The Best Day Trips from York, England

York is such a wonderful place to live – I feel lucky to have called this city home for most of the last decade. But part of why I love York so much is what’s outside of the city. There are so many amazing destinations around York in the wider Yorkshire region, and many are close enough to be visited on a day trip! Here are the best day trips from York.

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The top experiences and things to do in the city
Where to eat & drink (cafes, restaurants, pubs)
The best day trips outside the city
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Fountain’s Abbey and Studley Royal

Yorkshire is home to some of the best collections of abbey ruins in the entire country. After visiting some of the best, I still think Fountain’s Abbey is a top favorite. There is simply so much here to explore. The ruins themselves are extensive. You can see the impressive nave (the roof was taken right off the top), the tower, cloisters, the cellarium, an old mill, and a variety of buildings throughout the site. The ruins are haunting and so atmospheric.

But perhaps my favorite part of Fountain’s Abbey and Studley Royal are the massive grounds and gardens to explore. A visit to the site isn’t complete without a trip up to admire the view from Anne Boleyn’s Seat. Explore the Temple of Fame, the Octagon Tower, and walk around the pretty fountains and water. There’s a lovely 5-mile walk through the Valley of the Seven Bridges and back through the Deer Park

This is one of the most impressive places to visit in all of Yorkshire. And it’s just over an hour away from York! It makes the perfect day trip to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city, and wander through somewhere peaceful. If you want to add onto this day trip, visit nearby Ripon to see the magnificent cathedral, market square, and local museums. Brimham Rocks is also close by, and has lots of fun and interesting routes through the rock formations. Stop for an ice cream in Ripley on your way back.

Castle Howard

There are a lot of stately homes in Britain, in England, and in Yorkshire. These gorgeous manor houses, more refined than older castles, are symbolic of the country itself. And one of the best in the country is Castle Howard, and it’s located just outside of York.

The house is the real showstopper. With 145 rooms, it’s one of the largest country houses in England! Castle Howard is still privately owned, and the family still lives in the house and occupies the east wing. The Great Hall is grand and you’ll probably hurt your neck staring up at the domed ceiling for too long. The house has a huge area to explore in their grounds and gardens – nearly 1000 acres to be exact! The estate is located in the Howardian Hills, which is designated as a National Landscape.

The Atlas Fountain is one of the most impressive monuments. But there’s also the mausoleum, the Temple of the Four Winds, and the Great Lake to see, too. And then there’s the gardens on top of that! Fans of Bridgerton will recognize Castle Howard as the home of the Duke of Hastings in Season 1. Castle Howard is only about a 30-minute drive away from York city center, and a fantastic example of the impressive stately manor homes dotted around the country. It’s certainly one of the best day trips from York.

Read More: A Christmas Trip to Castle Howard

Malton

Malton is just a short half-hour drive from York (35-40 minutes by public transport), and it’s a lovely market town to visit for the day. Known as Yorkshire’s Food Capital, this destination is excellent for independent businesses that feature artisan crafts and local produce. Be sure to see the Original Yorkshire Pudding Recipe mural and the Welcome to Malton mural, enjoy a stroll around Malton Castle Gardens, and eat your way around Talbot Yard Food Court. My favorites here are Florian Poirot and Groovy Moo Gelato. To extend your day trip in Malton, head just outside of town to Eden Camp, a fascinating World War II POW camp that’s now a museum, or stop by the pretty village of Hovingham.

Knaresborough

Knaresborough is a delightful market town close to Harrogate, with easy access by train to York. Wander the pretty cobblestone streets, enjoy the view from the medieval ruins of Knaresborough Castle over the River Nidd and railway viaduct, and stop by Mother Shipton’s Cave, the oldest tourist attraction in the country, to see its petrifying well. If the weather is nice, take a rowboat out on the river and enjoy an ice cream from Marigold Cafe! Don’t miss the sculpture of local legend Blind Jack in the Market Cross – a road builder who achieved an impressive career despite being blind since childhood.

Whitby

Britain and England are almost synonymous with the seaside. As an island, there are naturally a huge number of towns and villages along the sea! One of the most charming and picturesque of all of these is Whitby in North Yorkshire.

Whitby is home to its own magnificent ruined abbey, Whitby Abbey, perched on top of a cliff overlooking the sea. But the town also has numerous charming, winding streets to explore, a few museums, a photogenic marina, and the 199 Steps. You have to climb up these to reach the abbey and St. Mary’s Church from the swing bridge! The swing bridge divides the East Cliff and West Cliff.

There’s no better place to get fish and ships, stroll out along the pier, and enjoy the sea in Yorkshire than Whitby. You can also spend a day doing one of my favorite walks, and walking from Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay. Whitby is the perfect day trip, and just under a 90-minute drive from York. The drive out through the North York Moors National Park is one of my favorites in the country. You can easily get here by public transport, taking the Coastliner 840 bus from York to Whitby.

North York Moors

The North York Moors is a beautiful National Park, and is located just north of the city of York. There is so much to see in this incredible area. Whether you’re driving through on the way to Whitby, or simply wanting to take another day trip and get outside, head to the North York Moors. These are my top recommendations for a North York Moors day trip from York.

