Lil's On The Waterfront

Hotels
7 (1635 reviews)
5 Kings Staith , York , gb

Children allowed

Facilities

Non-smoking rooms
Express check-in/check-out
Non-smoking throughout
Kid meals
Coffee Shop on site
Staff adhere to local safety protocols
Guest rooms disinfected between stays
Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
Physical distancing rules followed
Hand sanitizer in guest room and key areas
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Good location
Friendly staff
Reasonable prices
Cons:
Hygiene issues
Room conditions vary

Categories

Cleanliness
5.08
Several reviews mentioned issues with cleanliness, including filthy conditions and the need for deep cleaning.
Service
8.05
Positive sentiments noted regarding the staff's helpfulness and friendliness.
Location
8.59
Multiple reviews positively highlighted the great location near amenities and the river.
Room Quality
6.04
Some rooms were described as unfit for stay, but there were also mentions of comfortable rooms.
Amenities
6.57
Amenities received mixed reviews; some were satisfactory, others outdated or broken.
Value for Money
7.03
The pricing was mentioned positively, especially in relation to location and some services.
Food and Beverage
7.58
Breakfast and food options received positive remarks, though there were some logistical concerns.
Overall Experience
7.05
Overall experiences were mixed, but many guests expressed a willingness to return despite some issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-10 21:18

Property Description

Riverside Views and Urban Convenience

Luxurious Rooms with Scenic River Views: Lil's On The Waterfront offers elegantly furnished rooms with a touch of luxury, some providing breathtaking views of the serene river, creating a tranquil ambiance for guests to unwind.

Central Location with Historic Charm: Nestled in the heart of York, our hotel is just steps away from the iconic Grand Opera House and the historic York City Walls, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the rich history and culture of the city.

Modern Amenities and Culinary Delights: From well-appointed rooms with modern amenities like flat-screen TVs and private bathrooms to a cozy bar and restaurant serving delectable dishes, we ensure a comfortable stay with a delightful culinary experience.

Experience the perfect blend of comfort and sophistication at Lil's On The Waterfront. Book your stay now for an unforgettable getaway.

Important information:

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), check-in is strictly between 15:00 and 20:00 until further notice.

Please note, the property is located in the city center and as a result guests may experience some noise disruption.

The rooms are accessed via 1 or more flights of stairs in a building with no elevator.Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Parking

    No parking available.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    You haven't added any extra beds.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge.

Location

Guest Reviews

7
Based on 1635 reviews
Cleanliness: 5.08
Service: 8.05
Location: 8.59
Room Quality: 6.04
Amenities: 6.57
Value for Money: 7.03
Food and Beverage: 7.58
Overall Experience: 7.05
B
Brigette solo_traveller gb
10
I loved my stay in York and when I return I will absolutely choose Lil's for accommodation.
Pros:

Wonderful location, right next to the river and 2 minutes from the town, the theatre and the historic sights. Great food and drink in the bars and bistros literally below my beautifully presented guestroom. Lovely friendly staff. This was like a home from home. Highly recommend.

Cons:

Nothing, it was perfect for me.

2026-03-07 via Nuitee
J
Jane solo_traveller gb
1
There was no stay. Money back please.
Pros:

Nothing. I walked out.

Cons:

Stairs impossibly steep for a person of my age. Place dingy and dirty. Room also dingy and dirty. Bed only a few inches off the ground. Too low for someone of my age. Staff utterly unhelpful. I handed back they key and left. I did not stay the night.

2026-03-07 via Nuitee
C
Carol solo_traveller gb
10
Staff helpful and very friendly. Suggested parking was £33 for just over 24 hours
Pros:

It’s location

2026-03-07 via Nuitee
K
Keith solo_traveller gb
4
Not ideal unless staying out late. Room very basic and shower pressure poor.
Pros:

Nothing

Cons:

Noisy from outside venues. Room was clean but tied.

