Welcome to Yorkshire
With a population as big as Scotland's and an area half the size of Belgium, Yorkshire is almost a country in itself. It has its own flag, its own dialect and its own celebration, Yorkshire Day (1 August). While local folk are proud to be English, they're even prouder to be natives of 'God's Own County'.What makes Yorkshire so special? First, there's the landscape – with its brooding moors and green dales rolling... Read More
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Yorkshire activities
The York Pass Including Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Choose from a 1-, 2- or 3-day sightseeing pass to suit your schedule, and enjoy the flexibility to visit the York attractions that you want, at a time that suits you best. Passes are valid for your choice of consecutive calendar days from the time of first use. After redeeming your voucher for your York Pass, you’ll also receive a color guidebook with detailed information about the historical city and its famous attractions. Use the guidebook to plan your independent sightseeing with ease.The York pass includes entry to 30 top attractions around the city as well as discounted entry to select attractions in the wider county. Learn about chocolate making at York’s Chocolate Story, and discover Gothic architecture at its finest on a visit to York Minster — one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. Entrance to family-friendly attractions such as York Dungeon and York’s CHOCOLATE Story are included in the pass, alongside lesser-known treasures like Clifford’s Tower.York City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour also now comes free with York Pass: With 20 stops around the city, this 24-hour ticket is the perfect way to get around all the sights.Free Entry to Select York Attractions: York City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with over 20 stops around the city (ticket valid 24 hours) York Dungeon York Minster York’s Chocolate Story Yorkshire Museum Barley Hall Clifford's Tower DIG Fairfax House Goddards House & Gardens Henry VII Experience JORVIK Viking Centre The Mansion House - “reopens August” Merchant Adventurers’ Hall NRM Road Train Richard III Experience The Roman Bath Treasurer’s House York Army Museum York Art Gallery YorkBoat York Brewery York Castle Museum York Cold War Bunker Beyond York attractions: Beningbrough Hall National Birds of Prey Centre Byland Abbey Captain Cook Museum Castle Howard Eden Camp Modern History Museum Murton Park Museum of Farming Helmsley Castle Helmsley Walled Garden York Maze North York Moors Railway Rievaulx Abbey Scampston Walled Garden Discounts on Meals: The Royal York Hotel (free champagne with afternoon tea) The quirky Red House Café (savings of up to 20%) The unique Cat Gallery (savings of up to 10%)
City Sightseeing York Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Often called England’s 'capital of the north,' York is a city that has history, fine architecture and friendly people in enticing abundance. The Romans left their mark on the city, and York’s Viking heritage gives its history an interesting edge. So, hop board the open-top, double-decker City Sightseeing bus and discover sightseeing opportunities galore.Admire top York attractions such as Exhibition Square and York Minster — home to a staggering collection of stained glass windows — and perhaps hop off at Clifford’s Tower to climb the monument and soak up the city views. Take a short stroll from Clifford’s Tower to visit Jorvik Viking Centre where more than 40,000 Viking-era artifacts await, or visit Monk Bar fortress and Merchant Adventurers’ Hall to see two of York’s medieval structures.With your sightseeing ticket, you can remain on the bus for an entire loop (roughly one hour) while listening to the entertaining commentary, or you can hop on and off at any of the 18 stops around the city. York Hop-On Hop-Off Stops: Exhibition Square (York Minster) Gillygate Monk Bar Sainsburys Peasholme Green York Stonebow Merchant Adventurers’ Hall Clifford’s Tower (hop off here for a short walk to Jorvik Viking Centre) Margaret Street Walmgate Bar Barbican Centre entertainment venue Fishergate, Novotel York Centre Nunnery Lane, Victoria Bar Bishopthorpe Road Knavesmire Gate York Station York Memorial Gardens York Museum Gardens
North York Moors and Whitby Day Trip from York
