Explore York and its incredible countryside
The ancient city of York is full of fascinating things to do, amazing places to see and inspiring museums and attractions to visit.
It is also surrounded by the incredible countryside and coastline of Yorkshire.
With so much to see and do, how do you decide where to stay, what to do with your time, where to go when you visit, and which attractions are worth visiting once you are there.
Let us help you!
We’re compiling a collection of reviews, videos, blogs and vlogs to help you make your mind up. We’ll offer advice about where to go and when. We’ll give you tips about how to save time and money wherever possible.
All of the information on this site is impartial – we know our tours are the best you’ll find, but we don’t get paid to review anything and we don’t just say nice things about everywhere.
If we don’t like something, we’ll tell you what we didn’t like and why…but that doesn’t mean you won’t like it. Life is about opinions – and on this website, the opinions expressed are ours and ours only.
Ripon Cathedral
Ripon Cathedral (also known as the Cathedral Church of St. Peter and St. Wilfrid), is a magnificent example of medieval architectural design, with a history dating back over 1,300 years. The church was founded as a monastery by St. Wilfrid in the year 672 AD, which makes it one of the oldest religious sites in…
World of James Herriot Museum
In July 1940, a young vet called Alf Wight moved from Glasgow, Scotland to the small North Yorkshire town of Thirsk, where he was to start work at Donald Sinclair’s veterinary surgery at 23 Kirkgate. 59 years later, 23 Kirkgate opened to the public as a museum celebrating the life and literary works of Alf…
Hubberholme: A tiny village off the beaten track in the Yorkshire Dales
Hubberholme is a charming village in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, located away from the main tourist trails in the Dales. The village is known for its picturesque surroundings and tranquil atmosphere, which the author JB Priestly regarded as one of his favourite places in England. History of Hubberholme The name “Hubberholme” is believed to…
24 hours in York
How to make the most of a day or two in York. I’m a Yorkshireman, a York resident and a Yorkshire guide. I was born and raised in York and Yorkshire – here is my completely unbiased guide to exploring York in a day or two. However you plan to get here and where…
Grassington
Grassington is a relatively small and picturesque market town in the heart of Wharfedale and provides us with a fantastic stop on a tour of the Yorkshire Dales. The town itself boasts a rich history dating back as far as the Bronze Age and the name Grassington comes from “Gherinstone,” meaning “the town of the…
Sutton on the Forest
Why we love SUTTON-ON-THE-FOREST The wide, winding main street, the absence of street lights, the delightful houses and cottages…this is a small village with huge appeal. Where: Drive out of York, heading north on the Helmsley road, and you’ll soon come across the village of Sutton-on-the-Forest. There isn’t much forest anymore, although you’ll drive through…
Muker
Why we love MUKER Peace and tranquillity, beautiful scenery, dry-stone walls and barns – and the narrow, winding mountain passes you can drive through to get in and out of the village. Where: Nestled at the bottom of the hillside above the meandering River Swale is the tiny but delightful village of Muker – one…
Hutton-le-Hole
Why we love HUTTON-LE-HOLE The sheep, the picket fences, the beautiful beck, the gorgeous cottages, the folk museum…the list goes on! Where: Located on the edge of the Moors, just inside the boundary of the North York Moors National Park, Hutton-le-Hole has long been regarded as one of the UK’s most idyllic villages. A narrow…
Staithes
Why we love STAITES The tiny fishing village on the northern edge of the North York Moors has so much charm and beauty that it will simply take your breath away. Walk its back lanes to find your own unique perspective, have fish and chips a few yards from the beach, or simply admire the…
Yorkshire Tours – always Yorkshire guides
We don’t just love Yorkshire…we’re all from Yorkshire. Our commitment to you includes the promise that your guide will be a true Yorkshireman (or a Yorkshire lass!), born and bred in Yorkshire. Your guide might be from York, or from the market town of Helmsley, or the Moorside village of Hutton-le-Hole…whoever your guide is, we…
Celebrating the North York Moors
The North York Moors is one of two Yorkshire National Parks. It is the most popular destination for Grand Yorkshire’s visitors, has welcomed Neolithic Man, the Romans, the Vikings, the Industrial Revolution and even Harry Potter. Have a read of our North York Moors Guide and then why not book a tour to the Moors…
Helmsley – Away with Maja’s fantastic blog post
We love Helmsley, a quaint northern market town which we have consistently visited on our tours since Grand Yorkshire was launched. We have our own guide to Helmsley here, but we think you should check out Maja’s blog about her visit to Helmsley and Rievaulx Abbey: “Today, Rievaulx Abbey is run by English Heritage. There…
Street Names in York
You only have to have a casual stroll around York to notice that there are some particularly unusual street names. York is sometimes jokingly referred to as the place where “the streets are called gates, the gates are called bars, and the bars are called pubs”. On tour, I’m often asked what some of York’s…
Why it HAS to be Whitby
Yorkshire’s beautiful coastline is dotted with fantastic seaside towns and quaint former fishing villages – and the jewel in the crown of this spectacular Jurassic coastline has to be Whitby. Whether it’s the lure of Britain’s best fish and chips, the mystery and intrigue of the town’s Dracula connections or the challenge of walking the…
5 reasons to visit the North York Moors
The North York Moors is located (as the name would suggest) north of York and is one of the most popular places to visit in Yorkshire. The Jurassic scenery of the Moors includes wide open areas of heather moorland, beautiful lush green valleys, stunning cliffs and coastline, charming towns and villages, famous hills and one…
Our Steam Train Guarantee
There is something incredible special about steam trains; the noise, the heat, the smell, the soot, the power, the history, the nostalgia, the pure joy! Travelling by steam train is a truly wonderful way to relive the golden age of rail travel. When you join Grand Yorkshire for our ‘Steam Trains, Whitby and the Moors’ day…
Steam Trains on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway owns or cares for over 30 locomotives at any time, with around two thirds of these undergoing or scheduled for long-term repair. The railway has an active fleet of 10 – 12 engines in operational service, with five or six in action on any given day and others undergoing short…
Whitby Abbey
On our day trip from York (Steam Trains, Whitby & the Moors) we spend three hours at leisure in the fishing town of Whitby, one of the true gems on the British coast. Our minibus tour from York drops you in Whitby, where you are free to explore the town. You will also have the…