Outstanding historic townhouse in city centre next to York Minster (sleeps 2-8)

Exterior
Dining
Outdoor dining
Point of interest
TV, fireplace, books
4.9
Outstanding(24 Reviews)

House in York

8 guests · 4 bedrooms · 2 baths

Reasons to book

Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Free cancellationFull refund if you change your mind
Great for petsBring all your friends and family, even the furry ones

About this house rental

Awards to date:
1. 5 star gold award by Visit England.
2. Nothing less than 5 star reviews on tripadvisor.
3. Selected by Sawday's as a 'Special Place'.

No. 2 Precentor's Court is relatively new to the holiday market (April 2014) and has only just been listed with Owners Direct (September 2015).

It is suitable for families and mixed groups of friends. Please be aware that Precentor's Court is in a sacred and quiet part of the city, and out of respect for the Church and our neighbours, we do not accept bookings from single sex parties. Thank you.

The property is a 4 bedroom townhouse, with a courtyard garden; it can accommodate up to 8 guests. The rental comprises of the entire house, thereby offering privacy and space, and is arguably the best located holiday property in York.

A comprehensive refurbishment of the entire house has just been completed, and care was taken to retain the original features, many of which date back nearly 300 years. This sympathetic restoration, when coupled with an eclectic mix of high quality antique and contemporary furnishings, has resulted in an elegant yet relaxed and comfortable residence, recently featured (July 2014) in '25 Beautiful Homes' magazine.

Location, location, location: Placed at the entrance to Precentor's Court, this hidden gem occupies a unique and enviable position in the heart of York, just yards from the 800 year old Gothic cathedral that is York Minster. Not only is the property ideally placed for exploring and enjoying the wonderful city of York, together with the beautiful county of Yorkshire*, but it is also a superb base for exploring the rest of Britain. York’s famously curved Victorian railway station is just a few minutes walk away with connections all over the country including London and Edinburgh in just under two hours.

Accommodation: Living accommodation is arranged over 3 floors. The house is centrally heated with fully adjustable cast iron column radiators in every room. At the back is a courtyard garden offering private outdoor space in the heart of the city, whilst to the front it is just a few steps to the Dean's garden - a great place for a picnic. WiFi broadband is available throughout the house.

Ground Floor: Lounge - plenty of comfortable seating and a high definition TV with Netflix.
Kitchen / Pantry / Diner - modern kitchen meets vintage dining area.
Tiled Hallway - a tiled hallway with an array of coat hooks and a tourist information cupboard.

The Knowledge: On a lectern in the dining area is a large red book entitled 'The Knowledge'. Compiled by the owners, to ensure that their guests have the best experience, it is a constantly updated distillation of the best in and around York - including restaurants, pubs, shopping, sights, entertainment and excursions. Invaluable!

The Bedrooms: All bedrooms have wonderful views of the Minster and adjacent Dean's garden. All are equipped with - hairdryers, towels, mirrors, luggage racks, and bed-side tables and lights. All bedding and linen is high quality cotton.

Middle floor: Bedroom (1) - original fireplace, large king-sized double bed and walk-in wardrobe, furnishings include antique secretaire, antique George III chairs , gilded trumpet candelabra.
House Bathroom - bath, shower, hand-basin, toilet, and heated towel rail.
Bedroom (2) - very similar to bedroom 1. but with a free-standing wardrobe and dresser.

Top Floor: Bedroom (3) - in the eaves of the house, original fireplace, a double bed, rare walnut knee-hole dresser with shield mirror.
Second Bathroom - small but perfectly formed wet-room with an electric shower, toilet and hand-basin.
Bedroom (4) - single wooden sleigh bed, folding single bed (will be made up on those occasions when there is a full compliment of 8 guests), walk in wardrobe with cupboard to stow luggage.

Cellar: Laundry facility - washer, dryer, ironing.

Boring but important. Safety: The safety of all our guests is of paramount importance to us and whilst we ensure that the house is a safe as is reasonably possible, it is not 'toddler-proof', and we caution parents against bringing very young children (below the age of 4) who would need constant supervision on the stairs and in the kitchen.
The Elderly: There are 2 sets of winding wooden stairs to reach the upper floors which might prove difficult for the elderly and infirm (and hazardous for the very young).

