The Best Hotels and Inns in York City Centre
Three characterful places to stay in the heart of York
Choosing where to stay in York can be almost as difficult as choosing what to do when you arrive.
Do you want to wake up beside York Minster?
Would you prefer a historic inn tucked into the medieval city walls?
Perhaps you want a peaceful boutique hotel with stylish interiors, a leafy garden and the city centre just a short walk away?
York has no shortage of places to stay. From grand hotels and historic townhouses to cosy pubs with bedrooms above the bar, the city offers accommodation for almost every kind of traveller.
But if you are looking for somewhere with real personality, these three hotels and inns deserve a place at the top of your list.
Each one offers something different.
One is steeped in history.
One is a wonderfully distinguished, posh and cheeky York character.
And one combines Victorian heritage with a playful boutique style.
So, if you are looking for the best hotels in York city centre, here are three places that offer far more than simply somewhere to sleep.
1. Guy Fawkes Inn: Stay in the birthplace of a legend
There are historic hotels.
And then there is Guy Fawkes Inn.
Situated at 25 High Petergate, directly beside York Minster, Guy Fawkes Inn occupies one of the most atmospheric locations in the entire city.
According to the Inn’s long-standing history, Guido Fawkes — better known to the world as Guy Fawkes — was born on this very spot in 1570.
The man who would later become infamous for his role in the Gunpowder Plot began his life here in York, in the shadow of the Minster.
Today, the building is a 4-star historic inn with individually styled bedrooms, a traditional pub, an AA Rosette restaurant and the kind of atmosphere that simply cannot be recreated in a modern hotel.
This is a place where the history is not merely displayed on the walls.
It is part of the building itself.
The most historic place to stay in York?
Guy Fawkes Inn is housed across beautifully preserved Grade I and Grade II listed buildings.
Inside, guests will find ancient timber beams, traditional features, log fires and atmospheric interiors designed to embrace the building’s remarkable past.
The result is a stay that feels unmistakably York.
There is no anonymous hotel corridor.
No standardised room design.
No sense that you could be anywhere in the country.
Each of the Inn’s thirteen en-suite bedrooms has its own individual character, with rooms ranging from four-poster bedrooms and cosy doubles to the Belfry Suite, which includes a separate TV lounge and views of the historic surroundings.
Some rooms offer views towards York Minster, while others overlook the courtyard and the Inn’s distinctive outdoor spaces.
The accommodation is full of character, but the experience is not stuck in the past.
Modern comforts are carefully incorporated into the historic surroundings, making Guy Fawkes Inn a particularly appealing choice for anyone who wants to experience York’s history without sacrificing the comforts of a quality hotel.
A location that is almost impossible to beat
For visitors coming to York for the first time, location matters.
Guy Fawkes Inn is about as central as it gets.
York Minster is directly beside the Inn.
The medieval streets of the city centre begin immediately outside the door.
The Shambles, York’s historic city walls, independent shops, museums, restaurants and famous pubs are all within easy walking distance.
You can step outside after breakfast and be exploring the heart of York within moments.
And when your feet eventually need a rest, you do not have to travel across the city to get back to your room.
You simply return to the Inn.
Dinner, drinks and a city-centre garden
One of the great pleasures of staying at an historic inn is that the accommodation is part of a larger experience.
At Guy Fawkes Inn, guests can enjoy the traditional pub atmosphere, regional real ales and an AA Rosette restaurant serving elevated British classics.
The candlelit interiors and historic architecture make the restaurant particularly atmospheric in the evening.
There are also three beer gardens, including a landscaped city-centre garden offering an unusual open-air retreat beneath the towering presence of York Minster.
It is a rather wonderful combination:
A medieval city outside. A historic pub inside. And a peaceful garden hidden away in the middle of York.
The quirkiest fact about staying here?
The Inn’s connection to Guy Fawkes comes with one particularly unusual tradition.
As a former property associated with Guy Fawkes and his family, Guy Fawkes Inn does not celebrate Bonfire Night on 5 November.
So while fireworks are exploding across the country, the birthplace of the man most famously associated with the Gunpowder Plot remains decidedly quiet.
