We stayed one night and it was such a peaceful place — amazing views of the Minster. The staff were kind and helped us find good vegan breakfast spots
We went for an evening meal in the Bow Room. The surroundings were really nice and the service was wonderful. However, the portion sizes were ridiculously small and that spoiled the evening for us. It will be about £250 for two even if you don't drink much. The service charge of about £25 seems excessive on the already expensive prices
Grays Court is the most wonderful hotel we have ever experienced. Nestled behind York Minster, this historic property has all the charm of York, with a staff that is by far the most welcoming and friendly. The rooms are updated while still maintaining that historical feel. We were lucky enough to be able to book “The Mortimer” room, and it was exceptional. It offered some great views of the minster, and was spacious and very charming. The breakfast was very well done, and had a great variety to choose from. Also, this hotel manages to attract the friendly guest, some of which we had the pleasure of conversing with in the beautiful bar area/galley. The hotel is also within the perfect distance to the shambles, and York Minster. Please make this a stay of your if you plan to come to York. It will give you an experience you won’t forget.
Really disorganised service in the garden. They seemed to have one bar staff providing drinks to the five waiting staff meaning that waiting staff spent much of their time queuing at the bar. We had several rounds of drinks and some basic snacks nothing seemed to arrive within 20 minutes of ordering, some of those orders were for a single beer. The waiting staff didn't know if smoking was allowed in the garden. I don't blame the waiting staff it's clearly the systems and training that's been poorly thought out and implemented by management or the owners. We were as a group intending to use this visit to see if we as a group fancied returning for the tasting menu, it looks like Roots will be getting our business instead.
Gray’s Court is absolutely exceptional. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel genuinely welcomed, warm, attentive, and incredibly hospitable. You can tell they love what they do, and it shows in every detail. The atmosphere is something special, elegant without being stuffy, and steeped in history while still feeling comfortable and inviting. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to linger just a little longer. Location-wise, it’s perfect. Tucked right next to York Minster, you’re within walking distance of everything. Whether it’s a stroll along the city walls, a bite at a local pub, or exploring the Shambles, it’s all just steps away. Highly recommend Gray’s Court, it’s the kind of stay that makes a trip memorable.
Our one night stay here was very enjoyable. The hotel is in a fabulous location meaning it's only a short walk into the centre. One of my main concerns when looking for hotels in York was parking. Grays Court has a number of spaces and what looked like an overflow through some gates when it was full. We didn't have a problem but were advised to phone ahead of arrival to secure a space. We were charged £20 extra but it provided piece of mind and is very much an industry standard now, especially in City Centre's. All staff we came across were very polite, especially Suzanne (apologies if I have this wrong), who gave us a guided tour of the hotel before showing us to our room. The room was lovely with all standard amenities supplied. Breakfast next day was within a two hour window (8am - 10am), and was enjoyable. One very small gripe was that there was no baked beans with the full English. Check out was smooth and the gift bag on departure was a nice touch.
My husband planned a surprise mini break for us and Gray’s Hotel was the highlight! The hotel is positioned perfectly next to York Minster and therefore close to the centre, an easy stroll in along a cobbled lane. The staff were so friendly and polite, nothing was too much trouble for them. They all spoke of how they are treated as family by Helen, so the atmosphere was superb. The rooms were beautifully presented, wonderful furniture and a bed like a nest with super quality bed linen. Breakfasts were delicious… the homemade granola was delicious, we tried everything over our stay and each choice was very good, even the bread and butter were high quality! The Bow Room dining was a very good experience. I think there were 12 ‘courses’ in all with absolutely perfectly presented food. I think a vegetarian option would go down well, but you could not complain about the meal, service and wine pairings. Even as we left yesterday, we were given a little bag with water, local of course, and a cookie for our journey. The little touches show the care that is taken by the staff, under Helen’s direction. Thank you so much everyone, we will be back!
I visited for the day to complete a course. The staff are all fantastic, I was able to call ahead and book a parking space. The food was so varied and plenty of it and the surroundings were luxurious. I will be back to have afternoon tea in the beautiful garden which includes a kitchen garden for produce used in the kitchen
Had a fantastic stay here as part of our wedding celebration. The staff were incredible - they could not do enough for us - and there were so many special little touches that made this place feel so special. The hotel’s setting is a dream come true for anyone who’s even a little bit interested in history, and so many original features have been preserved. We went for the tasting menu one night as well, and the food was fantastic - super fresh, seasonal and presented in an interesting and inventive way. Really cannot recommend this place highly enough to stay or to eat!
Grays Court Hotel and The Bow Room Restaurant is located at Chapter House St, York YO1 7JH, UK
You can contact Grays Court Hotel and The Bow Room Restaurant at +44 1904 612613
You can find directions to Grays Court Hotel and The Bow Room Restaurant by following this map link