Park View Guest House

This is a genuinely budget inn, and at roughly a 15-minute walk from York city centre, it may suit someone mainly looking for a low price. I wouldn’t recommend it, though. The outside and front area look rough, and my very small room was high up several steep flights, facing the street and not especially quiet. There was no heat, which made it uncomfortable. The towels and bedding felt cheap, and the sheets didn’t fit the mattress. It was fairly clean, but I noticed a grimy light fitting and dust and dirt in the corners and along the skirting boards. The twin bed was pushed against the wall. There was a chipped, cheap desk and cupboard, and nowhere for my suitcase except on the desk. The bathroom felt made for a very small person. I’m not big, but my legs touched the wall while I sat on the toilet, and I didn’t try the shower. The sink had separate hot and cold taps, which was awkward to use. Breakfast was advertised from 8 to 9. I went to the breakfast room just before 8, but it was dark and empty. A man came out when I mentioned I needed a quick meal before an 8:15 tour, and I ended up with a bowl of cereal. It isn’t expensive, but you get what you pay for.

The location is the one thing in its favour. The beds were hard, there were odd brown marks on the ceiling, and breakfast was awful apart from the toast. You’d think toast would be hard to get wrong, but that was about the only decent part. I won’t be back.

It’s a good-value place about a 20-minute walk from the city centre. The room was decent for the price and clean, which mattered most to us. The staff were really friendly and the service was excellent. Free parking is another plus. I’d definitely recommend it.

I left within an hour. The place and its decor felt very tired. Check-in was self-service, but no instructions had been sent beforehand. The owners did call after I’d gone to check whether I had checked in, but didn’t ask why I left. They know.