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3-star hotels in Knaresborough
A shortlist of the 3-star hotels and self-catering cottages we cover in Knaresborough, with guest ratings from 4.5 down, for couples and families who want the Nidd gorge, the Market Place and the viaduct within walking distance.
Staying in Knaresborough
Knaresborough is a cliffside market town above the Nidd gorge, built in two layers: the working town at the top around the Market Place and Castlegate, with a Wednesday market running since 1310, and the Victorian pleasure ground at Waterside below, where boats are hired and the viaduct is watched from the water. The two are 80 vertical metres apart and the climb between them is real. The castle grounds are free and open daily, and the bowling green terrace on the cliff edge gives the best free look down at the viaduct and river. It is a small place of around 15,000 people and it behaves like one after dark: Market Place pubs are busy at 9pm and the town is shut by 11.30, with no clubs and little late food.
These properties sit in three clusters. Old Royal Oak and The Groves Inn are on the Market Place at the top, minutes from the castle and the Wednesday stalls. The Knaresborough Inn The Inn Collection Group is at Bond End, and Orchard Club Newton House on York Place, both on the top side. The Mitre Inn is on Station Road by the railway, while Teardrop Cottage, 4 Bed in Knaresborough HH090 and 2 Bed in Knaresborough oc hh075 are down at Waterside, by the boats. The Bay Horse Inn stands out at Main Streetgoldsborough, and several cottages lie on the lanes outside town. It suits couples and families on a short break who want the gorge on foot and Harrogate 12 minutes away by train.
The shortlist
Ranked by hotel class, then guest rating and number of reviews.
The Bay Horse Inn
Main Streetgoldsborough, Knaresborough, United Kingdom
Why stay hereSet on Main Street in Goldsborough, The Bay Horse Inn is a 3-star inn with a restaurant, a bar and a garden, plus a terrace and a concierge for guests' convenience. It has earned a 4.5 guest rating across 403 reviews, the strongest of this shortlist. With luggage room and newspapers available, it suits travellers who want a traditional inn base with somewhere to eat and drink on site, and who value a settled, well-reviewed stay.
See The Bay Horse InnOld Royal Oak
7 Market Place, Knaresborough, United Kingdom
Best for: Drivers · Travelling with pets
- Free car parking
- Bar/Lounge
- Pets allowed
Why stay hereOld Royal Oak sits at 7 Market Place, putting guests in the middle of Knaresborough's market square. The 3-star inn has its own restaurant and bar/lounge, and pets are allowed, which makes it a practical choice for those travelling with a dog. Free car parking and free internet access in the lounge cover the essentials, and the 4.3 guest rating from 385 reviews reflects a consistently well-regarded stay.
See Old Royal OakThe Knaresborough Inn The Inn Collection Group
Bond End, Knaresborough, United Kingdom
Best for: Families · Drivers
- Free car parking
- Lounge
- Pets allowed
Why stay hereAt Bond End, The Knaresborough Inn (The Inn Collection Group) suits families and drivers alike: family rooms are available, free car parking is provided and pets are welcome. Guests have free wifi throughout, a garden and terrace to use, and a restaurant and bars on site, with a 24 hour front desk for late arrivals. A 4.3 guest rating from 302 reviews backs up the choice.
See The Knaresborough Inn The Inn Collection GroupThe Mitre Inn
4 Station Road, Knaresborough, United Kingdom
Best for: Travelling with pets
- Lounge
- Pets allowed
- Kitchenette
Why stay hereOn Station Road, The Mitre Inn is a 3-star inn with 678 reviews and a 4.2 guest rating, the most reviewed option here. It offers a restaurant and bars, a garden and terrace, and free wifi, along with kitchenette rooms that suit guests who prefer more self-contained stays. Pets are allowed and there is luggage storage, making it workable for longer trips or those arriving with bags and a dog.
See The Mitre InnThe Groves Inn
30 Market Place, Knaresborough, United Kingdom
Best for: Travelling with pets
- Pets allowed
- Free Wifi
Why stay hereThe Groves Inn occupies 30 Market Place, giving guests a central Knaresborough position for exploring the town. This 3-star inn provides a bar, free wifi and a garden, and pets are allowed, so it fits couples or small groups travelling with a dog. The 4.2 guest rating comes from 384 reviews; laundry service and non smoking rooms add convenience for longer stays.
