Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a large area of Northern England known for historic York, the Dales and North York Moors national parks, abbey ruins and a North Sea coast of cliffs and seaside towns.
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Yorkshire is a large area of Northern England, historically a county and named after the city of York. Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Doncaster and Wakefield lie in the southwest, the port city of Hull lies in the southeast, and the North Sea coast runs along the east. York, the best-known historic city in the county, began as the Roman settlement Eboracum. York Minster is the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe.
The Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors are both national parks. The coast has chalk cliffs at Flamborough Head, limestone at Filey and jet cliffs at Whitby, with seaside towns such as Whitby and Scarborough. Ruined abbeys like Fountains Abbey and Rievaulx Abbey lie in the countryside, and the white rose is the county emblem. Trains run between Hull and Leeds, and the East Coast Main Line serves York, but a car helps in the dales and on the moors.
Yorkshire in five
- Pick two of the four YorkshiresYork, the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors and the coast around Whitby are each a trip on their own. Choose two, and a week still feels paced.
- Rail for York, car for the restYork is the easy rail city, and the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors need a car or planned buses. Settle the car question first, because it decides where you can sleep.York
- Add the steam railway to the moorsThe North Yorkshire Moors Railway runs 24 miles from Pickering to Whitby, and works as a half day between the moors and the coast.North York Moors
- Respect fire rules in the dalesThe Yorkshire Dales National Park asks visitors not to light barbecues or campfires. Pack picnic food, and check the authority's fire safety page in dry weather.Yorkshire Dales
- Flying into Manchester or Leeds Bradford?Check whether your passport needs a UK ETA before booking. The authorization is separate from rail tickets and attractions, and only the official route issues it.UK ETA explained
Things to do in Yorkshire
See all attractions in Yorkshire
Need to know
- Airport
- Leeds Bradford (LBA) or Manchester (MAN), with Newcastle for the coast
- Getting there
- London to York by train in about 2 hours; trains also reach Leeds
- Getting around
- Trains between cities; a car for the dales, moors and coast
- Best base
- York or Leeds for rail; a market town in the Dales
- Time needed
- 4 to 6 days for York, a national park and the coast
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, quiet
- FebruaryCold, quiet
- MarchCool, windy
- AprilMild, green
- MayMild, long days
- JuneLong days
- JulyWarm, busy
- AugustWarm, busy
- SeptemberMild, calmer
- OctoberAutumn color
- NovemberWet, short days
- DecemberCold, lights
Right now in Yorkshire
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
8
- Feels like
- 5°
- Humidity
- 94%
- Wind
- 13 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 4%
York
10:38 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today10°5°4%Monday: Rain. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Tue11°6°4%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Wed12°7°6%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Thu11°8°4%Thursday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Fri12°8°8%Friday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sat11°8°9%Saturday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Sun11°8°6%Sunday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 6%.
Updated 08:23 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Yorkabout 2 hours by train from LondonThe Minster, the walls and the Shambles, a walkable city.Read the guide
- Whitbyabout 1.5 hours by car from YorkAbbey ruins above a harbor town on the coast.Read the guide
- Yorkshire Dalesabout 1.5 hours by car from YorkWaterfalls, scars and Hawes in the national park.Read the guide
Before you go to Yorkshire
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Rules for Yorkshire, checked
- Check whether you need a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for the UK on gov.uk before you book.Source
- Declare meat, dairy, plants and animal products on arrival, and check gov.uk before you pack food or plants.
- Dial 999 or 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Yorkshire.
- Some restaurants add a service charge, so check the bill before you tip.
- Drive on the left, and note that road signs and speed limits are in miles per hour.
Plan around Yorkshire
Minster, walls and rail links to London
Read the guideYorkshire DalesWaterfalls, limestone scars and market towns
Read the guideNorth York MoorsHeather moors and a steam railway
Read the guideWhitbyAbbey, harbor and the coast
Read the guideLeedsThe region's big city and rail hub
Read the guideNorthumberland CoastCastles and beaches further north
Read the guideAll of EnglandCities, rail, entry rules and money
Read the guideYorkshire FAQ
How many days do you need in Yorkshire?
Four to six days: two in York, two in a national park and a day on the coast. A long weekend works if you stay in York and add one day trip.
Is Yorkshire worth visiting?
Yes if you want a mix of a walled city, dales, moors and a seaside town without crossing the whole of England. It suits slow trips, and it is better with a car for the national parks.
Can you visit Yorkshire without a car?
York and Leeds are easy by train, and Whitby is reachable by rail and the steam railway. The Dales and moors need a car, a tour or planned buses. Check each leg on National Rail.
What is the best base for a first trip to Yorkshire?
York for its rail links and walkable center, with day trips by car or tour. Add a night in a Dales market town or in Whitby if you want to see the landscape early or late.
When is the best time to visit Yorkshire?
May, June, September and October balance mild weather and open attractions. July and August are busiest on the coast and in villages, and winter suits York better than the high moors.