Discover the charming villages, historic city of York and the natural beauty of Yorkshire's countryside in a 3 day tour around 'Gods own Country'.
Having grown up and lived in Yorkshire for a good part of my life, I have ensured you get to see the major sights, taste some good 'old Yorkshire grub' and visit a few hidden gems that many people miss!

York, UK

Yorkshire, UK

Yorkshire Dales, Leyburn, UK

The Complete Itinerary for Yorkshire, UK (from a local)

This narrow avenue in the centre of York is one of the UK's most famous streets. The overhanging architecture and medieval buildings dating back as far as the 14th century have drawn visitors for many years. The street was originally filled with butchers homes and their shops with a slaughterhouse around the back, though nowadays jewellery stores, fudge makers and chocolate shops adorn the tiny buildings.

Bettys is a Yorkshire institution loved by locals and visitors, it has been serving its perfect cups of tea, elegant cakes and succulent sandwiches since 1919 all making up its famous traditional afternoon tea. The York outlet has an interior inspired by the Queen Mary ocean liner and remains just as popular now with regular queues lining up outside everyday of the week.

Top Tip: There are 2 branches of Bettys in York - Helens Square & Stonegate, both are located in the city centre so just a short walk through the city.

Built over 250 years, York Minster has been the focal point of the city since the 7th century. Strolling around the magnificent cathedral you will find: 

From the village, a short 20 minute walk north takes you to the giant limestone formation of Malham Cove, a waterfall dating back to the ice age formed this unique 80 metre cliff face over thousands of years. Ascend the stairs to the top and reach the rugged limestone pavements for one of the best places to view the dales stunning landscape.

Walk further north to reach Malham Tarn, England's highest freshwater lake and home to a rare variety of plants and wildlife. If you are lucky, you may spot deer or otters lurking as you walk around the tarn, though be sure to wear sensible footwear as the ground changes from rocky pavements to muddy marshland quickly.

Head back south passing the huge cavern and flowing water of Gordale Scar to arrive at the picturesque setting of Janet's Foss, a small but beautiful waterfall and pool nestled in woodland. The secluded and silent space gives a magical and mysterious aura, a nearby tree stump even holds hundreds of pennies left by visitors hoping for some luck.

This clockwise loop brings you back to the village, the perfect place to rest your legs and quench your thirst as you sample some of Yorkshire's finest ales in the cosy country pubs.

The Lister Arms provides home-cooked wholesome food served in its traditional pub giving a cosy and welcoming atmosphere. If you are craving a proper British pie or something more fancy, the Lister Arms has you covered. The pub also has rooms to stay the night and a large beer garden to enjoy the outdoors when the weather allows!

See the landmarks of York and visit some of its unique museums to explore its varied past.

Malham is a small but popular village in the Yorkshire dales surrounded by limestone dry-stone walls and a stream running through the centre. Its close proximity to the natural sights of Malham Tarn, Gordale Scar & Malham cove makes a great starting point to grab a map for hikes and walks around the varied Yorkshire countryside.

Stop by the museum at the bottom for a detailed look at the mechanics and history of the line, then at the top tuck into some unusual traditional candy at the old fashioned sweet shop.

Nowadays, you can take a costume guided tour around the UNESCO world heritage site bringing the industrial village experience to life as well as visiting Salts Mill which has now been converted into an arts space. The mill holds a magnificent collection of local artist, David Hockney's works along with antique shops, a village history exhibition and café.

Make your way over the bridge to the beautiful Roberts Park where festivals and dragon boat races take place every summer or have a leisurely walk or canal boat ride down the River Aire.

Top Tip: Costume guided tours around the village need to be booked in advance.

Saltaire's easy access from nearby cities Leeds & Bradford make the UNESCO World Heritage Site a great starting point.

Start the day in one of England's best preserved model villages and discover a hidden tramway system. In the afternoon, make your way to the Dales for some incredible sights and home cooked food.

Sir Titus Salt built one of Yorkshire's many textile mills and created the entire Saltaire village for his workforce to live and play, the complete model town has become a major influence in modern urban town planning.

With the Bradford region winning the hotly contested UK city of culture for 2025, there are sure to be more events, art and activities to get involved in!

