Best Places to Visit in Yorkshire, England: 20 Places Worth Your Time
Trying to choose the best places to visit in Yorkshire isn’t easy. Yorkshire is England’s biggest county, with everything from medieval cities and elegant spa towns to wild national parks, stone villages and a rugged coastline.
The good news is that you can have completely different trips depending on where you go. A weekend in York feels nothing like a few days in the Yorkshire Dales, and the coast has a character all of its own.
It all depends on the things you want to do while visiting.
This guide is about places rather than attractions. I’ve picked the towns, villages and areas that are worth building a trip around, whether you’re here for a weekend, planning a Yorkshire road trip or looking for somewhere new for a day out. For each one you’ll find what it’s best for, how long to spend there and how to get there.
Looking for activities rather than places? See my guide to the best things to do in Yorkshire.
The Best Places to Visit in Yorkshire at a Glance
| Place | Best for | Recommended time |
|---|---|---|
| York | History and city breaks | 1–2 days |
| Yorkshire Dales | Countryside and villages | 2–3 days |
| Harrogate | Victorian era architecture, spa breaks and relaxed weekends | 1–2 days |
| Whitby | Coast and history | 1–2 days |
| North York Moors | Landscapes and outdoor escapes | 1–3 days |
| Knaresborough | Riverside scenery and history | Half to 1 day |
| Haworth | Brontë history and countryside | 1 day |
| Malham | Dramatic landscapes | 1 day |
| Richmond | History and market-town charm | 1 day |
| Yorkshire Coast | Beaches and seaside towns | 2–3 days |
| Robin Hood’s Bay | Coastal village atmosphere | Half to 1 day |
| Scarborough | Traditional seaside holidays | 1–2 days |
| Saltaire | History and architecture | Half to 1 day |
| Ilkley | Countryside and walking | 1 day |
| Pateley Bridge | Small-town charm and Nidderdale | 1 day |
| Castle Howard | Country-house grandeur | Half to 1 day |
| Fountains Abbey | History and countryside | Half to 1 day |
| Yorkshire Three Peaks | Hiking and dramatic scenery | 1–2 days |
| The Yorkshire Wolds | Quiet countryside | 1–2 days |
| Staithes | Coastal scenery and village life | Half to 1 day |
1. York
If you only visit one place in Yorkshire, make it York. Especially if it’s your first time in the county. See my guide to the best things to do in York.
The city feels completely different from the countryside around it. Medieval streets, ancient city walls and York Minster give it bags of character, and the centre is compact enough to explore on foot without a car.
It’s also one of the best places in Yorkshire for a proper city break. You can easily fill a weekend here, or use York as a base for exploring the rest of North Yorkshire.
For current events and opening times, the official Visit York website is worth checking before you go.
Best for: History, architecture, food and city breaks
Time needed: 1–2 days
Getting there: Direct trains from London King’s Cross take about 2 hours.
Seeing several paid sights? The Visit York Pass can save you money. For hotels, compare places to stay in York.
2. The Yorkshire Dales
For big scenery and a slower pace, nowhere beats the Yorkshire Dales. I live here, and I chose it for a reason.
The Dales cover a huge area of valleys, hills, rivers, waterfalls and stone villages. It isn’t one destination; it’s a collection of places best explored slowly.
Malham, Grassington, Hawes, Reeth and plenty of smaller villages all make good stops (here are my favourite Yorkshire Dales villages), and the roads between them are often as memorable as the villages themselves.
The Dales are perfect if you want beautiful scenery without spending your whole trip chasing attractions. Spend the morning in a village, the afternoon on a walk and the evening in a country pub.
Best for: Countryside, villages, walking and road trips
Time needed: 2–3 days
Getting there: Easiest by car. Without one, trains run to Skipton and along the Settle–Carlisle line, with local buses beyond.
3. Harrogate
Harrogate is one of Yorkshire’s most elegant towns, and one of my personal favourites.
