About Us
There are currenly circa 129 independent reviews about The Acer Guest House on TripAdvisor. Take a look, click on www.TripAdvisor.co.uk, the reviews are glowing and extremely complimentary.
This multi award winning, 4 star B&B with free parking is run by proprietor Karen Allen. Karen, who has over 27 years experience of working in the hospitality industry, offers professional, unobtusive, friendly service in a relaxed and comfortable environment.
Stay with Karen in the peace and quiet of a residential street, only minutes walk from the hustle and bustle of the city with it's many excellent bars, pubs and restaurants. Book a table at Melton's www.meltonsrestaurant.co.uk, one of York's top fine dining restaurants, and stroll a few blocks home to The Acer guest house afterwards. Alternatively try dinner in the bistro at the stylish, boutique Hotel Du Vin www.hotelduvin.com (look out for their excellent special offers in their bar and Bistro) and be back at The Acer B&B in a matter of moments. Should Italian be your food of choice go to one of Karen's favourites Delrio's; it's well worth braving the trip down into the basement!
The Racecourse Grandstand is only 10 minutes walk from the B&B.
"INSIDER TIPS" week commencing August 30th.
- The school holidays end this week, York quietens down and the sun is shining (the weather forecast is good for the whole week). All you child free travellers take advantage and pay us a visit.
- 4th September - Organ Recital at 7pm in the Minster.
- September 4th and 5th - Windmill restoration open days at Holgate windmill.
- 4th to 30th September you can join the gardeners at Harlow Carr to listen to the trees!
- Book your tickets fo The Jorvik Viking Museum on line and avoid the queues. Only buy the joint ticket for the sister museum DIG if your children are with you and they are of primary school age.
- Walk in the footsteps of the Vikings every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 6pm. Take the children to join author S.P. Grey ("The Last Vikings" and "The Return of Sigurd the Dragon Slayer") to find out all about our Viking history. click on www.yorkvikingwalk.com or take your Acer key fob along for a 50% discount.
- York Dungeon - Buy your ticket from the Tourist Information Centre and save £5 per adult. In addition, if you buy it for entry after 3pm it saves you £9 per adult ticket! New for this year? Burning witches at the stake...gruesome.
- The best cappuccino in York? The Cafe at the Art Gallery. You can always get a seat www.yorkartgallery.org.uk. Sit outside by the fountain when it's sunny.
- Overseas Visitors - York lies between London (5 hours drive) and Edinburgh (4 hours drive). Although it undoubtedly is, you will find it rewarding not to treat York as just a convenient overnight stop when travelling between the two cities. There is plenty to see and do in York. Try to spend more time here than simply turning up one evening only to leave again before lunch the next day. You will always regret it if you only pay us a flying visit! (By train York is 2 hours from King's Cross, London and 2.5 hours from Edinburgh. The Acer is a 15 minute walk or a 3 minute cab ride from the station).
- York Railway Station has a Left Luggage facility for £4 a bag.
- Avoid the stag and hen parties on a weekend and Bank Holiday Sundays. (Many B&B proprietors, including Karen, will not accept reservations from these groups. Check when you book.)
- Unless you are a horse racing fan avoid York during the race meetings. Check for more information by clicking on www.yorkracecourse.co.uk. Having said that the next meeting is child friendly, meet Peppa Pig, on Sunday September 5th. (This one is not so full of drunks wearing their hats askew and walking in bare feet whilst they carry their 6" heels).
- If you are coming to York by car check that the accommodation you select has parking; then ask if it's free or if there is a charge (it could be as much as £25 for 24 hours). It's free here at The Acer Guest House.
- Gym - want to work out while staying in York? We have free passes for the gym Karen uses, Emperor's. It's only 10 minutes walk, 4 minutes jog, from The Acer B&B.
- Hidden gem for lunch? The cafe at the City Screen Cinema, overlooking the river (order the chips and aoli). www.picturehouses.co.uk
- Best ice cream? Licc on Swinegate.
- Chocoholic? - Get yourself to Hotel Chocolat on Coney Street (look out for the half price bargains). www.hotelchocolat.co.uk
- Vegetarians - a visit to The Blake Head Bookshop Cafe on Micklegate is a must. www.theblakehead.co.uk
- Fantastic lingerie - at Kathryn Rolfe on Micklegate. Ladies get Kathryn to fit you with underwear. As the mangager of the Rigby and Peller shop in Knightsbridge Kathryn fitted both royalty and a host of top line celebrities. Properly fitted swimwear, sports bras, corsets and amazing nightdresses! www.kathrynrolfe.co.uk
- My "tip" for resraurants in the U.K.: Don't pay the service charge added to the bill in restaurants. If you want to leave a gratuity that you are sure is going to the staff leave it in cash. Simply ask for the service charge to be removed from the bill and it will be (it's the law).
- When looking at internet hotel review sites be aware that the owners of those sites (e.g. Thomas Cook, Expedia etc) are all making money somehow from the site. Read the reviews rather than relying on ranking or rating. Have your pinch of salt to hand!
- All accommodation providers, ourselves included, very much appreciate it if you book with them direct rather than through an internet site. Send us an e mail here to the b and b or,better still, pick up the phone and have a chat with Karen (01904 6538390).
- The most incredible setting for a tea shop in York? Grays Court, Chapter House Street, York YO1 7JH. www.grayscourtyork.com This historic house was owned by Jane Seymour's brother and King James 1st had his dinner here. One entrance is behind the Treasurer's House, the other straight down from the city walls and across their beautiful garden. It is a well kept secret which means that I can always get a good squashy sofa seat so please, don't shout about it. (Smoking prohibited even in the garden.)
- York(shire) Passes. Before you decide to purchase your York or Yorkshire Pass check that you really have enough time to get your money's worth. If you end up trying to do more than 2 museums/attractions per day to get value for money you may well end up footsore and exhausted.
- Our list of "must see" in York, in order starting with my favourites...The Minster; The Castle Museum; The National Railway Museum and, if you are 9 years old, The Jorvik. Tea at Betty's. Ghost walk on an evening. In good weather walk the city walls.
- The second rank of places to visit, if you have more time... The Treasurer's House; Fairfax House (for Regency and clock fans); The York Dungeons (for those who like being scared witless and who don't mind blood and gore); a boat trip.