Best hotels in York with kids

Families are spoilt for choice when choosing the best hotel in York with kids as the city has a wide choice of family friendly hotels to suit every budget.

My tips and hotel selections below will help you choose the best hotel for your family trip to York with kids. 

Things to consider when choosing the best hotel in York for kids

Hotels in York city centre

If your York hotel is inside, or very close to, York city centre, you will reduce daily travel times and costs. 

You may stay in a characterful Victorian or Georgian era hotel but the old building is less likely to have pushchair friendly facilities such as a lift and step free entrances. 

All the major York attractions and tours will be on your doorstep enabling you to explore with kids at quieter times of the day. 

But as street cleaning and deliveries start early in York city centre (lorries and vans are banned from city streets after 10.30am) you may get an unwelcome early wake up call. 

Plus, you may also experience night time noise from the city’s high number of pubs and bars.

Staying in a hotel in York city centre is ideal for families visiting York by train as York rail station is an easy 10 minute walk to the city centre. 

But if you are driving, make sure you know the parking facilities at your hotel before booking. There are very few hotels in York with free parking (or on site parking).

Hotels outside York city centre

Staying outside York city centre is slightly cheaper and your accommodation may have more outdoor space for your kids. 

However, you will spend time, money and energy travelling to and from York city centre.

Parking in York is limited to car parks (most city centre streets are resident parking only) and city centre car parks are not cheap. 

Fortunately, with excellent transport links, getting around York is easy.

The city has a network of public buses, regional trains to and from York rail station stop at surrounding villages and there are four Park and Ride routes. 

It is free to park at a Park and Ride base from where direct buses run every ten minutes into York city centre. Children travel for free with a paying adult. 

Check York bus routes and timetables here. 

My top picks of the best hotels in York for kids

Best budget option – Staycity Aparthotel York 

Best mid-range option – York Marriott Hotel or Novotel York

Best luxury option – The Grand, York

Budget hotels in York for families

Staycity York

This four star aparthotel near York Barbican is one of the best budget hotels in York with kids as it offers spacious self catering rooms, ideal for families visiting York on a budget. 

There are studios, one bedroom and two bedroom apartments available. Smaller units have a kitchenette with fridge and microwave whilst larger apartments have a twin hob, oven, dishwasher and separate living room. 

It is a great option for larger families as the larger apartments sleep up to five people. 

There is a 24 hour reception, food available on site, complimentary WiFi, air conditioning and cots are provided free of charge.

Staycity York is a 1 minute walk to Walmgate Bar and the city walls and an easy 10 minute walk to York city centre.

There is secure parking nearby for £12 for 24 hours. 

Find your room at this fantastic York accommodation for families here.

Paragon Street, YO104AH

Travelodge York

You know what you get with a Travelodge – budget, basic, but adequate accommodation with family en-suite rooms containing two double beds.

There are six Travelodges in York, two have central locations. Both these city centre locations are great for sightseeing during the day but will have night time noise. 

Travelodge Micklegate is near several pubs and two nightclubs and York Central Travelodge has a Weatherspoon’s pub on site. 

Premier Inn York

There is a Premier Inn on Blossom Street, a 5 minute walk from York rail station, which offers family rooms and interconnecting rooms. 

Parking is available nearby for £14.50 for 24 hours, there is a restaurant on site and one child can eat breakfast for free with a paying adult. 

Blossom Street is a busy thoroughfare so there will be traffic noise and noise from neighbouring pubs.

York also has a fantastic choice of hostels (some in characterful old buildings) which are highly rated by families.

Check out our guide to hostels in York here. 

Mid range hotels in York with kids

York Marriott 

The 4 star York Marriott Hotel is a rare hotel in York with free parking. It has fantastic facilities for families in a great location and at an affordable price. 

Leisure facilities include a gym, jacuzzi and spa and kids will love the heated indoor pool – a fun option for a rainy day in York. Plus, families can have a good runaround on the 5 acre landscaped gardens. 

Family en-suite rooms consist of two double beds and interconnecting rooms are also available. 

The hotel is close to York Racecourse and The Knavesmire (a large park). It is a 30 minute walk to York city centre but there are several buses you can catch to the city from outside the hotel. 

Book now for this excellent value for money hotel here. 

Tadcaster Road, YO241QQ

Novotel York

This highly rated, family friendly hotel is just outside the city walls near York Barbican on a quiet side street in a residential area.

It is a flat, 10 minute walk into York city centre. 

The 4 star hotel has an on-site restaurant and bar, free WiFi and family rooms consisting of a Queen sized bed and sofa bed. Interconnecting rooms are also available. Kids will love the hotel’s large, heated indoor pool.

The hotel offers parking on site from £14.00 per night. 

Considering the location and facilities, this is one of the best value for money hotels in York with kids; find the perfect room for your family here. 

Fishergate, YO10 4FD

Holiday Inn York

There are two very reasonably priced Holiday Inns in York offering good deals for families.

Children under 17 can stay for free when sharing their parents room and up to four children under 12 can stay and eat for free. 

