The Best Hotels to Book near York Racecourse

With ivy creeping up the handsome brickwork of this garden-set hotel, it’s easy to believe you’re in a country idyll rather than a quick drive from York’s city centre, racecourse and university. Seven rooms have antique four posters, and, across the road, there are also one-bedroom suites with sitting rooms and kitchenettes. The hotel brasserie offers well-priced classics. Save room for the sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce.

Once the home of diarist Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, Middlethorpe Hall sits in 20 acres of gardens, complete with its own ha-ha and lake. The elegant interiors suit the splendid setting. The boutique spa – with its treatment rooms and indoor pool – is housed in Edwardian cottages, whilst the gym is tucked away in a restored Victorian summer house. Dinner is served in the smart, award-winning restaurant overlooking the lawn. From here, you’re within walking distance of the racecourse.

The Hotel du Vin brings its brand of affable, modern comfort to this 19th-century mansion house in the Mount area of York. Here, you’re away from the tourist hubbub, although both York Racecourse and the medieval City Walls are a manageable 20-minute walk away. Enjoy dinner in the popular French-style brasserie, beneath the high glass ceiling and cascading foliage.

Dating back to the golden age of railway, this grand Victorian station hotel is on the right side of the city for the races. Expect understated glamour in the rooms, each with marble-clad bathrooms featuring rainfall showers. Dine on the terrace in the summer months or cosy up in the dining space come winter, after a dip in the indoor pool. Afternoon tea in the garden room is something of a York rite of passage.

Middletons is made up of six Grade II-listed buildings, centred around a courtyard garden. Stylish, unfussy bedrooms include larger boltholes with king-size doubles and two bunks. Following a day at the races, you can tuck into favourites like beef and ale pie in the lounge or out on the lawn. Cardio enthusiasts should make a beeline for the light, airy fitness studio, plus there are yoga classes for zen-seekers.

Even the studios come with king-size beds, fitted kitchens and dishwashers at this modern aparthotel. Need a little more space? The split-level one- or two-bedroom apartments are good options for groups and families. On site, there’s also a free-to-use gym. Pick up your grab-and-go breakfast, then stroll along the banks of the River Ouse, through leafy Rowntree Park, to reach York Racecourse.

Owners Ricardo and Fiona Gabbiadini have years of hospitality experience, which shines through this six-room bed and breakfast to the south of the city. The comfortable rooms are spotless, and given notice, the amenable hosts will tailor the award-winning breakfasts to meet a range of requirements. A wander through the park, across Millennium Bridge, will lead you towards the racecourse. Alternatively, you’re a 20-minute walk to an array of city-centre bars and restaurants.

There are plenty of pretty period touches at this double-fronted Victorian guesthouse, and an abundance of friendly hospitality, too. Ensuite rooms include a family option with bunks, and generous breakfasts are served in a homely dining room. The Limes is a handy 20-minute walk to York Racecourse, and about the same to the city centre. Order a drink at the bar and nurse it by the open fire.