The Prettiest Places to Visit in Yorkshire

The Prettiest Places to Visit in Yorkshire

Yorkshire, otherwise known to some as ‘God’s Own Country’, is a county filled with natural beauty, local produce and all things sport-related. Along with Yorkshire puddings, the world’s first-ever football club and home of the famous Brontë Sisters, some of the best places to visit in the UK can be found in this beautiful county.

From chocolate box villages to bustling market towns, many hidden gems are tucked away across Yorkshire. So let’s take a look at some of the prettiest places to visit in Yorkshire, including things to do and why they are the best places to visit in Yorkshire.

Grassington

Situated just off the Yorkshire Dales lies the picturesque town of Grassington. Many people may know Grassington as the fictional town of Darrowby from Channel 5’s ‘All Creatures Great and Small’. The town is home to many quaint independent shops, cafes and a regular farmers market, as well as the beginning of a range of walks across the Yorkshire Dales and beyond.

This former-mining village has become a focal point for visitors and locals alike, with its stone cottages, busy cobbled square and music and arts event, Grassington Festival, attracting people all year round.

Hawes

Another magical market town found in the Yorkshire Dales National Park is Hawes. Not only is it known for homing the world-famous Wensleydale cheese, but it’s also one of the highest towns in England, sitting 850 feet above sea level.

Another reason why Hawes is one of the prettiest places to visit in Yorkshire is its stunning scenery. The River Ure pushes flowing waterfalls throughout the town, lined on either side by cobbled streets. A must-see in Hawes is the Dales Countryside Museum or the Wensleydale Creamery if you’re looking to try a taste of Yorkshire.

Looking for somewhere to stay near Hawes? We recommend Simonstone Hall

Pateley Bridge

Pateley Bridge is another addition to the list of the prettiest places to visit in Yorkshire. This charming Yorkshire town acts as the start and finishing point of the Nibberdale Way, a circular walk spanning 53 miles of the Nidd Valley.

Pateley Bridge is often used as a base for many hikers with plenty of pretty accommodations, tea rooms and even England’s oldest sweet shop. This idyllic market town stretches up the hillside, with an award-winning high street where you’ll find locally produced food, gifts, keepsakes, as well as several independent restaurants and cafes.

Looking for somewhere to stay near Pateley Bridge? We recommend Nydsley Hall

Thornton-le-Dale

Another one of the prettiest places to visit in Yorkshire is the attractive village of Thornton-le-Dale, home to a thatched cottage known as one of the most-loved sights across the National Park. Although it is one of the smaller additions to the list, this village’s charm is enough to attract visitors from across Yorkshire and beyond.

The triangular green in the centre of the village with its old market cross and stocks is one of the main features of this village, which acts as a marker for the woodland path that takes visitors across the surrounding valleys and woodland. A must-see in Thornton-le-Dale is the nature trail in the neighbouring Dalby forest that features storyboards, tree carvings and bug hotels.

Looking for somewhere to stay near Thornton-le-Dale? We recommend The White Swan Inn

Haworth

Haworth, otherwise known as a literary mecca for all book lovers, is an iconic Airedale village well deserved to be one of Yorkshire’s prettiest places. Most notable for being the home of the Brontë Sisters, Haworth is a must-visit if you love all things literature-related with a storybook village charm.

There are plenty of must-sees, including the Cabinet of Curiosities Victorian-style shop, vintage steam train spotting at Haworth Station (also known as the location for the filming of ‘The Railway Children’) and walking trails known for their inspiration for the novel ‘Wuthering Heights’.

Looking for somewhere to stay near Haworth? We recommend The Black Bull Inn

York

A list of the prettiest places to visit in Yorkshire isn’t truly complete without a feature from the beautiful city of York. York is known for its abundance of tourist attractions to see and do as a family, with friends or on your own. A few of its most remarkable attractions include the magnificent gothic-style York Minster, the medieval City Walls walkway dating back to Roman times and the best-preserved medieval shopping street in Europe, the Shambles.

With so many attractions on the city’s doorstep, it’s no wonder it receives millions of visitors a year to see this gorgeous medieval city. Paired with York’s top restaurants, a bustling market and an atmosphere like no other, York is certainly one of the prettiest places in Yorkshire.

Looking for somewhere to stay near York? We recommend No 1 By Guesthouse, York

Knaresborough

Another charming town to add to this list is Knaresborough. As you arrive by train, you’re greeted with a stunning view of the Nidd Gorge where the railway viaduct lies. The rest of the town centre sits on a cliff edge above the River Nidd, with stone staircases weaving their way around the whole town.

At the base of the cliffs, you’ll find a beautiful promenade that acts as a sun trap in the summer months with an almost coastal feel. The must-see Nidd Gorge acts as the perfect spot for walks, picnics and you can even take a boat out on the water. Explore the pretty side streets and quirky little shops and take in perhaps some of the best views in Yorkshire.

