IN CELEBRATION OF THE GREAT BRITISH BED & BREAKFAST Make way for the gorgeous guesthouse – comfy, luxurious and refreshingly independent. A place where owners have spent hours contemplating wall colours and cushions. Where a warm welcome leads you to a restful bed clad with fresh linen and where breakfasts are at the heart of the experience. In York you will discover unspoiled streets lined with stunning architecture and period houses, many of which are family owned B&Bs providing accommodation for a small number of guests. Larger properties may be termed as guesthouses with many of the more substantial of these classing themselves as small hotels. The trick when choosing accommodation is to check out the Visit York website: visityork.org. You can save money by clicking through to the provider’s own site and booking direct. Some properties choose to be inspected by either Visit England or the AA but if they don’t display the assessment logo it’s not a problem, just look at the reviews online.
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To really get to know York and its culture, staying in a B&B, guest house or even one of the city’s traditional inns, (a pub with rooms) is wonderfully personal. Visitors are known to return to the same place year after year having built up a close friendship with the staff. Local knowledge too is a huge advantage and something that owners can pass on. They live in the city so they know it, they know which attractions are best to visit and when. They know the finest restaurants, the best shops and where to get a proper pint of beer or great cuppa. They are brimming with information just waiting to be tapped. The opportunity to spend time in an elegant house with heaps of history – often located a stone’s throw from the city centre, is an experience not to be missed and it’s where many of the B&Bs hold the trump card. Alcuin Lodge is a classic Edwardian property and a place where guests often return to year after year. Owners Darren and Mark are passionate about their lovely home and move mountains to ensure everyone has a great stay. With attractions, shops and rail station on the doorstep, it’s a popular spot.