Astor York

This was my first time staying in a hostel, and it is that, a hostel. You are crowded in and it is not 5 star comforts. Yet, that is part of the fun of it I discovered. The staff is AMAZING! They are so laid back and accommodating, yet they are also diligent to clean and make you comfortable the best they can. Then there are the fellow travelers! You learn so much and have a great time connecting. Or not. That is part of the great atmosphere here - you can join in or take time out, and there are lots of spaces to do that in if you are not up for seeing York. They do a fabulous job making it a home/commune/cultural dive/retreat house that you can remake what you want the day to be as you go along with your stay. Thanks, Astor, for being a wonderful experience, and shout out to the great travelers I got to meet.

My husband and I had stayed in a private room at Astor York a couple of times, but not since COVID. Our 5 star review covers all our stays, including our recent 3 night stay. It's not too far from the city centre/train station, its staff are helpful, its bar has decent prices, its private and communal facilities work fine. Would definitely visit again.

One of the best hostels I’ve ever stayed at. Amazing staff, clean and homely common areas, nice and spacious 8-bed rooms with an actual bathroom. Feels like a place you actually want to spend time at, and not just sleep. A little far from the city centre, but it’s a lovely walk and the bus runs just outside the hostel if needed. 100% coming back :)

Loved staying here! Really nice cosy common spaces and very well stocked kitchen, and the staff were all lovely. Also really enjoyed the history walking tour with Erica! Will definitely be back.

My experience staying here for two nights was very average. Location: a 10-15 minute walk from the city centre and train station. As an able-bodied person I quite enjoyed the walk, but if you have mobility issues it might be difficult. That said, there is a bus service as well, though I didn't use it. Facilities: an old mansion turned into a hostel, which gave it a cozy feel, at least in the public areas. I especially liked the super cozy bar area, though nobody was really using it during my stay. There are also a lot of public restrooms in addition to ones in at least some of the rooms. Free coffee and tea, but breakfast is £3.50 (and only consists of toast and cereal so I didn't try it). Free luggage storage if you arrive early. Bunk beds have no privacy curtains and there was only one outlet with a power cord in my room for everyone to share. Experience: this is where things go downhill. I'm not new to hostels, I've stayed at quite a few on several continents, but this was my worst hostel experience by far. I feel bad saying this because the staff were lovely. But the other people in my room were just awful, and it looks like others had this experience as well based on other reviews. One guy was so obnoxious and terrible that the staff stepped in and kicked him out at nearly midnight for going around and harassing people. Another guy kept turning on the lights, blaring music and talking on the phone all through the night during quiet hours. Again, not really the hostel's doing, but most hostel experiences I've had have been way better than this. It could just be a York thing. I noticed a lot of antisocial behavior walking around the city so maybe it's just the location. If it weren't for the terrible clientele, I would have enjoyed my stay a lot more. I guess that's the gamble you take with hostels, but this one was uniquely bad in that regard. Still, if you can get past that then the building is a fun place to experience.