See The Groves InnOrchard Club Newton House
5 7 York Place, Knaresborough, United Kingdom
Best for: Families · Drivers
- Free car parking
- Breakfast
- Lounge
Why stay hereOrchard Club Newton House on York Place is a 3-star guesthouse where breakfast is included, and rooms come with bathrobes, slippers and a minibar for a more comfortable finish. Free car parking and free wifi are provided, along with a garden and lounge, and family rooms and cots are available. Room service and special diets are catered for, making it a good fit for families or guests who prefer a quieter, serviced house.
See Orchard Club Newton HouseTeardrop Cottage
15 Waterside., Knaresborough, United Kingdom
Best for: Families · Drivers
- Spa
- Free car parking
- Breakfast
Why stay hereTeardrop Cottage on Waterside is a 3-star property with a garden, terrace and patio, plus a spa and jacuzzi for guests to unwind. Breakfast is served and rooms include bathrobes, with free wifi and free car parking on hand. Family rooms, special diets and a wake-up service are offered, and pets are welcome; it suits guests looking for a relaxed waterside stay with leisure facilities on site.
See Teardrop CottageHollins Farm Dog Friendly Self Catering Holiday Lodges
Marton Lane Hollins Farm Lodge Holidays, Knaresborough, United Kingdom
Best for: Drivers · Travelling with pets
- Free car parking
- Pets allowed
- Kitchen
Why stay hereHollins Farm Dog Friendly Self Catering Holiday Lodges on Marton Lane is built for self-catering stays: each lodge has a kitchen with oven, microwave, dishwasher and refrigerator, and pets are allowed. Free wifi and free car parking are included, and guests have a garden, terrace and patio, with a jacuzzi available. Non smoking rooms and laundry service round it off, suiting families or groups who want their own space and cooking facilities.
See Hollins Farm Dog Friendly Self Catering Holiday LodgesImmaculate 4 bed Cottage in Knaresborough
The Hidden Snug Cottage, Knaresborough, United Kingdom
Best for: Drivers
- Free car parking
- Free Wifi
Why stay hereImmaculate 4 bed Cottage in Knaresborough is a 3-star self-contained cottage with free wifi and free car parking, plus a garden. With 4 bedrooms it suits larger groups, families or friends travelling together who want a whole house rather than individual rooms.
See Immaculate 4 bed Cottage in KnaresboroughSnowdrop Cottage
Arkendale Road, Knaresborough, United Kingdom
Best for: Drivers · Step-free access
- Free car parking
- Wheelchair accessible
Why stay hereSnowdrop Cottage on Arkendale Road is a 3-star cottage offering free car parking and a garden, and it is wheelchair accessible, which makes it a useful choice for guests with mobility needs. It suits those wanting a self-contained cottage base outside the town centre with their own parking.
See Snowdrop Cottage4 Bed in Knaresborough HH090
3 Waterside, Knaresborough, United Kingdom
Best for: Travelling with pets
- Pets allowed
- Kitchen
- Free Wifi
Why stay hereThis 4 bed property at 3 Waterside is a 3-star self-catering home with a kitchen including oven and refrigerator, free wifi and a TV, and pets are allowed. Sleeping up to four bedrooms, it suits families or small groups who want space and cooking facilities close to the water.
See 4 Bed in Knaresborough HH0901 Bed in Harrogate 66981
1 Scotton Drive, Knaresborough, United Kingdom
Best for: Drivers
- Free car parking
- Kitchen
- Free Wifi
Why stay here1 Bed in Harrogate on Scotton Drive is a 3-star one-bedroom property with its own kitchen, including oven and microwave, plus free wifi and free car parking. Non smoking rooms and a TV are provided, making it a straightforward self-catering option for a couple or solo guest who wants a base near Knaresborough with parking included.
See 1 Bed in Harrogate 66981Kist Accommodates Belmont Dene
Forest Moor Road, Knaresborough, United Kingdom
Best for: Drivers
- Free car parking
- Bar/Lounge
- Beach nearby
Why stay hereKist Accommodates Belmont Dene on Forest Moor Road is a 3-star property with a bar/lounge, free wifi and free car parking, set with a garden and non smoking rooms. Tennis courts and horse riding are nearby, and a golf course is within reach, so it suits active guests who want outdoor pursuits close at hand.
See Kist Accommodates Belmont Dene1 Bed in Knaresborough HH102
The Stables At Spinney Croftspinney Croftold Scriven, Knaresborough, United Kingdom
Best for: Drivers
- Free car parking
- Kitchen
- Free Wifi
Why stay here1 Bed in Knaresborough HH102 at The Stables at Spinney Croft is a 3-star self-catering property with a kitchen including oven and microwave, free wifi, a garden and free car parking. Non smoking rooms and a TV are provided, making it a quiet one-bedroom choice for a couple or solo traveller who prefers to cook for themselves.
