22 Most Beautiful Towns In Yorkshire (+Local Tips & Hidden Gems)

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If you want to add some of the most beautiful towns in Yorkshire to your UK itinerary, I’ve got you covered, as Yorkshire has been my home for ten years, and I’ve explored it thoroughly!

Located in the North of England, the Yorkshire region (North Yorkshire , West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, and the East Riding of Yorkshire) stretches from the North Sea coast in the east, almost to Britain’s west coast, with a wide variety of landscapes and attractions for visitors to enjoy.

Beyond the big industrial cities of Leeds, Sheffield, and Bradford, Yorkshire is chock-full of picture-perfect towns and villages dotted along the wild and rugged North Sea coast, tucked away in sweeping national parks and nestling in verdant valleys.

As you explore the best Yorkshire towns, you’ll discover the craggy stone walls, ancient castles, and plunging waterfalls that attract almost 10 million visitors every year.

This post introduces you to 22 of the most beautiful towns in Yorkshire. Some are ancient, dating back to the Iron Age, the times of the Romans, the Angles, and the Vikings. Others grew during the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, when Yorkshire was one of the most important parts of the UK.

Are you ready to explore “God’s Own County?” Let’s go!

Beautiful Towns in the Yorkshire Dales National Park

1. Grassington

Grassington North Yorkshire min

One of the loveliest North Yorkshire towns, Grassington is an old market town with a quaint cobbled market square, cosy little coffee shops, and some of Yorkshire’s finest countryside right on the doorstep. It’s the perfect base for exploring the nearby Yorkshire Dales (Wharfedale and Nidderdale).

Attractive cobbled square with old stone pub called the Devonshire Arms in Grassington Yorkshire

Discover the best things to do in Grassington, plus where to eat and stay in this enchanting Yorkshire town.

If you love historical events, the Grassington Dickensian Festival and Christmas Market are held in the first two weeks of December. This cosy festival is a real treat, with shopkeepers, villagers, and visitors dressed in Victorian costumes.

Where to stay in Grassington

The ideally located Devonshire Hotel offers a fabulous hearty English/Irish breakfast to set you up for your day!


2. Hawes

Gayle Beck Waterfall in Hawes Village Yorkshire min
Gayle Beck waterfall in the charming town of Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales, Image Credit David Steele

As the birthplace of Wensleydale cheese, you can’t visit Hawes without a trip to the Wensleydale Creamery to learn how this very popular English cheese is made. Another unmissable sight in Hawes is Hardraw Force, the highest single-drop waterfall in England.

Where to stay in Hawes

Simonstone Hall is a former shooting lodge with 18 individually designed en-suite rooms with views over the surrounding countryside.

Top Tip: Ask for one of the guest rooms with a four-poster bed!


3. Pateley Bridge

The Oldest Sweet Shop in England at Pateley Bridhe in Yorkshire

Tucked away in scenic Nidderdale, pretty Pateley Bridge is a small market town that’s a brilliant base for outdoor sports enthusiasts, with exceptional hiking trails, walks, cycle routes and places to go kayaking and fishing on the doorstep.

In the town, you will love the quaint high street, the cafes and the traditional country pubs.

Where to Stay in Pateley Bridge

Nydsley Hall offers four fantastic luxury apartments, 2 of which have great hot tubs. Each apartment is beautifully designed and equipped with free WiFi, free private parking, a luxury bathroom and a fully equipped kitchen.

Couples love these apartments, rating them 9.7 for a two-person trip, so they are perfect for a cosy romantic break in Yorkshire.

Check Rates & Availability at Nydsley Hall Luxury Apartments

4. Hutton le Hole and Lastingham

Spaunton Moor, Hutton le Hole, Yorkshire is one of the most beautiful towns in Yorkshire
Spaunton Moor, Hutton le Hole, Yorkshire. Image credit Richard Pinder

Rolling hills and beautiful countryside surround the pretty little village of Hutton le Hole. It is home to the fascinating Ryedale Folk Museum with its 20 reconstructed buildings, including an Iron Age roundhouse, a Tudor mansion, a Victorian thatched cottage, and a 1950s village shop and chemist.

