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The Milner York
Station Road, York YO24 1AA England
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Avg. AU$496 /night, 3/22 - 3/23
AU$520
per night
AU$366
per night
AU$212
per night
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About
#39 of 54 hotels in York
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
The Milner York, steps from the train station, is the perfect base from which to discover the historic city of York. Blending the grandeur of late-Victorian architecture with the comforts of modern travel, The Milner York offers its guests the warmest welcome this side of the Pennines. Boasting 155 elegant, comfortable bedrooms and suites in balanced, neutral tones all with climate control that offer more than just a place to sleep. Free, superfast Wi-Fi with a maximum bandwidth of 100Mb is available throughout the hotel and if you decide to visit us by car, the hotel provides a car park for guests' use at a charge of £20.00 for 24 hours. The Milner York is a dog friendly hotel.
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Property amenities
Paid private parking on-site
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Pool
Bar / lounge
Highchairs available
Taxi service
Business Centre with Internet Access
Parking
Wifi
Fitness / spa changing rooms
Personal trainer
Sauna
Indoor pool
Heated pool
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
Kids' meals
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Non-smoking hotel
24-hour check-in
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Ironing service
Room features
Housekeeping
Room service
Safe
VIP room facilities
Iron
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Park View
Luxury
Languages Spoken
English
Location
Station Road, York YO24 1AA England
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 100 out of 100
100
Leeds-Bradford Airport
38.3 km•
See all flights
Doncaster Sheffield Airport
54.1 km•
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Rental Cars
121 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
Reviews
4.0
3,608 reviews
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Reviews summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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The Milner York hotel garners admiration for its strategic location near the train station and central attractions. Despite the grandeur and commendable cleanliness, some guests feel it falls short on value, pointing to overpriced services and less-than-impressive room upkeep. Reviews of the service are divided, with instances of both commendation and criticism.
While the atmosphere and amenities are often highlights, the experience of noise levels varies. Patrons appreciate the hotel's grand atmosphere and amenities but note areas that could benefit from modernization.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Elegant
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Noise level
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Well-appointed
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Detailed Reviews
Excellent hotel, in a great position right next door to the station and a pleasant short walk from York Minster. We had a good night's sleep in a comfortable bed with no noise from the station unless we opened the window. We stayed dinner, bed and breakfast and the food was very good, my only gripe being the discretionary 12.5% percent service charge automatically added to the bill. We left our credit card details at reception so as not to have to pay as we go. However, even though we asked for the bill to be put on the room we had to pay in the restaurant, a separate bill for the wine and then a random amount which we assumed was anything we had over the allowance for dinner but this was not itemised or given in a receipt and included the 'discretionary' service charge. In my opinion the old fashioned tip was better, good service for a tip of your own monetary worth, after all the staff will be on at least minimum wage and I cannot eat my dinner unless someone cooks it and serves it! No service charge on breakfast which admittedly is a total do it yourself affair. I would prefer my tea and coffee to be brought to the table. We stayed in a standard room on the third floor, room 330 which has a view of the station. The shower was consistently warm at a temperature I chose and has a good flow. The rooms are a little small, with two occupying you cannot move around the end of the bed at the same time and our room was dark even with the lights on. On a disabled note, you can reserve disabled parking which is fantastic, however then you are met with about 12 steps into the hotel with no clear signage on a disabled entrance. There is a disabled entrance which is so far from the disabled parking it just doesn't make sense and is also a long way from the reception and lifts, great if you are in a wheelchair but as walking disabled I found the route too long with bags and walking aids etc. The steps are wide into the hotel so a stair lift would be a better option or a new disabled access closer to the main amenities. The disabled access is in the area of the conference rooms and not the hotel guest part. In all even with my minor gripes I would stay here again, with my scooter for the long disabled access rather than my rollator.
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Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at The Milner York
Responded 2 weeks ago
Dear Guest, Thank you for your detailed feedback and for rating us so highly despite the minor concerns you mentioned. We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay, particularly our convenient location, comfortable beds, and quality dining. We appreciate your comments regarding service charges, billing clarity, and accessibility, and we will certainly take these into consideration as we continuously strive to improve our guest experience. We hope to welcome you back again in the future. Kind Regards, Guest Services Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed in the Principal York for New Year's Eve due to its perfect location at the heart of York close to York Minster and the National Railway Museum.