See 1 Bed in Knaresborough HH1022 Bed in Knaresborough oc hh075
Shire Cottagethe Royal Oak Innbond End, Knaresborough, United Kingdom
Best for: Drivers · Travelling with pets
- Free car parking
- Pets allowed
- Kitchen
Why stay here2 Bed in Knaresborough oc hh075 at Shire Cottage is a 3-star two-bedroom self-catering property with a kitchen and oven, free wifi and free car parking. Pets are allowed, non smoking rooms are available and high chairs are provided, so it suits a small family or couple travelling with a dog who want their own space near Bond End.
See 2 Bed in Knaresborough oc hh075
The shortlist side by side
| Hotel | Class | Parking | Breakfast | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Bay Horse Inn | ★★★ | – | – | – |
| Old Royal Oak | ★★★ | Yes | – | Yes |
| The Knaresborough Inn The Inn Collection Group | ★★★ | Yes | – | Yes |
| The Mitre Inn | ★★★ | – | – | Yes |
| The Groves Inn | ★★★ | – | – | Yes |
| Orchard Club Newton House | ★★★ | Yes | Yes | – |
| Teardrop Cottage | ★★★ | Yes | Yes | – |
| Hollins Farm Dog Friendly Self Catering Holiday Lodges | ★★★ | Yes | – | Yes |
| Immaculate 4 bed Cottage in Knaresborough | ★★★ | Yes | – | – |
| Snowdrop Cottage | ★★★ | Yes | – | – |
| 4 Bed in Knaresborough HH090 | ★★★ | – | – | Yes |
| 1 Bed in Harrogate 66981 | ★★★ | Yes | – | – |
| Kist Accommodates Belmont Dene | ★★★ | Yes | – | – |
| 1 Bed in Knaresborough HH102 | ★★★ | Yes | – | – |
| 2 Bed in Knaresborough oc hh075 | ★★★ | Yes | – | Yes |
From each hotel's own listing on this site; a dash means it is not listed.
How to choose
For families
The Knaresborough Inn The Inn Collection Group has family rooms, cots are available at Orchard Club Newton House, and Teardrop Cottage and 2 Bed in Knaresborough oc hh075 both list family rooms or a full kitchen, which keeps a family flexible over mealtimes. All four sit close enough to Waterside and the castle to walk, though the climb back up from the river is steep.
The Knaresborough Inn The Inn Collection Group · Orchard Club Newton House · Teardrop Cottage · 2 Bed in Knaresborough oc hh075
Pets welcome
Old Royal Oak, The Knaresborough Inn, The Mitre Inn, The Groves Inn, Hollins Farm Dog Friendly Self Catering Holiday Lodges, 4 Bed in Knaresborough HH090 and 2 Bed in Knaresborough oc hh075 all accept pets, which matters in a town where the best walking is the riverside path toward the Nidd Gorge woods. The lodges at Hollins Farm and the Waterside cottages give dogs the most room.
Old Royal Oak · The Knaresborough Inn The Inn Collection Group · The Mitre Inn · The Groves Inn · Hollins Farm Dog Friendly Self Catering Holiday Lodges · 4 Bed in Knaresborough HH090
Closest to the centre
Old Royal Oak at 7 Market Place and The Groves Inn at 30 Market Place put you directly on the square, with the castle at the top of Castlegate and the Wednesday market on the doorstep. The Knaresborough Inn at Bond End and The Mitre Inn on Station Road are a short walk out but still on the town side, near the station for trains to Harrogate and York.
Old Royal Oak · The Groves Inn · The Knaresborough Inn The Inn Collection Group · The Mitre Inn
Top-rated picks
The Bay Horse Inn scores 4.5 out of 5 from 403 reviews, Old Royal Oak 4.3 from 385 and The Knaresborough Inn The Inn Collection Group 4.3 from 302. Between them they cover the three useful positions here: out at Goldsborough, on the Market Place, and at Bond End with parking, a garden and a 24-hour front desk.
The Bay Horse Inn · Old Royal Oak · The Knaresborough Inn The Inn Collection Group
Where to stay in Knaresborough
Market Place
The top of town, where the charter market has filled the square from 8am every Wednesday since 1310 and Blind Jack's, the narrow four-floor pub named for the blind road-builder John Metcalf, opens from noon. The castle grounds and the free cliff-edge view over the viaduct are a short walk along Castlegate. Old Royal Oak and The Groves Inn both sit on this square, so everything above the gorge is on foot.