It is one of those details that makes a stay here memorable.
Because where else can you sleep in the birthplace of Guy Fawkes, enjoy dinner beside ancient beams and then tell people that the building itself does not celebrate Bonfire Night?
Best for: history lovers, couples, romantic breaks, architecture enthusiasts and anyone looking for the most distinctive place to stay beside York Minster.
2. The Fat Badger York: A distinguished, posh and cheeky York gentleman
If Guy Fawkes Inn is York’s historic storyteller, The Fat Badger is its distinguished, posh and cheeky gentleman — the sort of character who knows exactly how to make an entrance, can hold court over a drink, and may well charm your wife while you are out sightseeing.
Located at 2–4 High Petergate, The Fat Badger is another exceptionally central York inn, positioned within the historic city walls and just a short walk from York Minster and the city’s major attractions.
But its personality is very different.
The Fat Badger is stylish, sociable and full of swagger.
The inn describes its namesake as a cheeky gentleman who loves real ale, good food and does not take life too seriously.
That spirit runs through the whole property.
This is a place for people who enjoy a proper pub.
A good drink. A good meal. A comfortable room. And the feeling that you have found somewhere with its own personality rather than checking into a hotel that could be anywhere.
History within the city walls
The Fat Badger occupies a historic building within York’s famous bar walls, with parts of the surrounding history dating back around 400 years.
The location is one of its greatest strengths.
York’s ancient walls are not simply somewhere nearby — they form part of the character of the property.
The inn’s beer garden can even be seen from the historic wall walk.
That is the kind of setting that makes The Fat Badger particularly appealing to visitors who want to experience York rather than simply use it as a backdrop.
You can spend the afternoon walking along the medieval walls, exploring the Minster and wandering through York’s historic streets.
Then, when you are ready to stop, your pub and bedroom are waiting for you.
A hotel for people who love a good pub
The Fat Badger’s ground-floor pub is central to the experience.
This is not a hotel with a bar tucked into the corner of the lobby.
It is a proper, characterful York inn with a distinctly polished edge.
The pub serves real ales and offers an extensive drinks menu, including a famously impressive selection of gin.
The interiors combine traditional pub atmosphere with historic features, creating a warm and sociable place to settle in after a day exploring York.
There is also a restaurant overlooking the city, serving a la carte pub food.
The overall feel is convivial rather than formal.
It is the kind of place where a quick drink can easily turn into dinner.
And where dinner can easily turn into one more drink.
Twelve rooms, twelve different personalities
The Fat Badger has twelve en-suite bedrooms, each individually styled and full of what the property calls “Badger charm”.
The rooms make the most of the building’s historic character.
Traditional features, Georgian details, stripped wooden floors, large sash windows and floor-to-ceiling curtains give the accommodation a distinctly individual feel.
The interiors are not designed to be identical.
And that is precisely the point.
The charm of staying in a historic inn is that every room feels slightly different.
You may find yourself in a room with a particularly impressive window, a quirky layout or a feature that reminds you that the building has been here long before modern hotel design was invented.
The beer garden is part of the attraction
The Fat Badger is also known for its substantial beer garden.
For a property in such a central location, having a large outdoor space is something of a luxury.
York can be busy, lively and wonderfully energetic.
The beer garden offers a place to escape the crowds without actually leaving the city centre.
It is particularly appealing in warmer weather, when a day exploring York can finish with a cold drink in the open air.
The combination of historic walls, traditional pub atmosphere and outdoor space gives The Fat Badger a particularly distinctive identity.
What makes The Fat Badger different?
The Fat Badger does not try to be a grand luxury hotel.
It does not need to. Its appeal lies elsewhere. It is relaxed. It is characterful. It is proudly individual.
It is a place where the pub is just as important as the bedroom.
For some visitors, that is exactly what makes a York stay special.
You can wake up in the heart of the city, spend the day exploring Roman, Viking and medieval history, and return to an inn where the evening revolves around good food, real ale and a lively, slightly mischievous York atmosphere.
