The Grand, York

The Edwardian building that houses this hotel lives up to the name; formerly the headquarters of the North-Eastern Railway Company, it’s certainly imposing, rising up in a swathe of terracotta brickwork and double-height bay windows, a few streets from the River Ouse. 

The Grand delivers the full package; a basement pool and small spa for a restorative hour or two after sightseeing, an elegant cocktail bar, 1906, and a bustling, urban-feeling restaurant, Rise, with an open-kitchen fronting onto the dining area. If watching the chefs at work gives you an appetite for cooking, the hotel has its own cookery school.

An upscale stay that’s ideal for those looking for more than just a place to sleep.