When you visit North Yorkshire, you’ll soon embrace the great outdoors. Bring your walking shoes for uphill climbs across Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors to castles and abbey ruins that frame the landscape, and afterwards, recharge in regal spa town tearooms and market town pubs over jugs of locally brewed Ruby Ale. One of the best things to do in North Yorkshire of all is amble round historic York, with its gothic York Minster cathedral decked out in stained glass. Get lost in cobbled snickelway passages, or take in ancient forts and bridges on a River Ouse cruise.
Places to visit in North Yorkshire
24 hours in Whitby
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Scratch the surface of the Gothic, historic and dramatic seaside town of Whitby, perched on the Yorkshire Coast.
8 places to switch off in North Yorkshire
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Feast your eyes on dramatic coastal scenery, historic abbeys, and hidden villages on your next short break to the Yorkshire coast.
Dive into an underwater world at SEA LIFE Scarborough
Discover a magical underwater world at one of North Yorkshire's best family attractions.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Be royalty for a day at Scarborough Castle
Take an audio tour around the Castle, enjoy breathtaking views from the headland of the North Yorkshire Coast and have tea in a historic building.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Explore historic Whitby Abbey
Discover how over 2,000 years of history made Whitby Abbey one of England’s most important archaeological sites.
Location: Whitby, North Yorkshire
Find yourself face-to-face with gigantic outdoor sculptures
Each face reveals a story as you meet the gigantic outdoor sculptures that span the width and breadth of the seaside resort.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Experience the locations that have inspired great literature
The constantly changing scenery, dramatic landscapes and distinctive character of Yorkshire’s people have all been sources of literary inspiration.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Saddle up for windswept romance on the Yorkshire coast
When it comes to romantic things to do, it’s doesn’t get much better than a windswept horse ride, followed by retreating to a cosy lodge.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Explore, learn and discover on the Dinosaur Coast
Find your own fossils and discover what it was like to live 180 million years ago.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
See A-listers perform at Europe’s largest open air theatre
Elton John, Jessie J; you might think you’re reading the line up for a big city gig, think again.The stars flock to Scarborough.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Get beside the seaside for the Coastival arts festival
Be part of Scarborough’s three-day celebration of all things music, theatre, dance, film and art.
Location: Scarborough, Yorkshire
Spend the night in your very own railway carriage
Why not make trainspotting your passion whilst staying in ‘Oscar’, a railway carriage permanently stationed at Cloughton railway station.
Location: Cloughton, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Tread in the footsteps of the stars on the Yorkshire Coast
Visit the most popular film locations on the Yorkshire Coast and North York Moors and follow in the footsteps of stars such as Catherine Zeta-Jones, Ewan McGregor, Bill Nighy and Danielle Radcliffe.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
October Events: Party hard at England's biggest indoor world music festival
Take a journey through the world of music at Whitby’s annual Musicport Festival, an event full of excellent live music and cultural diversity.
Location: Whitby, North Yorkshire
Discover the village that fell into the sea
One dark night in 1664, while local people were attending a wake, the whole village of Runswick slipped into the sea…
Location: Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire
Discover Yorkshire's dramatic winter coast
Head to Robin Hood’s Bay during the winter and discover Yorkshire's dramatic coast in a new way.
Location: Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire
Taste fresh seafood caught straight out of the harbour
Overlooking Scarborough’s harbour, this spacious restaurant serves the very best seafood dishes and the finest fish and chips on the seafront.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
July events: Seafest
Celebrate Scarborough’s seafood heritage by filling your hamper with some of the best food from local suppliers and heading for the beach.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Escape on a seaside holiday where the beach is never far away
Explore the magnificent Yorkshire coastline, just a stone’s throw away from the Flower of May Holiday Park with its gold-standard caravans.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Go glamping in a gypsy cabin this summer
Experience a summer holiday with a difference this year by staying in a quirky Gypsy Cabin style pod just 15 minutes away from Whitby.
Location: Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire
September events: Pop-up galleries and festival arts in North Yorkshire
The Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage in North Yorkshire invites visitors to experience a unique weekend featuring 130 artists in 90 pop-up galleries.
Location: Whitby, North Yorkshire
Have a traditional Victorian seaside experience
Head to the delightful seaside town of Saltburn-by-the-Sea for a fun trip up a sea-cliff lift and dine on fish and chips with a view.
Location: Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire
UK breaks: 24 hours in Whitby
Scratch the surface of the Gothic, historic and dramatic seaside town of Whitby, perched on the Yorkshire Coast.