Through meticulous attention to detail, Hotel Indigo® York brings the city’s rich history to life. Guest rooms with exposed brick mirror ancient city walls, while framed photos of our area’s 19th-century factories reflect its industrial past. You’ll find vivid soft furnishings in the shape of confectionary and jelly-mould lampshades in rooms inspired by York’s chocolate-making legacy. Work out in our 24-hour mini-gym, relish bathrooms with rainfall showers and reconnect with reality with superfast WiFi.
Near our hotel in York city center with parking, Walmgate Bar, with its imposing towers, is the best-preserved of the city’s 4 medieval gateways. After a busy day sightseeing, indulge in delicious Yorkshire-inspired small plates paired with ales or fine wines in No. 88 Walmgate restaurant.
With our modern cardiovascular and free weight equipment, we have something for you whether you're going for a fitness goal or simply want to get a few miles in before your meeting or sightseeing.
On-Site Fitness Center Available
York’s iconic, medieval city walls encircle its ancient heart and are interspersed by 4 ornate gatehouses. Our neighborhood is home to the 14th-century Walmgate Bar, the only gateway that has retained its impressive double-towered barbican. Originally built to keep people out, the Bar was soon welcoming countless tradesmen and entrepreneurs into the city, as our Walmgate district became a thriving industrial hub during the Victorian era. Our street was the former workplace of the fledgling confectioners Rowntree and Terry, world-famous names that helped shape York’s chocolate-producing heritage.
Today the foundries and tanneries on historic Walmgate are long gone, but their red-brick buildings now house buzzing restaurants and cafés alongside half-timbered pubs, delis and vintage shops.
A soaring architectural masterpiece swathed in Gothic spires and pointy gargoyles, this splendid cathedral is famous for its spectacular stained-glass windows and presides majestically over our city. Challenge yourself to climb 275 winding steps up its tower for bird’s-eye views over medieval rooftops from York’s highest vantage point.
Once lined with Elizabethan butchers’ shops, the cobbled, lop-sided Shambles is a bustling alleyway crammed with overhanging, half-timbered houses. It’s a shopper’s haven, bursting with artisan chocolate shops and boutiques selling jewelry and pretty textiles. Sink a pint in one of the pubs or visit a tea shop for a Yorkshire cuppa.
Tucked behind the imposing façade of a former prison, you’ll find the history of York cleverly recreated. Victorian street scenes lead on an interactive exhibition on the horrors of WWI. On a lighter note, you can dance to music from the Swinging 60s of Mary Quant and The Beatles, or step into a pair of Vivienne Westwood shoes.
The 14th-century Merchant Adventurers’ Hall sits on the banks of the River Foss, its ochre-colored timber frame leaning precariously over red-brick walls. In the wonky, oak-beamed Great Hall – where rich guildsmen feasted as they ran their companies – you’ll discover fine portraits of York entrepreneurs from ages past.
With an opulent interior enhanced by grand columns and red velvet, York Grand Opera House opened in 1902 following the conversion of a corn exchange and warehouse. Big-name stars have trodden its boards ever since and now present a roster of concerts, stand-up, musical theatre and dramas, often direct from London’s West End.
Since reopening in 2016 following following major refurbishment, York Theatre Royal has continued to excel as one of the UK’s premier theatres. Behind a striking Victorian Gothic façade, its compact auditorium hosts a vibrant performance schedule encompassing classic dramas, new works and a thriving youth program.
York Barbican’s modern, circular frontage faces the city walls, just five minutes from our hotel. Its flexible auditorium and high-tech sound and lighting make it a performing-arts venue that draws top musicians and comics from around the world. The venue also hosts regular classical concerts by the resident York Guildhall Orchestra.
Everywhere you go in York city center, you’ll discover gifted street performers. Grass-roots musicians playing guitars, accordions and fiddles create a vibrant soundtrack to your exploration of the city. Take time out in St. Helen’s Square, where folk groups, string quartets and acrobats congregate to entertain the crowds.
In an open-plan space with a marble-topped bar and industrial-chic touches, our casual No. 88 Walmgate restaurant tempts you with an all-day menu of classic Yorkshire dishes. Savor aperitifs of prosecco or craft ales, before tucking into succulent locally reared meat dishes, tasty sharing plates and artisan cheeses.
Starting life as a deli, Barbakan has morphed into a firm local favorite. This rustic bistro sits steps from our front door and has a snug, wooden dining room swathed in photos and fairy lights. Enjoy spicy Polish stews and filling pan-fried pierogi dumplings packed with savory delights – and leave room for the gooey, home-baked cakes.
On opening in 1996, York Brewery became the first within the city walls to produce traditional ales for more than 40 years. Now established as an award-winning brewer, tours of its compact premises with enthusiastic guides offer insight on the brewing process. Afterwards, sample its hoppy artisan beers in the cozy mezzanine tap room.
Savor a gastronomic experience to remember at quirky Le Cochon Aveugle, moments from our hotel. Book a table in this tiny bistro to relish head chef Joshua Overington’s unique take on creative French cuisine. Exquisite seasonal set menus served by knowledgeable staff are paired with fine wines to enhance the culinary experience.