Fairfax House at 27 Castlegate is widely regarded as the finest Georgian townhouse in England. It was designed by John Carr of York in 1762 for Charles Gregory Viscount Fairfax, and the quality of the interior craftsmanship — particularly the plasterwork ceilings and the ironwork of the staircase — is exceptional even by the standards of an age when decorative interiors were taken seriously. The rooms have been restored to their mid-18th-century appearance and furnished with the Noel Terry collection of Georgian furniture and clocks, assembled over a lifetime by the York chocolate manufacturer.
The York Civic Trust undertook the restoration after the building had served as a dance hall and cinema for much of the 20th century, and the result is one of the most convincing period interiors in the north of England. The house is a short walk from Clifford's Tower and the Castle Museum, making the Castlegate area a productive afternoon. Admission is charged; the house is closed on certain days of the week, so check before visiting.