Hotel Review
The Milner Hotel started life in 1853 during the early days of the the British railway era under the ownership of the North Eastern Railway Company. This grand old station hotel was sold off from the railways in 1982 and after varied ownership its latest rebrand as The Milner took place in October 2024 marking a new chapter in the hotel’s history. The hotel’s new name continues the legacy of York’s railway heritage as it was inspired by William Milner, a station foreman who died during a German air raid in 1942 as he ran to fetch medical supplies.
Location:
The four star Milner Hotel is conveniently located just two minutes walk from York Railway Station and lies just across the road from the medieval city walls. With York being on the main East Coast rail line, with journey times of less than two hours from London and two and a half hours from Edinburgh it is ideally located for a city break from most parts of the country. For guests arriving by car, the hotel has its own large car park however please note that a daily parking fee is payable.
Arrival and check-in:
We arrived at the hotel just before lunch and first impressions were extremely good as we approached the large, handsome sandstone hotel. A short flight of steps lead up to the main entrance and as if by magic the doors automatically opened as we mounted the stairs.
The reception desks are located to one side of the entrance hallway and we were greeted with a smile by a very polite female member of staff. Check-in was quick and easy but as we had arrived several hours before actual check-in time we left our bags for safekeeping and went off to explore some of the city’s sights for a few hours.
On returning to the hotel during the late afternoon a different member of staff was on duty and after giving our names, we were accompanied up to our room on the first floor where our luggage had been placed ahead of our arrival.
The Room:
We had been booked into one of the hotel’s suites which oozed elegance with its high ceilings and Victorian grandeur. The William Milner Suite was very spacious and had been tastefully furnished in shades of taupe. The room boasted a super-king size bed, Chesterfield sofa, large coffee table, dining/work table and a huge television above the marble fireplace.
The suite had double aspect windows overlooking the hotel’s carefully manicured gardens and in the distance the towers of York Minster could be seen. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate and biscuits were readily available with complimentary still and sparkling water chilled in the fridge.
The bathroom had a large walk in shower, and with Antipodes toiletries, large thick towels, fluffy bathrobes and slippers we had everything at hand for a relaxing stay.
The bedside tables offered good reading lights and there was a red, retro style telephone if needed to contact reception or further afield. The huge bed was so comfortable with its high thread count linen that we were both asleep in seconds after nestling our heads on the cloud like soft pillows.
Dining:
Dinner is served in Peachey’s Bar & Grill restaurant which is a nod to the hotel architect William Peachey, who also designed the adjacent railway station. The restaurant is a more recent addition to the hotel offering a different style of architecture to the rest of the hotel.
The dining area is furnished with banquette seating along the walls with matching chairs. Service was friendly and attentive and after ordering a bottle of wine we took our time to peruse the menu. For starters I opted for Cauliflower Velouté with truffled brie toast, parsley and hazelnut dressing. This was served piping hot just as I like it and had a smooth, silky texture and was very flavoursome. Across the table my husband selected the Southern Fried Chicken Bao Bun served with a sweet corn salsa. This looked extremely generous in size for a starter but Mr. C. informed me that the bao buns were light and it was very good.
Moving on to mains I dithered between ordering a rib eye steak or the braised short rib beef with horseradish mashed potato, carrots and parsnips, eventually settling on the latter which was very flavoursome with tender meat falling off the bone. My husband opted for the whole grilled lemon sole with Morecambe bay shrimps, which he reported as being cooked to perfection. Our waiter kindly let us know that my choice of main came with vegetables however the lemon sole didn’t so he ordered a side of sweet potato fries and French beans with shallots and garlic. There was a plentiful supply of green beans so we were both able to share these with our mains.
I’d glanced at the dessert menu earlier and had my eyes firmly set on the bread and butter pudding with vanilla custard but after two hearty courses I sadly couldn’t manage anything else. Mr. C. wasn’t deterred though and ordered the baked New York cheesecake accompanied with an orange and marmalade sorbet. We requested an extra spoon and I sampled a small amount and our joint verdict was delicious.
