Yorkshire Cottages

Step back in time in York Visit the ridiculously enormous York Minster, which dates back to 1230. It’s so large that by the time you’ve skirted around its edges, it will have aged another millennium. Disclaimer: that’s a wild exaggeration. Wander along the Shambles street, which is said to have been the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter universe. For the unacquainted, it’s a narrow, winding lane, with a hodgepodge of timber-framed and brick cottages and pubs. Lanterns and quaint signs hang from awnings, which jut out and linger over passing heads.

And the fun doesn’t stop there. Visit the National Railway Museum York at the back of the city’s train station and clamber up the nearby hill to reach the Clifford’s Tower that lords it over the centre of York. Pick up something to eat from one of the many restaurants in the city core, such as Melton’s or Oxo’s Restaurants. Fresh (or the opposite) from a huge 7-course-meal, waddle along the side of the York City Walls and try not to fall off the edge.

Dally up the dales The Yorkshire Dales is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Yorkshire. Encounter the small towns, as you go, such as Hawes and Settle, stopping in for some Yorkshire tea, a Yorkshire ale and a Yorkshire pudding at somewhere like the Black Bull in Paradise Visitor Centre in Masham or the Wildings Tea Room and Riverside Terrace in Pateley Bridge. The latter town is particularly charming, and has the Oldest Sweet Shop in the World.

Enough tea and sweets, continue hiking - tummy full of sugar and whatnot - through the countryside. You’ll stumble across the crumbling vestiges of castles and long-forgotten once-great ramparts reduced to bits of stone sticking out of the grass. Do watch your step; you don’t want to hurt yourself tripping over some historic remnant. Barns and drystone walls mark the rest of the dales, which comprise myriad green hills and lakes. On a fine day, stop for a picnic by the water. Dallying up the dales is a truly lovely option when it comes to things to do in North Yorkshire.

Enjoy a day by the sea Head to Scarborough for its array of sandy beaches on the North Sea. And yes, Simon & Garfunkel were singing about a fair in this very town. Although, the song itself was written several centuries before their version, and the fair itself is now long defunct. That said, there’s still much to do in Scarborough, known for its Grand Hotel edifice and the clifftop Scarborough Castle that dwarfs the town. Head to the towns of Sandsend, Filey and Whitby for more historic attractions by the sea.

Our cancellation policies are unrivalled. In the very rare event that your host cancels 48 hours after your booking, we will do all we can to find you a Plum home up to 20% more expensive than the original. Within 5 days of check-in, it’s up to 50%.

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