Paid
Children 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

Location

Guest Reviews

8.2
Based on 9097 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
K
Kimberley • couple • gb
10
Beautiful stay! Can’t wait to come back!
Pros:

Beautifully presented. Staff lovely. Gorgeous hotel. Great location.

Cons:

The breakfast was a little pricey for what was received. Would have preferred a coffee machine, not jugs. Pool was busy, so made it not great when busy but that’s all. It was great stay thank you

2026-09-12 • via Nuitee
J
John • extended_group • us
9
Great place to explore York
Pros:

Very decorative interior and very close to the train terminal.

Cons:

Rooms were a little noisy. You could hear the plumping from other rooms above you coming through your room, but this is likely expected from an older building. It was also odd that we booked two rooms, but one was significantly larger. Not sure if one was upgraded or one was downgraded…

2026-09-12 • via Nuitee
L
lilya • couple • gb
10
2026-09-12 • via Nuitee
C
Clare • couple • gb
6
Average but overpriced, £30 parking as well even though you are staying there.
Pros:

We had a freshly decorated room, which was lovely, large bed and very clean. I like that I had a fridge and refreshments. The lounge area and dinner room were nicely decorated and furnished. The staff were welcoming.

Cons:

The Spa. It felt dirty dues to the soaking wet changing rooms floor (you couldn’t put your trousers on without getting the bottoms wet). The shower poolside wasn’t working. The lockers weren’t great, I had to go through five before I found one that locked and then I couldn’t get my clothes out. The spa area itself had hair and dirt on the floor and the sauna didn’t look clean with finger prints on the glass, spa bath felt gritty on the bottom. The sauna and steam were tiny as well. Having just come from Asquith Hall where the spa was immaculate, we were very disappointed. We didn’t bother using the gym in the morning after our experience in the spa.
The breakfast was passable but there wasn’t much fruit, only melon and a few bits of chopped orange. The cooked tomatoes were swimming in liquid and the scrambled eggs were wet too. I’ve had better but as I said it was passable.

2026-09-11 • via Nuitee
D
Dollina • solo_traveller • ca
9
Perfect
Pros:

Location was the best right next to the train station and within walking distance of the old town.

Cons:

Room was a title small but loved the view and the air conditioning. It had character.
Plus they need to provide flannels for face washing.

2026-09-11 • via Nuitee
A
Anne • solo_traveller • gb
8
Pros:

reception staff very helpful and polite. lovely reception area.

Cons:

poor breakfast, there was very little fresh fruit, coffee terrible only in a flask😫 not what you expect in a hotel if this standard. The bathroom was tiny and room decor very dull.

2026-09-11 • via Nuitee
T
THERESA • couple • gb
5
Disappointed with room and breakfast offering was very poor and kept running out of food at buffet
Pros:

The entrance to the hotel is absolutely stunning, which made it worse when we were allocated out room, which was very small, dark and with a small window, not at all what I booked.

Cons:

I booked a deluxe king room and the room we were given was nothing like my confirmation email, so had to be moved to a slightly better room but still not what I had originally booked. Breakfast very poor!

2026-09-11 • via Nuitee
R
Ryan • couple • gb
8
2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
A
Ashley • extended_group • gb
10
2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
İhsan • solo_traveller • tr
6
Pros:

Kullan at terlik odada bulunmuyordu, klima çok pisti

2026-09-09 • via Nuitee
M
Majid • extended_group • ae
8
2026-09-09 • via Nuitee
R
Ricardo • family_with_children • cl
9
En la estación de trenes y excelente y bien mantenida infraestructura
Pros:

Ubicación
Infraestructura

Cons:

Podría mejorar servicio

2026-09-09 • via Nuitee
J
Johanna M. • solo_traveller • nl
6
2026-09-08 • via Nuitee
E
Emma • couple • gb
10
Perfect location in a grand hotel
Pros:

Building stunning as are grounds, amazing location.
We left our luggage after checking out, had another walk round York, came back and were still allowed to use swimming steam & sauna so felt like we had two days in York rather than one! All staff we encountered were lovely.

Cons:

Little bit road noise & people outside from our room but it’s old building with old windows. Didn’t spoil our stay.
Coffee at breakfast was not nice. However breakfast was delicious

2026-09-08 • via Nuitee
L
Lynn • couple • gb
10
2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
S
SUSAN • solo_traveller • us
9
Lovely hotel in a great location.
Pros:

Nice bathrooms, plenty of hot water and a good size. Room size excellent, bed very comfortable. Excellent, helpful staff and hotel is located right next to the train station. York is not large, so an easy city for walking. Lots of good restaurants nearby. Hotel room was very quiet with a great view of the cathedral.

Cons:

Nothing.

2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
H
Herman • couple • nl
6
Prachtig stadje, redelijk hotel.
Pros:

Centrale locatie in het mooie York

Cons:

Bed was te smal

2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
L
Lea Lawton • solo_traveller • gb
6
Not for the fussy sleepers out there! Staff were great
Pros:

Location was great, staff were friendly and informative. Good choice on the breakfast

Cons:

I'm a fussy sleeper, the bed was uncomfortable with a slight dip on the side I slept. The toilet in the room bathroom was a bit cramped.

2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
L
lynne • couple • gb
10
2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
G
Graham • extended_group • gb
7
Disappointing room but overall a comfortable stay
Pros:

The breakfast was good and plentiful. The location was perfect and the hotel common areas were lovely.

Cons:

For the money the room was quite a let down. The bed was inappropriately positioned leaving no space for one of us to get in or out and no bedside table on one side as the bed was against the wall! Not what we would have expected for such a hotel and the price.

2026-09-07 • via Nuitee