Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Fitness facilities
WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Fitness center
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location
Accommodating staff
Comfortable lounge area
Cons:
Poor breakfast quality
Room size issues
Inadequate amenities

Categories

Cleanliness
7.94
Some reviews mention cleanliness, but also note issues like tired paint and cracked marks.
Service
9.41
Guests highlighted the outstanding and accommodating service from the staff.
Location
9.45
The hotel's location was frequently praised for being ideal, especially for New Year celebrations.
Room Quality
7.9
Comments indicate some rooms are small and have issues with lighting and air conditioning.
Amenities
7.43
Facilities like the spa and pool were noted as unavailable, with breakfast options lacking.
Value for Money
7.89
Mixed feelings about prices versus offered services and quality (e.g., breakfast quality).
Food and Beverage
6.94
Breakfast options received poor reviews, especially concerning quality and variety.
Overall Experience
8.61
Overall sentiment is positive, with enjoyment of the stay despite some issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-10 00:36

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodation
Experience the elegance of the 4-star Principal York, with modern rooms equipped with all the amenities you need for a comfortable stay. From flat-screen Smart TVs to rain showers, we have thought of everything to make your stay unforgettable.

Gourmet Dining
Indulge in a culinary journey at The Refectory Kitchen and Terrace, where fresh and seasonal dishes are served with a local twist. Don't miss out on the traditional afternoon tea in the charming Garden Room, and start your day right with a full English buffet breakfast.

Convenient Location
Located next to York Train Station, our hotel offers easy access to transportation for your adventures in York and beyond. Explore the historic city center, visit York Shambles, or enjoy a day at York Racecourse - all just minutes away from our doorstep.

Book your stay at the Principal York now for a truly memorable experience.

Important information:

The breakfast price is for pre-booked breakfasts only. Guests will be charged extra for breakfasts that are not pre-booked.

When booking for 9 rooms or more, different policies and additional supplements will apply. Guest will be required to sign an additional form.

Please note that the credit / debit card used at the time of the booking needs to be presented upon check-in.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: LBA

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed on request. Charges may be applicable.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Groups

    When booking more than 6 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 12 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.

  • Parking

    Private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed) and costs GBP 19 per day.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.2
Based on 8778 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.94
Service: 9.41
Location: 9.45
Room Quality: 7.9
Amenities: 7.43
Value for Money: 7.89
Food and Beverage: 6.94
Overall Experience: 8.61
M
Mark • solo_traveller • gb
9
Beautiful.
Pros:

Stayed here many times keep coming back because if the beautiful hotel itself and the great location, right next door to the train station and 1 minutes walk to the town.

2026-07-04 • via Nuitee
M
Mark • couple • gb
8
Very convenient beautiful building
Pros:

Beautiful building but it need of some love

Cons:

Needs repairs

2026-07-04 • via Nuitee
M
Maud • couple • fr
9
Pros:

Le cadre est magnifique et l’emplacement est parfait pour découvrir York

2026-07-04 • via Nuitee
M
Mary • family_with_children • gb
10
Excellent
Cons:

If I remember correctly, the curtain was missing in the bathroom.

2026-07-04 • via Nuitee
L
Louisa • couple • cn
7
就在火车站旁边，适合火车来回的游客
Pros:

他们的前台服务太棒了

Cons:

厕所下水有异味

2026-07-03 • via Nuitee
E
Eric • couple • gb
9
Very good hotel with great location . Hotel was very busy but had excellent staff who listened.
Pros:

Deluxe King room large with walk-in shower
Dinner as good as a 5 star hotel
Nice bar with good food
Small but well-equipped spa

Cons:

Breakfast needs to be similar in standard to dinner and the manager is aware of this.

2026-07-03 • via Nuitee
S
SherlineDBK • solo_traveller • us
10
Pros:

Location was excellent a very short walk from train station. Hotel was very well appointed and elegant.

Cons:

No complaints.

2026-07-03 • via Nuitee
M
Mackirdy • couple • gb
9
Just right.
Pros:

Comfort.

Cons:

Waiter was initially supercilious, but young lady waiting at the table was perfect.

2026-07-03 • via Nuitee
T
Teress • couple • gb
10
Relaxing stay
Pros:

Close to town, beautiful decor, rooms were clean and although the pool was small it was pleasant

Cons:

Parking could be problematic however we were lucky on the day

2026-07-03 • via Nuitee
G
Georgia • solo_traveller • gb
10
A lovely stay, excellent breakfast
Pros:

Great location and facilities

Cons:

Could make parking charges clearer when booking

2026-07-03 • via Nuitee
G
Gates • couple • au
6
Perfect location that covered over the other issues
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Unable to use the pool due to private hire. Pillows like bricks. Shower difficult. No coffee machine in room. No proper coffee at breakfast - making breakfast very expensive

2026-07-03 • via Nuitee
D
diana • couple • gb
10
2026-07-02 • via Nuitee
M
Margaret • couple • gb
9
Me and my husband could really relax peacefull and will be coming back 🎶
Pros:

Bedroom spacious cool air staff very friendly

2026-07-02 • via Nuitee
A
Atul • extended_group • sg
9
2026-07-02 • via Nuitee
B
Belssy • couple • gt
9
Especial cómodo y lindo
Pros:

Woww el cuarto y el hotel precioso

Cons:

Faltaba limpieza de algunos lugares pero en general limpio. y olor agradable en el cuarto

2026-07-01 • via Nuitee
G
Gareth • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

Room and swimming pool

Cons:

None

2026-07-01 • via Nuitee
C
Clare • extended_group • gb
3
first night stay was not great staff when asked if we could be moved were reluctant and did even offer a compensation op
Pros:

location excellent

Cons:

our room had obviously had a leak and smelt like musty off wash clothes very damp fusty smell. They had turned the thermostat right up so as yo dry it out. this made it worse and incredibly hot. We informed staff but they appeared reluctant to believe at first. they did send housekeeping but it wasn’t better. they didn’t offer discount or compensation. The smelt like drains and was not pleasant

2026-06-30 • via Nuitee
S
Stephen • couple • us
2
Would have been fairly nice if the elevator worked.
Pros:

Our room was a tad small for the price but functional with a fairly nice bathroom, however, breakfast was a nightmare with food options running out and no silverware available until requested.

Cons:

The elevator was out of order and I have COPD. Our bags were taken to our room but the 6 flights of stairs were extremely difficult to mange anyway. It also appeared that our room was changed prior to arrival probably due to putting us on a higher floor as we made the reservation through Booking.com
The elevator was not working for the 3 days we were there and we saw the elevator technicians outside on at least two occasions.

2026-06-30 • via Nuitee
D
David • couple • gb
10
2026-06-30 • via Nuitee
N
nathan • couple • de
9
very enjoyable, would recommend the hotel 100%
Pros:

great location, wonderful building full of history, staff were very good, outside area was lovely with the nice weather.

2026-06-29 • via Nuitee