Black Swan at Helmsley

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The Black Swan, Helmsley
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To the rooms at The Black Swan
The Black Swan, Helmsley
“This characterful former coaching inn dominates the marketplace of pretty Helmsley and is as attractive inside as out, with low-beamed rooms, wood panelling and inviting log fires. Well-priced bedrooms are bright and unfussy, while the menu of pub classics is filling and cheerily served.”

Hotel review

In the centre of Helmsley, one of North Yorkshire’s prettiest market towns, this former coaching inn cannot fail to catch the eye. A striking mix of Tudor, Elizabethan and Georgian buildings (with a 20th-century extension to the rear), it dominates the marketplace.

Inside, it is satisfyingly dark and intimate with a series of interlinked low-beamed rooms of wood panelling, vintage floral-patterned wallpapers and armchairs, and log fires. An all-day menu of handsome pub classics, mixed with a few smarter dishes, can be taken in any of these rooms and makes for a very relaxed atmosphere (dogs are welcomed too). For warmer days, there’s a walled garden at the rear. It’s worth pacing yourself over dinner; the desserts – especially the home-made fruit crumble – are worth it. They’re especially deserved if you’ve been walking over the nearby North York Moors. Bedrooms, spread between the original buildings and the modern extension, share the same simple country style of plaid carpets, plain wood furniture and bright vintage wallpaper. What they lack in designer flourishes they make up for with generous space (except the entry-level rooms) and big bathrooms, most with a bath as well as a shower. Choose one of the feature rooms above the pub for more character such as beams and window-seats.

This is a place where you will be full of good intentions to walk on the moors or explore the local castles and abbeys, but where you will probably fall asleep over a book and a cup of tea by the fire.

Helen Pickles
Helen Pickles Review published: 26/02/2024

Recommended for

  • Full of character

    • With an Elizabethan building on one end, a Tudor one to the other & a Georgian House in the middle - this is a characterful stay

  • Foodies

    • Foodies will love the award winning restaurant where everything is made in house using only the best of Yorkshire's produce

  • Hotel Entertainment

    • Enjoy the indulgent afternoon tea offering a range of homemade treats and teas from around the world

  • Local exploring

    • A well situated base for exploring this picturesque market town and right on the edge of the Moors

  • Great walks

    • Make the most of the over 1,400 miles of country paths and tracks around Ryedale

  • Other Activities

    • Spend a day exploring the gardens and estate of the impressive Duncombe Park

  • Riding

    • Ride at the oldest riding school in the UK, Hemsley Riding School

  • Pet friendly

    • Dog friendly rooms are available at a cost of £10 per night

  • Sights nearby

    • Visit the ruins of Helmsley Castle that overlook the town

  • Restaurant

    • Award winning restaurant with 3 AA Rosettes

  • Organic food

  • Wedding license

  • Romantic

  • Charming

  • Traditional

  • Child friendly

Facilities

  • Rooms

    60 rooms in this hotel

  • Pet friendly

    Dog friendly rooms are available at a cost of £10 per night

  • Restaurant

    Award winning restaurant with 3 AA Rosettes

  • Parking

  • Garden

  • Meeting Room

  • Wedding license

  • Bar

  • Wifi

  • Satellite / Cable TV

  • 24 Hour room service

  • Room service

  • Child friendly

Activities

  • Hotel Entertainment

    • Enjoy the indulgent afternoon tea offering a range of homemade treats and teas from around the world

  • Great walks

    • Make the most of the over 1,400 miles of country paths and tracks around Ryedale

  • Other Activities

    • Spend a day exploring the gardens and estate of the impressive Duncombe Park

  • Riding

    • Ride at the oldest riding school in the UK, Hemsley Riding School

  • Sights nearby

    • Visit the ruins of Helmsley Castle that overlook the town

Map & Location

Other reviews

The Black Swan Hotel

"The hotel is not content to rest on its laurels. Behind the politely restrained façade, the hotel has refurbished its bar, producing a cross between a country-house lounge and a Thirties cocktail joint."

Originally published by Independent

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