Travelers find themselves in the vibrant heart of York, where historic landmarks wait just steps away and friendly staff serve perfect coffees and cocktails
The Impossible Motel in York's City Centre blends modern amenities with historic surroundings. Guests can unwind in two bars, grab coffee at the on-site shop, or walk to York Minster and the Shambles. Multilingual staff and in-room WiFi keep everyone connected.
View all photos for Signature Double Room, Hot Tub (Stella Solarium)
Signature Double Room, Hot Tub (Stella Solarium)
Highlights
Furnished balcony or patio
Private rooftop hot tub
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Blackout drapes/curtains
Separate bedroom
City view
19 sq m
1 bedroom
Sleeps 2
1 King Bed
View all photos for Design Double Room - 2 Baths (Labyrinth)
Design Double Room - 2 Baths (Labyrinth)
8.08.0 out of 10
Very good
1 review
(1 review)
Highlights
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Separate bedroom
Premium bedding
Egyptian cotton linens
Hair dryer
18 sq m
1 bedroom
Sleeps 2
1 King Bed
View all photos for Basic Double Room (Dungeon)
Basic Double Room (Dungeon)
Highlights
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Separate bedroom
Premium bedding
Egyptian cotton linens
Hair dryer
13 sq m
1 bedroom
Sleeps 2
1 Queen Bed
View all photos for Romantic Room - Bath for 2 (The Red Room)
Romantic Room - Bath for 2 (The Red Room)
Highlights
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Separate bedroom
Premium bedding
Egyptian cotton linens
9 sq m
1 bedroom
Sleeps 2
1 Queen Bed
View all photos for Classic Double Room, City View (Sublime)
Classic Double Room, City View (Sublime)
Highlights
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Blackout drapes/curtains
Premium bedding
Egyptian cotton linens
Designer toiletries
City view
17 sq m
Sleeps 2
1 King Bed
View all photos for Deluxe Room (Superb)
Deluxe Room (Superb)
Highlights
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Blackout drapes/curtains
Separate bedroom
Premium bedding
Egyptian cotton linens
City view
14 sq m
1 bedroom
Sleeps 2
1 King Bed
View all photos for Classic Room, City View (Splendid)
Classic Room, City View (Splendid)
Highlights
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Blackout drapes/curtains
Separate bedroom
Premium bedding
Egyptian cotton linens
City view
13 sq m
1 bedroom
Sleeps 2
1 Queen Bed
View all photos for Luxury Room, Hot Tub (Sir Joseph Terry)
Luxury Room, Hot Tub (Sir Joseph Terry)
8.08.0 out of 10
Very good
1 review
(1 review)
Highlights
Furnished balcony or patio
Private rooftop hot tub
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Blackout drapes/curtains
Separate bedroom
15 sq m
1 bedroom
Sleeps 2
1 Queen Bed
View all photos for Economy Double Room, No Windows (The Bank Vault)
Economy Double Room, No Windows (The Bank Vault)
10.010.0 out of 10
Exceptional
2 reviews
(2 reviews)
Highlights
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Separate bedroom
Premium bedding
Egyptian cotton linens
Hair dryer
17 sq m
1 bedroom
Sleeps 2
1 Queen Bed
View all photos for Elite Room - Bath for 2 (Sensational)
Elite Room - Bath for 2 (Sensational)
9.09.0 out of 10
Wonderful
2 reviews
(2 reviews)
Highlights
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Blackout drapes/curtains
Separate bedroom
Premium bedding
Egyptian cotton linens
City view
13 sq m
1 bedroom
Sleeps 2
1 King Bed
View all photos for Comfort Room, City View (Spectacular)
Comfort Room, City View (Spectacular)
10.010.0 out of 10
Exceptional
1 review
(1 review)
Highlights
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Blackout drapes/curtains
Premium bedding
Egyptian cotton linens
Designer toiletries
City view
14 sq m
Sleeps 2
1 King Bed
View all photos for Economy Double Room, No Windows (Mail Room)
Economy Double Room, No Windows (Mail Room)
8.08.0 out of 10
Very good
1 review
(1 review)
Highlights
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Separate bedroom
Premium bedding
Egyptian cotton linens
Hair dryer
18 sq m
1 bedroom
Sleeps 2
1 Queen Bed
View all photos for Economy Double Room, No Windows (Experience)
Economy Double Room, No Windows (Experience)
