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Menagerie House|Luxury City Cottage|Walk Score 98|8min from Shambles

Photo gallery for Menagerie House|Luxury City Cottage|Walk Score 98|8min from Shambles

Take the full video tour @menageriehouse
42" SMART TV Range or board games and books for all ages
Mini four poster bed for added luxury
Bathroom
"Equisite cottage" 5* "Absolutely delightful" 5*

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 6114 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Outdoor space
  • Barbecue

Explore the area

View map
York, England
  • Place, Jorvik Viking Centre
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, York City Walls
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Shambles
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Airport, Leeds (LBA-Leeds Bradford)
    ‪64 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 3

Toilet

Spaces

Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden

About this property

Menagerie House|Luxury City Cottage|Walk Score 98|8min from Shambles

Exquisite decor & attention to detail
★"Easily the most beautiful AirBnB we have ever stayed in."
★"Above & beyond in every aspect"
Note, 2 night stays + receive discounts @MenagerieHouseYork

Restaurants & attractions mins away on foot
☞ 8min to Shambles
☞ 3min to Bar Walls
☞ Private lit courtyard w/ BBQ
☞ Free basic breakfast
☞Washer/Dryer
☞Easy self-check in
☞Bluetooth speaker & 42" Smart TV
☞Complimentary toiletries

Add our listing to your wish list by clicking the ❤ in the upper-right corner.

See our IG for more photos& videos: @MenagerieHouseYork as well as our FAQs

The accommodation is spread over three richly detailed floors, each beautifully decorated and curated. Authentic period features such as dramatic high ceilings, sash windows and striped wooden floors are paired with colourful tones and bespoke artwork by local artists. And of course, you’ll find all the 21st-century comforts and luxuries needed for a memorable stay and our reviews are testament to this. There’s plenty of space for guests to relax and unwind in the main living area, which has comfy velvet sofas, board games and a 42” Smart TV. The home features a fully equipped kitchen and guests have complimentary use of the breakfast pantry during their stay. This is fully stocked cereals, barista-quality coffee and more. Menagerie House has three gorgeous bedrooms, a master king suite with an ensuite wet room, a double room and a twin that can be set up as a king. Each room boasts sumptuous beds with deep mattresses and the Egyptian cotton linen. Along with the ground-floor WC and master ensuite, there is a shared bathroom with a roll-top bath and overhead shower. The home also has a secluded courtyard with outdoor seating, festoon lighting and BBQ facilities. It’s a lovely spot to spend sunny afternoons and alfresco summer evenings with a glass of your favourite tipple. The house is in Bishophill, one of the most historic and desirable parts of the city. You’ll be spoilt for choice with things to do and sights to see right on your doorstep, including the magnificent York Minster, Bar Walls, York races, Museum Gardens and Abbey. There are plenty of great places to eat and drink within walking distance, or you could make up the picnic hamper and make use of the many green spaces.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
A travel cot is available if required.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed, service animals permitted
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

About the area

York

Located on a river, this cottage is in Bishophill, a neighbourhood in York. Notable landmarks in the area include Shambles and York Minster. Travelling with kids? Consider York Dungeon and Yorkshire Museum Gardens. Power boating offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling nearby.
View more Cottages in YorkOpens in a new window
Map
York, England

What's nearby

  • York Christmas Market - 6 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Jorvik Viking Centre - 6 min walk - 0.5 km
  • York City Walls - 6 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Shambles - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • York Minster - 10 min walk - 0.9 km

Getting around

  • York Station - 8 min walk
  • Leeds (LBA-Leeds Bradford) - 64 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Ackhorne Inn - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Golden Ball - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Slug & Lettuce - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪The Rise - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Tank & Paddle - ‬2 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Menagerie House|Luxury City Cottage|Walk Score 98|8min from Shambles pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

What time is check-in at Menagerie House|Luxury City Cottage|Walk Score 98|8min from Shambles?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Menagerie House|Luxury City Cottage|Walk Score 98|8min from Shambles?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Menagerie House|Luxury City Cottage|Walk Score 98|8min from Shambles located?

