The Grand, York

Across the road from the station (a five-minute walk), and just inside the city walls, its entrance is set back from the traffic in a small courtyard. Views aren't guaranteed although some rooms look to the walls or, at a higher level, to the Minster; the latter a ten-minute walk. All of the city's main sites, shops and eating places are within a 15-minute walk. The River Ouse, with its boat trips, is a five-minute walk, while Skosh, one of the city's more inventive restaurants, is in nearby Micklegate.

By car: the hotel is 40 minutes from Leeds, 1 hour 30 mins from Manchester and 4 hours 10 mins from London. There is limited paid parking on-site and an NCP car park a few minutes' walk away. The concierge team can arrange a discounted ticket.

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

Interiors are as imposing as the substantial, multi-windowed, red-brick exterior with a grand tiled and pillared entrance hall, sweeping staircase and lofty, wide corridors. Public rooms have a masculine feel with deep coloured walls and furnishings, some with original panelling and parquet floors, although the main restaurant - a rear extension with big windows and a terrace - is light, modern and open-plan.

Service levels are top-notch with doormen to valet-park your car, a concierge desk to advise on and sort attractions and bookings, and smiling staff popping up when you need them. There's a clubby bar-lounge, a separate snug, plus another bar - with outside terrace - by the restaurant. If you're feeling fancy, upgrade to access the exclusive White Rose lounge (free to guests in suites). In addition, there's a spa and cookery school.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Spa
• Terrace
• Swimming pool
• Cookery school
• Pet-friendly
• Free Wi-Fi

Most rooms follow the same sleek contemporary style of neutral colours, clean-lined furniture and big headboards, with splashes of deeper hues in cushions and velvet-covered armchairs. Those in the Edwardian building have high ceilings and some quirky features; most bathrooms have marble-top baths as well as showers.

Room types: Classic Rooms, Executive Rooms, Heritage Suites, The Penthouse Suite

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with Molton Brown toiletries, TV, tea and coffee facilities, free Wi-Fi

Surprisingly for a luxury hotel, the restaurant is a large, open-plan affair, with a long open kitchen that feels like an upmarket cafeteria. Dinner is a short-choice menu of Modern British dishes such as duck terrine with spiced plum chutney followed by local pork belly with black pudding bon-bon or polenta with wild mushrooms, as well as steaks.

The Rise: informal, local produce, European and British dishes, open kitchen, terrace for outdoor dining. Open every day for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Mains from £16.