Chelmsford Place

The quiet creak of a Victorian townhouse staircase and the soft click of a latch — this is city-centre York at its most restful, tucked away from the tourist throng but close enough to walk to the Minster in ten minutes.

Chelmsford Place offers both traditional guest house rooms and a camping pod in the garden, so you can choose between a proper bed and breakfast or a snugger, more outdoorsy night under the stars without leaving the city altogether. It suits couples doing a weekend break, walkers tackling the Yorkshire Wolds or Moors who want a York base, or anyone who fancies the romance of pod camping but needs hot showers and a cooked breakfast within arm's reach. Dogs may be welcome — worth asking when you book.

Facilities aren't detailed, so do check what's included with your stay. Campfires are a question for arrival — likely limited given the urban setting. Open all year, it's a practical, quirky hybrid for those who want York's history and a hint of camping charm rolled into one.