Breakfast:
Breakfast is also served in Peachey’s Restaurant and is buffet style with a good selection of fresh fruit, yoghurts, cheese and pastries. Cooked breakfasts comprised the usual bacon, sausages, fried or scrambled eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms and hash browns, and were very tasty.
There was no bacon available when I went to choose my selection but as soon as I asked one of the servers, a new supply was brought out straightaway. Hot drinks can either be served to the table or collected yourself. We started the day with our usual cappuccinos and americanos and these were of a good strength and to our liking.
Afternoon Tea:
Who doesn’t adore indulging in afternoon tea! This quintessential British tradition has enjoyed a revival over recent years and one of the main reasons for us to come over to York was to enjoy The Milner’s chocolate themed afternoon tea inspired by York’s rich history as the “chocolate city.” York was once home to the manufacturers of Rowntree’s and Terry’s and the city has a legacy spanning almost 300 years of chocolate production.
Afternoon Tea at the Milner is served in the delightful setting of the hotel’s Garden Room which is elegantly furnished with upholstered armchairs and sofas in shades of blue and grey. After being shown to a window table we were served glasses of Prosecco whilst awaiting the main event. Our afternoon tea soon arrived with sweet treats, scones, jam and cream on a traditional three tier cake stand whilst savoury items comprising dainty finger sandwiches and Wensleydale cheese and onion tartlets were served on a separate platter.
The sweet treats created by the hotel’s head chef reflect York’s chocolate heritage with delicacies of chocolate, orange, mint and strawberry. They were all beautifully presented and more importantly tasted delicious too. Service was unobtrusive but polite and we were able to request refills of our teapot whenever we wished. As the hotel is located next to the railway station we noticed that several people had arrived with their overnight bags to enjoy a decadent afternoon tea before catching a train back home. I can’t think of a better way to end a short break in York even for people staying elsewhere. If you are tempted, more details can be found here.
The Facilities:
The Milner is a large hotel with 155 rooms ranging in size from cosy doubles to Minster View suites. The corridors evoke days gone by with vintage travel trunks and Ordnance Survey maps of York. Outside several of the rooms, ours included are wall mounted replica keys of the types that were used to enter the city’s churches. The grand galleried staircase leading up from the entrance hallway is one of the most beautiful that I have ever seen, so lovely in fact that we preferred to use the stairs rather than the lift whilst staying there.
The Swollen Gambler
The hotel’s bar honours George Hudson, a wealthy York landowner and a Lord Mayor of the city. He was heavily involved in the railway industry and widely known for loving a drink and good food. The bar is located at the end of the hotel nearest to the station and is open to non-residents making it a very popular meeting place.
Leisure Centre
This is located in the basement and offers complimentary use for hotel guests. The facilities include a 13m pool, jacuzzi, steam room and a well equipped gym. There’s also a spa offering beauty treatments which can be pre-booked.
The hotel boasts 11 meeting and conference rooms that can be configured in a number of sizes. During our stay a wedding was taking place but as the hotel is so large this did not impact on the enjoyment of hotel guests whatsoever. Other facilities include room service, fast Wi-Fi and seating in the tranquil hotel gardens.
