Grays Court Hotel

It might be a cliche, but Grays Court genuinely is a hidden gem; wander down the cobbled lanes behind York Minster and it’s easy to miss this elegant 11th century building. It’s only when you turn into a gated courtyard that the hotel shows itself.  

Once inside it’s a tasteful oasis of calm, with antique furniture sitting beneath contemporary black and white pictures, taken by local photojournalist David O’Neill. 

There’s a feeling of a country hotel that just happens to be in the middle of the city, heightened by a large garden that snuggles under the city walls, which you can access privately. Even the head chef’s background is from time spent at a pub near the North York Moors.