The Holiday Inn York City Centre (IHG) on Piccadilly is near St George’s Fields car park and a 5 minute walk from the city centre. This is a lively area at night so there you may hear some noise nearby. 

A quieter, and cheaper option is the Holiday Inn York a 20 minute walk from York city centre. Visitors can catch a bus to the city centre from outside the hotel. 

The hotel is near York Racecourse and The Knavesmire and offers guests free parking on site. 

Spacious rooms offer free WiFi, cots and rollaway beds.

Don’t miss nearby family friendly Goddard’s House, a National Trust property which is one of York’s hidden gems.

Discover the latest prices and availability for Holiday Inn York here.

Tadcaster Road, YO24 1QF

Hilton York

The Hilton York will surprise you: it is great value for money considering its unbeatable city centre location directly opposite Clifford’s Tower and York Castle Museum. 

City centre shops and restaurants are just steps away. There is fee paying parking on site, York rail station is 20 minutes on foot or you can catch a bus nearby. 

Hilton York has an on-site restaurant with children’s menus on and cots are available on request. 

Check latest prices here – I guarantee you will be surprised!

Tower Street, YO1 9WD

The Churchill Hotel

This charming (and highly rated) Georgian mansion is a 10 minute walk from Bootham Bar (the nearest gateway to York Minster) and 5 minutes to Museum Gardens, a pretty city centre park.

Family rooms have beds for each person – no sofa beds here – and The Churchill Hotel’s on-site restaurant and large beer garden (with a wood fired pizza oven) is popular with York locals.  

There is fee paying parking available on site or York rail station is a 15 minute walk away.

Bootham, YO30 7DQ

Middletons

Middleton’s is a Grade II listed hotel is on a quiet side street near the River Ouse and Clifford’s Tower. 

It is a 15 minute walk to York rail station and 10 minutes to York city centre. Shops, restaurants and a small supermarket are nearby. Rowntree’s Park and playground is just 12 minutes walking from the hotel.

Family rooms sleep up to 2 adults and 3 children with cots and extra beds available. There is an onsite restaurant with children’s menus and high chairs. 

Middletons is a great option for the differing tastes of multigenerational groups or large family groups as, in addition to comfortable hotel rooms, the hotel also offers spacious self catering cottages on site. 

The Sir Joseph Terry cottages can accommodate up to 6 people. 

Secure on site parking is available on site for £10 per night

Skeldergate, YO1 6DS

Dean Court Hotel

Part of the Best Western Premier collection, Dean Court Hotel has one of the most enviable locations in York, opposite York Minster and Dean’s Park.

It is a 2 minute walk to the city walls, 5 minutes to Museum Gardens and a few steps from the shops and restaurants of the city centre. 

Dean Court Hotel offers tastefully decorated, en-suite family rooms for four but there is also one family room for five people – something our family of five rarely find in a hotel.

Valet parking is available for £20 per day or York rail station is a 10 minute walk away.

You may experience reveller noise at night but you will also hear something special – the chiming bells of York Minster.

Find the latest prices and availability for Dean Court hotel here.

Duncombe Place, YO1 7EF

Luxury hotels in York

The Grand, York

One of the best luxury hotels in York, The Grand hotel, York is housed in an attractive Edwardian building tucked just inside the city walls.

It is York’s only five star hotel and a 2 minute walk from York rail station. The hotel is away from bars and restaurants so reveller noise will be limited at night though you may hear some traffic noise. 

The Grand has worked hard to attract families. Kids will love the Grecian inspired indoor pool, the hotels themed afternoon teas and the in-room robes and slippers for each guest.

The hotel also offers a fun, unique experience for families visiting York with parent and child cooking lessons at the hotels on-site cookery school.

Family rooms sleep four with cots, extra beds and interconnecting rooms available. Kids will love their complementary Grand Hotel goody bag and soft toy.

Secure parking is available a one minute walk away at £21 for 24 hours. Plus, if you are visiting York at Christmas, The Grand also does one of the best Christmas dinners in York. 

Discover the latest prices and special offers at The Grand here. 

Station Rise, YO1 6GD

Malmaison

One of York’s newest – and most luxurious – hotels,  Malmaison is opposite the city walls, a 5 minute walk from the city centre, York rail station and Museum Gardens. 

The hotel has on-site dining and bars as well as a gym and spa. 

Family rooms consist of a king sized bed, separate living space and sofa bed plus in room robes and slippers. 

Don’t miss a trip to Sora, the Malmaison’s popular sky bar which offers fantastic views over York.

Malmaison is on a major thoroughfare with a couple of pubs nearby so there may be some night time noise if your room is at the front of the hotel.

Rougier Street, YO60 1UU 

I hope this list has helped your family to choose the perfect hotel in York for your family. If you are looking for a hotel in York with a pool, read my guide to York hotels with a pool here. If you’re looking for ideas, check out my 30 things to do in York with kids article. 

If you discover a hotel that you think should be on this list, please get in touch!