A short walk through Roberts Park from Saltaire Village takes you to the bottom of this unique hidden tramway taking visitors up to the rocky country park of Shipley Glen. This Victorian favourite pulls 2 narrow gauge trams by cables through the woods and is the oldest working cable tramway in Britain.

The Nave - The widest gothic nave in England dates back to 1291 and contains unrivalled medieval stained glass, look out for the Heart of Yorkshire in the great west window.

The Chapter House - This revolutionary piece of engineering for its time, created an octagonal room with a vaulted ceiling resulting in the absence of a central column.

The Undercroft Museum - Beneath the Minister lies a museum exploring the excavations of the site, a roman fortress was discovered and many of the artefacts found are on display

For an even more detailed look, the hidden minister tour allows entrance to spaces usually closed to the public with an expert guide. Tours can be taken around the crypt passages, the stone yard and the chapter house roof.

The remarkable similarity of The Shambles with Harry Potter's Diagon Alley has led to an increased amount of Potter fans visiting to see the 'inspiration' for the popular shopping street in the films, therefore, a number of wizarding stores have opened on the street too. 

Immerse yourself in York's incredibly rich history by bringing the past to life at this unique museum. A recreated Victorian cobbled street is the main attraction here, enter hand crafted toy shops, explore the back alleys and talk to local characters. Every detail has been thought about from the lamp posts to the Tudor houses making the perfect backdrop for a souvenir photo. Each of the interactive exhibits is filled with authentic items telling stories of life in Yorkshire and how residents coped through the first world war.

The building was once home to a Georgian prison, these have now been converted into an modern day exhibition where you will discover the brutal history and punishments of the former residents.

Find something for everyone in the gift shop with Victorian toys, traditional Yorkshire recipe books and old-fashioned sweets available for purchase.

Go further back in time at Jorvik to discover York's Viking past for much more than a museum, this experience includes a 12 minute ride with animatronics and real remains from the old Viking city. They were discovered by excavations in the building of a new shopping centre, so now the preserved remains of over 1,000 artefacts including buildings, wells, textiles and pottery are all displayed in Jorvik's galleries.

One of the great heritage railway experiences! Board one of the iconic steam or diesel trains, sit back and enjoy the journey, twisting through miles of heather moorland between the market town of Pickering and historic Whitby. The hop on, hop off ticket means you can explore all of the stations and villages on the line:

Take a trip on an iconic Yorkshire railway taking in some of the North York Moors greatest villages on the way. Finally arriving in the seaside resort of Whitby for an afternoon exploring its cobbled streets and famous abbey.

Levisham Station - A 1912 styled station in the heart of the Yorkshire moors is a great place to wander off and enjoy the landscape on foot for a while.

Goathland Station - Goathland is a traditional Yorkshire village with plenty of shops, pubs and tea rooms to keep you entertained. Also famous for its TV & Film connections, the village was the filming location for the popular TV soap opera Heartbeat and the station was the set for Hogsmeade station in Harry Potter.

Grosmont Station - The home of the North York Moors Railway where you can catch a glimpse of the steam and diesel locomotives being maintained and restored to the former glory.

A visit to the Yorkshire coast must take in the historic seaside town of Whitby. Its easy to get lost in its alleyways and crooked houses for a few hours, some which date back to the 15th century. Its cobbled quayside streets are filled with small crafts & antique shops and museums telling stories of the towns long history from Vikings to Victorians.

If being on the water is more your style, then board the Bark Endeavour boat (a HMS Endeavour replica) for a voyage around the Jurassic coastline while listening to stories about Captain James Cook's life at sea.

Ensure to stop for some traditional Yorkshire fish & chips, as Whitby has a reputation of having the best with almost all of its 'Chippys' having won a fish & chip shop award at some point!

On the east cliff stands the towns icon - Whitby Abbey, and the trek up 199 steps to the top gives picture perfect views overlooking the beach and harbour. The Abbey itself dates back to 657AD and was destroyed by Henry VIII in 1540, though now the interactive visitor centre tells stories of the Monks lives who once lived there and digital reconstructions show the archaeological finds of the site.

In 1890, author Bram Stoker stayed in a Whitby guesthouse and was inspired by the gothic architecture, local churches and atmospheric setting which resulted in the creation of the world famous novel Dracula. This connection has prompted the twice yearly Whitby Goth Weekend Festival held every April & October. 

The Complete Itinerary for Yorkshire, UK (from a local)

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