Cracking ales and crackling fires, bolstered by period features, help turn back time at this unspoilt, family-run Victorian inn. Cosy bars, full of nooks and crannies, provide a welcoming atmosphere. For those staying over, there are traditionally decorated bedrooms (most with a bath and shower) and a hearty breakfast in the morning. The inn is a five-minute walk from the cathedral, the castle and market quarter. No meals, but restaurants are nearby. Off-street parking is available.

Two miles south of the University, on the busy A167, The Honest Lawyer is in a village close to the banks of the River Wear. Pleasant walks start from the hotel entrance and the city centre is within easy reach. Accommodation is in the main building (some rooms have a four-poster bed), and in the motel-style Courtyard rooms with their own entrance, popular with guests with dogs. Three inter-connecting bedrooms are ideal for a family. Breakfast (not included in the room price), lunch and dinner is served in Bailey’s restaurant. Lighter meals can be taken in the bar, Orangery or Atrium, or outside on the terrace or in the garden.

A ten-minute walk from the town centre, this pristine B&B in an Edwardian villa has comfortable bedrooms, a light-filled lounge and breakfast room, and off-road parking at the front. For breakfast, a selection of fruit juices, cereals, dried and fresh fruits and yoghurt is followed by cooked to order dishes – maybe a full Northumbrian (dry cured bacon, sausage, black pudding, grilled tomato, mushrooms and a choice of free range eggs). The friendly hosts offer plenty of tips for days out in the area and where to eat nearby.

A short walk from the coast, this collection of buildings nestles in 100 acres of gardens and woodland. Choose to stay in The Hall, The Keep, the six-bedroom private Lake House or one of the stone-built cottages. The luxury spa has four treatment rooms, a relaxation room, heated pool, jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and small gym.

On a clifftop, this comfortable, old-style hotel affords glorious coastal views over Robin Hood’s Bay.