One rather lovely, peaceful and welcoming hotel we recently sampled in York was the Mount Royale, located out near the Racecourse and around a 15-minute walk from the railway station.

This offers 24 bedrooms, all individually designed with flat screen TVs and DVD players, some with four-poster beds and some with patio doors opening out onto a large secluded garden area boasting an outdoor heated pool, outdoor heated hot tub and Scandinavian log cabin with sauna and steam room. There is also a beauty centre with a range of spa treatments, a bar with a coal fire for cosy winter evenings and a restaurant with tasty breakfast offerings, including very moreish home-made cakes.

For conferences there are two meetings rooms for 35/25 theatre-style and a boardroom for eight.

Tel 01904 628856 www.mountroyale.co.uk