14 Best Hotels in Yorkshire, England

Three converted 17th-century stone cottages, once the homes of Grassington lead miners, make up this small, well-run hotel off the main street. Expect a cheery welcome on arrival, complimentary Prosecco in your quarters, a cozy brick-and-beam sitting room, and a walled garden. The comfortable bedrooms are sleeker and more modern than you might expect, and the homemade breakfast is excellent.

Solid mahogany doors, handsome stairwell tilework, and Art Nouveau ironwork are among the original features at this luxurious but down-to-earth hotel near the train station and in a 1906 building that was formerly the headquarters of the regional railroad. Spacious bedrooms are sleek and contemporary, with king-size beds, good soundproofing, and well-equipped bathrooms with underfloor heating. The breakfast-and-dinner-only Rise restaurant serves favorites like pan-friend stone bass or shepherd's pie, while the more formal Legacy offers small-plate tasting menus of five, seven, or nine courses (from £90) Wednesday through Sunday. There's also a highly proficient spa with a pool.

This 18th-century house in the center of Richmond has been beautifully restored and packed with Georgian silver, Persian rugs, and Biedermeier chairs. The spacious bedrooms are done in soothing neutral colors, decorated with well-chosen art and antiques, and stocked with books and free malt whisky (but no televisions). All have views of the town or the extraordinary gardens, which offer additional views of the waterfalls on the River Swale and have won Royal Horticultural Society awards. The big claw-foot tubs in the bathrooms—some of which have their own fireplaces—invite a relaxing soak after a hike on the Dales. Breakfasts here win raves for their variety and freshness. In addition to the three rooms, there are two self-catering alternatives: a five-bedroom coach house and a garden apartment that sleeps two.

Beneath forested hills in the tiny village of Egton Bridge, about 5 miles outside Whitby, this two-story stone house has comfortable, spacious, impeccably decorated guest rooms with peaceful views, including some over the Esk Valley. During the day, you can enjoy the garden or take a walk on nearby trails across the Moors. In the evening, you can sit by the crackling fire. The fresh breakfasts are delicious. It books up quite quickly .

The centerpiece of the Regency Esplanade, this grand hotel overlooking the South Bay was Scarborough's first, originally opened in 1845 to accommodate fashionable visitors. Bedrooms are comfortable and contemporary, and some have outstanding sea views. The in-house spa is a bonus. Room-only rates are available, and rates drop for some two-night stays.

This sleek boutique hotel from the founder of the Malmaison group puts the emphasis on contemporary minimalist comfort, with soundproofed, media-and-amenity-stuffed rooms in subdued grays and taupes. The in-house brasserie-style grill restaurant is a local favorite, the ground floor bar has a Champagne room, and there's also a private rooftop terrace Residents' Bar for hotel guests.

This more casual sister property of the Devonshire Arms down the road (guests have access to the larger property's spa and hiking trails) boasts outstanding views over a particularly lovely part of the Yorkshire Dales. The design of the guest rooms is fresh and modern, but there is a sense of corners being cut; the complimentary breakfast is fruit salad (no roll or croissant) and orange juice from a carton. The service is very friendly, but somewhat haphazard (you may have to carry your own bags up the stairs) because the small staff oversees both the hotel and the two restaurants. The Dalzell, the more formal option, serves Modern British dishes like pan-fried halibut  with seaweed potatoes, while a more informal Bistro offers elevated pub grub such as fish and chips or grilled steaks.

This three-story Georgian town house on a quiet cobbled street has a secluded walled garden and a bright, welcoming interior packed with works by local artists and 18th-century period features, such as beamed ceilings and wood paneling. Guest rooms are tastefully decorated in restful creams and taupes; some have oak four-poster beds or original fireplaces. Many of bathrooms are completely up-to-date, with marble floors, ambient lighting, and free-standing Italian baths. Although not included in the rates, breakfast is excellent. Be careful not to confuse this with Frenchgate Guest House, a B&B on the same street.

The public rooms of this boutique hotel that sprawls through eight Georgian houses combine a contemporary, relaxed atmosphere with period charm, foregoing chintz for wooden floors, exposed brick, and clubby leather sofas. Bedrooms, some overlooking the Stray, are spacious and modern, and bathrooms have deep tubs and powerful showers. Further relaxation is available at the in-house spa. The bar has a serious wine list, and the popular bistro uses locally sourced meats and fish in French-influenced takes on classics like beef cheek Bourguignon or choucroute Alsacienne (a vegan menu is also available). Good value fixed-price deals are offered for both lunch and dinner.

The York outpost of a boutique-hotel mini-chain is in a converted 19th-century orphanage, with exposed-brick walls and arched doorways, as well as spacious, quiet rooms done up in English country–style florals and stripes. Some guest rooms are on two levels, and most have bathrooms with claw-foot tubs and showers big enough for two. The in-house restaurant specializes in bistro-style cooking with a British twist. Service is helpful and cheerful.

The Leeds outpost of a boutique-hotel mini-chain is in an Edwardian building that once contained the headquarters of a local tram company and now contains guest rooms featuring striking wallpaper, crushed-velvet textiles in gray and yellow, and, sometimes, floor-to-ceiling windows. The intimate, below-ground brasserie serves Modern British gastropub favorites.

An early-19th-century Regency town house now contains this comfortable boutique hotel, which offers an elegant and tasteful but fresh and unfussy take on traditional country house style. Guest rooms, some with fireplaces and four-posters, are light, bright, and have quirky touches like tea and coffee stations disguised as dollhouses and vinyl turntables (there's a free record-lending library on site). Other amenities include complimentary pantries in each hall, a cozy spa in what was the cellar, and an excellent restaurant that's open all day and emphasizes locally sourced ingredients. Dogs are welcome.

Favored by visiting celebrities, this independently owned boutique hotel is full of elegant Victorian touches such as a sweeping oak-paneled staircase illuminated by tall stained-glass windows. Upstairs are handsome bedrooms decorated in tasteful shades of taupe, cream, green, or blue with more tall windows. The Porter's Lodge bar serves food throughout the day.

Situated in a large, late-Victorian mansion on a promontory, this charming, refurbished hotel makes the most of uninterrupted Robin Hood's Bay views, with the main restaurant, the garden, and several bedrooms facing the sea. Osborne's, the fine-dining restaurant, serves locally sourced Modern British dishes like pan-fried fillet of bream with heritage tomatoes and wild samphire or Champagne-battered North Sea cod. There's also a cocktail lounge and The Loxley pub, which specializes in small sharing plates and local craft beers.