Looking for a magical staycation for you and the family?
We've found the perfect place for you to transport yourself into the wizarding world of JK Rowling's Harry Potter.
Get your broomstick and fly down to this spellbinding staycation in Badger Hill, York. It’s every Potterheads dream to stay in the Potter-themed house with its very own cupboard under the stairs.
This family house replicates that of a normal house outside, but when you step foot inside it’s unlike no other AirBnB you’ve ever seen.
The REAL life Private Drive!
The property intends to hold up to seven ‘muggles’. The rooms include a bunk bed, king-size bed in the red room and a double bed in the Green Room. The rooms are very consciously decorated with small details; like pictures of Umbridge’s cats, Hedwig and even wands.
The master bedroom includes luxurious decor with Gryffindor-colour bedsheets and canopy curtains with Dumbledore's portrait watching over the bed frame; it's the perfect stay.
We reckon you'll sleep so well your body will think it's been petrified!
You can also stay in the Slytherin Room: an exquisitely-draped, four-poster bed which is intended to be a replication of the Slytherin house common room. So why not stay and channel your inner Draco Malfoy? Or… even curl up in the ominous cupboard under the stairs.
Sit down in the beautifully decorated living room where the Hogwarts letters are flourishing up the wall, just like in the film. This meticulous detail makes the storybook come alive, so why not sip a 'pott’er tea' (get it?) and play a game of wizards chess and ‘Snapes and ladders’.
Netflix is also included with the house, you can even cosy on the sofa with the original films, and allow your staycation to become an immersive experience.
The outdoor space is 'huffelpuffection' with spacious grass and patio area, perfect for children to run around playing a game of quidditch.
This wizarding staycation is perfect to relax with the family before stepping foot onto the magical streets of York City Centre, located ten minutes away.
York is a beautiful city, with many parts believed to be an inspiration for the books. The renowned Shambles is the real Diagon Alley with its medieval-style shops and houses.
Wand-er along its old, cobble paths and timber-lined frames are as strong as the sense of magic and history. Many of the buildings date back to the fourteenth and fifteenth century, making the streets act almost as a time capsule.
To add to this magic, we’ve heard through the Snapevine that there are many shops and activities that you could see, such as; The Potions Cauldron at No. 9 3 1⁄4. In which you can visit the ‘secret potion room’ and make some mysterious, tasty potions.
Or The Shop That Must Not Be Named; where you can pick up official Harry Potter merchandise like an Olivanders wand or a new cloak.
For a more hands-on activity you could visit ‘The Hole in Wand’, a mystical mini golf course, located in Coppergate shopping Centre.
GR8escape York also has a spell-tastic escape room in which you can only escape by proving that you are a real wizard through your spell ability, wand skills and potions knowledge.
One Leeds' pride and joys is getting some well-deserved recognition as The Queen's Hotel has been named of the best places to stay in the UK.
Located right in the heart of the city centre, The Queen's Hotel is about as beautiful a building as they come in Leeds, with its pristine white walls and art deco design making it one of the most stunning structures we have to our name.
It's as synonymous with the cityscape as the Town Hall, Corn Exchange, Kirkstall and Kirkgate, as well as the train station for which the flagship hotel was built.
We couldn't be prouder to call it our own the only thing we'll argue on is that it should be further up the rankings.
The Sunday Times’ '100 Best Places to Stay in the UK' is compiled by a team of experienced reviewers, who narrow down hundreds of stays into the definitive guide of the best accommodation around the UK.
Hotels are judged on several factors, including design, facilities, and value for money, plus dining and service.
Speaking on the Leeds icon, specifically, the Times wrote: "Big, bold and stately, the Queens holds court over the centre of Leeds like the grande dame she was intended to be when built in 1937.
"Back then, with her art deco lines, pearly-grey stone façade, polished wood and mirrored interiors, she was the place to stay. Fast-forward several decades and an expensive buff and shine has brought her zipping into the 21st century without losing an iota of old-world glamour.
"With sleek, airy bedrooms, a sophisticated cocktail bar and sultry circular restaurant, she’s an ideal base for hitting the city’s cultural hotspots, boutique shops and great places to eat."
You can read their full review of the Grade II-listed legend HERE.
There were a fair few other successes for Yorkshire and the North as a whole this year beyond just The Queen's Hotel's achievement on its own.
The Angel at Hetton and Saltmoore in North Yorkshire picked up 'North and northeast England hotel of the year' as well as 'Best beach hotel', respectively; plus, Jöro at Oughtibridge Mill in Sheffield received plaudits among many other Northern nods.
With the Times also naming Leeds in general as one of the coolest places to live, so much for that whole 'grim up North' nonsense, eh?
Featured Images — The Hoot
Staycations
Inside the northern spa retreat with one of the most beautiful outdoor pools in the country
Daisy Jackson
If you turn to the great outdoors to relax in your spare time, but you don’t actually want to swim in a pond, then we’ve found the absolute perfect spa retreat for you.
This spa might just have the best swimming spot in the UK, with an outdoor swimming pool sunk right into a natural pool so you can feellike a mermaid without actually touching a mystery plant with your bare toes.
This is the Yorkshire Spa Retreat, part of Hoseasons’ collection of holiday escapes right here on home turf.
It’s set in more than eight acres of gorgeous rolling Yorkshire parkland, an oasis of tranquillity that’s the ideal place to give yourself some well-deserved TLC.
You can enjoy the beauty of the Yorkshire countryside with a dip in the hydro-pool, or take a turn in the herbal steam room, sauna, or salt chamber.
Then there is of course that incredible wild swimming pool.
The northern spa retreat with the most beautiful outdoor pool in the country. Credit: Hoseasons
Of course there’s a long list of spa treatments to take your reset to the next level and a menu of locally sourced food and drinks to keep you going.
All that relaxing deserves a good night’s sleep and here you’ll find a blend of bespoke luxury holiday homes and stunning lodges which are cosy and comforting with all of the best modern amenities.
You don’t have to spend the night if you don’t want to, with day spa packages available too.
Credit: Hoseasons
But to be honest, I don’t think we’d ever be able to tear ourselves away once we were submerged here.
With an overnight or weekend stay, you’ll have a number of national parks on your doorstep, including the North York Moors which wraps around the Yorkshire Spa Retreat.
Nearby attractions include a Land Rover tour of the local area, Castle Howard, Rievaulx Abbey, the market town of Helmsley, and the city of York itself.
The Hoot -
10th January 2024 
