Jorvik House

A well-preserved Georgian townhouse on the edge of York’s historic old centre, Jorvik House is the perfect boutique option if you’re looking for moderately priced, conveniently located funky-chic bolthole in the centre. Overlooking the leafy environs of the Yorkshire Museum Gardens, it’s handily placed for the city centre and also for the railway station, which is a 10-minute walk away across the river. There is a 24-hour reception, and overall the hotel does a good job of combining the quirkiness and conviviality of a city-centre guesthouse with the comfort and facilities of a mid-range hotel. It’s an excellent, moderately priced alternative to a chain hotel option.

The owners call the decorative style of the hotel ‘Scandinavian’, which is about right, but perhaps doesn’t entirely encapsulate the well-chosen mid-century and sixties furnishings and the cool colour palette of the rooms – not to mention the unique vintage reception. None of the hotel’s guest rooms are particularly large, even the suites, but they are slickly and brightly decorated with well-chosen mid-century style furniture and décor and come with well-stocked mini bars, good wifi and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Bathrooms are up-to-date and contemporary bathrooms and have powerful rainfall showers and good quality toiletries. Breakfast is included in rates – basically a continental breakfast delivered to your room every morning – usually coffee and juice, bread and pastries.

You're only a short short from the city centre, which lies just the other side of the Museum Gardens (thought beware, they're shut at night and you have to walk around) – you're just a few minutes walk from the York City Gallery and York Minster, as well as the National Railway Museum in the other direction.