Out and About
The historic city of York offers many interesting attractions and activities. Below you will find my suggestions:
York Minster
York Minster, a magnificent Gothic cathedral located in the city centre. Enjoy viewing the stunning interior and the beautiful Rose Window. Separate tickets are required for the challenging but rewarding 275 step climb to the top of the tower. We found the spiral staircase to be quite easy and enjoyed panoramic views from the top as we were fortunate to visit on a clear day. York Minster
York Castle Museum
York Castle Museum showcases over 400 years of York’s past, allowing visitors to step back in time from the world renowned Victorian street Kirkgate through to prison cells and all the way through to the swinging sixties. It was my third visit to the museum and, as always I was excited to be returning as it is such an amazing museum. Allow between 2-3 hours to visit. York Castle Museum
Clifford’s Tower
Clifford’s Tower is the largest surviving part of York Castle which forms part of northern England’s greatest medieval fortress. The tower is accessed by a long flight of steps but it is well worth the effort of climbing up as inside the tower we were able to explore the interior and enjoy the panoramic views from the roof top. Information boards relate the history of the tower which are very interesting to read. Clifford’s Tower
The Jorvik Centre
This is one of York’s top attractions and as such a pre-booked ticket is required for entry. The tour starts with a below surface view of Viking Age York followed by a state of the art ride experience. This incorporates all the sights, sounds and smells of a Viking village and transported us back to Jorvik over 1,000 years ago. I consider a visit to the Jorvik Centre to be an absolute must for first time visitors to York as its fun for all the family. Jorvik Centre
The Merchant Adventurer’s Hall
This was my first visit to the Merchant Adventurer’s Hall and it was fabulous. Taking a self guided tour we were able to explore one of the finest medieval guildhalls which was home to York’s merchants for 660 years. With stunning architecture set beneath a 14th century oak roof the Merchant Adventurer’s Hall is beautiful and with its cafe and outdoor terrace, a delightful place to visit in the centre of York as it’s located a stones throw from the Jorvik Centre. Merchant Adventurer’s Hall
Learn about York’s connection with chocolate at York Chocolate Story
We took part in a 90 minute tour and chocolate making activity at York’s Chocolate Story. This is an interactive attraction in King’s Square, close to The Shambles where we learnt about the history of chocolate and sweet making in York whilst sampling KitKat’s, Quality Street and Craven humbugs along the way. The tour was highly informative and followed by chocolate lollipop and truffle rolling activities. These were very messy but great fun and the best part was that we had lots of chocolate to take away with us. A fun activity and highly recommended. York’s Chocolate Story
National Railway Museum
Doesn’t everyone love a steam train – we certainly do and as the National Railway Museum is located close to the Milner Hotel we could walk there within a few minutes. It’s free to visit the museum which is open from 10.00 am until 6.00 pm. Start with a tour of the Great Hall, a former Engine Shed and one of nine in York. Built in 1872, the shed was used for working engines until 1967 and to store out of use steam locomotives from 1968 when diesel and electric locomotives were introduced. The Hall came into use again when the National Rail Museum opened in 1975 housing its collection of locomotives. There’s much more to see including a Japanese Bullet train and Mallard, the holder of the world speed record for a steam train, along with lots of interesting railway memorabilia. The museum is currently only partially open but a full re-opening is planned for late September 2025. National Railway Museum
Take a leisurely boat trip along the River Ouse
We spent a very enjoyable & relaxing 45 minutes on the pleasure boat trip through the city centre cruise in York. As it was a sunny Spring morning we sat out on the upper deck and enjoyed taking in the local landmarks from the perspective of the water. The boat trip is accompanied by a live commentary which was filled with local information. Refreshments are available for purchase on the main deck if required but we just enjoyed a relaxing cruise in the morning sunshine. City Cruises York
Enjoy a walk along the city walls
No visit to York is complete without a stroll along at least a short section of the medieval walls that have protected York for nearly 2,000 years. The walls are free to walk along with numerous access points along the perimeter offering walks of differing lengths.
Overall:
The Milner Hotel has been tastefully refurbished to meet the needs of today’s discerning traveller whilst celebrating the history of an iconic railway hotel. With its enviable position next to the station and within a ten minute walk of York Minster it takes some beating. Gorgeous rooms, good food, well trained staff and reasonable prices all add up to great stay from me.
Details: The Milner Hotel, Station Road, York, YO24 1AA
We were guests of The Milner Hotel and Visit York and, as always all views and opinions are entirely my own.
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