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3-star hotels in Helmsley
A shortlist of the 3-star stays we cover in Helmsley, from rooms above a coffee shop on Bridge Street to cottages out towards Beadlam and Pockley Gates. It is for walkers starting the Cleveland Way, couples after a quiet weekend, and families who want a kitchen.
Staying in Helmsley
Helmsley is the prettiest and priciest market town on the Moors, with a castle, an abbey and a spa reputation to go with its walking-boot population. It is also mile zero of the Cleveland Way, 109 miles round the moor edge and down the coast to Filey Brigg, and the first waymarker sits on the square. Friday evenings bring a genuine buzz around the square — the Black Swan bar, the Feathers and the Royal Oak all busy, all done by about eleven. There is no club, no late bar, and the last bus to York left hours ago.
These hotels sit in two clusters. Most are on or just off Bridge Street and Bondgate in the centre: The Old Post Office Central Helmsley with Parking, The Annex Central Helmsley with parking, Porters Coffee Shop and B&B, Carlton Lodge and Helmsley Garden Cottage & Railway Carriage. The rest are a short drive out — Ryedale Cottage at Sproxton, Crossing Cottage at Pockley Gates, Shippon at Beadlam and 2 Bed in Helmsley G0131 at Carlton. Central addresses suit couples and short breaks on foot; the outlying cottages suit families and anyone who wants a garden, a kitchen and parking.
The shortlist
Ranked by hotel class, then guest rating and number of reviews.
Carlton Lodge
Bondgate Helmsley Yo62 5Ey York United Kingdom, Helmsley, United Kingdom
Best for: Drivers · Travelling with pets
- Free car parking
- Pets allowed
- Free Wifi
Why stay hereA 3-star lodge on Bondgate with free car parking and a garden, plus free Wifi and express check in. Pets are allowed and non smoking rooms are available, so it suits guests travelling with a dog or wanting a straightforward base in Helmsley.
See Carlton LodgeHelmsley Garden Cottage & Railway Carriage
1 Bondgate Helmsley Yo62 5Bw York United Kingdom, Helmsley, United Kingdom
Best for: Drivers · Breakfast
- Parking
- Breakfast
Why stay hereThis 3-star cottage and railway carriage on Bondgate provides breakfast and parking, making it a calm choice for guests who want their morning meal included and a car close at hand while exploring Helmsley.
See Helmsley Garden Cottage & Railway CarriageRyedale Cottage
Bransdale Cottage Sproxton Hall Cottages, Helmsley, United Kingdom
Best for: Drivers
- Free car parking
- Kitchen
- Free Wifi
Why stay hereA 3-star cottage at Sproxton Hall Cottages with a kitchen, fireplace and garden, plus free car parking and free Wifi. Its self-catering setup and high chairs suit families or small groups wanting space and independence near Helmsley.
See Ryedale CottageThe Old Post Office Central Helmsley with Parking
23 Bridge Street, Helmsley, United Kingdom
Best for: Families · Drivers
- Free car parking
- Family rooms
- Kitchen
Why stay hereSet on Bridge Street in central Helmsley with free car parking, this 3-star property has a kitchen, dishwasher and family rooms, plus free Wifi. The central address and laundry service suit longer stays and families.
See The Old Post Office Central Helmsley with ParkingShippon
High Thorne Main Road Beadlam, United Kingdom
Best for: Drivers
- Parking
- Internet access
Why stay hereA 3-star property on Main Road in Beadlam with a garden area, golf course and parking, plus Wifi and internet access. It suits guests who want quiet surroundings and easy access to a round of golf.
See ShipponThe Annex Central Helmsley with parking
23 Bridge Street, Helmsley, United Kingdom
Best for: Families · Drivers
- Free car parking
- Pets allowed
- Family rooms
Why stay hereOn Bridge Street in central Helmsley with free car parking, this 3-star annex offers a kitchen, fireplace and family rooms, with free Wifi. Pets are allowed and a washing machine is provided, which suits longer family stays.
See The Annex Central Helmsley with parkingPorters Coffee Shop and B&B
19 Bridge Street Porters Coffee Shop, Helmsley, United Kingdom
Best for: Drivers
- Free car parking
- Free Wifi
Why stay hereA 3-star B&B above a coffee shop on Bridge Street, with free car parking and free Wifi. Non smoking rooms, hairdryer, toiletries and towels keep things simple for guests who want to step out straight into Helmsley.
