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

York, England
$511 avg/night
Bed 4

Bed

Bath 2

Bath

Home Private Vacation Home

Property Type

Sleep 8

Max Sleeps

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 andour 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!

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  • Feature Features
  • Map Map
  • School District Rates & Availability
  • Review Review

Feature Features

  • PETS

    1 Total (up To 50 Lbs Per Pet) Pet Friendly Welcoming Dogs Only
  • SAFETY

    Carbon Monoxide Detector Installed (host Has Indicated There Is A Carbon Monoxide Detector On The Property) Deadbolt Lock Fire Extinguisher First Aid Kit Smoke Detector Installed (host Has Indicated There Is A Smoke Detector On The Property)
  • BEDROOM

    4 Bedrooms Bed Sheets Provided
  • KITCHEN

    Cookware/dishes/utensils Dishwasher Electric Kettle Microwave Oven Refrigerator Spices Stovetop Toaster
  • LAUNDRY

    Laundry Facilities Near Laundromat Washing Machine And Dryer
  • PARKING

    Car Not Required Onsite Parking
  • INTERNET

    WiFi Available
  • OUTDOORS

    Barbecue Grill Garden
  • BATHROOMS

    2 Bathrooms Hair Dryer Soap Toilet Paper Towels Provided
  • LANGS SPOKEN

    English
  • THINGS TO DO

    Cycling Nearby Fitness Facilities Nearby Golf Nearby Hiking Nearby Hiking/biking Trails Nearby Mountain Biking Nearby Swimming Nearby
  • ENTERTAINMENT

    Books Games TV With Cable/satellite Service
  • LIVING SPACES

    Fireplace Living Room
  • CLIMATE CONTROL

    Heating
  • FAMILY FRIENDLY

    Highchair
  • LOCATION HIGHLIGHTS

    In The City Center Near A Hospital Near Outlet Shopping
  • SERVICES AND CONVENIENCES

    Iron/ironing Board Phone
  • SUITABILITY/ACCESSIBILITY

    Smoke-free Property

CheckIn Check-in : 03:30 PM CheckOut Check-out : 11:00 AM
No Wheelchair No smoking No pets Children allowed
Occupancy Max occupancy : 8

Map Map

School District Rates & Availability

Review Review

  • Linda H.

    Submitted Oct 15, 2025

    Stayed Oct 4, 2025

    We loved the location next to York Minster. The bells on Sunday morning were so beautiful, they drew us to attend the Sunday morning service. Fabulous pubs and shops were just around the corner. Yet very quiet at night. Could not have asked for a better location. The age of the house was in keeping with the age of the city! Loved it!

  • Casey L.

    Submitted May 28, 2025

    Stayed May 20, 2025

    We loved staying here! The house is comfortable and the location is very central so getting around was easy. The host was extremely responsive and knowledgeable. Would certainly stay here again!

  • George S.

    Submitted Dec 20, 2024

    Stayed Dec 13, 2024

    The location is fabulous.

  • Patricia H.

    Submitted Nov 6, 2024

    Stayed Oct 12, 2024

    Well what can i say the house is just perfect just beutifull a joy to stay in Great location for everything

  • Sandra C.

    Submitted Sep 24, 2024

    Stayed Sep 17, 2024

    This 300 year old row house is within 2 minutes of the Munster and 8 minutes of anywhere in York. Well appointed with French coffee press so breakfast was wonderful

  • Linda S.

    Submitted Jul 26, 2024

    Stayed Jul 10, 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.

  • Melanie K.

    Submitted Jul 5, 2024

    Stayed Jul 1, 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!

  • Jean S.

    Submitted Jun 17, 2024

    Stayed Jun 10, 2024

    Perfect location, great layout, just amazing hosts!

  • Toni C.

    Submitted Aug 29, 2023

    Stayed Aug 25, 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.

  • Geoff H.

    Submitted Mar 1, 2023

    Stayed Feb 18, 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.

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Total

Includes taxes and fees
$511+
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