet. We had separate rooms, but there is a family room, with a double or queen, and two singles. From all I read, Dairy House looked great, too, but they didn't email me back as fast as Nunmill House did. Both places have web sites and can respond to your emails. <BR><BR>The good places get booked fast, so hurry up! There are lots of other B&B's near the city walls mentioned in "The Best B&Bs in the UK" book. (I think that's what it's called. If not, it's close)

One of the many B&B's just outside (walking distance) of the city walls would be my suggestion. There are a few on Bootham Row just outside of Bootham Bar (the name of one of the main entrances to the city center). I don't recall the name of the place I stayed but there were several on that street & the location was perfect.

We stayed last June at the Four Seasons Hotel which is a wonderful, clean B&B with 6 rooms. It is outside the city walls near the York Minster and is a flat 7 minute walk from the Minster. We had two adults and two children (12 and 8 at the time) and the room was quite comfortable for the 4 of us. The owners were the nicest we had in all of Great Britain. The B&B is across the street from an expensive boarding school and actually the B&B used to be the headmaster's house. Don't be concerned though. The B&B is extremely quiet. Great breakfast included in the price. I can't recommend this B&B enough. As a matter of fact there was one retired couple staying there and this was their 4th time staying at the Four Seasons. Their website is www.fourseasons-hotel.co.uk. <BR><BR>We did not need air conditioning at all. We just opened up the windows during the day and shut them at night because it did get cool. Again, this was a very quiet street so we could have kept the windows open if we had wanted to.<BR><BR>Have a great time. I wish I were going back. <BR>

Was in York this February for the first time. Loved our B & B, called the Barbican House...but it was at the Walmgate Bar (Gate) which is not the closest to the Minster...yet is close to the York Castle Museum...I loved that museum and so wished my kids had been with me on that trip!!! I highly recommend the museum. <BR><BR>But if you want to stay closer to the York Minster, then one of the places just outside the Bootham Bar Gate (don't have a specific one to rec) might be best or the Deans Court Hotel, which is a very nice Best Western place within the walled city.

I second Leslie's recommendation for the castle museum. We and our kids (boy age 11, girl age 15) loved it. It was laid back and low key, which fit its theme, which was York in the past several centuries. Streets are recreated with original artifacts. There's a courtyard play area with old-fashioned toys that the kids actually enjoyed. It's in an old castle, hence the name. It's not about castles.

I agree with Sarah and Leslie, the York Castle Museum is a surprisingly excellent museum -- but it is not housed in a castle. It is housed in two former prisons, the debtors' prison and the women's prison, which are located on the site of the former York Castle, of which Clifford's Tower is the only visible remnant.

Stayed at Four Seasons at Bootham Bar just over a month ago and it was FABULOUS-great hosts, beautiful (and VERY clean) B&B...fantastic location-just a dream experience and one of the very best towns I've ever been to-I am so jealous!

My family also stayed at the Four Seasons last June and just loved it. The owners were so friendly and helpful, the room was beautiful and spacious for 2 adults and 2 kid ages 11 and 14, and the location was quiet yet close to the city center. We especially appreciated the lounge and the garden seating area outside. We reserved via email and it couldnt have been easier.

for Cindy