Location: Yorkshire
Top Things to do in Yorkshire
Top Hotels in Yorkshire
The 10 Best Free Things to do in Yorkshire, England
Yorkshire (/ˈjɔːrkʃər, -ʃɪər/; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a historic county of Northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Due to its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform. Throughout these changes, Yorkshire has continued to be recognised as a geographical territory and cultural region. The name is familiar and well understood across the United Kingdom and is in common use in the media and the military, and also features in the titles of current areas of civil administration such as North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and East Riding of Yorkshire.
Restaurants in Yorkshire
1. Wainwright's Coast-to-Coast Walk
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 178 reviews
Reviewed By lawyerrambling - Glendale, United States
Signed on with C2C in Kirkby Steven to do the first two-thirds of the walk (solo) in early June. Cannot praise the walk enough. Even this portion (of roughly 120 miles) offered a cross-section with coastal bluffs the first day, lakes and peaks through the Lake District, moors across Westmoreland, hills through the Pennines, dales in Yorkshire, villages in the Lake District and market towns (Kirkby Steven and Richmond). I took a slow pace and an extra night in Grasmere and the pace is such that, time permitting, an extra day every three days or so is welcome. (I wish I'd allowed an extra night in Kirkby Steven). The accommodations proved excellent (guest houses and B&Bs mostly) and the food was a pleasant surprise.
2. Beverley Minster
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,307 reviews
Beverley Minster is a Church of England Parish Church - the largest in England. Founded in 700 AD, the current building was completed in 1400. On Mondays to Saturdays we are open 9.00 - 5.30 (April - October), and 9.00 - 4.00 (November - March) Sunday worship is at 8.00, 10.30 and 5.30, and the Minster is open in between times. The Shop is open Monday - Saturday. Admission is free. 'Serve yourself' refreshments available. Contact us for details of tours.
Reviewed By Stephen51 - Lytham St Anne's, United Kingdom
Have visited the Minster before but as we were staying in Beverley for a few days we had the opportunity to spend longer exploring this wonderful building and its many artifacts. We were lucky to also manage to get tickets to visit the roof of the building where you can see how the it was constructed and its early and more recent areas of renovation. Our guides on the roof tour were Graham and Sue and they were splendid. There was nothing that they didn't know about this building and spent over an hour ensuring that we all had the opportunity to take photographs and ask as many questions as we liked. They were also a hysterical double act!! We could wax lyrical about the Minster itself but there really is only one way to appreciate it and that is to come and see it for yourselves. It has everything you could ask for including great historical items such as the tomb of Henry Percy and great relics including the grave of St John of York. The Guides in the Minster are super too as they point out all the things that you would miss if you were not aware such as the carved Head of Edward I and his wife the stone musicians and the upside down archer. A real delight! No admission, only donation, which is unusual these days, guides that truly are enthusiastic about your visit and a great little shop too. If you're in the area don't miss it!!
3. Yorkshire Wolds Way
4. Roseberry Topping
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 752 reviews
Reviewed By Jamieboy1234567
If you can manage the walk this amazing Middlesbrough landmark is one to visit for sure. There a small town nearby with a convenience store to grab a picnic before you head up to... just make sure you bring walking boots ????
5. Royal Armouries Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,530 reviews
Home for the national collection of arms and armour that features five theme-galleries: War, Tournament, Self-Defense, Hunting, and arms and armour of the Orient.
Reviewed By Jodiedonny
This was a great interesting place with loads of different things to see & do really big place with five floors loads of war weapons and different sections to see, a lot of armour & plenty of places to listen to stories from over time, the museum has many places to sit in the glass front edge to look over the river which was lovely. Great enjoyable day, cafe staff downstairs very friendly & biscuit & cuppa lovely.
6. National Railway Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 18,169 reviews
FREE ENTRY Home to iconic locomotives and an unrivalled collection of engineering brilliance, we celebrate the past, present and future of innovation on the railways. Dedicated to igniting our visitors’ curiosity about the people, places and engineering marvels behind the railways, we put our passion for amazing stories into everything we do.
Reviewed By andrewmR3427OB
Excellent museum free entry or you can put a voluntary donation toward the upkeep of the locos and museum lots to do and very informative.There are different talks on various subjects of railwayana.The museum has 3 large halls film of locos and railwayana there are also viewing platforms where you can see staff working on different locos.You can easily spend all day here there is a resteraunt and shops well worth a visit
7. Shambles
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15,601 reviews
Shambles (or The Shambles as it is often referred to) is a street in the city centre of York with a long and interesting past. Dating back to Medieval times it was once the street of the butcher shops. Today the Shambles is Europe's most visited street, attracting tourists, shoppers and business clients.
Reviewed By Gailpe
Beautiful and busy It’s a Harry Potter fans heaven There’s also lots of odd little quirky shops with unusual gifts to be had A small market square is tucked away with lots of hand crafted gifts The old buildings add to the nostalgia of this pretty shopping area
8. National Science and Media Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,495 reviews
The National Science and Media Museum is a fabulous free museum in Bradford, West Yorkshire devoted to the science and culture of light and sound technologies. Filled with fun educational exhibits, including the state-of-the-art Wonderlab gallery, three cinema screens including the IMAX 3D cinema (charges apply), the museum also hosts events for children and festivals covering animation, retro TV, film and more.The National Science and Media Museum is a fun day out in Bradford for the whole family.
Reviewed By jackharrybill - Haworth, United Kingdom
We were visiting to see 1917 on the IMAX screen. Brilliant to see at that scale. The museum has some good permanent displays and the galleries often have interesting exhibitions to see. Good for kids and families but worth a visit whoever you are.
9. The Piece Hall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,041 reviews
Following a multi-million pound transformation project, Britain's last surviving cloth hall, featuring independent shops, cafes and bars, heritage visitor centre, art gallery and a spectacular events programme is now open seven days a week.
Reviewed By shanu76 - York, United Kingdom
First visit to Halifax as a tourist and the day centred around the Piece Hall. What a wonderful day out and very much recommended to all. Impressive architecture, full of history. Made to feel very welcome by the good people of Halifax with plenty to see and do. We joined a free tour of the Piece Hall and our guide Pamela did a truly superb job of bringing the history to life and showing us around. The work that has been done to restore the Piece Hall is world class. There's great independant shops to visit and several very pleasant places to eat and drink including Gin Lane where we enjoyed a special Espresso Martini and Elder that provided a superb lunch which included catering perfectly for my gluten free dietry needs. Hope to visit again soon!
10. Brimham Rocks
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,406 reviews
An amazing collection of weird and wonderful rock formations: a great day out for families, climbers and those who love the outdoors.
Reviewed By FrequentFlier809627
Superb for all the family. Plenty of marked (disabled accessible) paths & lots of rocks to climb. There's really nowhere else like it. Be sure to see the Dancing Bear rock (above the visitor centre) &, just a little further on, the Balancing Rock. Make sure you visit the snack bar (check opening days) and try the hot sausage rolls - the best sausage rolls you've ever had! There's a large area of picnic tables by the snack bar so feel free to bring your own picnic. Parking, at the entrance, is extensive (free for NT members) with disabled spaces; Parking gets busy on fine weekends, school holidays & Bank holidays so try to arrive before 11.00 on sunny days!