Highlights
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Separate bedroom
Premium bedding
Egyptian cotton linens
Hair dryer
17 sq m
1 bedroom
Sleeps 2
1 Queen Bed
About the neighborhood
Located in City Centre, a neighborhood in York, Impossible Motel is near a train station. Notable landmarks in the area include York Minster and Shambles. Yorkshire Museum Gardens and Yorkshire Museum are also worth visiting. Visit our York travel guide
3 St. Helens Square, York, England, YO1 8QN
What's nearby
Shambles
3 min walk - 0.3 km
York Minster
3 min walk - 0.3 km
York Christmas Market
3 min walk - 0.3 km
Jorvik Viking Centre
5 min walk - 0.4 km
York City Walls
5 min walk - 0.4 km
Getting around
York Station
8 min walk
Leeds (LBA-Leeds Bradford)
61 min drive
Restaurants
Bettys Café Tea Rooms
1 min walk
House Of The Trembling Madness
1 min walk
Northern Monk Refectory // YRK
2 min walk
Brew & Brownie
2 min walk
Caffè Nero
1 min walk
About this property
Impossible Motel
Hotel near York Minster
Near Shambles, Impossible Motel provides a coffee shop/cafe, 2 bars, and a restaurant. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi.
Additional perks include:
Concierge services, a banquet hall, and multilingual staff
A 24-hour front desk, a porter/bellhop, and smoke-free premises
Luggage storage, tour/ticket assistance, and a water dispenser
Guest reviews speak highly of the helpful staff
Room features
All guestrooms at Impossible Motel include thoughtful touches such as premium bedding and air conditioning, in addition to amenities like free WiFi and free bottled water.
Extra conveniences in all rooms include:
Hypo-allergenic bedding and Egyptian cotton sheets
Designer toiletries and hair dryers
Heating, daily housekeeping, and electrical adapters/chargers
Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out
Check-out before 11:00 AM
Special check-in instructions
Guests will receive an email within 72 hours before arrival with check-in instructions; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Access methods
Staffed front desk
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
This property welcomes adults only
Property payment types
Important information
Fees
You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:
Deposit is payable by bank transfer and is due within 24 hours of booking the reservation.
We have included all charges provided to us by the property.
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
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
Property is also known as
Impossible Motel York
Impossible Motel Hotel
Impossible Motel Hotel York
Frequently asked questions
Is Impossible Motel pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking?
This property doesn't offer parking.
What time is check-in at Impossible Motel?
Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime.
What time is check-out at Impossible Motel?
Check-out is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Impossible Motel located?
Located in City Centre, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of St. Helen's Square, York Minster, and Shambles. York Mansion House and Stonegate are just steps away. York Station is 8 minutes by foot and York (QQY-York Train Station) is 8 minutes.
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Reviews
Impossible Motel Reviews
8.6
Excellent
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Cannot fault the service from the staff who wete so friendly and were very knowledgeable about the event i was going to and the places i mentioned hoping to visit.
Gorgeous quirky hotel just a bit of a maze to navigate. Also we were in basement and a lot of noise above. Chairs scraping on floors etc other than that staff cleanliness location etc all perfect.
Staff were very helpful especially carrying our bags to and from our room. The room was very clean and the bed was soft and extremely comfortable. The room was in the basement and there are steps but they are broken up not continuous so weren’t too problematic for some one with slight mobility issues. The music and noise from the bar ended at 11pm and we didn’t experience any noise from outside or other guests.