Upon arrival, we asked what time breakfast would be served as we paid for breakfast to be included with our room. The member of staff advised that breakfast would not be taking place tomorrow as it was New Year's Day. We were not advised of this prior to our booking, so we inquired again with another member of staff later in the evening. She confirmed that breakfast was indeed taking place and that her colleague was mistaken.
During our stay, we visited the Garden Room for a quiet drink. The gentleman who served us gave us our drinks in their bottles without offering any glasses or ice. When we asked for glasses with ice, he advised that these were only available in the main bar. We returned to the Garden Room later that evening, and were served by another member of staff who served us our drinks with glasses and ice.
We can only assume that these young and likely seasonal staff were unfamiliar with the hotel's policies or were not provided with consistent or adequate instructions from their supervisors.
Aside from this, the room was comfortable, and there were plenty of communal areas for guests to enjoy a relaxing drink with ambient music.
Upon arrival, we asked what time breakfast would be served as we paid for breakfast to be included with our room. The member of staff advised that breakfast would not be taking place tomorrow as it was New Year's Day. We were not advised of this prior to our booking, so we inquired again with another member of staff later in the evening. She confirmed that breakfast was indeed taking place and that her colleague was mistaken.
During our stay, we visited the Garden Room for a quiet drink. The gentleman who served us gave us our drinks in their bottles without offering any glasses or ice. When we asked for glasses with ice, he advised that these were only available in the main bar. We returned to the Garden Room later that evening, and were served by another member of staff who served us our drinks with glasses and ice.
We can only assume that these young and likely seasonal staff were unfamiliar with the hotel's policies or were not provided with consistent or adequate instructions from their supervisors.
Aside from this, the room was comfortable, and there were plenty of communal areas for guests to enjoy a relaxing drink with ambient music.
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Car parking available on-site for guests at a rate of £15.00 per day.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at The Milner York
Responded 4 Jan 2023
Dear Nialljohnson96, Thank you for taking the time to leave us feedback and leave us a review! It is great to read that you enjoyed your room and the main lobby areas of the hotel. My apologies that the staff members gave you incorrect information during your stay. I have also passed your feedback onto our food and beverage management team. Since this feedback, we have given staff the further training and guidance to improve our guests experience. Should your journey bring you back to York, please let us know so we can make your next stay even more enjoyable. Kind Regards,
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
We stayed here for 2 nights last weekend, in a double room in the annexe. The location was great and it was really handy to have car parking on site and even at £19 a night, it was cheaper than other city centre car parks. Reception staff were lovely. We paid over £200 a night for a room and were disappointed to find it was on the ground floor and didn’t have much natural light. It was right next to the corridor leading out of the hotel and there were no net curtains so people could look straight into the room. There were curtains but if you closed them to stop people seeing in, then the room was really dark. The bathroom also smelt really bad of drains which on the last morning started to filter into the room. We informed reception as we could also smell it outside and they were apologetic. For what we paid, I think it was overpriced. We would probably stay again but definitely not in the annexe.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at The Milner York
Responded 24 Aug 2024
Dear StephM289, Thank you for choosing to stay with us and for taking the time to share your feedback. We're glad to hear that you found our location convenient and our onsite parking beneficial. It's also great to know that our reception staff made a positive impression. However, we sincerely apologize for the disappointments you experienced regarding your room in the annex. We appreciate your honesty in sharing these concerns, and we understand why you feel the room was overpriced given these conditions. We want every guest to feel they receive good value, and we fell short in this instance. For your future visits, please feel free to contact us directly so we can ensure you receive a room that meets your expectations and enhances your experience with us. We are committed to providing you with a stay that reflects the quality and comfort you expect from our hotel. Thank you once again for your feedback. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back and provide a much more satisfactory experience. Sincerely, Guest Services Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Staff were very friendly upon arrival, location is great if you want to stay just outside the city centre, plus its by the train station with not too much noise pollution.
However, the first piece of disappointment was that the parking is not free, and does in fact cost £17.50 every 24 hours, this was not stipulated on the website we booked through. Paying for a room should include free parking, considering the price!
