Top Things to do in North Yorkshire
Things to do in North Yorkshire, England: The Best Sights & Landmarks
Discover the best top things to do in North Yorkshire, United Kingdom including Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, Malham Cove, Nidderdale Llamas, Roseberry Topping, Church of St Lawrence, Shambles, Castle Howard, Ripley Castle and Gardens, Skipton Castle, York Minster.
Restaurants in North Yorkshire
1. Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,875 reviews
We've loved having you back! Please note that you need to pre-book your ticket to visit at the moment via the website. Explore a great abbey and elegant water garden at this World Heritage Site near Harrogate. Cistercian monks chose this place to establish Fountains Abbey in 1132, and the walls echo with centuries-old stories. Follow the riverside path to Studley Royal, a playful water garden designed by visionaries John and William Aislabie in the 18th century. You can spend a day amongst statues, follies and cascades before venturing beyond the lake to Studley Royal deer park, with ancient lime tree avenues and red, fallow and sika deer. Eat, shop, stay Restaurant serving select range of hot food. Picnics welcome but please leave BBQs at home. Large shop with gardening section. Stay at one of 14 holiday cottages, including a cosy waterside lodge and elegant apartment inside Jacobean Fountains Hall. No drones please. Bikes and scooters welcome for children under 5.
Reviewed By Sal7thomp - Leeds, United Kingdom
Fantastic grounds, amazing view, wonderful gardens and lake with a great deer park and lovely abbey and great gift shop
2. Malham Cove
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,484 reviews
Reviewed By ncutts
Not my first visit, but the first time back in decades. Just as stunning as I remember it being, right from the first views at the bottom of the cove. Well worth the climb to the top if you’re fit enough - we enjoyed a lovely picnic once up and great views, plus the limestone pavement is best seen up close from the top and can’t really be viewed any other way. Shame on those tourists who think it’s OK to push their litter in among the rocks. :( just take it home!! It’s lighter when you’ve eaten the contents so much easier and more compact to carry!!! Lovely flora and fauna to be seen along the walk. It’s also nice to continue and make it a circular walk if you have time, returning via Goredale Scar. The walk was quieter away from the cove too. Pity there were a few people who seemed totally unaware of social distancing and ploughed their way through, but for the most part, people were courteous and willing to wait at gates, narrow parts etc. It’s a stunning natural feature and a must if visiting the area.
3. Nidderdale Llamas
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 628 reviews
A unique interactive fun activity, based on a family working farm in Nidderdale. Offering Llama Trekking & Llama/alpaca experiences in beautiful countryside. Fantastic fun with amazing friendly animals, a range of options to choose from all including close contact with llamas, alpacas and some other animals.
Reviewed By iTravellers - Manchester, United Kingdom
This was a surprise Birthday treat and it didn't disappoint! We spent a lovely afternoon getting to know all about Llamas and Alpacas. We were able to interact with the animals in a safe environment before heading out for a walk with them. The Llamas were very calm and terrific walking companions. Even though the Yorkshire weather was atrocious it didn't dampen the spirits of the group. The staff were brilliant and very knowledgable about the animals and their different characters. We were each " matched" with a Llama and got to know them as we walked out on our short trek. After the trek we warmed up with tea and cake, a nice touch. This has been the highlight of our week in beautiful Yorkshire and would thoroughly recommend.
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. Church of St Lawrence
6. 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
7. Castle Howard
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,482 reviews
Castle Howard is one of England's finest historic houses, set in a thousand acres of sweeping parkland dotted with statues, temples, lakes and fountains. Inside discover world-renowned collections gathered by succeeding generations of the Howard family. Built over 300 years ago, today it still remains a family home.
Reviewed By 684bruced - Sydney, Australia
We spent a couple of hours at castle Howard and enjoyed the garden, fountain and the grandeur of this stately home....the TV history was also fascinating...
8. Ripley Castle and Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,026 reviews
Reviewed By frankart_10 - Lymington, United Kingdom
We visited the castle on a rather wet day, and strangely, as part of a holiday mostly looking at steam railways. But no matter. I'm so very pleased that this visit was fitted into the schedule. The castle is still in private ownership, it's a very fine building, dating back several hundred years, where it's been in the ownership of the same family. The rooms are well stocked with fine family portraits and the furniture and possessions, and are well worth taking a long look at. There's a good collection of curios, guns and armour, and the grounds are extensive, supporting a large heard of deer, which can often been seen as you wander around the deer park The walled garden could do with a bit of attention, but there are also two excellent shops and a very good tea room. But for me the highlight was the guided tour. The lady who took us round was full of information, interspersed with some extremely witty anecdotes about the family. Just so highly entraining as well as informative. I though this a most excellent visit.
9. Skipton Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,895 reviews
Where better to experience almost a thousand years of British history than by visiting Skipton Castle. Open all year round, tours are popular with visitors who come from far and wide to explore what some consider to be, a castle jewel of the North. Overlooking an intriguing market town, this remarkable 900 year old fortress is one of the best preserved and most complete medieval castles in England. The history is inseparable from the Clifford family. During the Civil War, Skipton Castle was the last Royalist bastion in the North, yielding only after a three-year siege in 1645. ‘Slighted’ under the orders of Cromwell, the Castle was skilfully restored years later by the indubitable matriarch and egalitarian, Lady Anne Clifford (1589-1676) who was born here. Today the dedicated team at Skipton Castle follow in her footsteps in its preservation. It is the focal point at the top of the High Street, so after a visit, it is fun and easy to take a stroll around the lovely shops, old mark
Reviewed By 425trician - Baildon, United Kingdom
Despite living nearby this was my first time actually inside the grounds of the Castle! It is well worth a visit if you like history and the castle is a wonderful building with some wonderful views and extremely well preserved. All grounds are also very well kept and pretty. All staff go out of their way to be helpful and friendly, giving directions and extra info which is really nice and was appreciated. A handy free tour sheet is included with ticket price with a suggested anti clockwise route suggested so you don’t miss anything. There’s also more background and historic information in each room which I enjoyed reading. There is a cafe for drinks or lunch and a church you could have a look round. Also there is a woodland walk which looks to give amazing views of the exterior. We vowed to try this another time as that is open and accessible to the public. I found the entrance fee slightly expensive as it only takes 1-2 hours maximum so isn’t a full day out. We were happy to pay it and glad we did but we probably wouldn’t again. I also think the price may put off some people especially with families which is a shame. But overall we really enjoyed looking round the castle we’re very lucky to have such a lovely piece of history on our doorstep.
10. York Minster
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15,812 reviews
Dating back to medieval times, this splendid Church of England cathedral features magnificent 14th- and 15th-century stained glass, stonework and elaborate tombs.
Reviewed By 354ursulal - Uxbridge, United Kingdom
Have visited york Minster twice now and both times this beautiful building and helpful staff have made it extremely educational and interesting, the tower tour gives exceptional views of a beautiful city and surrounding countryside, a must do for anybody in York.
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