No. 1 by GuestHouse, York

A five-minute walk from Bootham Bar, one of the city's medieval gateways, it sits on the main road in the smart Bootham area amidst other period townhouses and is close to Bootham School. There's on-site parking, or the station is a 15-minute walk. York Minster is a ten-minute walk, while the city walls, York Art Gallery (with a great collection of 20th-century studio pottery) and the independent shops of Gillygate are closer.

By car: 45 minutes from Leeds, 1 hour 30 mins from Manchester and around 4 hours from London. There is paid private parking at the hotel.

By train: London Kings Cross to York takes around 2 hours. The station is a 10-minute walk or 5-minute taxi ride from the hotel. Book trains to York.

This grand Georgian house, with its porticoed entrance, has been injected with a fun and cool style without losing its grandeur. Bold colours, an old-school vibe and touches of whimsy create a laidback atmosphere, from the black violins lining the stairwell wall and the marmalade colours of the sitting room to the model train set in the bar where music comes courtesy of the turntable and vinyls.

Both the bar, with a fire, and the sitting room offer armchairs, sofas and quiet corners, as well as board games. For warmer days, there's a small terrace, though it overlooks a busy road. For a chill-out, head to the spa and for a treat, head to the Pantry with complimentary snacks. If arriving by train, the hotel's luggage bike can whisk away your bags; by car, there's (chargeable) on-site parking.

• Restaurant
• Bar
• Lounge
• Spa
• Family-friendly
• Pet-friendly
• Paid parking

• Free Wi-Fi

All bedrooms, spread across a delightful warren of landings and staircases, share the same style but differ in shape and layout. White-panelled walls and sheer curtains - framing four-poster beds as well as windows - plus pared-down furniture and bare floorboards, both painted a bold rust-red, create a chilled-out feel.

Room types: Small Guest Room, Guest Room, Large Guest Room, The Bootham Suites, The Clifton Suite

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom, Turntable, tea and coffee-making facilities, TV, free Wi-Fi

This is Yorkshire comfort food - plenty of name-checks for local suppliers - cooked with finesse but without fancy flourishes. Braised duck leg with plums or their signature prawn cocktail might be followed by homemade shepherd's pie or Fountains Abbey cheese soufflé. Wines include lesser-known bottles (Yorkshire, too) as well as the familiar.

The Restaurant: Light-filled dining space, Yorkshire comfort food, locally sourced produce. Open daily. Mains from £19.