Whilst we were in York last weekend, we stayed in a local Hilton Hotel. Situated within the city walls but around a 5-10 minute walk from the city centre, Hampton by Hilton, York was the perfect location for the weekend.
We’ve never stayed in a Hilton hotel, therefore we didn’t really know what to expect, but we were really excited based on the reviews we’d read prior to booking.
Regardless of how long we’re staying somewhere, it’s important to us that we choose the right hotel. At the end of the day, if we’re going to be travelling some 280 miles we want somewhere with decent beds and good food.
Being a budget version of the main Hilton brand, we assumed Hampton by Hilton, York would be ‘nice’ and within the bracket of ‘basic’, however we were pleasantly surprised!
First impressions
Getting to York by 1:15pm and arriving at our hotel by 1:30pm, we were a little early for check-in, which was at 3:00pm. From the moment we entered, however, the hotel staff were welcoming and friendly, and couldn’t do more to help us. As you enter the hotel from the street, you’re welcomed by a modern and fresh reception area with plants and plenty of seating. We later realised how busy the hotel gets, meaning the seats come in super handy!
Our room was just being finished, so they offered to take our bag to allow us to explore the city whilst we waited. Perfect! They even gave us a map and offered plenty of local knowledge. Even better! The hotel is situated just behind the main road into the centre, meaning it’s quiet at night but close enough to walk into the city.
Our room
For our stay, we chose one of their queen rooms with an additional sofa bed. Whilst this is what is offered when selecting a family group, the hotel also offers connecting rooms for those with older children or parents wanting a bit more privacy (these are limited, though!).
Other features include:
- 32-inch LCD HD TV
- Digital TV
- Hairdryer
- Iron with ironing board
- Desk with ergonomic chair
- Internet access via both Wi-Fi and ethernet
- Kettle with complimentary hot drinks
For us, the room was generous in size and comfortably housed us when we were all getting showered and dressed in the morning, for example. There was also plenty of storage options, ranging from several drawers to closet space. It also had plenty of room for T to play or watch television during some down time.
One of the features I appreciated the most was that it had plenty of both natural and artificial lighting (as well as some amazing views across the city!). At night their blinds and curtains made the room extra dark (another must for me).
Towels and bedding are included within your stay as well as bathroom accessories.
To save on environmental waste, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner are housed in tidy dispensers within the walk-in shower area.
The bathroom itself is also as roomy as the main bedroom are, with plenty of storage and space to store things. A feature I liked was a glass, sliding door that acted as both a closet door and bathroom door.
Located at the hotel is also a fitness centre, space for businesses (including meeting rooms), as well as a restaurant and bar area. There’s also the option to park at the hotel.
During our stay we weren’t able to check out the fitness centre or bar area due to limited time, but we were able to check out the restaurant area during breakfast, which (in my opinion) was the highlight of our stay!
Breakfast
Breakfast is probably my favourite part of a hotel stay and can really make or break a stay. As mentioned previously, I didn’t know what to expect at Hampton by Hilton, but within a few seconds of walking into the restaurant I was more than surprised by what was on offer.
As well as what you would usually expect from a hotel breakfast, ranging from a full English (eggs, sausages, bacon, mushrooms, etc etc) to toast and pastries, Hampton by Hilton also offer a wide range of cereals, fruits, yogurt, crumpets and bagels, and – my personal favourite – waffles. You heard me. Located within the centre of the breakfast area are two large waffle irons, a batter dispenser and lots of options for toppings (as expected, T went with honey and sprinkles).
If you have any dietary requirements, Hampton by Hilton also have you covered.
Dotted throughout the breakfast area are signs detailing how you can make your breakfast gluten and/or dairy free, ranging from cartons of soya milk in the fridge to gluten free breads.
Although our stay was short, Hampton by Hilton made it extra special and we can’t wait to book again. Both beds were comfortable, resulting in a great night’s sleep. Staff were friendly, and the food was perfect, setting us up properly for a morning of exploring. The location couldn’t have been better – they even gave us blue skies during our stay (not always included!).
As a family we felt safe, and as an LGBTQ+ family we felt incredibly welcome. We simply cannot fault our stay.
Thank you Hampton by Hilton, York – until next time!
Disclosure: We were given a press discount as part of our stay, however all thoughts, opinions and images are our own.
