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Summary of reviewsLil's On The Waterfront in York receives commendable reviews for its prime location, right on the river Ouse and close to major attractions like the Viking Centre and The Shambles. Guests appreciate the picturesque views and the convenience of being near shops, bars and restaurants, while still enjoying a surprisingly peaceful atmosphere at night. The hotel makes for an excellent base for exploring York's historic charm and modern offerings.
Guests have positive remarks about the hotel's breakfast and dinner options. Breakfast, served at the adjacent bistro or affiliated café/bar, is described as tasty and of high quality, though some guests faced issues with late service times and additional fees. The dinner experience is highly praised for its delicious food, generous portions and attractive discounts for hotel guests. However, the early closing hours of the kitchen and bar can be a downside for late diners.
Rooms at Lil's On The Waterfront receive mixed feedback. Many guests appreciate the cleanliness, modern bathrooms and cozy atmosphere, particularly those with river views. The rooms are generally described as spacious and well-equipped with modern facilities. Nonetheless, some guests find certain rooms to be small, dark and poorly ventilated. Noise from the pub below and the lack of windows in some rooms can also detract from the experience. Despite this, the overall decor blends traditional and modern styles and the scenic views and cleanliness help balance the varied reviews.
Cleanliness is another mixed aspect with many guests praising the tidy and welcoming rooms, particularly the spotless bathrooms. However, issues like dirty carpets, mold and general neglect in some areas highlight the need for more consistent cleaning practices.
The staff at Lil's are frequently lauded for their friendliness and assistance, contributing significantly to a welcoming atmosphere. Most guests have positive interactions with the team, although a few negative experiences with unhelpful behavior are mentioned.
Family accommodations are well-regarded with positive comments about the hotel's convenience and suitability for family stays. Beds have mixed reviews; they are generally considered comfortable and clean, though issues with bed sizes, stability and mattress quality are noted.
WiFi connectivity emerges as a common concern with multiple complaints about weak or nonexistent signals in both rooms and common areas.
Overall, Lil's On The Waterfront offers a solid three-star experience with great value for money, especially given its central location. Despite areas needing improvement, such as cleanliness, WiFi and some room conditions, it delivers an enjoyable stay with its welcoming staff, quality dining options and stunning views. It's a recommendable choice for those looking to explore the heart of York without breaking the bank. Show more
Read review summaries for all categories
Categories
Family Friendly Hotel
Hotel with Free Wi-Fi
Small Hotel
3-Star Hotel
Room Types
Deluxe Double RoomThis room offers either full or partial river views.
Double Room with River ViewThis double room comes with a full, or partial view of the river and features a electric kettle and flat-screen TV.
Double Room - Internal with no viewThis double room features a kettle and a bath.
Please note that this room does not offer a river view.
Deluxe Double Room with ShowerPlease note that this room does not offer river views.
Deluxe Room with River ViewThis room offers full river views.
Standard Room with Partial River ViewThis room offers full river views.
Guest Reviews
6.9
Rated
Location
Lil's On The Waterfront boasts an ideal location, delighting guests with its prime position right on the river Ouse and near the heart of York. Visitors appreciate the picturesque views and centrality, noting the convenience of being a short walk away from top tourist attractions such as the Viking Centre, Shambles and Minster. The hotel's proximity to local amenities, shops, bars and restaurants adds to its appeal, making it an excellent base for exploring the vibrant city. Reviews highlight the benefit of easy navigation, as well as discounts on food and drink for residents. Despite being centrally located, guests describe the atmosphere as surprisingly peaceful at night. The location's charm is complemented by friendly staff and comfortable accommodations, making Lil's On The Waterfront a top choice for those wanting to experience the best of York's historic charm and modern conveniences.
Breakfast
At Lil's On The Waterfront, guests frequently mention the breakfast arrangements, a mix of both praise and some logistical concerns. For those who managed to dine at the next-door bistro or the affiliated cafe/bar, the consensus is that the breakfast is fantastic with descriptions of it being tasty, of good quality and excellent. Many appreciate the discount offered at Lil's bistro. The food served there earns high marks for taste and generosity, contributing to a pleasant dining experience.