This family-friendly York cottage is located on a river, within a 10-minute walk of All Saints Church and Shambles. Micklegate Bar and Yorvik Brass Rubbing Centre are also within 5 minutes. York Station is 8 minutes by foot and York (QQY-York Train Station) is 8 minutes.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 15 out of 15 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 15 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 15 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 15 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 15 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cornelia S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Super central location, lovely place

Stayed at Sarah and Chris’ property for a wedding and was impressed with the level of thought and detail that went into the property. Very central location, great for first time visitors
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Sept 2023
Thank you Cornelia - we genuinely appreciate your feedback. You were lovely guests.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Martin F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Stay In Feb

Exactly as described and close to all amenities
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Julie D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We will be back!

Great location, friendly and communicative hosts, wonderful property. Our stay was everything we hoped for and we will return.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 16 June 2024
Thank you so much Julie! We are thrilled you enjoyed your time at Menagerie House York. Welcome back any time! Warm wishes, Sarah and Chris
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Carla P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We loved it!

We loved your home, wish we could have been there longer!
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lucy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Place

Cottage is beautifully decorated, really quirky. Very well stocked and so centrally located. Plenty of space for the 6 adults we had staying there. Would highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Nov 2024
Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to leave us a super review Lucy! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a positive experience, and we truly appreciate your feedback. It was a pleasure having you stay with us, and we look forward to welcoming you again soon!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kate D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Home

We loved this property! Everything was perfect - comfortable beds, walking distance to the tourist sights, easy access to the train station. I would definitely stay here again. The decor was fun and whimsical.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Sept 2023
Thank you so much Kate for your wonderful review of Menagerie House; it’s genuinely appreciated. We are so glad you liked it! We look forward to hosting you again. Warm wishes, Chris and Sarah
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Anna P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous!

This property is exceptional. The owners have put so much care and thought into every detail. We enjoyed our stay here so much.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alison J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulously quirkie, perfectly placed

Wonderful property, clean, excellently situated. Hosts were so hospitable and helpful, communication great! Group of friends celebrating a birthday, wonderful memories would recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Sept 2023
Thank you Alison for such a lovely review and kind words. We are so pleased you enjoyed Menagerie House. You were all such wonderful guests and you are welcome back any time. Sarah and Chris
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Larry G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Highly recommended

Very nice property - exceptional decor, clean with many amenities. Located within easy walking distance to central York. Also close to train station for excursions further afield. Communication was prompt and friendly. Highest recommendation.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rachel J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect location

Whimsical house, full of charm. Nothing cold or sterile about its design, but it’s amazingly clean. Walkable to everything. My teenaged kids and I enjoyed searching for all the mice to go with one room’s theme. My only regret is not booking more nights!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 22 July 2024
Rachel, wow, thank you so much! We are thrilled the cottage was such a hit for the whole family and the warm of our place was clearly felt! Always welcome back! Sarah and Chris Menagerie House York
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lisa C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stunning house in the centre of York. The owners couldn’t do enough for you. Just perfect

The property is absolutely stunning, such eye for detail. The owners couldn’t do enough to help. Lots of personal touches in every corner. Would 100% recommend and will definitely be going back
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Sept 2023
Thank you so much Lisa, we are thrilled we got it right for you. You were fabulous guests and are welcome back any time! Sarah and Chris
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jayne C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend in York