The Victorian spa town has handsome architecture, the Valley Gardens, independent shops, good restaurants and, of course, Bettys. It’s ideal for a relaxed weekend away, but there are still loads of things to do.
It also makes a great base. You can combine a stay in town with day trips into Nidderdale and the Yorkshire Dales, so you get town and countryside without moving hotels every night. I’ve put the best areas and hotels in my Harrogate hotel guide, and the best day trips in my day trip guide.
Best for: Spa breaks, couples, gardens and food
Time needed: 1–2 days
Getting there: A few direct trains a day from London (about 3 hours), or change at Leeds or York. Under an hour by train from York.
4. Whitby
Perched on the North York Moors coast, Whitby is one of Yorkshire’s best-known towns.
The ruins of Whitby Abbey look down over the town from the clifftop, while the harbour, cobbled old streets and beaches make it easy to fill a full day.
Whitby is also where Bram Stoker found inspiration for Dracula, and the town has happily leaned into it. For the full list, see my guide to things to do in Whitby.
It’s a great choice if you want coastal scenery, history and a proper traditional seaside town in one.
Best for: Coast, history, seafood and atmosphere
Time needed: 1–2 days
Getting there: Easiest by car. By public transport, take the scenic Coastliner bus from York, or the North Yorkshire Moors Railway from Pickering when it’s running.
No car? This day trip from York includes three hours in Whitby. Staying over? See hotels in Whitby.
5. The North York Moors
The North York Moors are the place to escape into wide-open countryside.
The landscape is very different from the limestone scenery of the Dales. Huge stretches of heather moorland roll across the national park, broken up by wooded valleys, stone villages and abbey ruins. In late summer, the heather turns the moors purple.
It’s perfect for scenic drives and walking, and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a memorable way to see it from a steam train.
For a longer trip, combine the moors with the coast. The two sit right next to each other.
Best for: Landscapes, walking, scenic drives and steam trains
Time needed: 1–3 days
Getting there: Best by car. Pickering and Helmsley are good gateway towns. See where to stay in the North York Moors.
6. Knaresborough
Knaresborough is one of those Yorkshire towns that’s easy to underestimate.
It’s built above the steep-sided gorge of the River Nidd, with the famous railway viaduct dominating the view from the riverside. Old buildings, wooded riverbanks and that view make it one of the prettiest places in North Yorkshire.
It’s right next to Harrogate, so the two combine easily. If you come by train from Harrogate, you’ll even cross the viaduct yourself.
Knaresborough works well as a day trip if you don’t want to commit to a full weekend.
Best for: Pretty towns, riverside walks and history
Time needed: Half a day to 1 day
Getting there: On the York–Harrogate railway line, a few minutes from Harrogate.
7. Haworth
If you’re interested in literary history, Haworth is one of the most distinctive places in Yorkshire.
The village is famous as the home of the Brontë family. Its steep cobbled Main Street leads up to the Brontë Parsonage Museum, and the moors around it are the wild backdrop to the sisters’ novels.
But you don’t need to be a Brontë fan to enjoy it. The old stone buildings, independent shops, cafés and pubs give the village plenty of atmosphere on their own.
Best for: Literary history, villages and moorland
Time needed: Half a day to 1 day
Getting there: Train to Keighley, then a local bus or the Keighley & Worth Valley heritage railway to Haworth.
8. Malham
If dramatic scenery is high on your list, go to Malham.
The village sits in the southern Yorkshire Dales, surrounded by some of the most impressive landscapes in the county. The huge limestone cliff of Malham Cove is the star, with Gordale Scar and Malham Tarn close by.
Malham is all about the landscape rather than a list of attractions, which is exactly the point. It’s an excellent day out if you enjoy walking.
Best for: Dramatic scenery, walking and photography
Time needed: 1 day
Getting there: Best by car (parking fills up early on sunny weekends). Some buses run from Skipton, mainly in summer.
9. Richmond
Richmond sits on the northern edge of the Yorkshire Dales and feels quite different from the national park’s smaller villages.
