York & Albany

Rooms

With only 9 bedrooms, York & Albany has an intimate feel, and we loved the original features, including wonky floorboards and an elegant stairwell. You'll find antique furniture and period prints on the walls, but rooms have all the mod cons too, including digital radios, Sky TVs, and fluffy robes and slippers. Bathrooms have a mix of tubs and showers, plus revitalising toiletries by British brand Green & Spring, and you get fresh fruit and mineral water on a side table. You need to call reception if you want fresh milk for your tea or coffee, but there are plenty of capsules for the machine.

The smallest are the Classic Rooms; Superiors are bigger and more luxurious. Deluxe Rooms are vast with super-kingsize beds or twin beds, and there's a Suite, designed by Russell Sage.

We stayed in Deluxe 7: a plum-toned room, which had a fabulous shower room with underfloor heating, but the water pressure was annoyingly erratic during our stay. We also found the towel rail curiously small given the heap of fluffy towels provided. However, we loved the squishy leather armchair and grand wardrobe that provided plenty of space for our stuff. Big windows overlooking the park kept the room light, but excellent black-out blinds ensured a good night’s sleep in the super-comfy beds.

For light sleepers, we’d recommend a side room, such as Deluxe 2 or Classic 9 or 10; there’s less traffic noise. When we revisited in 2017, we stayed in light and bright room 2, which has two huge windows and a slipper bath in the ensuite.

Deluxe 5 has a fancy four-poster bed, and the Suite feels even more special as it has a private entrance and is enormous, with park views from the bed and dining table; you really have to have room service if you stay here! There was a huge desk for workaholics and a plush sofa to cosy up on and watch DVDs (reception has a collection). Best of all is the bathroom, which had a glass ceiling so you'd feel like you were showering under the stars.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• WiFi

Eating

Rather than fine dining and Michelin-starred presentation, the Y&A shows Ramsay taking a more low-key and relaxed approach. This is good, honest food, presented simply and served with aplomb. It's a mixed bag and, alongside bistro classics such as steak and béarnaise sauce, you’ll find wood-fired pizzas and a house burger.

When we revisited in 2017, we enjoyed some delightfully spicy salt-and-pepper squid with sweet chilli dipping sauce while we browsed the menu. Delicious mains of melt-in-the-mouth harissa roast lamb with summer ratatouille and a classic plate of fish and chips with mushy peas followed. Our waiter made some excellent wine suggestions to accompany each course. Our dream dessert came in the form of a tasting platter - we were almost beaten by it, but we couldn’t resist finishing off the rich chocolate nemesis.

The clientele covered a broad range, from young couples to small groups and families with young children (and a dog!). There was a relaxed and buzzy ambiance, and plenty of staff to keep things flowing smoothly. We rounded off our meal with an espresso martini. Note that the team do everything they can to accommodate hotel guests in the restaurant, but it's advisable to book in advance, just in case.

If, after a long day, you’d prefer something casual, opt for room service or order a takeout from York & Albany Pizza. During the summer, picnic hampers can be arranged for sunny days in Regent's Park.

Hot and cold breakfast options include Eggs Benedict or Florentine, the classic full English, and traditional porridge with honey. Everything we ate was very good, but our standout was the granola with yoghurt and fruit compote.

If you’re staying a few nights, you might want to explore other local dining options. The team at Y&A can make recommendations, and hotel guests get priority booking at all Gordon Ramsay restaurants.

Features include:

• Children's meals
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Make the most of your proximity to London’s largest park - Henry VIII claimed Regent's Park for use as a hunting ground but the only animals you’ll find today are being nurtured at London Zoo. In summer catch an open-air show at the theatre; the Shakespeare plays are fantastic
  
  
• Camden is well known for its music scene and you can see fantastic live acts and eclectic line-ups at Koko, Dingwalls, The Electric Ballroom and the Jazz Café
  
  
• The market at Camden Lock is also world famous. Just remember that on Sundays it gets so busy they close the Tube station for a few hours during the middle of the day. Search amongst the stalls for vintage clothing, music and art
  
  
• The Jewish Museum reopened in a former piano factory in Camden in 2010. With regular exhibitions and events, it aims to offer a social history of Jewish people in London
  
  
• Jump on the Tube and head to Old Street, from where you can walk to Brick Lane and Columbia Road, home to London’s weekly flower market (Sunday). Nearby, Spitalfields Market has a wide variety of cool shops and enticing restaurants and cafés

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Nightlife
• Shopping / markets
• Wildlife

Kids

The hotel is geared towards adults but children are welcome - they provide colouring kits in the restaurant and kids’ toiletries for mini overnight guests. There's heaps for families nearby from gaping at the latest fashion trends in Camden to visiting London Zoo.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Some rooms, though not interconnecting, have a main entrance that can be locked and then separate doors to the actual rooms themselves, so they're good for families. All rooms except Classics can fit a rollaway bed (for 2-12 year olds) or have space for a travel cot.

Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 45 minutes
• Hospital: 10 minutes
• Shops: 1 minute

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

York & Albany is in Camden, north London. It's a 10-minute walk from Camden Town and Mornington Tube stations (both on the Northern Line).

By Air
London Heathrow or London Gatwick are the closest airports, served by all the major scheduled airlines. Some budget airlines land at London Luton or London Stansted; there are also some flights to London City. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving all these airports.

From the Airport
Taxis to York & Albany cost approximately £40/63 from London Heathrow or London Gatwick respectively in 2012, or you can take public transport (see below).

By Train
Rail services to London from elsewhere in the UK arrive at Paddington, Marylebone, King’s Cross, St Pancras, Euston, Waterloo, Liverpool Street or Victoria stations, all of which are an easy Tube ride from Camden Town. International Eurostar trains from Paris, Lille and Brussels arrive at St Pancras station.

From Heathrow airport you can take the fast Heathrow Express rail service or the slightly slower Heathrow Connect service to Paddington. The Gatwick Express service travels from Gatwick airport to Victoria in 30 minutes, and the Stansted Express takes 45-60 minutes to reach Liverpool Street station. There's a Docklands Light Rail (DLR) service from London City airport to Bank, where you can connect with the Tube network.

By Coach
Coach services from all the above airports and elsewhere in the UK arrive at London Victoria. These are often much cheaper - but considerably slower - than the train.

By Car
Driving around London can be stressful so most people rely on public transport. However, if you want to hire a car see our car rental recommendations. There is an NCP car park close by.

Getting Around:
Buses and Tube lines serve all areas of central London. For the cheapest fares buy a pre-paid Oyster card, which is valid on all bus and Tube services, as well as overground trains in the London area.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

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