5 days in Yorkshire
Introduction
Yorkshire is a region that inspires. It provides the setting for literary classics like Dracula and Wuthering Heights, as well as filming locations for some of Britain’s most iconic on-screen moments, from Downton Abbey to Harry Potter. The rambling streets of York are lined with history, while bigger, bolder Leeds is a hotspot for music and the arts. Venture out of the cities for delightful surprises in Yorkshire’s national parks. Explore the rugged green hills of the Yorkshire Dales, or try stargazing and surfing in the North York Moors.
Here’s our pick of the top things to see and do over five days in Yorkshire:
Day 1 – Leeds
Day 1 – Leeds
Leeds is Yorkshire’s creative hub. The Leeds Art Gallery features an impressive collection of contemporary British art, while the annual Leeds Festival is one of the biggest music events in Britain, securing huge global artists every year. It’s a city that’s crazy about sport too, so whether you catch a Leeds United football match, or a game at Headingley cricket ground, you’d better get ready to cheer on the home team.
Things to do in Leeds
Getting to Leeds
Leeds Bradford Airport receives flights from many European destinations and is connected to the city centre by the FLYER bus. The journey takes around 45 minutes.
Leeds is located around 210 miles (337 km) north of London. Direct trains from London King’s Cross to Leeds take around two hours and 15 minutes, and are operated by Northern, South Western and LNER.
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Day 2 - York
Day 2 – York
York’s unique charm makes visitors fall in love at first sight, from its crooked shopping streets that are said to have inspired Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley, to its surrounding Roman city walls and the incredible York Minster cathedral. Today’s York is a breath of fresh air, with local breweries, quirky shops and sustainable restaurants — be sure to visit SPARK, a vibrant, community-focused market bringing together independent traders in a maze of colourful shipping containers.
Things to do in York
Getting to York from Leeds
There are plenty of trains every day between Leeds and York, with services from Northern and TransPennine Express taking less than 30 minutes.
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Days 3-4 - North York Moors
Days 3 – 4 – North York Moors
There’s so much to discover in the North York Moors. The National Park includes vast purple fields of heather, sandy beaches and rugged woodlands. It’s full of surprises, too — did you know that you can surf, or whale watch, in Yorkshire? Fishing village Robin Hood’s Bay is bursting with unique northern charm, while further up the coast, the striking town of Whitby inspired the novel Dracula, and is the setting of Britain’s annual ‘Goth Weekend’.
Things to do in the North York Moors
Getting to the North York Moors from York
To get to the seaside town of Whitby in the North York Moors, take a train from York to Whitby, transferring in Middlesborough. The journey takes around three hours.
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Day 5 – Yorkshire Dales
Day 5 – Yorkshire Dales
Expectations of rolling green hills, farm animals and traditional cottages are spot on – but there are far more things to do in the Yorkshire Dales. Climb the region’s three highest peaks, chase waterfalls or explore an underground cave network. Be welcomed by friendly locals in the quirky towns of Richmond, Settle and Pateley Bridge, or stay off-grid, camping in the heart of the National Park to gaze up at some of Britain’s clearest skies.
Things to do in the Yorkshire Dales
Getting to the Yorkshire Dales from the North York Moors
Travelling between the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales by public transport is possible, but may involve some transfers depending on your starting point and destination. Check out more detailed information from the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
For greater freedom, consider renting a car to explore independently around and between Yorkshire’s immense national parks.
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Ready to discover Yorkshire?
Yorkshire FAQs
Stepping into Castle Howard is also stepping onto the once-set of several Regency-era-based productions, with the castle having played the part of Clyvedon Castle in Bridgerton, Mr Darcy’s Pemberley Estate in Death Comes to Pemberley, and also having been accidentally inherited by the fictional character Garfield in Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties.
It also played the role of the Marchmains family home in Brideshead Revisited and featured in the music video for the song Four out of Five by the Arctic Monkeys, among other productions.
The Shambles in York is an incredibly well-preserved medieval shopping street. It’s known for its unique medieval buildings, 14th-century architecture and narrow, somewhat winding, cobbled streets. Located just outside of York city centre, it’s incredibly easy to reach, with a variety of shops and a food court sitting just behind it.
The reasoning behind the bay’s name isn’t wholly known, however, it’s commonly theorised that it takes its name from a legendary tale which involved Robin Hood fishing in the bay and defending the village from pirates.
Robin Hood’s Bay is only 5.5 miles away from Whitby, making it only a 15-minute drive or 20-minute bus journey away. York is around 48 miles away, taking approximately two hours by public transport or one hour 15 minutes by car. Either way, this beauty spot is well worth the journey – especially on a sunny day.