The room that we had on this occasion was not in the main building and was instead off to the side, with the main building, function room and train station being in view which is fine but this building feels like ‘the cheaper’ side to the hotel compared to the main building. (Which looks like an entirely different establishment on the inside) The corridors and lifts were narrow, decor extremely boring and basic, again compared to the main building that has maintained original architecture and is very polished. It seems this side building has had issues with damp as the walls, carpets and ceilings (both in the corridor and our room) had markings of damp everywhere, including a shoddy paint job in the ceiling of our room. Carpets and curtains were stained, with what exactly I had no idea.
I have been in 3* Hotels with better equipped rooms and more facilities. The shower is on the smaller, more compact side, no complimentary bottles of water, slippers, dressing gowns were provided, nor were any flannels. The only toiletries available were soap bottles (what were attached to the wall) No bath mats and with the showers being compact, water sprays over the majority of the floor which is a nuisance. Tea bags, coffee, biscuits and little pots of UHT milk were provided along with a kettle and some cups, which was surprising given the rest of the room.
Bed was uncomfortable and hard, pillows were thin and provided no support, I had 2 awful nights sleep in a row, the air con was slow and inefficient but thankfully we had an air con unit which made the summer nights somewhat bearable.
Overall the hotel is in a brilliant and convenient location with friendly and attentive staff, and is great if you don’t like the full hustle of the city, but falls short at the lack of amenities and facilities, as well as seeing damp patches everywhere, and our room looking less furnished than other standard rooms pictured on the website, a very disappointing experience which soured an otherwise lovely trip.
I would advise staying at a different hotel.
However, the first piece of disappointment was that the parking is not free, and does in fact cost £17.50 every 24 hours, this was not stipulated on the website we booked through. Paying for a room should include free parking, considering the price!
The room that we had on this occasion was not in the main building and was instead off to the side, with the main building, function room and train station being in view which is fine but this building feels like ‘the cheaper’ side to the hotel compared to the main building. (Which looks like an entirely different establishment on the inside) The corridors and lifts were narrow, decor extremely boring and basic, again compared to the main building that has maintained original architecture and is very polished. It seems this side building has had issues with damp as the walls, carpets and ceilings (both in the corridor and our room) had markings of damp everywhere, including a shoddy paint job in the ceiling of our room. Carpets and curtains were stained, with what exactly I had no idea.
I have been in 3* Hotels with better equipped rooms and more facilities. The shower is on the smaller, more compact side, no complimentary bottles of water, slippers, dressing gowns were provided, nor were any flannels. The only toiletries available were soap bottles (what were attached to the wall) No bath mats and with the showers being compact, water sprays over the majority of the floor which is a nuisance. Tea bags, coffee, biscuits and little pots of UHT milk were provided along with a kettle and some cups, which was surprising given the rest of the room.
Bed was uncomfortable and hard, pillows were thin and provided no support, I had 2 awful nights sleep in a row, the air con was slow and inefficient but thankfully we had an air con unit which made the summer nights somewhat bearable.
Overall the hotel is in a brilliant and convenient location with friendly and attentive staff, and is great if you don’t like the full hustle of the city, but falls short at the lack of amenities and facilities, as well as seeing damp patches everywhere, and our room looking less furnished than other standard rooms pictured on the website, a very disappointing experience which soured an otherwise lovely trip.
I would advise staying at a different hotel.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Don’t bother staying unless you want to shell money for the other rooms in the main building.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at The Milner York
Responded 12 Aug 2023
Dear guest, Thank you for choosing the Principal for your stay in York! We are delighted to read that you had a warm welcome when you first arrived. Please be advised, that our car parking prices are competitive for the city of York and due to our central location, many or our guests travel by train, hence why car park is not included as part of the room rate. Your constructive feedback is important to us and we are sorry to read that your experience did not reflect the 4* Principal standards to your liking and the team is available 24h to assist our guests during their stay, contributing to a great and memorable experience as we have been for the last 145 years. Kind regards,
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Leisure club fitness suite/pool/sauna/steam room only review
This is open to members and hotel residents.
Many members are not happy with the facilities at the moment.
Closing too early and inconsistent with cleanliness.
Saturday last entry 7pm closing 8pm
Sunday last entry 5pm closes 6pm yes on a Sunday when people are off!
Monday to Friday last entry 8pm closes 9pm
All over Christmas for 10 days last entry 4pm closes at 5pm
It Used to be 10pm every day surely to god why have they changed it has ruined the brand quality and access.
