The best cheap York hotels
Searching for the best cheap York hotels for a budget friendly trip to York?
I’ve rounded up my top 10 recommendations to help you find the best cheap hotels in York. You’ll discover that you won’t have to sacrifice comfort or location for cost.
Staying in cheap York hotels doesn’t mean staying far away from the city centre.
My top picks include affordable, low cost options within a 5 – 10 minute walk of the city centre plus dog friendly hotels and family friendly hotels in York. I’ve even included hotels in York with free parking.
So there’s a hotel in my list to suit everyone!
This post contains affiliate links; I earn from qualifying purchases (at no extra cost to you) which helps to meet the cost of running this website. Opinions of the following hotels are purely my own.
My top tips for finding cheap York hotels
You won’t have to slum it on a budget trip to York but you may have to compromise on the size of your room, its furnishings or your hotel’s facilities. Don’t expect a York hotel with a pool or a gym on a budget price.
For the cheapest prices, book your hotel in York well in advance of your trip.
You’ll find cheaper prices mid-week, outside school holidays or in off-peak or shoulder season.
If you visit York at Christmas, during the summer holidays or when York races are held, expect to pay more for your hotel. You can check current race dates here.
The Fort York
📍1 Little Stonegate, YO1 8AX
This boutique hotel is in the heart of the city’s nightlife area. All the major York attractions are under a 10 minute walk from the hotel. It’s one of the best cheap hotels in York city centre.
An advantage of staying at The Fort is that you can get up and out early to enjoy York at a quieter time. One disadvantage is the lack of parking plus you may also experience some night time noise (bring your earplugs if you’re a light sleeper).
However, if you’re a night owl, you’ll love the central location.
Location | The Fort York is a 2 minute walk from York Minster and a 16 minute walk from York rail station. There are pubs, restaurants and cafes on your doorstep and a small supermarket is a 5 minutes on foot. It’s also one of the closest hotels to York Christmas market.
Facilities | There is free Wi-Fi and Kennedy’s Bar is adjacent to the hotel if you want to grab a drink or food.
Rooms | There are 6 double rooms and 3 self-catering apartments.
Double rooms sleep 2 people in a double bed and have a sofa, tv, table and chair plus an ensuite with a shower. Each room has a different contemporary decor.
The apartments sleep up to 4 people in a double bed and sofa bed. There is a lounge with a sofa, a dining table and tv plus a well equipped kitchen with a full oven, microwave, fridge, dishwasher and washing machine.
If shared between friends, the apartments are excellent value for money.
Click here to discover The Fort prices and availability.
The Bar Convent
📍 17 Blossom St, YO24 1AQ
Looking for a cheap York hotel with historic character?
Then stay at England’s oldest working convent which dates back to 1686. The Bar Convent has a central location opposite Micklegate Bar, one of the four medieval gateways to the City of York.
It’s highly rated for its warm welcome and customer service.
Location | It’s a 10 minute walk to the city centre and 5 minutes from York rail station.
Facilities | The Bar Convent has free Wi-Fi, an enclosed garden and an on-site cafe (I think it serves some of the best cakes in York). Overnight public parking is available nearby.
A varied continental breakfast is included in the room rate but you can upgrade to a full English breakfast for a small extra fee.
Rooms | The recently refurbished rooms are simply furnished but comfortable. There are single or double beds, a tv, kettle, soft chairs and an ensuite with a shower.
Click here to find latest prices and availability for The Bar Convent.
Wheatlands Lodge
📍75 – 85 Scarcroft Road (YO24 1DB).
Wheatlands Lodge is a family-run 2 star hotel with excellent customer service and a convenient location close to the city centre. It’s the only cheap hotel York offers that has free parking.
Location | It’s a 10 minute walk to Micklegate Bar and 15 minutes to the rail station. There are pubs, restaurants, takeaways and a small supermarket within a 10 minute walk.
If you’re visiting York with kids, there is a park and playground 5 minutes away on foot.
Facilities | Wheatlands Lodge has a 24 hour front desk, a tv lounge, a bar and a restaurant. Breakfast is included in the room rate.
Rooms | Compact but comfortable rooms offer double and single beds, soft chairs, a tv, kettle and WiFi. There is a shower in the ensuite.
Click here to book Wheatlands Lodge
Ibis York Centre
📍The Mount, YO24 1BN
If you’re looking for cheap hotels near York train station, check out the Ibis York Centre. I think it’s one of the better cheap family hotels in York plus it’s also dog friendly.
Location | The hotel is a 5 minute walk from Micklegate Bar and 10 minutes from York rail station. It’s a 10-15 minute walk from York city centre.
There are takeaways, restaurants, pubs and a small supermarket within a 5 minute walk.
Facilities | The Ibis York Centre has 94 rooms, a restaurant, luggage storage, free WiFi, a lift and a bar. Your room rate includes breakfast.
There is a first-come first-served car park onsite costing a reasonable £10 per day.
Rooms | Small, simply decorated rooms sleep between 2 – 4 people. Each room has a small desk, a kettle and a tv and there is a walk-in shower in the ensuite.
A few dog friendly rooms are available.
Click here to check latest prices and availability.
