Astor York - Hostel

The hostel is a bit outside central York, but the walk was enjoyable, and it was quieter and less busy there. The atmosphere was delightful, with quaint decor, and breakfast was available for an affordable £3.50. It's the closest thing to an affordable winter stay in the English countryside that you'll find. We loved it from the moment we arrived. Staff were lovely and helpful, and there was a room to leave our luggage if we got there before check-in. Having private bathrooms in the rooms was really useful. There are quite a few stairs, which could be tricky with lots of luggage, but we knew that was on us, not the hostel. Definitely a great hostel choice for York.

A cosy hostel in a good spot, with staff who were always friendly and ready to help. The highlight was Erika's free walking tour. She was warm, passionate, and knowledgeable, and covered all the major sights in York. It was extremely informative and a lovely welcome to the city. I'd definitely recommend it.

This is one of the best hostels I've stayed in. The staff are amazing, the shared areas are clean and homely, and the eight-bed rooms are spacious and have a proper bathroom. It feels like somewhere you'd want to hang out, not just sleep. It's a little way from the city centre, but the walk is lovely, and there's a bus stop right outside if you need it. I'm definitely coming back.

My first time in a hostel taught me that, yes, you are crowded in and it doesn't have five-star comforts. I ended up finding that part of the fun. The staff are amazing: laid-back and accommodating, while still diligent about cleaning and making you comfortable as best they can. There's a great atmosphere with fellow travellers. You can connect and learn a lot, or take time out if you don't feel like going into York. There are plenty of spaces to do that. They make the place feel like a home, commune, cultural dive, and retreat house, so you can shape your day as you go. Thanks, Astor, for a wonderful experience, and a shout-out to the great travellers I got to meet.