Tonight cheapest room is £320 and the facilities close at 5pm last entry 4pm!
It’s has to change poor management at the top really poor how much would it cost to pay 2 members of staff to stay until 10pm and then clean after 10pm not a 4 star facility at the moment.
In theory it shuts 15 minutes before closing and cleaning mopping etc is done around you when getting changed ridiculous 10 to 15 minutes before it closes.
Cleaning should be done after it shuts.
Generally up keep is poor dirty tiles windows etc it needs a deep clean every day after it shuts for at least 30 minutes.
Friendly staff run by a separate company under Milner.
Complaints have been sent from members to the management at the Hotel as the company running the Leisure Facilities need to up their game and stop ruining the hotels reputation.
PATHETiC ACCESS TIMES
This is open to members and hotel residents.
Many members are not happy with the facilities at the moment.
Closing too early and inconsistent with cleanliness.
Saturday last entry 7pm closing 8pm
Sunday last entry 5pm closes 6pm yes on a Sunday when people are off!
Monday to Friday last entry 8pm closes 9pm
All over Christmas for 10 days last entry 4pm closes at 5pm
It Used to be 10pm every day surely to god why have they changed it has ruined the brand quality and access.
Tonight cheapest room is £320 and the facilities close at 5pm last entry 4pm!
It’s has to change poor management at the top really poor how much would it cost to pay 2 members of staff to stay until 10pm and then clean after 10pm not a 4 star facility at the moment.
In theory it shuts 15 minutes before closing and cleaning mopping etc is done around you when getting changed ridiculous 10 to 15 minutes before it closes.
Cleaning should be done after it shuts.
Generally up keep is poor dirty tiles windows etc it needs a deep clean every day after it shuts for at least 30 minutes.
Friendly staff run by a separate company under Milner.
Complaints have been sent from members to the management at the Hotel as the company running the Leisure Facilities need to up their game and stop ruining the hotels reputation.
PATHETiC ACCESS TIMES
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at The Milner York
Responded 29 Dec 2024
Dear Guest, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback regarding our leisure facilities. We understand that access times and cleanliness are important to our members and guests, and we’d like to address your concerns directly. Our opening hours are in line with industry standards and similar to those of other gyms and leisure facilities in the area. It’s also worth noting that many local gyms were completely closed over the Christmas period, whereas we ensured continued access for our members and guests, albeit with adjusted hours in recognition of the holiday season. We have clear cleaning standards and protocols in place to ensure the facilities are hygienic and safe for all users. While we regret if this has caused any inconvenience, these measures are essential to maintaining a high standard of cleanliness. We will review your specific observations to ensure our practices meet the expectations of our valued guests and members. We appreciate your acknowledgment of our friendly staff and will ensure your comments are passed along to the management team for further review and action. Your feedback is important, and we are committed to maintaining the quality of our facilities. Kind Regards, Guest Services Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I would not recommend staying at this hotel, I will try to keep this review short as I could write a book on the poor experience that we had on our stay here.
Firstly the rooms that we were allocated needed urgent refurbishment, to say they were Deluxe was a joke. Do not be fooled by the photos they have online our rooms were nothing like them and at £341 per room we expected something really nice.
One of the ‘Deluxe’ rooms was half the size of the other, paint falling off the ceiling and bad paint damage on door frames and skirting boards. Both bathrooms had shower seals that were black with mould which put me off from even using it. The larger room had a sofa that had holes in the upholstery that was instantly noticeable. Both room were just generally unclean and poorly furnished.
Breakfast was a joke, we were given a table and seated without any information of what was available, no order taken for coffee/tea and no mention of food being available from the kitchen. Finally asked where I would find the tea facility on the buffet to be told by the waitress that she would get some for us. I asked if I could have a cappuccino to be told that only a pot of coffee or tea was available. The coffee was cold, no milk on the table and the tea came in a pot without a lid, we were advised to be careful as it was hot and they didn’t have a lid, used teapots with lids were on a few used tables next to us so could have easily have been taken to the kitchen to be washed and given to us. An accident waiting to happen to a customer or a waitress. To add insult to injury cups of coffee were taken to other tables so I asked a different waitress if I could have a cappuccino and she brought one for me.