Arts and craft-loving visitors flock to this beautiful Yorkshire village to see artisans at work on hand-made ceramics, prints, chocolates, and more. The picturesque ramble to neighbouring Lastingham village is also a favourite for visiting walkers.

Where to stay in Hutton Le Hole

The Crown Inn in Hutton le Hole is a warm and welcoming traditional pub with super comfy beds, and great pub meals. The curry is especially good!


5. Middleham

Middleham Castle and village, North Yorkshire.
Middleham Castle and village, North Yorkshire. Image credit Kevin Eaves.

Middleham Castle was the childhood home of King Richard the Third. He went there to learn the skills of knighthood in 1462. Known as the ‘Windsor of the North’, Middleham was an important town in late Medieval Britain. Today, it’s famous for Middleham Park Racing.

Where to stay in Middleham

Barbican Cottage is the sweetest little stone cottage in the middle of the village, with beamed ceilings and views over Middleham Castle. It’s dog-friendly, too if you want to holiday with your pooch!

6. Thornton-le-Dale

Beck Isle Cottage Thornton Le Dale Yorkshire
Beck Isle Cottage, Thornton le Dale

Is Thornton le Dale the most beautiful village in Yorkshire? This picturesque village has won awards as one of the prettiest in Britain, with its Grade II-listed Beck Isle Cottage regularly featured on calendars and chocolate boxes.

Explore further to find the old market cross and stocks in the centre of the village, nearby Dalby Forest for walking and cycling routes, and a pleasant stroll over to the nearby hamlet of Ellerburn to see its ancient Saxon church.

Where to stay in Thornton-le-Dale

The Grange is a luxury B&B, set in an area of outstanding natural beauty within the North York Moors National Park.​ The 18th-century house has many original features, from Georgian beamed ceilings to Victorian fireplaces, and offers guests exceptional accommodation and facilities.

7. West Burton

Cauldron Force at West Burton in The Yorkshire Dales.
Cauldron Force is at West Burton in the Yorkshire Dales. Image credit PhilipBird123

West Burton is a very pretty village in Lower Wensleydale. It is famously connected to the British landscape artist JMW Turner, who sketched the nearby waterfall – the West Burton Cauldron Falls.

This iconic Yorkshire village, which has been settled since the Iron Age village, has a large village green and a packhorse bridge, and it’s on the doorstep of the ruined Cistercian monastery Jervaulx Abbey.

Discover pretty accommodations in West Burton here.

Beautiful Towns in North Yorkshire (beyond the Dales)

While the Yorkshire Dales are stunning, some of the best towns in Yorkshire are closer to great transport links, making them an excellent choice for a visit if you don’t have long to spare. These stunning North Yorkshire towns have plenty to offer for your visit.

8. Harrogate

Upmarket shops and cafes line the streets in Harrogate’s Montpellier Quarter.
Upmarket shops and cafes line the streets in Harrogate’s Montpellier Quarter. Image © Grey Globetrotters

Harrogate is an elegant Victorian spa town with fascinating historic buildings, including exquisite Turkish Baths and the Royal Pump Rooms. Visitors also enjoy the glorious Valley Gardens in the town centre and the Harlow Carr RHS gardens.

Harrogate is the perfect base for discovering Yorkshire, thanks to its proximity to ancient castles, ruined abbeys, UNESCO World Heritage sites at Saltaire, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, and multiple National Trust sites.

Best Place to Stay in Harrogate

Hotel du Vin is located in a beautiful Georgian townhouse right in the centre of Harrogate. The bistro restaurant is a favourite with locals who enjoy a quality evening out combining great food, French panache and Yorkshire hospitality.

Find more recommended places to stay in Harrogate here.