Parking: For those guests arriving by car there is a free car-parking space for one vehicle, 5 minutes walk from the house. Additional spaces are available in the York City Council car parks which are also close by. Further information on parking and directions will be given in our 'Welcome Package'. It is possible to load and unload directly outside the house before parking up.

Single sex stag/hen parties: Standing in the precincts of York Minster, Precentor's Court is in a quiet and residential part of the city. Out of respect to both the Church, and our other neighbours (many of whom have young children), we will not accept bookings from stag/hen parties. Sorry.

*Yorkshire came third in Lonely Planet's 2014 top ten world destinations!

Amenities

Pets allowed
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Fireplace
Parking
Laundry
Dishwasher
TV
Garden
Family friendly

Map of York

Reviews

4.9
Outstanding(24 Reviews)
4.9
Jul 2024
This property is in the perfect location to explore all of York on foot. Jane & Stephen were such thoughtful hosts and made us feel welcome in this cozy home. All we had to do was enjoy everything York has to offer, all within walking distance. We were so comfortable in this home and if we are fortunate to return to York, we would definitely stay here again.
4.9
Jul 2024
It is hard to put into words how much we enjoyed our stay and how it defied our every expectation! The house is not only absolutely beautiful, but even the smallest details have been attended to. Jane and Steve quite literally thought of everything from tea and coffee, to fresh milk in the fridge, to welcome and delicious goodies for the family. We are a large family and had more than enough room to spread out and comfortably sleep. Large, well appointed bedrooms, and multiple bathrooms were wonderful! We honestly didn’t want to leave! When you open the door and step outside, the Minster is immediately on the right and couldn’t be any closer. Truly, a dream holiday and location in every sense of the word and we absolutely plan on coming back!
4.9
Jun 2024
Perfect location, great layout, just amazing hosts!
4.9
Aug 2023
A fabulous stay in a very quirky, perfectly positioned period property in the heart of York. Our hosts provided everything we needed and their timely updates with the necessary information made for a smooth arrival and departure.
4.9
Mar 2023
It was quite special to be able to stay so close the the Minster with a short walk to York's many places to eat, drink, visit and shop. You don't have to be devout to enjoy the wonderful choral and organ music at Evensong in such an atmospheric building even more so when at one service, we heard the choir sing Allegri's Miserere. The house is very well equipped, comfortable and a delight to stay in.
4.9
Nov 2021
5 stars all round
5 stars all round
Excellent location, excellent facilities
4.9
Nov 2021
Wonderful wedding trip!
Wonderful wedding trip!
We had the most amazing time staying in this beautiful house for our wedding! It was incredibly comfortable, very well equipped and the location simply couldn’t be better! Jane was fantastic - communicated brilliantly all the way through (answering all my annoying bride questions) and couldn’t have been kinder. Parking is very straightforward, too. Highly, highly recommend!
4.9
Jun 2021
We had a wonderful week staying in this period house. It’s location right next to the Minster and in the heart of York is unbeatable. The secure car parking nearby was excellent, and a bonus for us was the bank of EV chargers in the main car park. The house is very well equipped, clean and comfortable. The two bathrooms are hotel quality and there is a quirky outside loo. Bed linen and towels were all high quality. Due to the age of the house, some floors are uneven and doorways low - my son bumped his head a few times. WiFi is very slow and the smart TV can struggle to connect to Netflix. The house has lots of room and easily coped with six adults. The owners are great. We emailed them to report a small leak and it was fixed by a plumber within two hours. They also left us a cake and cookies from Betty’s. Overall, this is one of the best holiday rentals we’ve had in the UK. The lovely and historic house together with the brilliant location nailed it for us. Recommended.

FAQs

How much does this house cost compared to others in York?

The average price for a rental in York is $231 per night. This rental is $414 above the average.

Is parking included with this house?

Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Outstanding historic townhouse in city centre next to York Minster (sleeps 2-8). For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.

Is there a pool at this house?

We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this house. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.

Is Outstanding historic townhouse in city centre next to York Minster (sleeps 2-8) pet friendly?

Yes! This house is pet-friendly. For more information, we recommend contacting the booking provider about animal policies.

What amenities are available at Outstanding historic townhouse in city centre next to York Minster (sleeps 2-8)?

We found 10 amenities for this rental. This includes pets allowed, kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, fireplace, and parking.

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