The town centres on a big cobbled market square overlooked by Richmond Castle, with the River Swale tumbling through the valley below.
It’s a great pick if you want history and countryside together. Explore the town, then head out into Swaledale, or use Richmond as a base for the northern Dales.
Best for: History, market towns and countryside
Time needed: 1 day
Getting there: Easiest by car. By public transport, take the train to Darlington, then a local bus.
10. The Yorkshire Coast
The Yorkshire Coast isn’t a single destination, but it’s one of the best parts of Yorkshire to explore over several days.
The coastline changes a lot as you travel along it: traditional resorts like Scarborough, historic Whitby, fishing villages like Staithes and Robin Hood’s Bay, and dramatic chalk cliffs around Flamborough.
That makes it ideal for a road trip. Base yourself in one town and take day trips, or move along the coast as you go.
Best for: Beaches, seaside towns, coastal walks and road trips
Time needed: 2–3 days
Getting there: Direct trains from York to Scarborough. A car makes the smaller villages much easier.
11. Robin Hood’s Bay
For somewhere smaller and more atmospheric than Scarborough or Whitby, head to Robin Hood’s Bay.
The village tumbles steeply down to the sea, and the walk down its narrow lanes between old stone cottages is half the fun. (The walk back up is the other half.)
It’s perfect if you prefer historic villages and coastal scenery to traditional seaside attractions, and it’s an easy stop if you’re exploring the coast by car.
Best for: Coastal villages, scenery and walking
Time needed: Half a day to 1 day
Getting there: Short drive or bus ride from Whitby.
12. Scarborough
Scarborough is Yorkshire’s classic seaside resort.
It has two big sandy bays, a long seafront and all the traditions of the British seaside holiday, with Scarborough Castle on the headland between them. It’s much bigger than the coastal villages, so there’s enough to justify staying the night.
It also works well as a base for exploring the rest of the coast. If you want beaches, entertainment and plenty of places to stay and eat, Scarborough is the obvious choice. See my guide to things to do in Scarborough.
Best for: Beaches, families and traditional seaside holidays
Time needed: 1–2 days
Getting there: Direct trains from York in under an hour.
13. Saltaire
Saltaire is something completely different again.
This Victorian model village near Bradford was built in the 1850s for the workers of Titus Salt’s textile mill, and it’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It’s remarkably well preserved, with neat rows of stone houses laid out around the mill. Salts Mill itself is the landmark, and it houses a major collection of work by the Yorkshire-born artist David Hockney.
Saltaire is ideal for a shorter visit and combines easily with other places in West Yorkshire, like Haworth or Ilkley.
Best for: Architecture, history, art and culture
Time needed: Half a day to 1 day
Getting there: Direct trains from Leeds in around 15 minutes.
14. Ilkley
For a traditional Yorkshire town with open countryside on its doorstep, try Ilkley.
It sits beside the River Wharfe at the foot of Ilkley Moor, so you can combine cafés and independent shops with a proper walk in the hills. The Cow and Calf Rocks are the area’s best-known landmark.
Ilkley is also easy to reach by train, which makes it a good option if you’re travelling without a car.
Best for: Countryside, walking and a relaxed day out
Time needed: 1 day
Getting there: Direct trains from Leeds in about half an hour.
15. Pateley Bridge
Pateley Bridge is a small market town in Nidderdale, and a good choice if you want to get away from Yorkshire’s busiest tourist spots.
The town itself is compact, while the countryside around it is perfect for exploring Nidderdale’s quieter landscape.
It works best as part of a wider trip around Nidderdale and the Dales rather than as a base for a week.
Best for: Small-town charm, countryside and Nidderdale
Time needed: 1 day
Getting there: Around half an hour’s drive from Harrogate, or by local bus.
16. Castle Howard
Not every great place to visit in Yorkshire is a town.
Castle Howard is one of the most impressive country houses in England and makes a brilliant standalone day out.