Ripley

Located just above Harrogate, Ripley is a stunning residential village with a potential Roman heritage. It’s home to Ripley Castle, a Grade I listed 14th-century country house as well as plenty of other historical houses including the 700-year-old home of the Ingilby family. If you fancy a quiet getaway or a day trip to see a picture-perfect French model village, this is the place for you. The scenery is enough to make this village one of the prettiest places to visit in Yorkshire with its old-school architecture and cobbled streets aplenty.

Looking for somewhere to stay near Ripley? We recommend The West Park Hotel

Skipton

If you’re looking for a town to visit with plenty of Yorkshire charm, rich culture, plenty of history and stunning scenery, Skipton is the place for you. There are plenty of things for tourists to see and do such as visiting its 900-year-old castle that acts as a centrepiece of the market town.

The romantic-style ruined priory that dates back to the 12th century is a must-see and of course, the historic cobbled high street at the centre of the town. With the Yorkshire Dales right on their doorstep filled with various highways and trails to follow, Skipton offers so much for all types of tourists.

Looking for somewhere to stay near Skipton? We recommend The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa

Discover the best restaurants in Skipton

Hebden Bridge

Apart from being one of the filming locations for the top-rated BBC drama series Happy Valley, Hebden Bridge is also known for being a mini bohemian paradise due to the surge of artists and writers that came to the town in the 70s and 80s. Being one of the quirkier towns in West Yorkshire and known for its vibrant arts and culture scene, it was once named the world’s 4^th funkiest town.

In recent days, you’ll find many tourists still visit the town for its must-see independent shops and food spots as well as being used as a base for hikers exploring the nearby countryside and historic buildings. This charming town is a top contender for the prettiest places to visit in Yorkshire.

Robin Hood’s Bay

The Yorkshire coastline is one of the prettiest coastlines in the UK, filled with picturesque fishing villages and bustling coastal market towns. Robin Hood’s Bay is just that, being one of the most famous fishing villages on the Heritage Coast of the North York Moors.

With lots of narrow, twisting alleyways and streets leading to a beautiful sandy beach, plenty of rock pools and many cafes, restaurants and small shops to explore, there’s so much to see and do for the whole family. Robin Hood’s Bay is a vibrant village with seaside cottages, scenic coastal walks and home to plenty of natural beauty.

Staithes

Once one of the largest fishing ports in the North East of England, Staithes is now a popular destination for holiday goers wanting to see one of the prettiest places to visit in Yorkshire. This village is packed full of 18th-century cottages, endless winding cobbled streets and plenty of cliff-top paths to explore.

There’s also a small sandy beach with rock pools boasting stunning fossils that date back 56 million years ago. Vikings allegedly used Staithes Port as a landing place for their longboats, alum was mined from neighbouring rocks during the Tudor reign and was where Captain Cook originally pursued his nautical career. A couple of must-sees are Staithes Beach and The Staithes Story Museum.

Looking for some of the best beaches in Yorkshire?

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Hutton-le-Hole

Hutton-le-Hole is a small village situated within the National Park, just off the North York Moors. This village sits in a natural hollow and is known for its stunning scenery of the nearby Tabular Hills and Spaunton Moor.

One of the main attractions right at the centre of the village is the open-air Ryedale Folk Museum, with 20 reconstructed buildings including an Iron Age roundhouse, a Tudor mansion, a vintage photo studio and various other craft workshops and farm buildings. Take a charming 2-mile hike to the neighbouring village of Lastingham which houses an ancient church with a Norman crypt or take one of the various cycle routes from the village to see the Yorkshire countryside.

Malton

Otherwise known as Yorkshire’s Food Capital, Malton is the perfect place for any foodie. It’s known as the town packed full of makers and markets, with a traditional weekly market that takes place every Saturday. The town is also known for its famous ‘Food Lovers’ festival, cookery school, plenty of traditional and award-winning food shops and local artisan food producers.

As well as being a top foodie destination, many visitors also choose Malton as a great base to see other famous Yorkshire sights including Castle Howard, the North York Moors and Eden Camp.

Helmsley

Another picturesque market town to add to the list is the quaint little town of Helmsley. Lying on the banks of the River Rye, the town sits sheltered by the ruins of an old medieval castle. The town hosts markets every Friday in its market square with its 19th-century Feversham memorial surrounded by narrow, winding alleys and lots of independent shops and cafes.

Helmsley is also a gateway to the west of the National Park with its surrounding dales and moorland trails. A couple of must-sees in this market town are the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey and nearby Duncombe Park, home to the biggest collection of birds of prey in the North of England.

Malham

The final addition to the list of the prettiest places to visit in Yorkshire is the popular village of Malham, situated in the Yorkshire Dales on the Pennine Way. The village is surrounded by limestone scenery everywhere you look, with some of the area being the inspiration for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows film.

There are many attractions right on this pretty village’s doorstep such as Malham Cove reaching 260 feet high and Gordale Scar, created during the Ice Ages. A must-see here is Janet’s Foss, a waterfall that is home to Janet the queen of the Fairies according to traditional folklore.

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