Middlethorpe Hall

Bishopthorpe Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO23 2GB

Middlethorpe Hall is a delightful William III house, built in 1699 for Thomas Barlow, a wealthy merchant and was for a time the home of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, the 18th century diarist. The house has been immaculately restored by Historic House Hotels, who have decorated and furnished it in its original style and elegance. There are beautifully designed bedrooms and suites in the main house and the adjacent 18th-century courtyard and a health and fitness spa with pool and treatment rooms. The restaurant, which has been awarded 3 Rosettes from the AA, offers the best in contemporary English cooking. Middlethorpe Hall, which is a member of Relais & Chateaux Hotels, stands in 20 acres of parkland and overlooks York Racecourse yet is only 1½ miles from the medieval city of York with its fascinating museums, restored streets and world-famous Minster.

Price Guide: Single £124-£165, Double/twin £190-£300, Suite from £260-£370.

Facilities: 29 rooms, early morning call and tea, newspaper, private safety deposit, heating control in room, direct dial telephone, tv with dvd players, wi-fi internet connection (£5 for 24h), sightseeing tours and taxi services, mailing services, afternoon tea, picnic arrangements, laundry and drycleaning, night porter, shoe cleaning service, toiletries, hairdryer, adaptor, concierge services

The Grange Hotel

1 Clifton, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 6AA

Set near the ancient city walls, just a short walk from the world-famous Minister, this sophisticated Regency town house has been carefully restored and its spacious rooms richly decorated. Beautiful stoneflagged floors lead to the classically styled reception rooms. The flower-filled Morning Room is welcoming, with its deep sofas and blazing fire in the winter months. Prints, antiques and English chintz in the bedrooms reflect the proprietor’s careful attention to detail. The Ivy Restaurant has an established reputation for first-class gastronomy, incorporating the best in modern British and French cuisine. The Seafood Bar has two murals depicting racing scenes. The Brasserie is open for lunch Monday to Saturday and dinner every night until after the theatre closes most evenings.

Price Guide: Single £110-£180, double/twin £140-£200, suite £240.

Facilities: 30 bedrooms, access for wheelchairs, children welcome, four post bedroom, cable/satellite tv in all bedrooms, isdn/modern point in all bedrooms, golf course nearby.

Hazlewood Castle Hotel

Paradise Lane, Hazlewood, Tadcaster, Nr Leeds & York, North Yorkshire, LS24 9NJ

Behind the restored 13th-century façade of this fascinating castle lies a vibrant and professional hotel, where outstanding cuisine and flawless hospitality are offered in magnificent surroundings. Famed for its gourmet food, the hotel houses its own cookery school, where John Benson-Smith, formerly a Masterchef judge, gives lively demonstrations. The hotel has 2 excellent restaurants, the informal Prickly Pear and the chic Restaurant 1086, the signature restaurant of John Benson-Smith, can be hired to add charismatic zest to a dinner party. Hazlewood Castle is well designed to accommodate corporate or private events, whilst providing a sense of privilege and individually for its guests. Its fortifield buildings include the impressive Great Hall and the Chapel of St Leonards, ideal for musical occasions, amongst its many convivial reception rooms. The beautifully decorated bedrooms reflect the perfect balance of tradition and design that is eveident throughout the hotel.

Price Guide: Single from £110, double/twin £175-£275, suites £195-£300.

Facilities: 21 bedrooms, chef-patron, children welcome, four post bedroom, cable/satellite tv in all bedrooms, isdn/modern point in all bedrooms, golf course nearby, shooting can be arranged, riding can be arranged, helicopter landing pad.