Setting the scene: opened in December, this smart converted Georgian townhouse is only a few minutes’ walk from York train station.

First impressions: a bright hallway and elegantly formal dining room downstairs belie the exotically decorated rooms upstairs.

Why it’s special: billed as York’s first boutique B&B, it combines the attention to detail and luxury of a design hotel with the welcoming cheerfulness of a B&B.

Hitting the sack: the five bedrooms, complete with DVD players and widescreen TVs, feature either huge Indonesian four-posters or antique French beds, all with Egyptian linen. The large bathrooms have monsoon showers and deep baths. Teak wardrobes, window shutters, and potted palms complete the French colonial atmosphere.

Sampling the fare: enjoy breakfast in bed with breakfast hampers stuffed with champagne, juice, fruits, bacon quiche, brioche, warm croissants and waffles. One3Two recommends several restaurants for lunch and dinner in the city with special offers for guests.

Added attractions: the historic walled city is only a five-minute walk away, with York racecourse also very close by.

Access all areas: the stairs make wheelchair access difficult.

What we think: this is not just another B&B hotel; it’s more like a bijou Raffles deep in the heart of Yorkshire.

Bottom line: double rooms B&B from £95-£130.

Need to know: One3Two (01904 600060), 132 The Mount, York.

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