Very poor training here, the staff were working hard but there was no leadership or organisation. This was the same story in the reception, at times there was not one member of staff at the desk and we waited with other quests for quite some time before anyone came. No porter to get our luggage from storage when we were leaving, so the poor overworked receptionist went to find it, once again leaving quests waiting to be attended to at reception.
On the positive side the hotel is in a good location but there are plenty of other hotels in the same area. The public areas on the ground floor are nice but the overall experience is not one that I have encountered before and will not be repeating again.
We did receive a refund of £170 for the small room and the cost of breakfast was also refunded but the experience we had at breakfast and the overall quality of our stay was very bad and was still expensive for the accommodation and service that we received.
Firstly the rooms that we were allocated needed urgent refurbishment, to say they were Deluxe was a joke. Do not be fooled by the photos they have online our rooms were nothing like them and at £341 per room we expected something really nice.
One of the ‘Deluxe’ rooms was half the size of the other, paint falling off the ceiling and bad paint damage on door frames and skirting boards. Both bathrooms had shower seals that were black with mould which put me off from even using it. The larger room had a sofa that had holes in the upholstery that was instantly noticeable. Both room were just generally unclean and poorly furnished.
Breakfast was a joke, we were given a table and seated without any information of what was available, no order taken for coffee/tea and no mention of food being available from the kitchen. Finally asked where I would find the tea facility on the buffet to be told by the waitress that she would get some for us. I asked if I could have a cappuccino to be told that only a pot of coffee or tea was available. The coffee was cold, no milk on the table and the tea came in a pot without a lid, we were advised to be careful as it was hot and they didn’t have a lid, used teapots with lids were on a few used tables next to us so could have easily have been taken to the kitchen to be washed and given to us. An accident waiting to happen to a customer or a waitress. To add insult to injury cups of coffee were taken to other tables so I asked a different waitress if I could have a cappuccino and she brought one for me.
Very poor training here, the staff were working hard but there was no leadership or organisation. This was the same story in the reception, at times there was not one member of staff at the desk and we waited with other quests for quite some time before anyone came. No porter to get our luggage from storage when we were leaving, so the poor overworked receptionist went to find it, once again leaving quests waiting to be attended to at reception.
On the positive side the hotel is in a good location but there are plenty of other hotels in the same area. The public areas on the ground floor are nice but the overall experience is not one that I have encountered before and will not be repeating again.
We did receive a refund of £170 for the small room and the cost of breakfast was also refunded but the experience we had at breakfast and the overall quality of our stay was very bad and was still expensive for the accommodation and service that we received.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at The Milner York
Responded 27 Aug 2024
Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're sorry to hear that your stay didn’t align with your expectations. While we strive to maintain high standards, it seems we didn’t meet your expectations during your visit. Your observations about the rooms and breakfast service will be passed along to the relevant managers for subsequent review. We’re pleased that you enjoyed the location and our public areas, and we’re committed to ensuring a better experience for you in the future. Kind Regards Guest Services Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Looks amazing from the outside and in the entrance hall and stairways but the room we had and the communal areas were disgustingly dirty. We originally booked what we thought was a superior double room but was told by the manger on arrival that none were available so was given a standard double. We had Black mould covering the walls and ceiling of the shower. I asked the manager if the cleaners work was checked and was told it was. The bed in this room (334) was no bigger than a large single and the room itself was tiny and incredibly hot. You could not open the window fully so only had about 3ins of breeze coming through. There was a Dyson fan in the room but was too noisy to have on all night. The view from the window was of the railway station. You could hear the train announcements from the room. At night thousands of pigeons rested on the roof of the station making a horrendous noise. I asked the manager if the cleaners work was checked and was told it was. The lights in the hallways have hundreds of black flies in them and are really dirty.
Due to the fact that we were down graded to a standard room we were told that we would receive a 50% reduction on the first nights stay and then after finding black mould in the shower we were comped free breakfasts for both days stay. The breakfast was ok but feel we should have had a full refund for our stay which was a double 50th birthday celebration. I feel that this is no way a 4 Star hotel.