2026-03-06 via Nuitee
M
Michael extended_group gb
5
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Unconnected to main building. No breakfast availability

2026-03-02 via Nuitee
A
Anne couple gb
10
2026-03-02 via Nuitee
田中 solo_traveller jp
8
2026-03-01 via Nuitee
H
Holland couple gb
10
Very cosy and the staff were very polite and helpful
Pros:

It was very well situated and easy to find
Well presented

Cons:

Nothing

2026-03-01 via Nuitee
D
dean couple gb
7
Freat locatiom
Pros:

Location fantastic right next to river, 2 mins walk to centre, easily found from train station

Cons:

Think room could do with a bit of TLC, light shade need replacing. shower bit grubby.

Bed side lamp would be good,

Bed base think need to be looked at

2026-02-27 via Nuitee
M
Marcus couple gb
7
Even with my moans, the room was really comfortable and generous in size and the location is fantastic. You pay for what
Pros:

The location, the size of the room and bathroom and the price. The bed was really comfortable and the sheets and towels were very clean.

Cons:

The decor of the stairs and on the corridor is not particularly nice and makes you wonder what is going to be behind your room door!
There wasn’t any soap in the shower soap dispenser, which wasn’t great as I had forgotten my shampoo. Also, even though I ran the shower for 10 minutes the hottest it would go was cold to lukewarm. To be fair, I fed this back to the management and they said they would look into it.
The TV was filthy and they were a huge cobwebs in the corner of the room. The window pains were also horrible and dirty, but probably on the outside. I just drew the curtains so I didn’t have to look at them.

2026-02-27 via Nuitee
A
Anusha couple gb
10
2026-02-26 via Nuitee
M
MartineHR couple no
7
Amaing location and a good stay for the price.
Pros:

First of all - do not book this place if you are hard of walking. The stairs are amazingly steep! I got somewhat worried after I booked this due to a lot of bad reviews. Arriving, we were plesantly surprised. We stayed in room 5, partial river view - and it was nice. Clean room, clean bathroom, spacious bedroom with a comfortable enough bed - it could have done with a mattress topper. But we both slept fine. We experienced a little bit noise from the streets - but not enough to be annoying. if you go looking for bad points you could probably find some. However, for the price you could not ask for much more.

This place is situated walking distance from the city centre, The Shambles and the cathedral. Bus services are a 5minute walk, and there are several pubs/bars/cafes in the same street. Walk to the train station is only about 10minutes.

The breakfast at Lil's bistro was really good, but even with the discount it was more expensive than the pub across the street. However the cosy atmosphere at Lil's bistro is a very nice calm start to the day.

Cons:

We stayed for three nights and the tea/coffee was not refilled once and the shower preassure leaves much to be desired.

2026-02-23 via Nuitee
R
Rebecca solo_traveller gb
7
2026-02-23 via Nuitee
J
Jane couple gb
7
Fantastic little hotel at a great price - we have already decided we are coming back !
Pros:

Fantastic location - right on the water front - I expect it would be lovely in summer- minutes away from everything and from an overnight carpark too - comfy bed and powerful shower, nice and clean.

Cons:

Couldn’t open the windows fully to get fresh air but I expect that is a safety feature. I asked for a river view room but wasn’t put it one.

2026-02-23 via Nuitee
G
Gary couple gb
9
2026-02-22 via Nuitee
N
Nicola couple gb
3
Overly priced for the standard of service
Pros:

The location.

Cons:

The female who checked us in was rude. She mentioned we would get discount at the bar and then didn’t give it. When I mentioned it to her she responded incredibly sarcastic & rude.
The room was very basic, the mattress didn’t fit the bed, limited coffee & milk and was dirty in the bathroom. Room overall was not cleaned to a high standard

2026-02-22 via Nuitee
J
Jenny couple gb
3
Pros:

it was close to the centre

Cons:

the fact that we felt like someone was living in the room before we got there and we left our train tickets, when we went into the property a man was lying on the bed! think it is used to house people when the rooms are not let out

2026-02-22 via Nuitee
B
Brett couple gb
7
2026-02-14 via Nuitee
R
Rebecca couple gb
10
Excellent value for money in an ideal location.
Pros:

The room was very nice, modern and clean. A really good bathroom and big shower, the bed was very comfty. Would definitely recommend to anyone. Such good value for money and the staff were lovely.

Cons:

Everything was perfect.

2026-02-12 via Nuitee
K
Kevin couple gb
10
2026-02-12 via Nuitee