9. Knaresborough

Captivating view of Knaresborough Viaduct gracefully spanning the river Nidd, surrounded by lush greenery and bathed in warm sunlight. A picturesque scene of architectural elegance and natural beauty
Scenic Knaresborough Viaduct

Knaresborough is one of the most photographed North Yorkshire towns. Perched high above the River Nidd, this ancient market town offers pleasant walks beneath the soaring Victorian viaduct carrying trains from Leeds to York via Harrogate.

One of the best reasons to visit Knaresborough is to amble around, drink in the unique medieval houses and narrow winding streets clustered around the ruined Knaresborough Castle, and enjoy the magnificent views of the viaduct over the Nidd Gorge.

10. Ripley

Charming Ripley Castle courtyard in North Yorkshire, showcasing historic architecture against a backdrop of manicured gardens. Cobblestone pathways and centuries-old stone walls create a timeless atmosphere in this picturesque scene
Ripley Castle Yard

Quaint little Ripley is a tiny village with chocolate box pretty houses, a castle, superb pubs, the best bluebell woods for miles, and “world-famous Ripley ice cream”.

The famous Beryl Burton Cycle Way allows cyclists to safely ride between Harrogate, Ripley, and Knaresborough on traffic-free routes, while the Wild Boar pub is the perfect spot for a sumptuous Sunday lunch. 

11. Saltburn on Sea

Sunset pier at Saltburn by the Sea, North Yorkshire, UK
Sunset pier at Saltburn by the Sea, North Yorkshire, UK

Pretty little Victorian Saltburn-by-the-Sea is one of the most attractive UK seaside resorts in the UK and one of the most popular North Yorkshire towns.

Saltburn’s water-balanced funicular is the oldest one still working in Britain. It connects Saltburn with the only remaining pleasure pier on the Yorkshire coast.

Ride down to the pier to watch surfers catching the waves, then wander through the Italian gardens in the ravine of the Skelton Beck. Stay for the sunset views of the coast from the top of the cliffs, or stay overnight to catch a glorious sunrise over the pier. I think Saltburn is one of the most beautiful towns in Yorkshire for a relaxed day trip.

12. Skipton

Skipton Castle
Skipton Castle. Best towns in Yorkshire DalesImage credit Andrzej Sowa

Medieval Skipton, the “Gateway to the Yorkshire Dales”, draws thousands of visitors every year to its quaint, cobbled streets, bustling market, and imposing 11th-century Skipton Castle. One of the most significant cultural attractions for Shakespeare fans is the Craven Museum and Gallery, which has one of only four of the playwright’s First Folios on display.

One of my favourite things to do in Skipton is meandering to the scenic Leeds to Liverpool canal for ice creams or a boat trip. It’s also the perfect base for walking, cycling, and driving to other stunning locations in the Yorkshire Dales.

Best Places to Stay in Skipton

Herriots Hotel and the Woolly Sheep Inn are fabulous, while The Bailey Bed and Breakfast is picture perfect and moments from Skipton Castle. It’s a superb, caring little B&B offering free parking (a real boon in Skipton!) Stay here for good old-fashioned Yorkshire hospitality at its best.

Most Beautiful Towns in West Yorkshire

13. Haworth

Panoramic view of picturesque Haworth village, nestled on a steep hill with charming stone cottages, offering a breathtaking vista extending across the landscape to the majestic Yorkshire Dales in the distance."

Famous as the 19th-century home of the Brontë sisters, the village of Haworth attracts visitors from around the world to the Bronte Parsonage Museum.

Other places of interest include the Black Bull Pub (a regular haunt of Branwell Brontë), the fabulous Cabinet of Curiosities (the old apothecary shop), and the brooding Yorkshire Dales, which inspired Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights.

Haworth’s steep cobbled main street has many interesting independent vintage, art, and craft shops selling locally produced works. There are very good independent coffee shops and eateries too.

Top Tip: Arrive by heritage steam train from nearby Oxenhope for the best experience, and visit in May for the splendid Haworth 1940s weekend.

