No. 2 Precentor's Court is an exceptional 4 bedroom townhouse, with a courtyard garden; it can accommodate up to 6 guests. The rental comprises of the entire house, thereby offering privacy and space, and is arguably the best located holiday property in York. It suitable for families and mixed groups of friends. It has been awarded the highest rating of 'Five Star Gold' by Visit England for 6 years.
A comprehensive refurbishment of the entire house was 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, it 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 cabinet, 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 gender 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.
* April 2014
** Yorkshire came third in Lonely Planet's 2014 top ten world destinations!
