Hotel Indigo, York

On the south-eastern side of the city, towards the end of Walmgate, it's within the city walls (five minutes) but a good 20-minute walk from the Minster and most popular attractions. The charm, however, is the surrounding neighbourhood of individual shops, bars and eateries. Walmgate Bar and the medieval walls are a five-minute walk, and the National Centre for Early Music, is a couple of minutes. The Press Kitchen, opposite, offers creative seasonal food.

By car: 45 minutes from Leeds, 1 hour 30 mins from Manchester and around 4 hours from London. There is paid public parking a few minutes' walk from the hotel.

By train: London Kings Cross to York takes around 2 hours. The station is a 10-minute taxi ride from the hotel. Book trains to York.

Don't be put off by the unprepossessing red-brick exterior; the interiors are livelier with an open-plan, ground-floor reception-bar-restaurant that has a bright, industrial-cum-office feel. A mix of parquet and tiled floors, oak-panelled and white-brick walls, leather chairs and velvet sofas, exposed light bulbs and metal shelving make it bright and buzzy.

This is not a hotel that goes big on extras. Facilities are minimal - a few sofas either in reception or the restaurant, a tiny gym, plus discounted off-site parking. And, of course, the in-room chocolate treats, made locally, which are a nice surprise. Staff, however, are young, energetic and helpful.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Workspace
• Room service
• 24-hour front desk
• Concierge
• Free Wi-Fi

Apart from the top-level Premium rooms, none of the rooms are big, but all share the same warm design with patterned rugs on stripped-wood floors, leather armchairs, jazzy cushions, blanket throws and interesting design details that reflect the city's history and architecture. Perhaps an exposed-brick wall or framed vintage photographs of Walmgate.

Room types: Standard, Superior, Superior Premium, Accessible Rooms

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with rainfall shower, H2K toiletries, double bed, TV, desk, tea and coffee facilities, free Wi-Fi

Dinner is a robust, crowd-pleasing menu with modern classics such as wild boar sausage and colcannon mash and sweet potato curry, as well as steaks, burgers and pizzas - plus gluten-free pizzas by request. It's cheery and filling. Breakfast is above-average for this good-value hotel and includes a vegan option mixed grill.

No. 88 Walmgate: traditional Yorkshire cuisine, classic British dishes, small plates, afternoon tea, local ingredients, craft beers and ales. Open noon-10pm every day.