Amazing stay for my partners birthday - had the option to add surprise balloons and gifts into the room prior arrival- wonderful option! Also upgraded us to the terrace + hot tub room for our second night and it really made the stay special - staff were wonderful, super thoughtful with the smaller touches, and couldn’t do enough for us, would stay here again in a heartbeat!
The check in staff were fabulous. Friendly and helpful. The room was small but not wholly unexpected. This hotel is great location. The bath was great. The bath candles didn’t have batteries, the shower leaked all over the floor too. The main downside is by far the noise from the bar downstairs which goes on late, so if you are a light sleeper I would avoid it. Overall however, we enjoyed it and the staff made it x
Our 3rd time staying, great customer service and a great place!
Michael
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025
6/10 Okay
Dorne
5 December 2025
I was expecting great things from the room and sadly it did not deliver.
The plastic plant is in need of a good clean
The battery operated candles need replacement batteries and again a good clean
The room was tired
The shower leaked
Beautiful, quirky hotel slap bang in the city centre. Couldn’t get a better location. Staff were extremely helpful & polite. Would definitely recommend a stay here.
The hotel itself was different, receptionists were both extremely friendly and helpful. The room on appearance is lovely however after spending a few hours in the room, even with the lights on it was very dull, the club above was extremely noisy (even with headphones in) and the constant footsteps on the ceiling stopping us sleeping. whilst the room had aircon it wasn’t very good so the room was stifling all night. The bathroom being behind the bed with no door was very odd too. The shower was good and the slipper provided were helpful as the floor was concrete. The bed was comfy but the duvet was way too thick and between the bad aircon wasn’t used. The lights in the room that wouldn’t turn off were also very distracting and disturbed our sleep. For how much we paid for this room it was not worth it.
I personally loved the motel, unfortunately it was too dark for the wife. The noise from the bar/club was loud, but not bad enough to worry about. Location is amazing. Lots near by
.
Interesting and eclectic hotel in an ideal location in the wonderful city of York. Parking was a challenge though, and warnings about street noise were warranted. not recommended for anyone with accessibility challenges.
Hotel was really nice and clean and the staff were lovely.
The downside for me was the toilet. It was very exposed. I stayed with my husband of 26yrs so I'd say we know each other pretty well. That being said, i still like my visits to the loo slightly more private so to only have a piece of frosted glass to just about cover me if i leaned back, left me feeling over exposed.
The other slight downside is for light sleepers in the basement rooms...they are noisy. You can hear the water through the exposed pipes so every shower, toilet flush and tap in adjacent rooms woke me up. My husband though slept like a log.....the beds are so comfy.
Fabulous hotel, great decor best location in York!
Perfect location in York. The hotel rooms are unique and beautifully decorated in the bed is fabulous. The staff at the hotel is extraordinarily helpful and made first day that much better. If and when we come back this is the only place we will stay!
First time staying here on a Christmas shopping trip with my sister. Absolutely perfect location. The hotel itself is stunning, the decor and room was beautiful. The staff are a credit as all so friendly, welcoming and helpful. Before checking out we've already decided we want to return next year.
Easy check in and polite and friendly staff. The room was comfortable and everything we needed for a night away. Really cool atmosphere and peaceful. No noise and a real feeling of “getting away”. Shower was decent which is always a big plus. The bed was incredibly comfy. I’ll be visiting again
Superb attention to detail. Excellent location for exploring the city. Beds and pillows were soo comfy. Though our room was small it had everything we needed.
Other reviews mentioned noise from the bar above. We accidentally booked on a Tuesday night in January when that bar is shut and had no issues with noise.
They offered to look after our bags when we checked out which was nice too.
Amazing staff.
We were able to drop of our bags on arrival and go explore the city. Our room was ready before check in so we were called to let us know.
Love that you get to pick your own whipped soap for your room.
Our room was spacious with a comfy bed.
The complimentary pastries in the morning were a nice touch too