See Porters Coffee Shop and B&B2 Bed in Helmsley G0131
St Aidanscarltonnr Helmsley, Helmsley, United Kingdom
Best for: Families · Drivers
- Free car parking
- Pets allowed
- Family rooms
Why stay hereA 3-star two-bedroom property at St Aidans near Helmsley with a kitchen, fireplace and garden, plus free car parking and free Wifi. Family rooms, high chairs and pets allowed make it a practical choice for families and dog owners.
See 2 Bed in Helmsley G0131Crossing Cottage
1 Pockley Gates, Helmsley, United Kingdom
Best for: Drivers · Travelling with pets
- Free car parking
- Pets allowed
- Kitchen
Why stay hereA 3-star cottage at Pockley Gates with a jacuzzi, patio and garden, plus a kitchen and free car parking. Free Wifi, a washing machine and pets allowed suit guests wanting a comfortable self-catering stay near Helmsley.
See Crossing Cottage
The shortlist side by side
| Hotel | Class | Parking | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlton Lodge | ★★★ | Yes | Yes |
| Helmsley Garden Cottage & Railway Carriage | ★★★ | Yes | – |
| Ryedale Cottage | ★★★ | Yes | – |
| The Old Post Office Central Helmsley with Parking | ★★★ | Yes | – |
| Shippon | ★★★ | Yes | – |
| The Annex Central Helmsley with parking | ★★★ | Yes | Yes |
| Porters Coffee Shop and B&B | ★★★ | Yes | – |
| 2 Bed in Helmsley G0131 | ★★★ | Yes | Yes |
| Crossing Cottage | ★★★ | Yes | Yes |
From each hotel's own listing on this site; a dash means it is not listed.
How to choose
For families
These four have the space and the kit for children: The Old Post Office Central Helmsley with Parking and The Annex Central Helmsley with parking both list family rooms, cots, high chairs at Ryedale Cottage and kitchens with dishwashers and washing machines. 2 Bed in Helmsley G0131 adds a garden and family rooms. Self-catering makes an early dinner easy before the kitchens stop taking orders.
The Old Post Office Central Helmsley with Parking · The Annex Central Helmsley with parking · 2 Bed in Helmsley G0131 · Ryedale Cottage
For walkers
Helmsley Garden Cottage & Railway Carriage, Porters Coffee Shop and B&B and Carlton Lodge all sit on Bondgate, minutes from the square where the Cleveland Way waymarker stands. Carlton Lodge also has a garden, luggage storage and special diets, useful after the 5.5 km climb and descent to Rievaulx. Breakfast is listed at the first two, so you can be out early.
Helmsley Garden Cottage & Railway Carriage · Porters Coffee Shop and B&B · Carlton Lodge
For pets
Carlton Lodge, The Annex Central Helmsley with parking, 2 Bed in Helmsley G0131 and Crossing Cottage all accept pets. The three cottages give you a garden as well, and Crossing Cottage has a patio and a jacuzzi. Carlton Lodge keeps you in the centre on Bondgate with free car parking and non smoking rooms.
Carlton Lodge · The Annex Central Helmsley with parking · 2 Bed in Helmsley G0131 · Crossing Cottage
For a quiet garden base
Ryedale Cottage at Sproxton, Crossing Cottage at Pockley Gates and Shippon at Beadlam are away from the square, each with a garden or garden area, free car parking and wifi. They suit couples or small groups who want to cook, sit outside, and drive the three to fifteen miles to the best things rather than walk them.
Where to stay in Helmsley
Bridge Street
The central street these hotels share, a short step from the square, the castle and the war memorial gates at the top. The Old Post Office Central Helmsley with Parking and The Annex Central Helmsley with parking are at 23 Bridge Street, Porters Coffee Shop and B&B at 19. Expect the Friday market and the evening pub trade on your doorstep, and last orders in the kitchens between 8.30pm and 9pm.
Our picks here: The Old Post Office Central Helmsley with Parking · The Annex Central Helmsley with parking · Porters Coffee Shop and B&B
Bondgate
The address running out of the centre towards the river, named by Carlton Lodge and Helmsley Garden Cottage & Railway Carriage. Both have free car parking, and Carlton Lodge adds a garden, luggage storage and special diets. You are close enough to walk to the abbey and the Rye valley without moving the car.