Due to the fact that we were down graded to a standard room we were told that we would receive a 50% reduction on the first nights stay and then after finding black mould in the shower we were comped free breakfasts for both days stay. The breakfast was ok but feel we should have had a full refund for our stay which was a double 50th birthday celebration. I feel that this is no way a 4 Star hotel.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at The Milner York
Responded 25 Aug 2023
Dear guest, Thank you for your time to provide your feedback. As explained to yourselves at the time of check in, due to the type of reservation you made the bed type was not specific until the day of arrival subject to availability. We are really sorry to read that according to your comments the room did not meet your expectations. Finally, your comments are invaluable to us and have been shared with our team. Kind regards,
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Paid for my and my partner to go away for a long weekend and I’m really disappointed for how much I paid. First impression of the hotel was really good and staff were friendly but when we entered our room it was a shock. It was ridiculously hot and our air-con was out of order but luckily we were given a fan otherwise the room would’ve been unbearable to sleep in, the walls, ceiling, carpet and curtains had marks all over them and the paper is peeling revealing a load of mould behind, the windows are filthy, the pillows are poor quality, the room was stupidly dark and for some reason the tvs don’t allow you to view normal channels or use the streaming services. We had breakfast included in our stay which was nice and seemed to be good quality but many items weren’t being replenished even with a few hours still left until breakfast ended. It is in a really good location can’t be more than an 10 minute walk to the actual town but that still doesn’t justify the price for me.
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at The Milner York
Responded 16 Apr 2024
Dear Mia_XOXX, Thank you for choosing the Principal for your stay in York. We are pleased to read that you enjoyed some aspects of your stay. We are however sorry to read that you found the room not to your expectations. Our Head Housekeeper has been made aware. Due to the age of the building it is difficult to regulate the temperature in the rooms. You will be please to know we are in the process of installing air-cons in all bedrooms. Breakfast is a busy operation and the Principal we work hard to ensure all our guest’s expectations are met and we are sorry to read that this wasn’t the case. We do however hope to welcome you again soon on a much more pleasant occasion. Kind regards, Guest Services Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My husband booked this hotel for a birthday weekend in York, it was pricey but thinking you get what you pay for and because it was for a special occasion, we went ahead.
The plus points are the very friendly staff, the location, right next door to the station, the grounds, the building itself is beautiful inside, it has been refurbished fairly recently and some areas are very pleasant namely the garden lounge, there is a lovely seating area, perfect for a light bite or glass of wine whilst reading a book.
We were offered a special deal to upgrade to a suite, our room had a good sized living area completely separate from the bedroom with a sofa and a tv plus a table and chairs, perfect if you wished to dine from the room service menu. The bathroom was spacious with a lovely rainfall shower and free toiletries supplied, not the Neal’s Yard ones pictured online though.
An iron and ironing board are supplied along with a good hairdryer.
The bed was very comfortable and there’s a tv in the bedroom too.
Our suite overlooked the grounds, not overly keen on the look of the teepee but people seemed to enjoy sitting outside it as it’s an outdoor bar and the sun was shining.
I did appreciate the view of the Minster in the distance.
My husband had told the hotel it was my birthday and they left a lovely bottle of Prosecco on ice for us, that was very generous and much appreciated. Thank you Principal.
Unfortunately, in my opinion, the hotel is overpriced. We go away regularly all over UK and don’t mind paying for quality. I’d say some parts of the hotel are shabby and a good deep clean is needed in certain areas. We paid £300 for one night including breakfast and this was a discounted rate. The chair in our room was a natural coloured fabric, sadly it was filthy, looked like people had splashed their dinner over it but nobody had attempted to clean it. The windows were all very dirty, they don’t open either so no fresh air present although there is a good air con system.
Usually in a hotel of this price range, you are supplied with a hospitality tray consisting of several types of hot drink and quality branded biscuits of various flavours,
not this time. I work in NHS and there were two packs of biscuits on the tray, the same
poor quality brand as supplied to NHS hospitals!
The Principal could be a lovely hotel but I don’t think you can charge top quality prices and expect to get away with supplying inferior services and produce. I would stay again but not at these prices, not good value for money at all.
The plus points are the very friendly staff, the location, right next door to the station, the grounds, the building itself is beautiful inside, it has been refurbished fairly recently and some areas are very pleasant namely the garden lounge, there is a lovely seating area, perfect for a light bite or glass of wine whilst reading a book.
We were offered a special deal to upgrade to a suite, our room had a good sized living area completely separate from the bedroom with a sofa and a tv plus a table and chairs, perfect if you wished to dine from the room service menu. The bathroom was spacious with a lovely rainfall shower and free toiletries supplied, not the Neal’s Yard ones pictured online though.