Starting in the morning in York, this guided day trip from York provides the perfect opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city to explore the scenic and picturesque North York Moors National Park and the fishing port of Whitby. To ensure personal service and ultimate comfort, the tour capacity is limited to 16 passengers and the minicoach is equipped with air-con and WiFi. The tour departs from opposite the Dean Court Hotel in York city centre (near York Minster) at 9.00am and heads off into the Vale of York, passing by the famous Kilburn White Horse hill figure on the boundary of the North York Moors National Park and learning about its history, before heading for Helmsley.The tour stops in the picturesque market town of Helmsley for 45 minutes where you can view the medieval castle, explore the quaint shops or just have a leisurely Yorkshire Brew - the choice is yours.You leave Helmsley and head up over the North York Moors, with photo stops en route, to enjoy the spectacular landscape leading to the seaside town of Whitby, passing the 16th century Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge (the highest point on the moors) and Ralph's Cross. As you arrive in Whitby, you will hear stories about the seaside town's history and your guide will point out the main places of interest that you may want to visit.You will have three hours of free time in Whitby to view Whitby Abbey (inspiration for the Dracula books), visit the Captain Cook Museum, enjoy the beach, waterfront and fishing port, shop for some Whitby Jet or Gothic fashion or just sample the famous Fish 'n' Chips at the Magpie Cafe (own expense) - the choice is yours.The tour leaves Whitby mid-afternoon to head back onto the North York Moors and a stop at Grosmont to drop off passengers who want to take the opportunity of an optional steam train ride on the North York Moors Railway (paid locally at a discounted rate and no need to pre-book) before re-joining the minicoach at Goathland. Please note a steam train cannot always be guaranteed as this is in the hands of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.The minicoach and remaining passengers continue to Goathland by road, to explore the fictional village of Aidensfield in the Heartbeat television series and see Goathland Station, the filming location for Hogsmeade Station in the Harry Potter movies. You may even see the other passengers arrive by steam train to rejoin you.After leaving Goathland, you will learn the history behind the mysterious RAF Fylingdales Pyramid on Snod Hill as you pass close by, then see the Hole of Horcum before heading through Pickering back towards York.You will arrive back at the meeting point in York at approximately 6:15pm but should not book onward travel too close to the arrival time just in case of traffic problems.
Yorkshire Dales Day Trip from York
This small-group guided day trip from York takes you to the stunning landscape of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, including Wensleydale, Littondale and Nidderdale. The tour departs at 9.00am from a centrally located meeting point near York Minster and heads off for the Yorkshire Dales National Park.To ensure personal service and comfort, the tour capacity is limited to 16 passengers and the Minicoach is equipped with air-con and WiFi. The first stop is at Wensleydale’s most famous landmark, the 14th century Bolton Castle which once housed Mary Queen of Scots, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy and photograph the magnificent views over Wensleydale, learn a bit about the history of the area from your Guide, or just have a leisurely Yorkshire Brew in the medieval castle’s Tea Room.You will then make the short journey to Aysgarth to see and photograph the major falls which were a filming location for Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves, before following the scenic route to Hawes, passing through the traditional Dales village of Askrigg, the filming location for "Darrowby" in the James Herriot "All Creatures Great and Small" TV series.Spend one and a half hours in Hawes, the highest Market Town in England, where you can maybe grab some lunch and see how cheese is made at the world famous Wensleydale Creamery Visitor Centre, visit the Dales Countryside Museum or just explore the quaint shops and cafes of the town itself - the choice is yours! After Hawes you will head into the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park for some photo stops as you pass through the picturesque traditional Dales villages along the meandering route of the River Wharfe.Arrive in the stunning setting of the conservation village of Arncliffe where you will see the famous Falcon Inn, the original "Woolpack" in the "Emmerdale Farm" TV series. You can either join your guide for a walking tour of the village or just enjoy refreshments with the locals in the Falcon Inn, whichever you prefer. Continue your journey through the beautiful countryside of the National Park, passing Kilnsey Crag and the village of Grassington, then into the rolling hills of Nidderdale, an area of outstanding natural beauty.The final stop is in Pateley Bridge, with the option to visit "The Oldest Sweet Shop in The World" (2014 Guinness Book of Records), before heading back to York.The tour arrives back at the meeting point in York at around 6:15pm but you should not book onward travel arrangements too close to the time of arrival back in York just in case of traffic problems.
