Yorkshire is traditional England all over, with its natural beauty and straight-talking. These towns and cities provide much of that mythologised character.
York
The medieval York Minster and one of the city walls.Credit: Alamy
An outrageously handsome walled city, York is drenched in history. The Yorkshire Museum covers the city’s Roman-era start as the semi-official capital of northern England, while the marvellously interactive Jorvik Viking Centre takes visitors back to the Viking era. There’s also considerable chocolate making pedigree – the Kit Kat, Aero, Smarties and Terry’s Chocolate Orange all originated here. York’s Chocolate Story covers that heritage, with lots of buttons to press and chocolate-making demos to get involved in. But York’s stand-out is the majestically medieval York Minster. The hulking Gothic cathedral is lavished in stained-glass, while the undercroft acts as a timeline of the city’s past.
See visityork.org
Sheffield
Outdoors in Sheffield’s Peace Gardens – York’s cultural capital. Credit: Alamy
With a prodigious musical heritage including the Human League, Pulp and Arctic Monkeys, Sheffield has a strong claim to being Yorkshire’s cultural capital. The Leadmill is the legendary gig venue, while the Crucible Theatre hosts ground-breaking first run plays in between hosting the World Snooker Championships. The Kelham Island Museum delves into the steel-making heritage – stainless steel was invented in Sheffield – while the surrounding Kelham Island neighbourhood is one of several with a fizzing indie bar and restaurant scene. One third of the city is inside the Peak District National Park, with spectacular walking trails and rock formations on the western fringe.
See welcometosheffield.co.uk
Whitby
Whitby – a relaxed seaside town with a sinister side, thanks to Dracula.Credit: Alamy
At first glance, Whitby is a traditional British seaside resort – all amusement arcades and fish and chip shops. But there’s a fabulously sinister twist, partly created by the eerie ruins of Whitby Abbey high on the hilltop. Dracula is the main driver behind Whitby’s Gothic side, however. This was where Bram Stoker’s vampire arrived in the UK. Twice a year, in April and October, a black and purple army descends for the Whitby Goth Weekend. At heart, though, Whitby is a fishing town, with dozens of small boats filling the harbour. The Whitby Coastal Cruises boats are among them, showcasing the dramatic North Yorkshire coastline.
See visitwhitby.com
Haworth
Haworth – home to the Bronte Sisters and their rogue brother Branwell.Credit: Alamy
Haworth has a completely different literary pedigree. This photogenic West Yorkshire town, all steep hillsides and stone buildings, was the home of the Bronte Sisters. The Black Bull pub was where their rogue brother Branwell got prodigiously drunk, but the Bronte Parsonage was where they lived – it’s now a museum devoted to the sisters’ lives and works. For the full Wuthering Heights experience, though, you need to go for a walk up the path behind the Parsonage onto the wild moorlands. The ruined Top Withens farmhouse is largely agreed to be the inspiration for Heathcliff’s home.
See Haworth-village.co.uk
Harrogate
Harrogate, with its neat gardens and reviving spas.Credit: Alamy
Harrogate is the town that everywhere else in Yorkshire regards as “the posh one”. It became a luxury spa getaway in the 19th century, and has the grand Victorian buildings to prove it. The Victorian-era Turkish Baths are the town’s centrepiece, taking advantage of Harrogate’s mineral springs, even though the look is more Moorish than Turkish. Other major strings to the bow are the greedy collection of tearooms and lavish, fastidiously maintained gardens. Of the latter, the Valley Gardens have enough genteel old world charm to carry a heritage-listing, with brass band concerts on Sunday afternoons.
See visitharrogate.co.uk
Masham
Masham – plenty of walking nearby and refreshments afterwards.Credit: Alamy
Masham bills itself as the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, but its real appeal is in what happens after you’ve come back from a day’s walking over the rolling hills. This handsome market town is a fantastic place for eating and drinking, with a series of pubs, cafes and restaurants determined to serve up excellent Yorkshire produce. The White Bear is a good starting point. Masham is also known for its brewing, however, with the Theakston and Black Sheep breweries both based here. Both offer brewery tours with tastings – plus the backstory of family rivalry.
See visitmasham.com
The writer was a guest of Visit Britain, see visitbritain.com
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