An iron and ironing board are supplied along with a good hairdryer.
The bed was very comfortable and there’s a tv in the bedroom too.
Our suite overlooked the grounds, not overly keen on the look of the teepee but people seemed to enjoy sitting outside it as it’s an outdoor bar and the sun was shining.
I did appreciate the view of the Minster in the distance.
My husband had told the hotel it was my birthday and they left a lovely bottle of Prosecco on ice for us, that was very generous and much appreciated. Thank you Principal.
Unfortunately, in my opinion, the hotel is overpriced. We go away regularly all over UK and don’t mind paying for quality. I’d say some parts of the hotel are shabby and a good deep clean is needed in certain areas. We paid £300 for one night including breakfast and this was a discounted rate. The chair in our room was a natural coloured fabric, sadly it was filthy, looked like people had splashed their dinner over it but nobody had attempted to clean it. The windows were all very dirty, they don’t open either so no fresh air present although there is a good air con system.
Usually in a hotel of this price range, you are supplied with a hospitality tray consisting of several types of hot drink and quality branded biscuits of various flavours,
not this time. I work in NHS and there were two packs of biscuits on the tray, the same
poor quality brand as supplied to NHS hospitals!
The Principal could be a lovely hotel but I don’t think you can charge top quality prices and expect to get away with supplying inferior services and produce. I would stay again but not at these prices, not good value for money at all.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Parking is £19 per day on site, breakfast is served until 11am on weekends but gets busy after 9,...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at The Milner York
Responded 5 Aug 2024
Dear Clare N, Thank you for choosing The Principal York for your special birthday celebration, and for taking the time to provide detailed feedback about your stay. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the beautiful setting, our convenient location next to the station, and the friendly service from our staff. However, we are genuinely sorry to hear that some aspects of your stay did not meet your expectations. We strive to maintain high standards in all areas of our hotel, and it appears we fell short in this instance. Please be assured, we take your observations seriously. We would love the opportunity to welcome you back and provide you with an experience that truly reflects the high standards we aim to achieve. Please feel free to contact us directly for any future visits, and we will ensure your stay is both enjoyable and of excellent value. Thank you once again for your feedback. We look forward to the opportunity to serve you better in the future. Sincerely, Guest Services Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I recently stayed at the Principal York Hotel in the UK, a beautifully updated tribute to the age of steam and the railways. Its location is perfect—right outside York station and just before the city walls. The hotel itself is lovely, capturing the original style of the golden age of stream with a few modern updates.
Our room was on the 5th floor, which involved climbing two flights of stairs beyond the lifts. The room was average—while the bathroom was nice, the overall accommodations were pretty basic.
As someone with celiac disease, I chose this hotel because of their claims of being celiac-friendly (my only requirement is a safe breakfast to eat).
Unfortunately, my experience with their breakfast service was highly disappointing. Upon announcing my dietary requirements at breakfast, I was directed to the buffet. The host, after consulting with the chef, informed me that certain items were gluten-free. However, the gluten-free eggs were placed in the same container as gluten-containing hash browns, and the gluten-free bacon was mixed with regular sausages. Cross-contamination is a serious concern for those with celiac disease, and this setup made it unsafe for me to eat.
After expressing my concerns to the staff, I was eventually provided two slices of cold gluten-free toast—not really acceptable for a £30 breakfast. Attempts to discuss the issue with the management were frustrating. Despite acknowledging that celiac disease requires strict avoidance of gluten, they did not seem to understand the importance of preventing cross-contamination and seemed oblivious as to what I was actually complaining about. I even struggled to request a refund before they finally backed down
I had confirmed my dietary needs multiple times via email before and after booking, upon check-in, and again at breakfast. Despite these efforts, the hotel was unable to provide a safe meal for me. I was forced to cancel the afternoon tea and breakfasts for the remainder of my stay.
For fellow travelers with celiac disease who have found themselves in the same situation, I highly recommend the Cosy Club in the town centre as an alternative for eating. Their excellent service and thorough understanding of food safety were a relief after this experience.