Steam Trains, Whitby and the Moors Tour from York
You'll meet your guide at 8:45am in the heart of York, close to York Minster, and hop into your climate-controlled minivan for the day's excursion across the North Yorkshire countryside. First, drive 45 minutes or so to the historic market town of Helmsley on the edge of the Moors. Explore the charming town, its pretty church and medieval castle (own expense), before the tour continues into the moors. Admire the rugged, windswept landscapes as you climb to the stone village of Hutton-le-Hole, where sheep graze freely on the common land. At the North York Moors National Park, your guide will explain the geological and natural processes that shaped this striking landscape. Discover the region's mining and farming heritage and ancient history as you stroll across the heather. It's just a short hop to North Yorkshire's striking coastline and the seaside town of Whitby, where you'll have three hours at leisure to explore at your own pace, and perhaps enjoy a fish-and-chips lunch. You may just wish to wander the picturesque harbor, explore the cobbled streets, historic cottages, and beautiful beach, or shop for Whitby jet. Or you can discover Whitby's connection to Australia at the Captain Cook Memorial Museum, delve deep into the world of Dracula at St. Mary's Church or the Dracula Experience Museum, or take a boat cruise from the harbor to discover the coastline (own expense). From Whitby, it's back in the van to journey up through Sleights and onto the village of Goathland, nestled at the bottom of a wide valley surrounded by the heather-clad hills of the North York Moors. Fans of Heartbeat, the long-running ITV drama series, will recognize this as Aidensfield: you'll have chance to visit the Aidensfield Arms, pop into Aidensfield Stores and Post Office, and see what's happening at Scripps Garage. Love Harry Potter? Don't miss the chance to capture pictures at Goathland station, which did duty as Hogsmeade Station for the filming of the Harry Potter movies. After you've explored the station, it's time to board a steam train for a nostalgic steam-hauled journey across the Moors (own expense). Snake through valleys and heathland for 18 miles (29 kilometers) in restored heritage carriages to the medieval market town of Pickering. Here you'll rejoin the minibus for the 40-minute journey back to York, arriving around 5:45pm.
Full-Day Yorkshire Dales Tour from York
On leaving York we head to the famous Yorkshire Dales. We travel through Boroughbridge, on our way towards Ripon, which is located slap bang between London and Edinburgh. Arriving at Ripon, we travel past the cathedral and bustling market square. We make our way to Masham (pronounced 'Mass’em') for a morning stop. Located in Lower Wensleydale. It’s famous for its family-run breweries, steam engines and annual sheep fair. A thriving market is still going strong 762 years since the first charter, and are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the year. We head travel further into the Dales and reach Middleham, nestled between two rivers, stopping to view the magnificent castle, which has largest castle keep in the North of England. Its royal heritage once earned it the title of the 'Windsor of the North'. At the heart of Wensleydale lies the gateway town of Leyburn, "A Town for all Seasons". With spectacular views of the surrounding countryside, we travel through and head further into the Dales. Reeth is out lunch stop, a natural amphitheater, surrounded by spectacular scenery and stunning panoramas. It was championed by Ella Pontefract, one of the Yorkshire Dale's most esteemed authors as "a little country in itself." This quirky Saxon settlement had a huge voice in the domestic economy and is best known for its extensive contribution to England's lead industry. Onward we travel to Castle Bolton. Now one of the country’s best preserved medieval castles, Bolton was originally built, by Sir Richard Le Scrope, to rival the finest and most luxurious homes in the land. Completed in 1399, its scars bear testament to over 600 years of fascinating history including involvement in the Pilgrimage of Grace, Mary Queen of Scot’s imprisonment and a Civil War siege. Arriving at Aysgarth Falls, you will have the chance to view the famous waterfalls of the River Ure, which drops over three major falls in less than one mile. The falls were the setting in scene from the film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. We then travel to the picturesque village of West Burton, with its beautiful village green. Turner painted the West Burton Cauldron Falls one of the waterfalls, during his tour of the North of England. Leaving Wensleydale we travel through Bishopdale and into Wharfedale. As we make our way down Wharfedale we journey through the classic Dales villages of Buckden and Kettlewell. We pass Klinsey and its famous crag, an imposing large limestone cliff. Our afternoon stop is in Grassington. Picture a bustling cobbled market square, fringed by shops offering local foods, speciality gifts and arts and crafts. You will have time to explore before we move onward to Pateley Bridge. We drive through Nidderdale driving by Brimham Rocks, a balancing formation of rocks. We take in more beautiful Yorkshire scenery as we head back to York.