This a beautiful quirky house. The attention to detail is amazing and it is so close to the centre of York. There were a couple of things, the single beds were quite narrow for adults and even though the heating was on the downstairs was a little nippy. The upstairs was lovely and warm. We would return again and recommend to all.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Sept 2023
Hi Jayne, Thank you for your lovely review and for leaving the place so immaculate. The twin beds are 75cm wide, combined this equates to a standard king size bed of 150cm, apologies if this was on the small size for the people who slept in the Fox Den. We use a Hive thermostat in the property, which we monitor remotely. It registered 20-21 degrees from the living areas throughout the day time until 10pm when it switches off. There is open access to the thermostat in the living room to turn the heating on outside of these times and blankets on the sofas and extra stored in the room to stay cosy. It is a difficult one to gauge, as our immediately previous guests switched the heating off and the guests before that travelled from Florida and had the heating on throughout the night. Please do share any difficulties you have during your stay, as we would like to have the opportunity to rectify them. Best wishes and have a wonderful Christmas, Sarah and Chris
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Vivienne P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just perfect, especially for our circumstances

The initial description of location, quirkiness and facilities attracted us. In practice, the house was even better for a mixed generation family at Christmas. The Christmas wreath, decorations & lovely tree, plus starter food & drink made us feel very warm & welcome instantly. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness, Sarah & Chris. The house is very well located and equipped. We loved the animal stencils which amused the two year old, too! The attention to detail was also reflected in very helpful notes of what/how to do things and local attractions. (For instance, we knew the pub already & were happy to find it as friendly & a true ‘local’ as ever.) The expression ‘small but perfectly formed’ could be applied to the property. The owners have been meticulous in use of space, colour and fittings to make it feel like a home not just a house. We loved it!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Dec 2023
Vivienne, we are thrilled we exceeded your expectations! We could not have asked for a better recommendation and we hope we’ll have the honour to host you all again and meet you in person next time. All the best for 2024, Sarah and Chris
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Chad C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A special and unique place to stay

We loved the Menagerie house so much! It is even more beautiful in person. We loved looking at every detail from the wallpaper to the art work and furnishings, to the quirky little details. It was so much fun to walk around and admire everything. There were six of us that stayed there: 4 adults, a 13 year old and a 9 year old. The beds were all comfortable, the house was impeccably clean, and it had everything we needed. The location was fantastic, and we spent the days exploring York and the evenings relaxing in this beautiful house. The hosts were very quick to answer any questions, and provided lots of suggestions for things to see and places to eat. We tried a few of their suggestions and were very happy with everything! We wished we had more time to spend there and we did not want to leave. If we are lucky enough to make it back to York one day, we will definitely stay there again! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful house with us! We will not forget it!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Sept 2023
Thank you so much Chad for such wonderful feedback. We are delighted you all enjoyed your time at Menagerie House and it was a pleasure to host you and your family. Warm wishes to you all, Sarah and Chris
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Suzanne H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely House

Lovely house, close to shops. Will stay again
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2022

About the host

Hosted by Sarah and Chris

Host profile image
We are Sarah and Chris, and these are our three children, Isabel, Tom and Sephie. York is our beautiful home city, which we feel blessed to live in. Our decision to create a luxury holiday home in the very centre of York came following a career rethink and a desire to indulge our love of design and allow us time to relax with our family.

Menagerie House is the fruits of our labour and adventure and we have drawn heavily on our own experiences travelling, to create accommodation which is truly unique, a joy to relax in and brings a smile to your face, whether travelling as a group or as a family.

Why they chose this property

Menagerie House stood out to us from the moment we saw it. Neglected though it was, we saw its potential from the Victorian monochrome tiling in the entrance hall, fabulous high ceilings and of course, its prime location in one of the oldest and desirable parts of York - Bishophill. In our renovation, we purposely sought to retain the character of the building by honouring the history of the property, retaining its period features and incorporating these into its design and decor, which is an eclectic array of art and furniture from the Victorian to Mid Century Modern. We hope you will love what we have created and enjoy sharing it with your friends and family.

What makes this property unique

We named the house Menagerie House because that is just what it is. Of course guests are coming to see York but we want you to remember your stay as something special, an experience in itself far beyond your typical holiday let accommodation. Menagerie House is a collection of beautiful and unique things (and creatures!) intended to make you smile. Do come and experience the menagerie!
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