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
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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.
Kiss under the Heart of Yorkshire window at the Minster
According to legend, all loved up couples that kiss under the 'Heart of Yorkshire' window, will stay together forever.
Location: York, North Yorkshire
March along England's longest medieval city walls
Enjoy a bird's-eye view of the city and stroll along its 13th century defensive walls, passing historic landmarks, gatehouses and gardens.
Location: York, North Yorkshire
Get on board at the National Railway Museum
The world's largest railway museum is home to a staggering collection of restored locomotives, including the fastest steam engine of all time.
Location: York, North Yorkshire
Experience York's Literature Festival
Rub shoulders with best-selling authors as York gets all bookish.
Location: York, North Yorkshire
Explore the Norman fortress of Richmond Castle
Built to subdue the unruly North of England, Richmond Castle sits against the stunning backdrop of the Yorkshire Dales.
Location: Richmond, North Yorkshire
Relive the past at Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal
Peel back 900 years of history at this UNESCO World Heritage Site of majestic monastic ruins, water gardens and medieval deer park.
Location: Near Ripon, North Yorkshire
Go camping in the grounds of one of England’s finest stately homes
Take the kids camping on a child friendly holiday at Castle Howard near York, where a thousand breath-taking acres await for you to explore.
Location: Malton, North Yorkshire
Discover the quirky side of Robin Hood’s Bay
Enjoy a traditional seaside break with a twist at this old smuggling and fishing village on the North York Moors National Park coast.
Location: Robin Hood's Bay, Whitby
Pamper your partner with a stylish rural retreat in Yorkshire
In a serene setting on the edge of the stunning North York Moors, the Feversham Arms boasts superb dining options, elegant rooms and a full spa.
Location: Helmsley, North Yorkshire
Have a bloomin’ lovely time at the Harrogate Flower Show
Get your green fingers ready this prestigious gardening event in April, one of the biggest of its kind in the UK.
Location: Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Cheese-y does it now…
Discover the captivating and often emotional story behind Wensleydale cheese and find out how Yorkshire’s art of cheese making evolved.
Location: Hawes, North Yorkshire
Discover ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ in Yorkshire
Tour Yorkshire writer and vet James Herriot's original home, recreated to look just as it did in the 1940s, in the picturesque town of Thirsk.
Location: Thirsk, North Yorkshire
Trek across the North York Moors with a team of huskies
Set out on an intrepid adventure holiday with Pesky Husky, an adrenalin-pumping experience for active types looking to feel the wind in their hair.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Look for love in the heart of Cropton Forest
Whether it’s the sight of roe deer at dawn or the hoot of an owl at dusk, there’s animal magnetism at work at the Forest Holidays site at Cropton.
Location: Pickering, North Yorkshire
May events: Put your best foot forward at WalkFest
Put a spring in your step over the spring bank holiday weekend at the North York Moors National Park’s annual walking festival.
Location: North York Moors, North Yorkshire
Book your very own butler on a romantic getaway to York
Treat your loved one to a luxurious break at the five-star Grand Hotel & Spa in York, including a penthouse suite with your very own butler.
Location: York, North Yorkshire
Discover North Yorkshire’s heirs and graces
Soak up centuries of style and grandeur as you discover North Yorkshire’s rich tapestry of castles, stately homes and gardens.
Location: Harrogate, Ripon, Masham and Knaresborough, North Yorkshire
Feed your soul at the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey
Medieval monks chose a serene valley in the North York Moors National Park to establish an abbey that became the richest and most powerful in England.
Location: Helmsley, North Yorkshire
Waterfalls, row boats and a pagoda in Peasholm Park
Explore this beautiful Grade II-listed oriental themed garden, set on the site of a medieval manor house with many activities to enjoy.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Explore the stunning medieval Bolton Castle
Experience the incredible atmosphere of Bolton Castle where many of its rooms give the feeling that their inhabitants have just walked out of them.
Location: North Leyburn, North Yorkshire
Discover the hidden gem of Grimwith Reservoir
Grimwith Reservoir is one of the Yorkshire Dales' hidden gems tucked away off the road between Grassington and Pateley Bridge.
Location: Near Grassington, North Yorkshire