The house is spectacular, but the grounds, lakes and gardens are just as much a part of the experience. It’s north-east of York, so it’s easy to combine with a stay in the city.
If you like architecture, gardens and historic houses, it deserves a place on your Yorkshire itinerary. For more castles, abbeys and historic houses, see my things to do in Yorkshire guide.
Best for: Architecture, gardens and history
Time needed: Half a day to 1 day
Getting there: About 30 minutes’ drive from York. Day tours from York often include it.
17. Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal
At Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, the setting is just as impressive as the ruins. It tops my guide to abbeys in Yorkshire.
The huge abbey ruins sit in a wooded valley alongside elegant Georgian water gardens, woodland and a deer park, and the whole estate is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It’s the kind of place where you can happily spend several hours exploring rather than just turning up, taking a photo and leaving.
It’s also close to the small cathedral city of Ripon, so you can combine the two in one day.
Best for: History, architecture, gardens and countryside
Time needed: Half a day to 1 day
Getting there: Easiest by car. It’s a short drive from Ripon and about half an hour from Harrogate.
18. The Yorkshire Three Peaks
If your idea of a great Yorkshire destination involves putting some miles into your walking boots, put the Yorkshire Three Peaks on your list.
The route takes in Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in the western Dales, and it’s one of the best-known hiking challenges in England.
You don’t need to do the whole challenge to enjoy the area, either. Each of the peaks, and the villages around them, has plenty of shorter walks.
This is one for people who want the landscape to be the main event.
Best for: Hiking, scenery and outdoor challenges
Time needed: 1–2 days
Getting there: Horton-in-Ribblesdale is on the Settle–Carlisle railway line, right at the start of the route.
19. The Yorkshire Wolds
The Yorkshire Wolds are often overlooked in favour of the Dales and the Moors, which is exactly why they’re worth considering.
The landscape is gentler, with rolling chalk hills, quiet lanes and small villages across the eastern side of the county.
Come here if you want a quieter Yorkshire without the crowds some of the famous spots attract. The Yorkshire Wolds Way, one of England’s National Trails, runs right through it.
Best for: Peaceful countryside, villages and walking
Time needed: 1–2 days
Getting there: Best by car.
20. Staithes
Finally, Staithes is one of the most characterful villages on the whole Yorkshire coast.
Narrow lanes lead down to a tiny harbour, where old cottages are squeezed between the cliffs and the sea. It’s much smaller than Whitby or Scarborough, so come here for atmosphere rather than a full-blown seaside resort.
Staithes works best as part of a wider Yorkshire Coast road trip.
Best for: Coastal scenery, villages and photography
Time needed: Half a day to 1 day
Getting there: Best by car, or by bus from Whitby.
How to Choose Where to Visit in Yorkshire
With so many options, it really comes down to what sort of trip you’re planning.
For a first trip to Yorkshire
Start with York, then add either the Yorkshire Dales or the Yorkshire Coast, depending on your interests. York gives you history and a city, while the Dales and the coast show you two completely different sides of the county.
For beautiful countryside
The Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors are the obvious choices. The Dales have more dramatic limestone scenery; the Moors have vast open landscapes and heather-covered hills.
For pretty villages
Try Haworth, Knaresborough, Robin Hood’s Bay, Staithes or any of the smaller villages in the Yorkshire Dales.
For a relaxing weekend
Harrogate is hard to beat for good food, gardens, spas and a slower pace. Add Knaresborough or a day out into the countryside.
For the coast
Base yourself in Whitby or Scarborough, then explore the smaller places nearby. Robin Hood’s Bay, Staithes, Filey and Flamborough all fit into a longer coastal trip.
For walking
Head for the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors, Malham or the Yorkshire Three Peaks. There are walks of every length and difficulty across the county.
For history
York is the obvious starting point, but don’t overlook Fountains Abbey, Saltaire, Castle Howard, Richmond and Haworth.
How Long Do You Need to Visit Yorkshire?
There’s no single answer because Yorkshire is so big.
