Premier Inn York City Centre - Layerthorpe

We found parking nearby without trouble, though the hotel's own car park is small, has limited spaces and costs extra. The bar had a decent range of drinks, and the front desk staff were especially friendly and helpful when we arrived. Our clean, modern room had working air conditioning, a kettle with basic tea and coffee, and a good shower with plenty of warm water and pressure. A very good central hotel, and a great stay.

Dinner service was relaxed and efficient, and David, our waiter, was thoughtful and attentive. He made us feel very welcome. We chose the meal deal: a two-course evening meal with a drink and an all-you-can-eat breakfast the next morning for £26.99 each. We paid an extra £2.99 each for the sirloin steak option, and it was well worth it. The room was as expected for a Premier Inn, with the usual tea and coffee setup, a high comfortable bed, and a nice bathroom with a bath, deluge shower and regular shower head. It was extremely quiet despite facing the road, with no traffic noise at all. The walk from York railway station took an easy 20-25 minutes, and we were able to check in about 15 minutes before the stated time.

We were a good distance from everything we wanted to see, so we'd definitely stay here again. Our Premier Plus room on the third floor was lovely, though there was a bit of a wait to check in. Staff seemed under pressure much of the time as they moved between reception, breakfast and the bar. Breakfast was good and plentiful, with lots of choice. They ran out of tea bags for a couple of days, but I bring my own Earl Grey, so it didn't affect me. Tables could take a while to clear once guests had finished. The shower gel and hand soap in the bathroom were nice. There was only one hand towel, so I had to ask for another to wash my hair. After a couple of days our towels were still very damp, and there were no radiators to dry them on. I requested a towel change through reception, but it wasn't done, so I went back later. The man at reception was helpful, gave me replacements right away and told me to leave the old towels outside the room.

The buffet breakfast was excellent, and you could take as much or as little as you liked. It's about a 15-minute walk into the city and its attractions. The hotel is quite basic, but it has what you need for a short visit. Parking across the road was good. Guests arriving early can park at the hotel, but we got there at 22.15 and had to use the overflow lot. It cost us £10 for two nights. I'd happily stay again.