If you’re planning a weekend away, you’re surrounded by villages perfect for a staycation in Yorkshire.
Whether you want solitude or splendour, walks or country pubs, natural wonders or destination restaurants, the villages of Yorkshire have got exactly what you’re looking for. These weekend break-worthy winners are some of the region’s most glorious places to visit, with a warm welcome and unspoiled vistas guaranteed. It’s time to get out there…
Staithes
One of the most picture-perfect villages in Yorkshire, Staithes’ slice of rugged coastline is oh-so-pretty. It’s just 10 miles from Whitby, but so much quieter and more compact, with cobbled streets winding down towards the harbour. Once the home of Captain Cook, its whitewashed buildings, narrow alleys and beach make it the perfect place for a holiday by the seaside.
The streets are lined with pubs, cafes and restaurants, including the wonderful Cod & Lobster. This sturdy inn has bore the brunt of many a storm over the decades, and continues to do a mean line in fresh seafood. Dotty’s Vintage Tearoom is another must-visit for a bite to eat in throwback surroundings – it’s a great pitstop if you’re planning on the gorgeous walk to Port Mulgrave.
There’s no shortage of things to do here, whether it’s rock-pooling with the kids or hunting for fossils on the beach. Head inside Staithes Gallery to explore not just contemporary art, but also the rich history of painting here – Staithes was home to a group called the Northern Impressionists whose work is still very much part of the village’s identity.
Osmotherley
Searching for the best Yorkshire village to visit for a weekend getaway? Osmotherley might be the one. Dotted with 19th-century stone cottages, it’s a North York Moors gem with a village green so tiny, you could barely land a ladybird on it, but that’s all part of the charm. The village boasts beautiful views of the surrounding Dales and it’s hugely popular with walkers.
It’s a stop on the famous Coast-to-Coast jaunt, but it’s also the start or end of the Lyke Wake Walk. This 40-mile route takes you from the nearby Cod Beck Reservoir all the way to Ravenscar along a path of Bronze Age burial mounds. The village itself is well worth exploring, from the market cross to the oldest Methodist chapel in the world – built in 1754.
The barter table next to the market cross was clergyman John Wesley’s outdoor pulpit. Get a glimpse of the past at The Golden Lion, an 18th-century coaching inn serving up pints of Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, warming whiskies and superior pub food. There’s also good eating at The Three Tuns, with pan-fried sea bream fillet and aged local sirloin steak among the highlights.
Thornton-le-Dale
Water sparkling on the beck, a gorgeous thatched cottage, history going back to before the Norman Conquest – there’s no surprise that photos of Thornton-le-Dale have adorned postcards and chocolate boxes so regularly. It’s a real looker. Sat on the southern edge of the North York Moors, it’s the perfect village to start or end a ramble.
You could follow the river up to pretty Ellerburn to see the Grade II-listed, Saxon-era St. Hilda’s Church, or wander into Dalby Forest, one of the best places to go stargazing in Yorkshire. Want to take it easier? Selby’s Fine Art & Antiques is home to a great array of work by local and national artists alongside all manner of cool vintage items and antiques.
This Yorkshire village might be petite, but there’s plenty more to do. All Saints Church has stood in one form or another since Norman times, while the square is home to a market cross and stocks. Those with a sweet tooth should make a beeline for The Chocolate Factory or you can grab a pint and a pub meal at The New Inn, a lovely Georgian coaching inn.
Coxwold
Head north of York, on the way to Thirsk, and you’ll find a Yorkshire village that ticks pretty much every holiday or short break box. Coxwold is ringed by beautiful countryside, while the tiny town itself has the 15th-century St. Michael’s Church, inns and tearooms, as well as Shandy Hall, former home of Laurence Sterne, author of the classic novel, ‘Tristram Shandy’.
If you explore nearby, you’ll find the ruins of Byland Abbey, a 12th-century Cistercian monastery, while Newburgh Priory is a lovely day out. Built in 1145, this stately home has plenty of stories to share and is the reputed burial place of Oliver Cromwell. Coxwold has also become a place of foodie pilgrimage, not far from the much-feted restaurant The Black Swan at Oldstead.
Tommy Banks’ Michelin-starred gem serves up an imaginative menu, including the likes of Dexter beef with smoked potato and hispi cabbage with foraged herbs. Much of the produce on the plate is grown in the gardens that surround the restaurant. But that’s not the only place to eat and drink – the incredible welcoming Fauconberg Inn is an old-school pub full of charm.
Robin Hood’s Bay
One of the things that makes Robin Hood’s Bay so picturesque is the stark contrast between the towering, foreboding cliffs and the colourful cottages below. This combination of coastal glory and cute seaside town, all wrapped up in history that dates back hundreds of years, results in one of the best Yorkshire villages to head to for a staycation.
The smugglers that gave the town its name may be long gone, but they’re replaced by fossil hunts and rock pools, the 19th-century Old St. Stephen’s Church and the Old Coastguard Station. Nothing can beat fish and chips by the sea, so head to the Fish Box for a takeaway. For a cracking atmosphere over drinks, make for Smugglers, a candlelit bar serving Whitby ales.
