The Grand, York

The Grand is the splurge choice in York and one of the most impressive hotel buildings in the north of England. It occupies the former headquarters of the North Eastern Railway, a red-brick and stone palace completed in 1906, designed by William Bell and Horace Field to show off the wealth of the railway that had made York its hub. The company called it a Palace of Business, and the scale still shows in the wide corridors, sweeping staircases and grand public rooms. Restored and opened as a hotel in 2010, it now has 207 rooms and suites and describes itself as the only five-star hotel in York. Dining is a real strength. The Rise serves a Yorkshire take on British favourites, Legacy offers seasonal tasting menus, SubRosa Restaurant has an East Asian-inspired menu, and the 1906 bar is named after the year the building opened. Beneath the hotel, the SubRosa Spa has a hydrotherapy pool heated to 36°C, treatment rooms and a gym, which is free for hotel residents. There is also a state-of-the-art cookery school that runs courses for every level.

Location and getting around: The Grand stands on Station Rise, just inside the line of the city walls and about three minutes on foot from York railway station, which makes it ideal if you arrive by train. Lendal Bridge and the Museum Gardens are a few minutes away, York Minster is around ten to fifteen minutes’ walk through the old streets, and the National Railway Museum is a short walk behind the station. The hop-on hop-off bus stops at the station and at Museum Gardens.

Rooms: rooms range from classic doubles to large suites, many with the high ceilings and tall windows of the original offices. Because the building was designed as offices, room shapes vary, and some look over the walls and towards the Minster, so ask about views when you book.

Who it suits: couples on a special occasion, spa lovers, food lovers who want a tasting menu without leaving the building, and first-time visitors who want a landmark base near the station. Families are welcome, and the spa offers a daily family swim session in the early evening.

Good to know: check-in is from 3pm and check-out is by 11am, with late check-out available for a fee. Valet parking is available at a nightly charge and should be booked ahead, and there is a public car park a short walk away. The hotel is not pet-friendly. Book spa treatments and dinner at Legacy when you book your room.