14. Hebden Bridge

 The pretty Canal at Hebden Bridge., with riverside buildings
The Canal at Hebden Bridge. Image credit Living Legend

British Airway’s High Life magazine called Hebden Bridge “one of the world’s funkiest towns“, and it’s easy to see why it’s rated as one of the best towns in Yorkshire. Home to many creative and artsy folk, this charming town has a cool and welcoming vibe, with a complete absence of the usual chain stores in British towns. Buying local is a way of life here.

Visit the independent 1920s cinema, masses of cool cafes and bars, and stay for the thriving music scene. Featured in Ted Hughes’ poem The Stubbing Wharfe, literary fans also flock here to visit the grave of Hughes’ wife, Sylvia Plath, in nearby Heptonstall.

Where to stay in Hebden Bridge? The Groom’s House is an exceptional guest house.

15. Saltaire

Victoria Hall, Saltaire
Victoria Hall, Saltaire. Image credit Tim

Tiny Saltaire is a picture-perfect model village and UNESCO World Heritage site. Named after the River Aire that runs through it and woollen magnate Sir Titus Salt who built it, for his workforce in 1851, Saltaire is one of the prettiest small towns in Yorkshire.

Enjoy Salts Mill, the spectacular mill building which now houses the largest permanent collection of Bradford artist David Hockney’s work in the UK.

Alternatively, wander along the Leeds-Liverpool canal, take the Shipley Glen Tramway through the surrounding woodland or browse the independent shops and cafés.

Where to stay in Saltaire?

Try the World Heritage Millworkers Cottages for a truly unique experience.

Beautiful Towns in The North York Moors National Park

16. Lockton and Levisham

Skelton Tower, North York Moors
Skelton Tower, North York Moors. Image Credit Bernd Brueggemann

Numerous archaeological sites on Levisham Moor, including burial mounds and dykes prove that these two villages date back to the Neolithic period.

Visit these two villages to see the famous Hole of Horcum, a 400 feet deep, three-quarters-of-a-mile-wide natural amphitheatre carved out of Levisham Moor.

Fun Fact: According to local legend, Wade the Giant created the Hole of Horcum during an argument with his wife when he scooped up a handful of earth to throw at her!

17. Osmotherley

Beautiful bluebell woods at Osmotherley
Beautiful bluebell woods at Osmotherley. Image credit Richard

Osmotherley has become a tourist haven, thanks to the winning combination of beautiful old buildings and picturesque surroundings between the Cleveland Hills and Hambleton Hills.

Lady Chapel is the best place to capture outstanding views, and Sheepwash is one of the most picturesque picnic spots in the country.

Where to stay in Osmotherley

The village is full of the cutest little local cottages, like the Cobbles which has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, beautiful bed linen, a flat-screen TV, a dining area, and a well-equipped kitchen. There’s also a terrace with scenic garden views.

Check Price & Availability here

18. Robin Hood’s Bay

The steep path down to the beach at Robin Hood’s Bay
The steep path down to the beach at Robin Hood’s Bay. Image credit Michael Cummins

Visiting Robin Hood’s Bay, just south of Whitby, is like stepping back to the 18th century when the village was the centre of Yorkshire’s smuggling trade.

The cluster of red-roofed fishermen’s cottages, traditional shops, and cosy inns spill down a steep cliff to the sea’s edge and the sandy beach.

Visit to feel the sand beneath your feet, explore rock pools, take a bracing coastal walk, or stop at a historic inn for superb fish and chips. Robin Hood’s Bay is one of the most popular and most beautiful towns in Yorkshire.

Where to stay in Robin Hood’s Bay

The Birtley House Bed & Breakfast is just 400m from the beachfront in Robin Hood’s Bay and is highly regarded, with guests rating it 9.6/10.

19. Sandsend

Picturesque cottages in Sandsend near Whitby, North Yorkshire, UK.
Picturesque cottages in Sandsend near Whitby, North Yorkshire, UK. Image credit Jane

Sandsend is a proper old-fashioned British seaside village with a beautiful beach, a promenade and good places to eat.