For a weekend, I’d pick one area rather than trying to see the whole county. For example:
- York and the surrounding area
- Harrogate and the Yorkshire Dales
- Whitby and the Yorkshire Coast
With 3–4 days, you can start combining places. Add a day in the countryside to a York weekend, or take in Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay and Scarborough on a coast trip.
With 5–7 days, a Yorkshire road trip becomes realistic. You could combine York, Harrogate, the Dales and the coast, although you’ll still only scratch the surface.
If you’d like a head start, my free trip planner has ready-made routes for 3, 5 and 7 days.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Yorkshire?
Yorkshire is a year-round destination, but different seasons suit different trips.
Spring is lovely for gardens, countryside and walking, with lambs in the fields. Summer is the easiest time to combine the countryside with the coast, and the moors turn purple with heather towards the end of it.
Autumn (or fall, for my North American readers) is one of my favourite times for exploring the Dales and the North York Moors, when the landscape takes on a completely different character.
Winter can be cold, wet and occasionally snowy (although I’ve not seen proper snow in a while), but the towns and villages are at their most atmospheric. A cosy pub, a historic town and a bit of dramatic weather is a pretty good Yorkshire combination. See my guides to York in winter and the Yorkshire Dales in winter.
If you’re planning to spend most of your time walking, always check the forecast and conditions before heading into the hills.
Can You Visit Yorkshire Without a Car?
Yes, although a car gives you much more flexibility once you leave the bigger towns and cities.
York is one of the easiest places to reach by train, and Harrogate, Knaresborough, Scarborough, Ilkley and Saltaire all have direct rail connections too.
The Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors and the smaller coastal villages are harder without a car, although buses and trains can get you surprisingly far if you plan ahead.
For a car-free trip, I’d focus on York, Harrogate and Knaresborough. They’re all on the same railway line.
Guided day trips from York cover the Dales, the North York Moors and Whitby. If you’d rather drive, compare car hire on Booking.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the nicest place to visit in Yorkshire?
That depends on what you want from your trip. York is best for history and city breaks, while the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors are better for countryside and walking. For the coast, Whitby and the villages around it are the favourites.
What is the most beautiful part of Yorkshire?
The Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and Yorkshire Coast all have very different scenery. The Dales are known for valleys, limestone landscapes and waterfalls, the Moors for open heather-covered hills, and the coast for cliffs, beaches and fishing villages.
If you want my opinion, my vote goes to the Yorkshire Dales. I live here for a reason!
Where should I go for a weekend in Yorkshire?
For a city break, choose York. For a relaxed town break, try Harrogate. For countryside, stay in the Yorkshire Dales. And if you want the sea, Whitby makes a great base for the coast.
What are the best places to visit in Yorkshire for first-time visitors?
For a first trip, I’d start with York, the Yorkshire Dales, Harrogate, Whitby and the North York Moors. Together, they give you a great introduction to how varied Yorkshire is.
Is Yorkshire worth visiting?
Absolutely. Yorkshire is big enough for several completely different trips, from city breaks and seaside holidays to national parks, walking trips and quiet countryside escapes.
The trick is not trying to see everything at once. Pick an area, slow down and explore it properly. That’s when Yorkshire really starts to make sense.
Final Thoughts: Where Should You Visit in Yorkshire?
The best places to visit in Yorkshire aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest attractions or the most famous names.
For some people, York will be the highlight. For others, it’ll be finding a tiny village in the Dales, walking across a windswept stretch of moorland or discovering a quiet corner of the coast.
That’s what makes Yorkshire so good to explore. You can come back several times and have a completely different trip each time.
If it’s your first visit, I’d choose one or two areas rather than trying to see everything. Yorkshire is too big to rush, and you’ll get much more out of a couple of days properly exploring somewhere than ticking places off a list.
And if you’re still not sure where to start, York, the Yorkshire Dales, Harrogate and the Yorkshire Coast are four very different places that will give you a great introduction to the county.
