TAKE ME WITH YOU…
No.1 Guesthouse York is a 38-bedroom grade II listed Regency townhouse in the heart of the city. Staying overnight and arriving by car? Park in the private car park (pre-booking required) and enter the property though the Virginia creeper-dressed doorway. Inside you’ll find characterful charm – all tall ceilings and a grand staircase – paired with a playful design. Collections of curiosities and art can be found throughout the whole hotel, making it a real feast for the eyes.
SHALL WE SPA?
You’ll find the spa treatment rooms on the lower ground floor; sweep down the staircase lined with Shepherd’s crooks - or access the space directly from the private car park. We were invited to take a seat in the Spa Lounge to wait for our treatments. Help yourself to a glass of lemon water before sinking into one of the neutral upholstered chairs or – if you are a duo - on back-to-back sofas. We admired the Boho-woven seagrass wall displays and hanging local lavender. Book worms can choose a table in the corner – with its small lamps – and select a coffee table book from a collection stacked on a dark-wooden dresser.
A door from here leads to a corridor lined with lanterns and flat caps. Doors from here lead to three loos equipped with Wildsmith hand wash and lotion.
There’s no pool or thermal facilities here but five individual treatment rooms and a couples’ treatment rooms. The Spa at No.1 by Guesthouse York offers facials, massages and holistic rituals from Tea & Tonic, Pinks Boutique and Proverb.
TREATMENT TALK
We enjoyed Time Together (60 minutes, £230 for two).
Our therapists, Sophie and Neola, led us down an attractive corridor of exposed brickwork, dim wall lighting and a natural woven carpet runner softening a tiled floor. The copper watering can display at the end caught our eye. Once a World War II bunker, the couples’ treatment room is now a beautiful, calming space in neutral hues and more of that naked brickwork.
After discussing information on our medical forms, our therapists explained the treatment – a back, neck and shoulder massage followed by a bespoke facial – and left the room so we could get comfortable on side-by-side beds, lying face down.
Neola began the treatment by asking me to take three deep breaths of Pinks Boutique wild peppermint & eucalyptus oil – an uplifting scent designed to promote deep breathing and stimulate tired, aching muscles. For the back massage, Neola used long, slow firm strokes before adopting a range of techniques to stretch, release and realign my muscles, focusing on easing the tension out of my shoulders.
Neola then asked me to turn over for the facial which began with Pinks Boutique deep cleansing melt. This was followed with a bamboo & oatmeal facial polish to remove any city-living impurities. Skin now squeaky clean, Neola used a lemongrass and mandarin oil (which smelt divine) for a facial massage to help rebalance my oily skin. She then moved my head around to release the tension in my neck.
Next up: a face mask; while this worked, Neola performed a heavenly scalp massage. Mask removed, Neola completed this epic treatment with a splash of toner, a good dollop of moisturiser, dots of eye cream, a slick of lip balm and a spritz in the air. Voila.
Once dressed, Sophie and Neola returned to impart some handy post-treatment tips and skincare advice before showing us back to the Spa Lounge where we compared notes.
HOW DID IT MEASURE UP?
Neola is an experienced therapist with magic hands; my shoulders felt much looser, my skin looked radiant and I felt energised for the weekend ahead.
We left with a complimentary Pinks Boutiques essential oil blend and a barcode to access the playlist so we could transport ourselves back to the spa when we got home. A nice touch.
TIME FOR TEA
Guests will need be dressed for lunch or an evening meal in the Pearly Cow restaurant. Our package included afternoon tea and a glass of fizz in the Marmalade Lounge, located on the ground floor next to the hotel reception.
We loved the low coffee tables which had vintage tape measures, bobbins, cotton reels and knitting needles tucked underneath a glass top. Bag a window seat if you want to watch the world of York go by through a large sash window.
Afternoon tea came on a silver three-tiered stand with a plate of sandwiches (ham & tomato, egg & mustard mayo, cheese & chive, salmon & cucumber) and a salted cod taco on the bottom layer, a scone with jam and clotted cream in the middle and some pretty sweet treats (we loved the chocolate and raspberry tart) at the top. We stayed hydrated with unlimited cups of tea and a glass of bubbly.
GOT ALL DAY?
Check in to No.1 GuestHouse York, stroll the cobbled streets and winding ‘snickelways’ within the ancient city walls before heading to The Shambles - a must for any visit to York. Or book a river city cruise to see the city from a different angle.
SHORT ON TIME?
Prioritise the Time Together treatment - you won’t be disappointed.
Good Spa Guide
14th May 2025
