The Royal Oak Hotel

United Kingdom , Aberdeen
Buckie, 34 Castle Terrace
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50 reviews shown

8/10

Excellent

04 Jun 2026

gary

Warm welcome from staff. Bed had not been made up so lady went and sorted that before she showed us room. Room was spacious and lovely view of castle from window. Plenty of tea making items. Comfortable bed. Only downside was there was no breakfast available at hotel so we had to wait until 9am when a local cafe opened (cafe on the square) to purchase a breakfast. No on site parking but we managed to park for free on side of road behind hotel

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 Mar 2026

Amy

Excellent room with lovely furnishings

Self

6/10

Pleasant

19 Feb 2026

Jed

Yes

Self

8/10

Excellent

18 Jan 2026

Andrew

The room was clean and pleasant, although the toilet was leaking.
The noise from the bar music was very loud up until midnight.
Easy walking to the venue we were going to so it served it’s purpose at a good price.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jan 2026

The location, facilities and PEOPLE make this a superb place to stay in North Yorkshire

Partner

8/10

Excellent

01 Nov 2025

Lance

Room and staff champion

8/10

Excellent

28 Oct 2025

Michelle

Room lovely , (a little noisy with music from downstairs ) plenty of shops near by. Parking at this hotel is tricky , we had to move the car later to a side road.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

12 Jul 2025

EDDIE

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jul 2025

Nicolette

We had a very friendly welcome and a lovely clean room. The steak and ale pie for dinner, in the restaurant, was excellent.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jun 2025

David

A very nice room and friendly staff

10/10

Exceptional

30 Aug 2024

TERRENCE

Property was located in the center of Helmsley.

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

26 Jul 2024

karen

A comfy stay

The room was spacious and comfy. The staff were super friendly and heoful. However wifi did not work at all and beer was poor quality.

6/10

Pleasant

24 May 2024

Elisabeth

Pretty average

The accommodation was much as expected. The room clean and tidy but the windows were not double glazed and so outside noise easily heard. In the bathroom little things like the toilet roll placed too far back and no plug in the hand basin were minor inconveniences.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

12 Sep 2023

Arthur

Very nice property in center of town. Walkable to all the attractions. Enjoyed our stay room was very cute and well decorated.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

11 Sep 2023

Brian

Dont advertise free wifi when there isnt any

Spacious room, nice view over market square. Shower room needs refurbishment. Very disappointed that there was no free wifi in the public areas nor in the room.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

14 Aug 2023

Paul

Good overall

Nice sized room. Right in the square. Bathroom a bit manky.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 Aug 2023

Stephen

Great location and staff member at check in and during the afternoon in the bar was very helpful & knowledgeable.
We found the room and facilities to be excellent, other than the bed which was a little uncomfortable. Disappointed to return at only 1045pm to be told last orders had been called at the bar and we couldn't have a final drink. Other than that would recommend and would stay again.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

13 Feb 2023

Verified traveler

Very clean but dated premises. The room was specious & bed comfortable. Staff were very friendly & noise from the bar area below not a problem. Breakfast was a little disappointing but good pre-selection the night before. Parking outside was convenient but council run public car park free between 6pm & 9am. All in all a decent stay for the convenience & friendliness.

Partner

2/10

Poor

08 Aug 2022

alan

Dreadful, Things old and some not working (including some lights and Wi-Fi) but worst of all very loud music from down below till 11pm so couldn’t hear myself think. (All recorded) Awful, worst of places I’ve been and all for £100!!!

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jul 2022

terence

Beautifully set-up room with comfortable bed and pillows, and useful other units. Provision of water bottles and good range of teas and coffees was excellent

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

28 Jun 2021

Craig

TV Didn't work

Partner

8/10

Excellent

14 Jun 2021

Fiona

Friendly small hotel.

Pleasant stay in a friendly small hotel. Manager was helpful, room was comfortable and breakfast was good.
Only downsides were: no TV reception, one of the sockets didn’t work and the toilet macerator was really noisy. I parked outside the hotel at what appeared to be hotel parking, but received a parking ticket. I wish I had been informed that the parking didn’t belong to the hotel and would need to be paid for.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

23 Oct 2020

Jonathan

Helmsley & the Royal Oak

The Royal Oak is well positioned in the market place and is run by friendly welcoming staff. The Pub Grub menu is limited but the the food was excellent and the beer was superb. Helmesley has a lot going for ir, we would definately go again!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 Sep 2020

Trevor

Date night

Pleasant trip away, staff were excellent and the food and service was top notch A++++++

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

17 Jan 2020

Verified traveler

The room was pleasent and clean although the pub itself was very \"tired\". Breakfast was nice but i asked for sausage bacon beans on toast, and they basically gave me a childs portion - one sausage, 2 bacon 1 toast and a spoon full of beans. I do not think ths was worth £100 a night.

10/10

Exceptional

03 Dec 2019

Fiona

Delightful

Booked here because it was dog-friendly and convenient for an event I was attending nearby. The Royal Oak massively exceeded my expectations with a comfortable room which was immaculately clean, friendly and helpful staff, and a really great breakfast. even had a great view of Helmsley Castle from my window!