Our picks here: Old Royal Oak · The Groves Inn
Waterside
The Victorian pleasure ground at the bottom of the gorge, where boats are hired and the crowds gather on a hot August Sunday. From here the viaduct and the wooded cliff are seen from river level, and the riverside walk to Mother Shipton's Cave and the House in the Rock starts at Low Bridge. Teardrop Cottage, 4 Bed in Knaresborough HH090 and 2 Bed in Knaresborough oc hh075 are all addressed here. It is 80 vertical metres below the Market Place.
Our picks here: Teardrop Cottage · 4 Bed in Knaresborough HH090
Plan your stay
When to go
Roughly Easter through to the end of September is when the boats run, daily in school holidays and at weekends in the shoulder months, with operators closing in high water or bad weather. There is no advance booking to speak of — you turn up at Waterside and queue, which on a hot August Sunday can mean half an hour, so mornings are quieter. Outside that window the town itself still works: the castle grounds are free and open daily, and the Wednesday market runs whatever the month.
Things to do near Knaresborough
- Annual Events in Knaresborough: FEVA, Beer Festival, Christmas Market and Where to Stay
- Events and River Adventures in Knaresborough: Boat Hire, Gorge Walks and the Famous Bed Race
- Family Travel Guide to Knaresborough: Where to Stay and What to See
- Four Must-See Knaresborough Attractions and Where to Stay Within Walking Distance
- Knaresborough After Dark: An Evening in the Old Town and Where to Sleep
- Knaresborough by Train: A Car-Free Day Trip from York
- Knaresborough's Ghostly History: A First-Timer's Guide to the Town's Haunted Tales
- Knaresborough's Old Lanes at Dusk: A Family Evening and a Bed Nearby
Questions, answered
Which of these hotels have free parking?
Old Royal Oak, The Knaresborough Inn The Inn Collection Group, Orchard Club Newton House, Teardrop Cottage and all the cottages on the list, including Snowdrop Cottage, 1 Bed in Harrogate 66981 and 2 Bed in Knaresborough oc hh075, list free car parking. The Mitre Inn and The Groves Inn do not, which matters if you are driving to Waterside.
Can I bring a dog?
Pets are allowed at Old Royal Oak, The Knaresborough Inn, The Mitre Inn, The Groves Inn, Hollins Farm Dog Friendly Self Catering Holiday Lodges, 4 Bed in Knaresborough HH090 and 2 Bed in Knaresborough oc hh075. The lodges at Hollins Farm and the Waterside cottages are the easiest for dogs, with gardens, patios and the riverside path close by.
Which hotels are best for families?
The Knaresborough Inn The Inn Collection Group lists family rooms and sits at Bond End with a garden and parking. Orchard Club Newton House provides cots, and Teardrop Cottage and 2 Bed in Knaresborough oc hh075 also list family rooms, with a kitchen in the latter two. All are within walking distance of the castle and Waterside.
Do any have a pool or spa?
Teardrop Cottage and Hollins Farm Dog Friendly Self Catering Holiday Lodges both list a Jacuzzi, and Teardrop Cottage also lists a spa. None of the other properties on this list have a pool or spa. If a hot tub is the point of your break, those two are the ones to book.
Which is closest to the town centre?
Old Royal Oak at 7 Market Place and The Groves Inn at 30 Market Place are on the square itself, with the castle grounds at the top of Castlegate and the Wednesday market outside. The Knaresborough Inn at Bond End and The Mitre Inn on Station Road are a short walk further out, and The Mitre Inn is the handiest for the station.
Is breakfast available?
Orchard Club Newton House and Teardrop Cottage both list breakfast among their facilities, and Hollins Farm lodges include a kitchen. Most of the cottages here, such as 4 Bed in Knaresborough HH090 and 1 Bed in Knaresborough HH102, are self-catering with kitchen, oven, microwave and refrigerator, so you would eat in.
Which hotel has the best guest rating?
The Bay Horse Inn at Main Streetgoldsborough leads with 4.5 out of 5 from 403 reviews. Old Royal Oak follows at 4.3 from 385 reviews and The Knaresborough Inn The Inn Collection Group at 4.3 from 302. The Mitre Inn and The Groves Inn both score 4.2, from 678 and 384 reviews respectively.
How do I get to Knaresborough without a car?
The station is on the Harrogate line, about 12 minutes from Harrogate, 35 from York and 50 from Leeds, with roughly two trains an hour on weekdays. Sit on the right coming from York and the line crosses the viaduct on the approach. Buses 1 and 1A run to Harrogate every 10 to 20 minutes.