Best for: foodies, pub lovers, couples, visitors who want a relaxed stay and anyone who would rather stay somewhere with a proper personality than a predictable hotel brand.
3. Hotel Clementine: Victorian heritage meets Parisian chic
If Guy Fawkes Inn is historic York at its most atmospheric, and The Fat Badger is York at its most sociable, Hotel Clementine offers something altogether different.
Located on St Peter’s Grove, in a peaceful leafy part of the city, Hotel Clementine offers a boutique hotel experience that combines Victorian heritage with modern luxury and Parisian-inspired style.
The hotel opened following a multimillion-pound refurbishment designed to restore and celebrate the property’s Victorian heritage.
Today, its 27 individually decorated bedrooms blend antique furnishings and period character with contemporary comfort.
The result is colourful, stylish and decidedly individual.
This is not a hotel designed around bland uniformity.
Every room has its own personality.
A peaceful location close to the action
One of Hotel Clementine’s biggest advantages is the balance it offers.
The hotel is situated in a quieter, leafy residential setting, but York city centre is only a short walk away.
York Minster, the historic city centre and the Shambles are all within easy reach.
This means guests can enjoy the best of both worlds.
During the day, you can be wandering through York’s ancient streets, exploring museums, shopping and discovering the city’s famous attractions.
Then you can walk back to the hotel and leave the bustle behind.
The setting is particularly appealing for anyone who wants to be close to the city centre without staying directly on one of its busiest streets.
A hotel with serious personality
The interiors are where Hotel Clementine really comes into its own.
The design combines Parisian chic with Yorkshire Victorian heritage.
Think period architecture, antique furniture, richly patterned wallpapers and carefully chosen details, combined with modern bathrooms, comfortable beds and the practical amenities expected from a high-quality contemporary hotel.
It is stylish without feeling sterile.
And luxurious without feeling overly formal.
The rooms are individually decorated, meaning that a stay at Hotel Clementine feels much more personal than a standardised chain-hotel experience.
There is also a wonderfully playful quality to the property.
The design is not afraid of colour, pattern or personality.
In a city known for its history, Hotel Clementine offers a more contemporary interpretation of what a historic York stay can be.
The garden: a hidden escape in the city
One of the property’s most appealing features is its secluded garden.
Behind the hotel is a private walled garden where guests can relax away from the noise and bustle of the city.
It is a particularly lovely contrast to York’s busy tourist streets.
After a day of sightseeing, guests can retreat to the garden, relax in the residents’ areas or enjoy a drink before heading back out for the evening.
The hotel also offers private parking, which is an important advantage for visitors arriving by car.
The little details that make Hotel Clementine memorable
Hotel Clementine is independently owned rather than being part of a large hotel chain.
That gives the property a more personal character.
It also has one particularly charming resident.
The hotel is home to a friendly cat who has become part of the property’s personality.
Because, frankly, what is a boutique hotel in York without at least a little bit of eccentricity?
The combination of distinctive interiors, historic architecture, a peaceful location, a private garden and an independent spirit makes Hotel Clementine particularly appealing to travellers looking for something different.
Best for: boutique-hotel lovers, couples, design-conscious travellers, visitors looking for peace and quiet and anyone who enjoys a little bit of quirkiness with their luxury.
So, which is the best place to stay in York?
The answer depends on the kind of York experience you are looking for.
Choose Guy Fawkes Inn if…
You want to sleep in a building with an extraordinary connection to history.
You want York Minster right outside your door.
You love ancient buildings, timber beams, open fires and atmospheric interiors.
You want your hotel to be part of the story of the city.
Choose The Fat Badger if…
You want a distinguished, posh and cheeky York character with a lively pub atmosphere.
You enjoy real ale, good food and a great drinks list.
You want a central location within York’s historic walls.
You prefer accommodation with a relaxed, sociable personality.
Choose Hotel Clementine if…
You want a boutique hotel with a more contemporary feel.
You love stylish, colourful and individually designed interiors.
You want to be close to the city centre but tucked away from the busiest streets.
You value a peaceful garden, independent hospitality and a hotel with plenty of personality.
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