Visitors come to hunt for fossils on this Jurassic Coast, walk for miles (Gothic Whitby is close by), or go surfing or paddleboarding at the nearby Whitby Surf School.

Where to stay in Sandsend

Choose your favourite place to stay in Sandsend here.

20. Staithes

pretty Staithes high street is definitely worth visiting
A pre-dawn stroll through Staithes High Street

Once one of the largest ports on the North East Coast, Staithes still has a thriving fishing fleet today, but it’s the quaint jumble of pretty terraced cottages and winding cobbled streets that visitors cherish. Abundant fossils and rock pools are ready to be found on the beach, and the breezy clifftop paths beg to be explored.

Where to stay in Staithes

Pick from the adorable unique cottages available in Staithes village here.

21. Whitby

The 199 Steps at Whitby on the North Yorkshire coastline.
The 199 Steps at Whitby on the North Yorkshire coastline. Image credit Helen Hotson

No roundup of the most beautiful towns in Yorkshire would be complete without the mention of wonderful Whitby.

This bustling fishing port nestles beneath towering cliffs that bear the magnificent Gothic ruins of Whitby Abbey, which inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Whitby is regarded as the best place in the world to eat fish and chips – and you should go to the Magpie Cafe to try the very best!

Don’t miss: Whitby also holds a twice-yearly Gothic music festival.

Best place to Stay in Whitby

The charming family-run Saxonville Hotel is cosy, centrally located, and has a terrific restaurant.

22. Goathland

Goathland Station
Goathland Station

Whether you want to hike to scenic waterfalls or love the idea of steam train rides through the magnificent North York Moors National Park, you’ll love the picturesque landscapes and Harry Potter connections in this tiny, tucked-away village.

Goathland was also the main filming location for the much-loved British TV drama “Heartbeat”.

➡️ Read next: Goathland Getaway: 15 Top Things to Do in this Yorkshire Gem

FAQs Most Beautiful Towns in Yorkshire

Where is Yorkshire, England?

Yorkshire is located in the North of England, with trains from London to Leeds taking around 2 hours, and trains to York from London taking around 2 1/2 hours.

Which part of Yorkshire is most beautiful?

The three areas of Yorkshire that are traditionally considered to be the most beautiful are the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors, and the North Yorkshire Coast.

What is the prettiest town in Yorkshire Dales?

Knaresborough is one of the prettiest and most photographed towns in Yorkshire.

What is the poshest part of Yorkshire?

The area in North and West Yorkshire between Wetherby, Harrogate and Ilkley is described by local estate agents as the “Golden Triangle” thanks to the number of high-quality homes and a great lifestyle in the area. The upmarket village of Kirkby Overblow is regarded as the poshest village in Yorkshire.

Where is the nicest place to live in Yorkshire?

Yorkshire is full of amenities that make it a great place to live, whether you want a buzzing city, a beautiful coastal town, or one of the beautiful Yorkshire towns in the Yorkshire Dales.

Wrap Up – The Most Beautiful Towns in Yorkshire

The biggest problem when trying to choose the most beautiful towns in Yorkshire to visit is narrowing down your choices.

Do you want somewhere easily accessible from Yorkshire’s great cities, so you can also make the most of a city break, or would you prefer to explore a more off-the-beaten-path location in the fabulous Yorkshire Dales or North York Moors?

Is exploring history vital to you, or do you love exploring the beautiful countryside? The most beautiful towns in Yorkshire offer all of these and more.

Yorkshire will charm you whether you’re looking for rolling hills, quaint cottages made from mellow local stone, sweeping sunsets, incredible Victorian viaducts, tumbling waterfalls, or fields full of spring lambs.

Just don’t forget your camera or your appetite! Yorkshire food is legendary – and the portions are generous.

Use these articles to explore more of Yorkshire:

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