Tower House, York

The B&B, on a corner end terrace in the northern Clifton district, is on one of the roads heading to the ring road and a mile from the city centre. It's slightly shielded from traffic noise by the front car park but it is on a busy road. Parking is free plus it's on a regular bus route while the station is a ten-minute taxi ride. No attractions are nearby although it's handy for York Hospital and York St John University; otherwise, York Minster and the centre are a 20 to 25-minute walk.

By car: 50 minutes from Leeds, 1 hour 40 mins from Manchester and around 4 hours from London. There is free parking at the hotel.

By train: London Kings Cross to York takes around 2 hours. The station is a 15-minute taxi ride from the hotel. Book trains to York.

The solid exterior of this large, Victorian terrace house gives no clue to its bold and stylish interiors. Victorian tiling and cornicing are shown off by shimmering white and grey walls, chandeliers and a deep-blue carpeted staircase while the monochrome breakfast room is sharply contemporary. There's a low-key touch of bling in the richly themed bedrooms.

It may be a bed-and-breakfast but the service is slicker than many hotels: a smartphone app lets you check in, control your room's heating, order breakfast and check the weather; a free shuttle takes you to and from the city centre, and ice buckets and glasses are provided in the rooms.

• Breakfast room
• Free Parking
• Free Wi-Fi

All the eight rooms have been carefully themed but without losing comfort. The Versailles and Rococo rooms have extravagantly carved beds and mirrors, while the four-poster rooms are classic country-house. Bathrooms are high-quality, half shower-only, a couple with an exotic spa- or sunken bath.

Room types: Golden Versailles King, Samurai, White Rococo, Oak Four Poster, Four Poster, Oriental Tang Super King, Oriental King, Oriental Qing Hua Super King

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

Breakfasts need to be ordered the night before but with the app, this is less irksome than it sounds. There's a nicely laid out cold buffet while hot dishes - cooked by Diana and served by Tony - include eggs how you want, eggs Florentine as well as a grill 'stack' with a pork and apple patty, and Monterey cheese, amongst other items. There's a flashy coffee machine turning out lattes and cappuccinos, amongst other choices, from fresh beans.

Breakfast: cooked fresh to order, full English, choice of egg dishes, yoghurt, cereals, muesli, fresh fruit and juices, freshly ground coffee. Served daily 8-10am, order through app.