However, several guests express frustration with the breakfast timings, as the service often starts at 10 AM or later, which is too late for those with early schedules. Some visitors were disappointed to find breakfast wasn't included in their booking and they had to pay an additional fee, which at times didn't seem justified by the quality. Unfortunately, there were instances when breakfast services were unavailable due to scheduling or staffing issues, leading some guests to seek alternatives elsewhere.
Overall, while the breakfast at Lil's receives commendation for quality and flavor, potential guests should be aware of the later start times and check their booking details regarding meal inclusion.
Dinner
The dinner experience at Lil's On The Waterfront generally receives high praise from guests with many highlighting the appealing pub atmosphere and the attractive discounts offered to hotel guests. Diners mention a discount on food and drink, typically ranging from 15% to 25%, which adds value to the overall experience. Guests frequently commend the food, using terms like lovely, amazing, fantastic and delicious with some claiming it to be among the best in York. Many appreciate the pub and bistro setting, characterizing it as nice and high quality.
However, there are notable issues regarding the operational hours of the kitchen and bar. Several reviews point out that the kitchen often closes early, which can be disappointing for those hoping for a late dinner or drink. Some mention that no food is available until lunchtime and that service halts between 9 pm to 9:30 pm. Additionally, there are occasional problems with the bar running out of certain items, such as beer.
Despite these timing issues, the excellent location and helpful staff contribute positively to the dining experience. Guests enjoy the convenience of a pub and restaurant on-site and the detailed menu information available in the rooms. Overall, the dining experience at Lil's On The Waterfront is well-regarded, provided guests are aware of the service hours.
Rooms
Located in the heart of York, 'Lil's On The Waterfront' presents a unique blend of charm and modern comfort, accommodating a diverse range of guest experiences. The hotel's rooms are praised for their cleanliness with many guests noting the modern and well-appointed bathrooms. Some rooms boast lovely river views and a cozy atmosphere, making them a pleasant retreat after a day of exploring the city. Spacious and clean with modern facilities such as tea and coffee stations, these rooms offer decent value considering the location's prime proximity to attractions like Jorvik and The Shambles.
However, feedback on room conditions is mixed. While some rooms are described as spacious, comfortable and newly updated, others are noted to be quite small, dark and lacking proper ventilation. The absence of windows in some rooms and noise from the pub below, can detract from the overall experience. Comfort varies with some guests finding the beds too hard or rooms stuffy, while others found them adequate and cozy.
Overall, while the hotel's decor blends traditional and modern styles, a few areas show signs of wear and could benefit from further attention. Guests frequently mention steep stairs and the need for better sound insulation. Despite these areas for improvement, the cleanliness, location and scenic views help balance the varied reviews.
Beds
Visitors to Lil's On The Waterfront have had varied experiences with the beds. Most guests praise the beds for their comfort, mentioning that they were cozy, extremely comfortable and provided a clean and pleasant sleeping experience. Many refer to the beds as comfy and noted that they found them to be among the comfiest they’ve experienced in Britain.
However, some reviewers pointed out discrepancies in bed sizes with several noting that the beds felt small or too low to the floor. A number of guests mentioned issues with bed stability and slats falling off, which contributed to an unstable sleep. Comfort levels also varied with some mattresses being described as perfect while others were criticized for being lumpy, too soft or too hard. There were multiple complaints about feeling springs in the mattresses and some beds were described as squeaky or creaky.
Cleanliness of the beds was highlighted positively by several reviewers, but a few noted concerns about worn-out or stained mattresses and bed linens. Despite the mixed feedback, when issues arose, many guests appreciated the pleasant atmosphere and the overall coziness of the rooms. The decor in the rooms was typically well-received and the additional paid breakfast was noted as tasty by one reviewer.