Our picks here: Carlton Lodge · Helmsley Garden Cottage & Railway Carriage
Sproxton
Ryedale Cottage is listed at Bransdale Cottage, Sproxton Hall Cottages, south of town on the road through Oswaldkirk towards the Benedictine community and its abbey church. A self-catering base with kitchen, oven, microwave and garden, best if you have a car and want quiet rather than the square.
Our picks here: Ryedale Cottage
Pockley Gates
Crossing Cottage sits at 1 Pockley Gates, out towards the moors and within reach of the Sutton Bank clifftop path. It has a garden, patio, jacuzzi and accepts pets, and with a kitchen and washing machine it works for a longer walking stay of three nights rather than two.
Our picks here: Crossing Cottage
Plan your stay
Getting there and around
Helmsley is mile zero of the Cleveland Way, whose first waymarker sits on the square, and the best things around it are three to fifteen miles out — the National Park visitor centre at the top of the one-in-four bank on the A170 is fifteen minutes west by car, Rievaulx is five miles south-west through Oswaldkirk. The bus service is real but sparse, and the last bus to York leaves hours before the pubs finish, so a car makes the outlying addresses such as Sproxton, Pockley Gates, Beadlam and Carlton far easier.
When to go
Come for the walking, the abbey and a Friday market that still sells vegetables rather than candles; two nights is the right length, three if you intend to walk the Rievaulx and Sutton Bank routes properly. Opening for the house and gardens above the Rye gorge is seasonal and limited, so check ahead. In winter, a couple of places close entirely on Mondays and Tuesdays, and Friday and Saturday evenings need booking all year.
Things to do near Helmsley
Questions, answered
Which of these hotels are closest to the centre of Helmsley?
Porters Coffee Shop and B&B, The Old Post Office Central Helmsley with Parking and The Annex Central Helmsley with parking are all on Bridge Street, with Carlton Lodge and Helmsley Garden Cottage & Railway Carriage on Bondgate. All five are within the town, near the square, the castle and the war memorial gates.
Do any of the Helmsley hotels have parking?
Yes. Carlton Lodge, Helmsley Garden Cottage & Railway Carriage, Ryedale Cottage, The Old Post Office Central Helmsley with Parking, The Annex Central Helmsley with parking, Shippon, Porters Coffee Shop and B&B, 2 Bed in Helmsley G0131 and Crossing Cottage all list parking, and most list it as free car parking.
Are there pet-friendly hotels in Helmsley?
Carlton Lodge, The Annex Central Helmsley with parking, 2 Bed in Helmsley G0131 and Crossing Cottage all allow pets. Crossing Cottage and 2 Bed in Helmsley G0131 also have a garden, and Crossing Cottage adds a patio, which helps after a wet walk.
Which Helmsley hotels serve breakfast?
Helmsley Garden Cottage & Railway Carriage and Porters Coffee Shop and B&B both list breakfast. Carlton Lodge lists special diets, and the cottages — Ryedale Cottage, The Old Post Office Central Helmsley with Parking, The Annex Central Helmsley with parking and Crossing Cottage — give you a kitchen or kitchenette instead.
Which hotels suit families with children?
The Old Post Office Central Helmsley with Parking and The Annex Central Helmsley with parking list family rooms, and 2 Bed in Helmsley G0131 has family rooms plus a garden. Cots and high chairs appear at The Old Post Office, The Annex, Ryedale Cottage, 2 Bed in Helmsley G0131 and Crossing Cottage.
Is there a pool or spa at these hotels?
No. None of the listed hotels in Helmsley has a pool or spa. Crossing Cottage does list a jacuzzi, and several properties — Carlton Lodge, Ryedale Cottage, 2 Bed in Helmsley G0131 and Crossing Cottage — have a garden.
Which hotel is the best pick for a walking weekend?
Carlton Lodge, Helmsley Garden Cottage & Railway Carriage or Porters Coffee Shop and B&B on Bondgate put you minutes from the square, where the Cleveland Way starts. The route to Rievaulx runs about 5.5 km each way, allow around 80 minutes one way, and boots are better than trainers.
Do the hotels have wifi and non-smoking rooms?
Wifi and non smoking rooms appear at Carlton Lodge, Ryedale Cottage, The Old Post Office Central Helmsley with Parking, The Annex Central Helmsley with parking, Shippon, Porters Coffee Shop and B&B, 2 Bed in Helmsley G0131 and Crossing Cottage. Helmsley Garden Cottage & Railway Carriage lists only breakfast and parking.