The Old Hotel, York

The Old Hotel is a set of modern self-contained apartments on the northern edge of York, and it is one of those places where bringing a dog clearly was not an afterthought. Owners arriving with a dog routinely find a bed, a bowl, a blanket and a bag of treats already waiting, and that welcome comes up again and again rather than reading as a one-off gesture.

The self-catering format helps. Each apartment is private, so there are no shared corridors or lifts to negotiate with a nervous dog, and there is a patio for letting one out first thing without committing to a full walk. Guests consistently describe the apartments as spacious, modern and spotless, with enough room for a dog bed to sit somewhere sensible rather than in a doorway. Off-road parking is included, which matters in this part of York.

The location suits a dog-led trip. The apartments sit in Clifton, roughly a twenty-minute walk from the centre, with a riverside route into town that gives you a proper walk at either end of the day. There is a pub next door, a convenience store opposite, and a butcher and greengrocer within a hundred metres, so a day built around walks rather than restaurant bookings is easy to arrange.

Two things are worth knowing before booking. Rooms facing the road can be noisy at night, and light sleepers have said so, so ask about a quieter aspect if that matters. Sound also carries between floors, which may unsettle a dog that reacts to footsteps overhead. Storage is minimal too, a few hooks and cubes rather than wardrobes, which is fine for a couple of nights and tight for a week.

For a short break in York with a dog, where you want your own front door, a patio and a walk into town along the river, this is a strong choice, and it earns a 4.6/5 paw rating.