No 1 by Guesthouse York Review: Is This Boutique Hotel Worth Staying At?

York is one of the UK’s most beautiful cities to visit, on our trip we chose to stay at No 1 Guesthouse. This is a brand of hotels I have wanted to stay in for the longest time. So when we were going to york this hotel and we really liked it.

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Review Summary

My Rating - 7/10

Official Star Rating - 4 star

Price Range - From approximately £257 per night for the entry-level room, excluding breakfast (prices vary by date).

Type - Boutique Hotel

Location - Just outside York city centre, within walking distance of the main attractions.

Best for - Couples looking for a stylish, characterful base for exploring York.

Highlights

• Beautiful room decor and unique interiors

• Spacious, comfortable four-poster bed

• Thoughtful boutique touches, including in-room record players

• Convenient location for exploring York on foot

Cons

• Small bathroom, particularly for a Large Guestroom

• On-site parking comes at an additional cost

• Complimentary pantry could benefit from more variety and better restocking

  
  

Rooms

For our stay, we decided to book the Large Guestroom, which is the hotel's highest room category apart from its suites. We were really impressed with the room, which was spacious, beautifully decorated and had a lovely atmosphere.

One of the things I particularly liked was how much character the room had. Rather than feeling like a standard hotel room, it had lots of thoughtful details that made it feel unique. These included a record player and a gorgeous doll's house-style tea station, which was such a lovely touch.

The four-poster bed was another highlight. It looked beautiful and was incredibly large and comfortable, making it the perfect place to relax after a day exploring York.

My only real disappointment was the bathroom. I found it quite small, particularly considering we were staying in the highest room category outside of the suites. That said, No 1 by Guesthouse is housed in a Grade II-listed Georgian property, which naturally comes with certain limitations when it comes to the layout and size of the rooms. The bathroom still had everything we needed; it just felt a little underwhelming compared with the rest of the room.

Overall, I loved the character and design of the Large Guestroom. It felt luxurious, comfortable and full of personality, although I would have liked a little more space in the bathroom.

Facilities

No 1 by Guesthouse is more of a boutique city hotel, so you won't find an extensive range of facilities. However, there are a few thoughtful touches that add to the overall experience.

• Cellar Spa: The hotel has its own spa, offering a selection of treatments for guests looking to have a treatment during their stay.

• Complimentary Pantry: One of the standout features of the Guesthouse brand is its complimentary pantry, stocked with snacks for guests to enjoy throughout the day. In theory, this is a lovely touch, but we were slightly disappointed with the offering during our stay. The selection felt quite limited, and we found that many of the snacks had been taken early in the day and weren't replenished. Given that the pantry is such a key part of the brand's appeal, I would have liked to see more variety and better restocking throughout the day.

• In-Room Record Players: Each room features a record player, with access to a selection of vinyl records from the hotel's extensive library. This is a lovely detail that adds character to the rooms and helps create a more distinctive boutique hotel experience.

• Restaurant, Bar and Lounge: The hotel also has its own restaurant, bar and lounge area. I'll go into more detail about these in the food and drink section of this review.

• On-Site Parking: There is parking available at the hotel for guests arriving by car, although this comes at an additional charge, so it's worth factoring this into your budget when planning your stay.

Food and Drink

No. 1 by Guesthouse has plenty of food and drink options, with Pearly Cow being the hotel's main restaurant. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as a Sunday roast.

Breakfast

A highlight for me and we had this included in our nightly rate. The à la carte menu offers a good selection of dishes, including a full English breakfast, eggs Benedict and waffles. The food was really good, and the service was efficient, with our breakfast arriving quickly.

Dinner

I didn’t get the chance to go to Pearly Cow for a typical dinner (we only did a Sunday Roast). The menu does look appealing with dishes from steak to lobster. On Friday’s and Saturday’s, Pearly Cow offers an Afternoon Sea, which is a seafood themed afternoon tea think muscles and oysters. 

I did try the Sunday roast, although I have to say I was a little disappointed with it. Given the quality of the breakfast and the overall reputation of the restaurant, I had been expecting a little more. The atmosphere and service is good however, and on Sunday’s when we went they had live music.

The Bar

The bar is a lovely spot to enjoy a drink during your stay. It has an extensive cocktail menu, a large wine selection and a choice of bar snacks, making it a great place to unwind in the evening after dinner.

The Marmalade Lounge 

The Marmalade Lounge is a particularly beautiful space within the hotel. It offers a more relaxed setting where you can sit back and enjoy a drink, whether you're stopping by for a quiet afternoon or looking for somewhere to unwind after a day exploring York.

Location

In my opinion the location of No. 1 by Guesthouse is excellent. The hotel is situated just outside the main city centre, with York Minster around a 9-10 minute walk away and the Shambles approximately 12-15 minutes on foot. 

If you prefer to be right in the heart of the city, surrounded by the hustle and bustle, you may prefer a more central location. However, I personally thought this was the perfect balance. The surrounding area feels more residential and peaceful, making it a lovely place to return to after a day of exploring, while still being within easy walking distance of York’s main sights.

For me, it was the best of both worlds: a quieter setting without compromising on convenience.

Service

As No 1 by Guesthouse is a city hotel, we spent much of our time out exploring York rather than at the hotel itself. However, during our interactions with the reception team and restaurant staff, everyone was extremely professional, friendly and happy to help.

Is it worth it?

Yes! If you're planning a trip to York and looking for a stylish, comfortable place to stay, No 1 by Guesthouse is definitely worth considering.

However, I wouldn't necessarily recommend planning a trip specifically around staying at this hotel. While we enjoyed our stay, it didn't feel like a destination hotel in its own right.

That said, the hotel was clean, beautifully designed and full of character, and we particularly enjoyed the interiors and the unique touches throughout the property. Its location is also ideal for exploring York, making it a great base for a city break.

Overall, I think No 1 by Guesthouse is a lovely option if you're visiting York and want somewhere with more personality than a standard city hotel.