Things to do in Yorkshire
From Dales to Michelin stars
With a rich history spanning thousands of years, England’s largest county offers plenty of things to do, not least of all for history buffs, who will be drawn to Yorkshire’s abbeys, cathedrals, Roman ruins, Viking lore, and Neolithic standing stones. Travel to the smaller towns of Ilkley and Harrogate for Victorian romance or the Dales for quaint farming hamlets. In the cities, you’ll find award-winning restaurants and traditional pubs as well as museums that will satisfy your cultural itch. Yorkshire’s rolling hills attract nature lovers, too: If you venture east to the wild North Yorkshire coast, you’ll be met with bracing sea breezes and cliffside walks.
Top 15 attractions in Yorkshire
World of James Herriot
Whitby
Wensleydale Creamery
Peak District National Park
Captain Cook Memorial Museum
Kilburn White Horse
Helmsley
Durham Castle
Bridlington Birds of Prey & Animal Park
Flamingo Land
The Deep
Forbidden Corner (Tupgill Park)
Eden Camp
York Bird of Prey Centre
The Little Chocolate Shop
Explore Yorkshire by interest
Top activities in Yorkshire
Explore our promoted experiences
All about Yorkshire
When to visit
Yorkshire is perfect whatever time of year you visit, but when you go will depend on what type of trip you want. Hiking in the Yorkshire Dales or vacationing by the sea is much more pleasant in the spring and summer, while the cities’ Christmas markets and festive lights make November and December shine. As with most popular destinations in England, summer brings in a lot of crowds, so it may make sense to avoid traveling during bank holidays and weekends between June and August.
Getting around
Traveling by train is the easiest way to get from place to place if you're visiting Yorkshire's larger towns and cities. To explore the countryside of North Yorkshire, renting a car is the most sensible and convenient choice, although bus routes link many towns and offer an even better value option; check the timetables before setting off.
Traveler tips
Don’t miss out on the smaller towns. Places like Halifax and Harrogate are well worth a visit, with centuries-old historic houses and castles, idyllic parks and gardens, and Victorian-era markets. Visit seaside towns like Scarborough, Robin Hood’s Bay, and Whitby off-season for a quieter, more atmospheric experience.
People Also Ask
Nidderdale AONB (Area of Natural Beauty) is consistently voted as the prettiest place in Yorkshire. A nature reserve that’s home to countless species of birds, animals, and indigenous plants, it combines windswept moors with steep valleys and peaceful, pastoral farmland.
...MoreAsk a local what Yorkshire is most famous for, and they’ll probably say Yorkshire pudding—a baked pastry made with eggs, flour, and milk and usually served during Sunday roasts. However, the county of Yorkshire is just as famous for its wild landscapes and the Brontë sisters, who all hail from Thornton and whose classic novels were partially inspired by their environs.
...MoreYorkshire is popular with tourists because of its variety. Travel to Yorkshire, and you’ll find mountain bike trails and exceptional climbing on top of art galleries, modern architecture, and Michelin-star dining. You can make Yorkshire your own, no matter your interests.
...MoreThe Yorkshire Dales is an area of moorland and limestone hills dotted with picturesque villages and traditional pubs. Visit the Ribblehead Viaduct to see an engineering marvel, and continue on to White Scar Cave to venture into the rocky labyrinth beneath Ingleborough mountain. The 4.3-mile (7-kilometer) Ingleton Waterfalls Trail is also a must-see.
...MoreHarrogate is repeatedly voted as the poshest town in Yorkshire, and it has the Victorian glamor and picturesque parks to stand up to that title. Home of the original Bettys tea room and the 19th-century Turkish Baths, Harrogate is the perfect place to spend a night or two in luxury.
...MoreRipon is Yorkshire’s oldest town, and at around 1,300 years old, it’s also the oldest city in England. It boasts a stunning cathedral and a watch-setting tradition that has continued for 1,128 years.
...MoreYorkshire information
Number of Attractions | 44 |
|---|---|
Number of Tours | 215 |
Number of Reviews | 16 |
Currency | GBP |
- Things to do in Middlesbrough
- Things to do in North East England
- Things to do in North West England
- Things to do in East of England
- Things to do in Manchester
- Things to do in Newcastle-upon-Tyne
- Things to do in Liverpool
- Things to do in Birmingham
- Things to do in Northeast Scotland
- Things to do in South East England
- Things to do in South West England
- Things to do in The Scottish Highlands
- Things to do in North Holland
- Things to do in Flanders
Trending attractions
- Colosseum
- Eiffel Tower
- Hoover Dam
- Statue of Liberty
- Sagrada Familia
- Burj Khalifa
- Louvre
- Acropolis
- Road to Hana (Hana Highway)
- Roman Forum (Foro Romano)
- St. Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco)
- Molokini Crater
- Uffizi Galleries (Gallerie degli Uffizi)
- Na Pali Coast
- Blue Lagoon
- Tower of London
- Stonehenge
- Milan Duomo
- Ellis Island
- Florence Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria dei Fiori)
Popular on Viator
- Statue of Liberty Tours and Tickets
- The White House Tours and Tickets
- Antelope Canyon Tours and Tickets
- Hoover Dam Tours and Tickets
- Alcatraz Tours and Tickets
- Stonehenge Tours and Tickets
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum Tours and Tickets
- Beverly Hills Tours and Tickets
- Colosseum Tours and Tickets
- Washington Monument Tours and Tickets
- San Diego Zoo Tours and Tickets
- Space Needle Tours and Tickets
- Eiffel Tower Tours and Tickets
- Pearl Harbor National Memorial Tours and Tickets
- Empire State Building Tours and Tickets
- Art Institute of Chicago Tours and Tickets
- Aquarium of the Pacific Tours and Tickets
- Blue Lagoon Tours and Tickets
- Burj Khalifa Tours and Tickets
- Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) Tours and Tickets