If you’re after a dog-friendly watering hole with views of the sea, pull up a seat in The Bay Hotel with its great beers. You can also enjoy uninterrupted vistas of the sea from the Victoria Hotel where you’re only steps away from the moorland that the bay backs onto, which is popular with walkers joining the Cleveland Way or making for Boggle Hole cove.
Kettlewell
Whether you’re a cyclist or a walker, Kettlewell offers some of the most fetching countryside in all of God’s Own County. Sat in Wharfe Valley, it’s blessed with an abundance of charm, studded with 300-year-old cottages sat amidst verdant slopes, broken up by bridges crossing Kettlewell Beck. It’s almost overwhelming in its quaint, beguiling way.
There’s more to it than oohing and aahing, however, with climbers making for the cliffs of Kilnsey Crag, a huge annual Scarecrow Festival and splendid walks such as the five-mile circular to Starbottom and back. For a less energetic experience, order up some scones at And Then Tasting Deli.
The two coaching inns here tell a tale of the village’s former importance as a stopping-off point for weary travellers. The Blue Bell Inn promises a wood-burning stove, a snug vibe combined with local ales and a solid wine list. Sister pub The King’s Head has a great, seasonal gastropub menu made using a medley of fresh, locally-sourced produce.
Goathland
Fancy a trip to Hogsmeade? Okay, it’s not necessarily real, but head to Goathland railway station and you can tick off another Harry Potter filming location. This part of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway was a stand-in for Hogsmeade station, but that’s not the only Goathland claim to fame. Fans of Heartbeat will recognise this Yorkshire village as the fictional Aidensfield.
Back in the real world, it’s a picture-perfect place with plenty of character, history galore and an ideal location for venturing out into the bracing moorland that surround it on all sides. One of the best walks is to the fantastically scenic Mallyan Spout waterfall, taking you past Beck Hole and Carr Wood to see the water of West Beck cascading down a 70-foot drop.
Break up the stroll with a drink in Birch Hall Inn, a petite watering hole that opened in 1860. As well as two bars, it’s also a retro sweet shop. The best place to eat in Goathland is also the best place to sleep. The Mallyan Spout Hotel has deluxe rooms and suites, alongside a tempting menu that runs from big charcuterie boards through to a seafood medley.
Hawes
On the northern fringe of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Hawes is a market village that has a lot to boast about. It’s home to the Wensleydale Creamery, for starters. Cracking cheese, Gromit! You can go inside to see how its made, with an interactive visitor experience that’s great for kids. But that’s just the start in Hawes.
It has a market place dating back to 1307, the 18th-century Gayle Mill, Dales Countryside Museum and landscapes that take your breath away. Hardraw Force is a highlight, a 30-metre cascade that has a strong claim to be England’s highest single-drop waterfall, coupled with the Yorkshire village being one of the most elevated in the country – 850 feet above sea level.
To reach Hardraw Force, you have to go past the exceptional 13th-century Green Dragon Inn, following in the footsteps of poet Wordsworth and painter Turner. If you want a pub break on your visit, there’s a quaint feel at The White Hart Inn back in the centre of Hawes, a 16th-century coaching inn with great Yorkshire ales and proper pub food.
Helmsley
Delis packed with local goodies, the archetypal market square, stone-built pubs and dramatic castle ruins – Helmsley is without doubt one of the best villages in Yorkshire. The rugged beauty of the North York Moors is at the village’s edge, with both the Cleveland and Ebor Way beginning here, attracting walkers from all over.
Browse through fine art galleries, shop for handmade crafts and jewellery, then head to Helmsley Castle, a medieval fortress that was later besieged during the English Civil War. There are more glorious ruins at nearby Rievaulx Abbey, complete with a visitor centre and tearoom.
The Cygnet Bar at The Black Swan serves Yorkshire ales, pub classics and more ambitious dishes such as cheese and spinach soufflé. You’re also just steps from La Trattoria, which serves Venetian-style tapas in the day, Neapolitan pizza and traditional Italian dishes in the evening, with gems such as penne Amatriciana with slow roast tomato and smoked bacon.
Muker
This Upper Swaledale gem might just be a speck on the map – less than 300 people live here – but it punches above its weight for subtle splendour. The River Swale runs alongside the stone cottages, the banks full of vivid meadows blanketed in wildflowers. This Yorkshire village is built on farming, a Norse-era settlement known for agricultural events and hand-knitted wool.
It’s also a hub for walkers crossing from coast to coast or taking the Pennine Way. The Grade II-listed Church of Saint Mary is well worth a visit, originally built in the 16th century and restored in the 19th. You can shop for the local wool at Swaledale Woollens, one of a handful of shops that make Muker feel like a real throwback.
The flower-festooned village store also has a dream of a tea room, dishing up slices of parkin and Old Peculier fruitcake with Swaledale cheese. Grab a pint of real ale in front of the dry stone wall fireplace in The Farmer’s Arms, a friendly pub with its very own microbrewery. There’s good eating here too, with giant Yorkshire puddings filled with a medley of morsels.