Cleanliness
Lil's On The Waterfront presents a mixed bag when it comes to cleanliness, according to guest reviews. On the plus side, many guests found their rooms to be clean, tidy and welcoming, often noting that the bathrooms were particularly spotless and well-appointed with beautifully folded towels adding a nice touch. The cleaning staff received praise for keeping rooms neat and ensuring basic amenities were in good order. Some reviewers mentioned that the hotel felt clean and comfortable overall with stylish and modern touches.
However, there are recurring complaints that tarnish the experience. Many guests highlighted issues such as dirty carpets, dust on surfaces and skirting boards, mold and grime in the bathrooms and musty, damp smells in the rooms. Specific problems included stained furniture and linens, cobwebs and unclean common areas such as hallways and staircases. Several reviews mentioned that the rooms felt run-down or neglected with issues like broken fixtures, rusty bins and worn-out paint.
In summary, while some visitors appreciate the cleanliness and upkeep, others encountered significant cleanliness issues that detracted from their stay, suggesting that the hotel could benefit from more consistent and thorough cleaning practices.
Staff
At Lil's On The Waterfront, the hospitality largely stands out for its friendly and accommodating staff. Guests frequently highlight the pleasant and helpful nature of the team, noting their politeness and willingness to assist. Many reviews mention specific instances where staff members went above and beyond, such as carrying bags or quickly responding to requests.
Positive encounters with staff were a common theme throughout the feedback with numerous guests appreciating the warm and welcoming atmosphere created by the team. This was particularly evident in the breakfast service, where the staff were described as cheerful and engaging.
However, there were some less favorable experiences reported with a few guests encountering rudeness or unhelpful behavior. These were exceptions rather than the rule, as the majority of visitors were quite satisfied with the level of service received.
Overall, Lil's On The Waterfront seems to deliver a predominantly positive guest experience through its amiable and supportive staff, making it a recommendable choice for travelers seeking welcoming hospitality.
Wi-Fi
Guests of Lil's On The Waterfront have expressed mixed experiences regarding the hotel's WiFi. While some guests mentioned that the WiFi did the job despite not being the fastest, others pointed out that the connection quality was poor and streaming video was not possible. Complaints also included issues like weak or feeble WiFi and some noted a complete lack of WiFi in both the rooms and common areas like the bar. Overall, connectivity issues were a common concern among visitors, indicating that WiFi may not be a strong point of this hotel.
Family
Lil's On The Waterfront is frequently highlighted as a great choice for family stays. Guests often commend its convenient and nice location, which is suitable for families. Many reviews note that it is a perfect place for a family visit and praise the family-friendly nature of the hotel, including the availability of good rooms for family accommodations. Additionally, the hotel is described as well-suited for drying kids' clothes, although some guests have noted challenges with room amenities such as showers that are too hot and thermostats that do not work. Despite these occasional issues, the overall impression is that Lil's On The Waterfront caters well to families.
3 Star
Lil's On The Waterfront provides a 3-star experience with decent value for money. The location is central and convenient, appealing to families given the availability of separate rooms. Guests found the rooms to be comfortable and clean, though not luxurious, making it a reasonable choice for budget-conscious travelers.
Despite the favorable location and decent service, a few areas need improvement. The hotel's cleaning standards require attention, as multiple reviews point to the need for better organization among cleaners and a more rigorous approach to maintaining cleanliness. The property itself is described as somewhat tired and in need of fresh paint and better furnishings.
The steep stairs present a challenge, particularly with the lack of railings in some parts—a point that could be mitigated with better markings for safety. Noise can also be an issue, especially in the evenings, creating a less peaceful environment for guests. Some rooms lack natural light, leading to stifling conditions that add discomfort during the stay.
Overall, while Lil's On The Waterfront offers a satisfactory experience and reasonable accommodation at its price point, addressing the highlighted areas could significantly enhance guest satisfaction.
No, Lil's On The Waterfront doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Lil's On The Waterfront.
No, Lil's On The Waterfront doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Lil's On The Waterfront.