Stableside
📍 Off Tadcaster Road next to York Racecourse, YO24 1QG
Looking for cheap hotels near York racecourse? They’re not easy to find, especially on a race day!
Stableside is an excellent budget option. It’s a newly renovated 4 star hostel – but it’s not like any hostel I’ve ever stayed in! I think the term ‘hostel’ is misleading for this hotel – and you will too.
Location | Stableside is a 30 minute walk from Micklegate Bar or you can catch the No 9 bus from Tadcaster Road which takes 9 minutes to reach the city centre.
There are pubs and restaurants within a 10 minute walk and you are very close to The Knavesmire, one of the largest green spaces in York.
Facilities | The hotel offers free WiFi, 24 hour staff, a recreation lounge and cycle storage.
There is a restaurant serving three meals a day plus brunch and a packed lunch option is available. If you’re driving to York, Stableside offers free parking.
Rooms | There are compact single, double or triple ensuite rooms which feature a tv and a kettle. The rooms are a little basic but they’re comfortable and a great price.
You can also book a studio which has a separate living room with sofas, a fireplace and a tv.
Rooms are available on a full, half board or bed and breakfast basis and are excellent value for money for the location.
Click here to check latest prices and availability.
The Crescent Guest House
📍 77 Bootham Crescent, YO30 7DQ
This charming boutique guest house is exceptional value for money for the quality of its rooms and its central location, especially for families.
Cheap hotels in York centre don’t get much better than The Crescent.
Location | The guest house is on Bootham, one of the most historic streets in York. It’s a 17 minute walk from York rail station and 10 minutes from York Minster.
There are pubs, cafes, restaurants and a small supermarket within a 5 minute walk.
Facilities | The Crescent Guest House provides free Wi-Fi and a full English breakfast is included in the low room rate. On-street parking is available for £5 per day.
Rooms | Stylish, classic rooms sleep 2 in double or twin beds. Each room has a tv, iron, a hairdryer, desk, a kettle and there’s a shower in the ensuite.
A family room sleeps 3 people in a double and single bed. Ground floor rooms are available.
Hostels in York
There are couple of hostels in York that are so good you’ll think you are staying in a hotel.
Safestay York
📍Micklegate, YO1 6JX
Safestay York is part of the Safestay Hostel chain but the York branch isn’t your average youth hostel.
It’s set in a grand Georgian townhouse with sash windows and elegant, Disney-like staircases and is ideal if you’re looking for quality, cheap accommodation in York city centre.
Location | The hostel is inside the city walls on cobbled Micklegate, a 5 minute walk from York city centre and 5 minutes from York rail station.
There are pubs, cafes and restaurants within a 1 minute walk.
Facilities | Safestay York has a dining room, bar, games room, a 24-hour reception, luggage storage and free WiFi.
It doesn’t have a kitchen but a microwave and kettle is available for guests to use. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is available from the on-site snack bar.
Rooms | In addition to the usual hostel dorms, Safestay offers private ensuite rooms which sleep between 2 – 4 people in single, double or bunk beds.
Each room has a tv, a kettle, a shower in the ensuite plus some period features such as a fireplace or ceiling beams.
Click here to check Safestay’s latest prices and availability.
York YHA
📍Water End, YO30 6LP
York YHA is a converted manor house with leafy grounds in the Clifton area of York. This isn’t a party hostel so it’s suitable for all travellers.
Location | The hostel is a 20 minute walk from York city centre along historic Bootham. Alternatively, you can walk on a pedestrianised river path to the city centre or you can catch the No. 2 or 2A bus from outside the hostel.
This hostel is a perfect choice for families as it’s adjacent to one of the best parks and playgrounds in York.
There are pubs, cafes and restaurants within a 10 minute walk.
Facilities | There is a well-equipped self-catering kitchen, a licensed bar, a large lounge and games room plus free Wi-Fi.
A full English or continental breakfast is available daily plus the Yorkie Café & Bar is open from 11:00 am to 8.30pm Monday to Sunday. There’s free on-site parking.
Rooms | Private ensuite rooms sleep between 2 and 6 people in double beds and bunk beds (rooms are accessed by a key card). You can expect lockers and shower in the ensuite.
The rooms are basic but they’re good value for money, especially for families and groups.
Click here now to book York YHA
Travelodge and Premier Inn
These two hotel chains are known for their affordability and have branches all over the U.K.
There are several Travelodge and Premier Inn hotels in York close to the city centre.
The nearest Premier Inn to the train station is on Blossom Street (a 5 minute walk). It has a restaurant, a bar and fee-paying overnight parking. There are double, single and family rooms available. Note that Blossom Street is a busy road so you may hear traffic and reveller noise at night.
The nearest Travelodge to York city centre is York Central on Micklegate, 800 metres from York station.
It’s only 5 minutes into York city centre but the hotel is on a busy road between two popular nightclubs so there will be night time noise. It has a restaurant with double, single and family rooms available.
Alternatively, try the quieter York Central Layerthorpe which is a 15 minute walk from the city centre.
York is a charming mix of history, culture, and fun but, whilst there are many free things to do in York, costs can quickly add up.
Saving money by staying in cheap York hotels means you’ll have more money to spend on attractions, ghost tours, quirky museums, and Yorkshire puddings!
