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Things to do in Yorkshire

The biggest county in England, there are so many things to do in Yorkshire that it is a brilliant place to visit. Home to seven cities and two National Parks, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing what to do and see first.

Known throughout the country as ‘God’s own County’, Yorkshire is the true gem of Northern England. Its beautiful landscape is perfect for those visitors who are looking to do some walking, cycling, or climbing in the county’s two National Parks: the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. On the edge of the Moors lies the dramatic Yorkshire coastline which is littered with beautiful beaches and lovely seaside towns, ideal for any wandering tourist.

Yorkshire doesn’t fall short when it comes to cosmopolitan areas either. The county city of York is a medieval delight and absolutely packed full of interesting things to see and do. Another idyllic place to visit is Harrogate, known historically for being a fashionable spa resort thanks to the nearby mineral springs. And for even more metropolitan explorations you can venture further afield to the larger cities of Hull, Sheffield, or Leeds if you’re looking for some big city adventures.

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Historic York
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Yorkshire Dales
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Yorkshire coast
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The Bronte Parsonage Museum

Things to do in Yorkshire

Historic York

What better place to start exploring Yorkshire than its eponymous county city? And with more attractions per square mile than any other city in England it can be hard to choose where to start! First on our list would have to be the incredible York Minster, the largest gothic medieval cathedral north of the Alps, with exquisite examples of stained glass dating back 800 years. Another fantastic architectural site is Clifford’s Tower, the only remaining part of the original York Castle, which offers fantastic views across the city.

The National Railway Museum is perfect for those interested in science and engineering. Here you can learn about the 200-year-old history of the railways in Britain, as well as get up close and personal to some remarkable examples of locomotives such as the famous Japanese bullet train. Other sites of interest include the York Art Gallery and the Yorkshire Museum and Gardens. York is also a beautiful medieval city, so if you get the chance to simply wander through its winding, cobbled streets, you can lose yourself whilst being surrounded by years of culture, architecture, and heritage.

Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks

The Yorkshire Dales National Park includes the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) and is an undoubtedly stunning place to visit. Perfect if you enjoy outdoors activities, there are plenty of opportunities to go hiking or on guided walks across the beautiful landscape. If you’re interested in wildlife you should check out the newly-opened Red Squirrel Trail, a nature reserve which is reintroducing these adorable native animals back into their natural habitat.

The North York Moors are where Emily Bronte based her famous novel Wuthering Heights, and this National Park also features another AONB, the Howardian Hills. This landscape leading down to the coastline will absolutely take your breath away with its vast expanses of low dales to high moors and green forests and expanses of purple heather. If you’re in search of some unrivalled panoramic views of the beautiful landscape then you’ll want to head to places such as Sutton Bank, Blakey Ridge, and Danby Beacon, to mention just a few.

The Yorkshire Coast

Scarborough is the biggest and most famous of Yorkshire’s seaside towns and crowds have been flocking there for over 400 years. The original seaside resort, Scarborough seafront features everything you’d expect from a typical English coastal town: here you can spend hours of fun exploring the amusement arcades, ice cream parlours, shellfish stalls, and beach huts which populate this area. There are plenty of other things to do here too, such as exploring the area’s history at Scarborough Castle or the Rotunda Museum of Geology. For some outdoor adventures you should head to Peasholm Park to take a boat trip on the lake or ride on the miniature railway.

Another place of note along the coast is Whitby, which is full of attractions perfect for entertaining the whole family. Whitby Abbey, recently named Britain’s most romantic ruin, is the ideal place to soak up some 13^th century history. To delve further into the local history here you should visit the Captain Cook Memorial Museum; located in a beautiful 17^th century house, this is where the famous Captain served his apprenticeship and used to lodge whilst not on one of his many sea voyages. Finally, a trip to Whitby wouldn’t be complete without visiting Whitby Pavilion, an intimate 19^th century theatre with stunning sea views and excellent entertainment on offer.

The Bronte Parsonage Museum

The Bronte Parsonage Museum was home to the famous Bronte family, located in Haworth, West Yorkshire. This celebrated family gave us the literary wonders of sisters Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Bronte, who wrote some of the best examples of 19^th century English literature known to date. Visit this beautiful 18^th century house to walk in the footsteps of these literary geniuses and take a look back in time at how they lived growing up in this picturesque part of the country.

Run by the Bronte Society, one of the oldest literary societies in the English speaking world, this museum is actually a registered charity which aims at making the world of literature more inclusive by bringing its joys into the lives of everyone and anyone who’s interested in expanding their knowledge. They run a series of literary events and exhibitions throughout the year in order to maintain the legacy of this remarkable family, whose novels are a cornerstone of English literature.