Helmsley and Rievaulx

Visit the charming market town of Helmsley to explore the historic castle and the town’s independent shops, cafes, and restaurants. It’s easy to combine a trip to Helmsley with a stop at the magnificent Rievaulx Abbey – it’s a lovely 3-mile walk between the two. Rievaulx Abbey was founded in the 12th century and is now a gorgeous ruin.

Hole of Horcum, Goathland, and Thornton-le-Dale

One of my favorite areas of the North York Moors National Park is around the Hole of Horcum and Goathland. The Hole of Horcum is my favorite walk in the world – I always do this hike at the end of August, when the purple heather is in bloom across the moors. It’s about 5 miles and the views are just stunning. Goathland is a pretty spot, known as a film location for Heartbeat and a stand-in for Hogsmeade Station in the Harry Potter movies. You can also do an 8-mile loop from Goathland to Grosmont, or walk one-way and take the North Yorkshire Moors Railway back. Stop by Thornton-le-Dale to see the picturesque thatched cottage along the beck.

Rosedale Abbey and Hutton-le-Hole

Another great spot in the North York Moors is Rosedale Abbey. Rosedale Abbey is a small village, with an excellent cafe, Graze on the Green. See the mining ruins at Bank Top Kilns as you drive up and down Chimney Bank, admiring the scenic views. In Hutton-le-Hole, learn about the area’s local history at the Ryedale Folk Musuem, before settling in for a pint or a meal at the Crown.

Great Ayton and Roseberry Topping

Great Ayton is a lovely village with an excellent high street of local shops, plus a scenic river running through town. Captain Cook, the famous navigator, grew up here in Great Ayton – you can learn more about his history at the Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum. Just outside of the village is Roseberry Topping, known as the Yorkshire Matterhorn due to its distinct shape. Hike to the top for great panoramas – visit in spring to see the bluebells flowering in the woods. Soak up superb views from Captain Cook Monument nearby.

Yorkshire Dales

The Yorkshire Dales National Park is a stunning area northwest of York. Although it’s not quite as easy to access as a day trip from York due to the distance, there are some truly beautiful spots to visit. Here’s where I recommend in the Dales as a day trip from York.

Grassington

Grassington is a picture-perfect village in Wharfedale. It was used for filming in the series All Creatures Great and Small and is full of cobblestone streets, pretty stone cottages, and local cafes, pubs, restaurants, and shops. While a wander through the village is a must, you also can’t miss a trip to Linton Falls, a wide waterfall on the River Wharfe. For a fairly easy 4-mile loop, hike from Grassington to Hebden and back along the river.

Malham

Malham is one of my favorite places in all of Yorkshire. The village itself may be very small (although there are two excellent pubs), but the highlights of this destination are in the surrounding area. See Janet’s Foss, a waterfall in a grove, the rocky cliffs of Gordale Scar, and gaze out over the limestone pavement at Malham Cove to admire one of the best views in Yorkshire. A 5-mile walk loops around the top spots. It’s about 1 hour and 45 minutes by car from York.

Hawes and Hardraw

Head to Wensleydale for some of the best walks and the best cheese in the Yorkshire Dales. About 1 hour and 45 minutes from York, Hawes is another historic market town with lots of places to shop and eat. It’s also home to the Wensleydale Creamery, where you can stock up on the goods at the source. A gorgeous 4-mile loop connects Hawes with the small village of Hardraw – the waterfall here, Hardraw Force, is the tallest single-drop waterfall in England (above ground, that is). Other waterfalls around Hawes are Aysgill Force and Cotter Force.

Planning Your Trip to Yorkshire

Wondering about public transportation? Most of these places are accessible by public transportation from York! The Dales Bus runs seasonally from York to Fountains Abbey via Dales Bus #822 on Sundays and bank holidays in the summer. This route also continues onto Grassington. You can take Bus #181 from York to Castle Howard. Whitby is accessible by the 840 Coastliner bus. The Coastliner also runs through the North York Moors, so it’s easy to get off at Thornton-le-Dale, the Hole of Horcum, or Goathland. To reach Rievaulx, take the 31X bus from York to Helmsley. From Helmsley, take the M4 Moors Bus heading to Stokesley, and get off at Rievaulx Abbey. Malton, Knaresborough, and Great Ayton all have train stations. It can be tricky with bus times, but most of these day trips are doable without a car! If you want to get outside, read more in my post on car-free walks from York.

York is just two hours away from London by train, making it an easy long weekend away. The closest airport is Leeds-Bradford airport, although Manchester airport is bigger and will have more convenient flight options. I use Skyscanner to find the best flight deals. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. Looking for tours in Yorkshire? Check out the options below!

Where to Stay in York

Planning on staying overnight in York? If you want to visit these destinations on a day trip, you really should! The city is an excellent base for exploring more of the area, either by car or via public transport. I’d recommend the staying at the following places in York:

Budget: Safestay York or the Fort Boutique Hostel
Mid-range: Hotel Indigo or Galtres Lodge
Luxury: The Grand

You can see the best of what Yorkshire has to offer as day trips from the city of York. Abbey ruins, stately homes, charming seaside towns, and spectacular national park scenery – all of it is accessible from the city! York is a fantastic base for exploring more of the countryside and nearby towns and villages. I hope this post helps planning your trip to Yorkshire.

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