Self

6/10

Pleasant

06 Oct 2019

Verified traveler

Not great

Hotel very tired/shabby looking & Not cleaned properly

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

18 Sep 2019

John

Difficulty finding free parking near to hotel

Partner

8/10

Excellent

30 Jul 2019

Verified traveler

The staff were very friendly. TV a bit small and could be in a better place

Friends_and_family Partner

2/10

Poor

22 Apr 2019

Amanda

The noise of banging doors in the bar below did not cease until after 2:00am as a result we had a very disturbed nights sleep
We go to Helmsley frequently but will not be returning to this establishment

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

15 Apr 2019

Verified traveler

Didn’t like booking a twin room and getting a double and then being offered a twin for more money

Leisure

6/10

Pleasant

15 Apr 2019

Janice

Lovely friendly staff and excellent food. However, we had to wait half an hour before they could tell us which was our room. After the first night our room wasn't serviced and we were told its only done in the morning(Didn't understand that). Exceptionally small tv in the room miles away from bed so not much use. Room very noisy as over a bar and to top it all off someone came banging at the front door about 5 am on our last night shouting for someone called Emily for about 10 minutes. Breakfast excellent and we ate there in the evening. Food freshly cooked and delicious

6/10

Pleasant

10 Mar 2019

Kevin

Not my problem !

I booked a twin room and was given a double on arrival (we were two men travelling) the owner insisted even though I had confirmation that it was Hotel.com fault, suggesting I needed to contact them to sort it out. Eventually we were given a twin room. Breakfast service didn’t start until 8.30 and we needed to be away by 8am.

10/10

Exceptional

21 Oct 2018

Chris

Great base

Lovely place. Nice walks and very friendly place.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

25 Sep 2018

Neil

Nicely located, spacious room great breakfast
Staff very friendly

8/10

Excellent

06 Sep 2018

Martin

Good base for sightseeing

Nice clean bedroom, friendly staff, good location.
Restaurant menu ok but just basic pub grub

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jun 2018

Verified traveler

charming village, small hotel

Hotel is on the main square with plenty of available parking round about. The hotel has only a few rooms above a pub restaurant which serves food until 8.30pm. Bedroom was reasonably spacious and bathroom also had a proper bath. Only drawback was not enough hot water when I had a bath late in the evening. Cost of room and evening meal good value and staff were friendly and helpful. We only stayed one night as we were motoring on to see Rivault Abbey the following morning but the village of Helmsley is very attractive.

4/10

Poor

27 May 2018

Verified traveler

Dingy, tired, shabby, dirty.

10/10

Exceptional

20 Apr 2018

Verified traveler

Handy location for nearby attractions.Very friendly staff.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Feb 2018

Michael

Perfect for an overnight stay in a lovely village

Friendly staff, nice room (bigger than expected), great location and lovely breakfast (with vegetarian options). Will definitely stay again as we plan to come back in the summer.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

17 Jan 2018

Artist

Central location

Warm welcome and good facilities, however awakened at 2.30 am by radio in nearby room, until 3.30 am, I presume inconsiderate guests at fault.

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jan 2018

Martin

Good pub-hotel

Really good pub-hotel with friendly staff and hearty breakfasts

Partner

8/10

Excellent

09 Dec 2017

Tim

Very welcoming - a pleasant weekend away

Very friendly owners and staff in a traditional pub. Room was clean and well equipped. There was some noise from the extractor fans for the kitchen, but this went off as the kitchen closed down. Good breakfast and very dog friendly. Would recommend it.

Partner

4/10

Poor

07 Dec 2017

Verified traveler

What's Your Priority

Unfortunately there is noise from the 2 bars which are directly beneath the rooms - fine if you intend being in a bar but not if an early start next day. Breakfast fine other than cheap bread used for toast and even if requested crispy , served limp. Also staying 2 nights and room not attended to after night one i.e bed not made , bin not emptied etc. I paid £90 per night per room and this is fairly basic stuff for any room booked on Hotels.com I had thought. Also no car parking other than Pay and Display public parking in the old square. It is a very nice location in the town centre.

8/10

Excellent

05 Nov 2017

Artist

Central and convenient location.

Pleasant stay, helpful staff. Convenient free on-street parking behind the hotel.

8/10

Excellent

02 Nov 2017

Verified traveler

Convenient and comfortable

A good stay; the staff were a little under pressure and on first view the hotel looked a bit worn, but the room and bathroom were spotless and the service was generally really good. The food is OK - breakfast is great but you can get better evening meals elsewhere. On the last morning check out the card machines were apparently broken so we had to get cash to settle the bill - which was OK but I wish we'd been told before... Overall a convenient and comfortable place to stay and good value; parking on the road behind the pub was free and quite easy to obtain.

Family

8/10

Excellent

26 Oct 2017

Julia

Comfortable, quiet inn, in the centre of the town

The Royal Oak is right in the centre of Helmsley, overlooking the market place. Be careful: there is no long stay parking in the market place, so we parked in the road behind. When you go in it feels a bit 'pub like', and it is clearly a local bar for many people. However, our room was large and comfortable, very clean, with a good shower. There was a good breakfast on offer, and the service was friendly and efficient. My request for hot milk for my coffee was granted without any problem. My husband is gluten free; we took our own bread, and they toasted it for us under the grill rather than in the toaster, without us asking for it. I can recommend the Royal Oak to anyone wanting to visit the castle in the town, or Rievaulx Abbey nearby.

6/10

Pleasant

15 Oct 2017

Verified traveler

Good location. There is nothing to do at night in this town so you may as well be above he pub.

6/10

Pleasant

25 Sep 2017

Verified traveler

Good Market Town Stay

We were on a driving tour, and this venue suited our one night stay. Good breakfast in the morning

8/10

Excellent

21 Sep 2017

Pam

Nice B&B pub in the center of pleasant village

Clean rooms. Relaxed atmosphere. Home cooked food. Not fancy but good. Can recommend steak & ale pie or Friday fish & chips. The day we went out too early for the cooked breakfast they made us a packed lunch to take with us. We didn't ask them, they offered.