Astley House

Johnathan made the stay so relaxing. He’s a wonderful, personable host, and the breakfast was excellent. Everything was spotless, with beautiful decor and immaculate furnishings. This quirky boutique hotel is faultless, and it’s in lovely Clifton, with a quick walk into the centre of york. I came to york to visit my daughter and had such a pleasant stay. I’ll definitely be back.

Jonathan made us feel so welcome and gave us great tips for places to see and eat in York and Edinburgh, where we were headed next. The breakfast he cooked to order was absolutely delicious, and Princess Lily, the sweet little hostess kitty, was lovely to meet. The whole place has a relaxing, sophisticated, cozy feel, with neat decor and lovely details everywhere. We adored our stay at The Bishop and The Bison. It’s a short walk from both the train station and York Minster, with a beautiful riverside walk along the way. The bed was one of the most comfortable we’ve ever had in a hotel or B&B. We highly recommend it.

The breakfast was one of the best parts of our stay. There was cereal as well as a full hot breakfast cooked to order. Still, this was by far the biggest disappointment of my month-long European vacation. I thought I was good at sorting genuine positives from embellishment in reviews, but The Bishop and The Bison had five-star ratings on every booking site and Google. The only criticism I’d found was a three-star review complaining about the lack of cereal, which turned out not to be true. It’s listed as a four-star luxury boutique hotel and B&B in York. The city centre is actually a 20-minute walk away, which was fine for us, as we like walking. Jonathan, the owner, does his best, but luxury it isn’t. He greeted us in his socks, the silk hallway rug needed cleaning, and there was an inch of dust on the chair leg. The towels were very thin, the shower had no pressure, the bathroom sink clogged during our stay, and there was shampoo but no conditioner. I got through our three days, but felt completely misled by all those positive reviews. A few changes could make this a real four-star boutique hotel. I hope this feedback is useful, and please don’t get angry just because I’m being honest.

Jonathan was an amazing host and cook, and you could see how much care had gone into every corner of the house. Probably the most charming B&B I’ve ever stayed in. The bed was so comfortable that on both nights I felt like Ariel from The Little Mermaid, swallowed up by the mattress as soon as I lay down. It even made me think about buying a new mattress when I got home. Thanks again for such a lovely stay!