Guy Fawkes Inn, York

On narrow High Petergate, opposite St Michael le Belfrey church and less than a minute from York Minster, it's in the historic heart of the city. The medieval walls are a five-minute stroll, the station ten minutes and most main attractions within 15 minutes while the street itself is one of the city's popular shopping venues; you're central but beware of the crowds. York Minster is around 30 metres, the medieval walls around a further 100 metres while York Theatre Royal is a block away.

By car: the inn is 45 minutes from Leeds, 1 hour 40 mins from Manchester and just over 4 hours from London. The hotel can provide discounted passes for Marygate Car Park, five minutes away.

By train: London Kings Cross to York takes around 2 hours. The hotel is a 20-minute taxi ride from the station. Book trains to York.

Step from the street into a small bar and snug that ooze a Dickensian atmosphere with stained-wood flooring, chocolate-coloured walls, fires, oak settles and leather-topped chairs. The dining room, with its carved ceiling, is equally dark and warm while creaky staircases, with sage-green walls and hung with old prints, lead to the bedrooms.

As it's primarily an inn, there are few extras; there's no space for guests to relax other than the two bars and, on warmer days, the small inner courtyard. On the plus side, guests are offered a free guided tour of the city, plus discounted car parking, while staff are young and hard-working and know the city well.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Beer garden
• Live music
• Free Wi-Fi

Rooms have kept a period feel with dark-stained wood floors, creamy or dark-hued walls, four-poster or cast-iron bedsteads and a rich mix of vintage and antique furniture. Tapestry-pattern curtains add warmth, while some rooms have fireplaces or exposed beams. Around half of the bathrooms are shower-only; larger rooms have rolltop baths.

Room types: Executive Double Room, Deluxe Double Room, Four Poster Double Room, Belfry Suite

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with H2K toiletries, TV, hairdryer, tea and coffee facilities

This is modern British pub food and deserves its one-AA-rosette accolade. Starters might include smoked haddock fishcake or ham hock terrine perhaps followed by their famous (cooked-to-order) steak pie, roast duck or chickpea curry. The latter would be perfect with one of the bar's six Yorkshire real ales. Breakfast's hot dishes include kippers, bacon sandwiches as well as a robust full Yorkshire.

The restaurant: traditional British dishes, pub classics, small plates, sandwiches. Two- and three-course set menu daily 12-6pm. A la carte Mon-Thurs, 12-8.45pm; Fri and Sat, 12-9.30pm; Sundays 12-7.45pm. Mains from £11.95.