While the Principal York Hotel has many admirable qualities, I sincerely hope they take steps to improve their handling of dietary requirements to ensure all guests can enjoy the stay they expect. As a celiac though, I will not be returning when there are many safer establishments in York which are considerably cheaper.
Our room was on the 5th floor, which involved climbing two flights of stairs beyond the lifts. The room was average—while the bathroom was nice, the overall accommodations were pretty basic.
As someone with celiac disease, I chose this hotel because of their claims of being celiac-friendly (my only requirement is a safe breakfast to eat).
Unfortunately, my experience with their breakfast service was highly disappointing. Upon announcing my dietary requirements at breakfast, I was directed to the buffet. The host, after consulting with the chef, informed me that certain items were gluten-free. However, the gluten-free eggs were placed in the same container as gluten-containing hash browns, and the gluten-free bacon was mixed with regular sausages. Cross-contamination is a serious concern for those with celiac disease, and this setup made it unsafe for me to eat.
After expressing my concerns to the staff, I was eventually provided two slices of cold gluten-free toast—not really acceptable for a £30 breakfast. Attempts to discuss the issue with the management were frustrating. Despite acknowledging that celiac disease requires strict avoidance of gluten, they did not seem to understand the importance of preventing cross-contamination and seemed oblivious as to what I was actually complaining about. I even struggled to request a refund before they finally backed down
I had confirmed my dietary needs multiple times via email before and after booking, upon check-in, and again at breakfast. Despite these efforts, the hotel was unable to provide a safe meal for me. I was forced to cancel the afternoon tea and breakfasts for the remainder of my stay.
For fellow travelers with celiac disease who have found themselves in the same situation, I highly recommend the Cosy Club in the town centre as an alternative for eating. Their excellent service and thorough understanding of food safety were a relief after this experience.
While the Principal York Hotel has many admirable qualities, I sincerely hope they take steps to improve their handling of dietary requirements to ensure all guests can enjoy the stay they expect. As a celiac though, I will not be returning when there are many safer establishments in York which are considerably cheaper.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Parking can be paid for in advance.
Try and avoid floors 4+5 especially if you have heavy bags.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at The Milner York
Responded 31 Oct 2024
Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your experience with us. While we're glad you appreciated the hotel’s ambiance and location, I’m truly sorry that we fell short in providing a safe and satisfactory gluten-free breakfast. We take dietary requirements seriously, and your experience highlights areas where we need to improve to better meet the needs of guests with celiac disease. Thank you again for your valuable feedback. We’ll use this to ensure a better experience for all guests in the future. Warm Regards, Guest Service Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
3pm check-in. But if you arrive earlier (like we do), you can leave your bags and do all the checking in and then walk into York, coming back when you wish.
Hi
Apologies I didn’t notice you would be best ringing the hotel direct the staff were very helpful
There is a mini fridge in the room.
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"Great location for those travelling by train less than 5 mins walk. Ample parking on site, at a fee"Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
AU$212 - AU$377 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
royal york hotel grand victorian, royal york hotel york
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
The Royal York Hotel
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandYorkshireNorth YorkshireYork
NUMBER OF ROOMS
155
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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Claim Your ListingTHE MILNER YORK (AU$212) - 2025 Prices & Reviews (England) - Photos of Hotel - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about The Milner York
Which popular attractions are close to The Milner York?
Nearby attractions include National Railway Museum (0.3 km), Locked In Games York (0.4 km), and Treasure Hunt York (0.4 km).
What are some of the property amenities at The Milner York?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an indoor pool, free wifi, and an on-site restaurant.
What food & drink options are available at The Milner York?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at The Milner York?
Yes, paid private parking on-site, paid private parking nearby, and paid public parking nearby are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to The Milner York?
Conveniently located restaurants include Casa Brazilian Rodizio, Karoo Bar & Kitchen, and Cocoa Joe's.
Are there opportunities to exercise at The Milner York?
Yes, guests have access to an indoor pool, a fitness centre, and a sauna during their stay.
Is The Milner York located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.9 km away from the centre of York.
Are any cleaning services offered at The Milner York?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does The Milner York offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers a business centre, meeting rooms, and a banquet room.
Are there any historical sites close to The Milner York?
Many travellers enjoy visiting York Cold War Bunker (1.6 km), Holy Trinity Church (0.8 km), and Merchant Adventurers' Hall (0.9 km).
Does The Milner York have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the park view available here.