Quintessential Yorkshire: The Best 4 Daytrips From York

It’s been nearly two years since I moved to York. In that time, I have spent a lot of time exploring the surrounding area and exploring Yorkshire. I am honestly so spoiled living here—I’m not sure if I could live anywhere else now. The city itself is a gem and such a beautiful place to live. But it’s what’s outside of the city that I think I love the most. There are so many amazing destinations outside of York to visit. And most of them are close enough to be visited in a day! In terms of my criteria for choosing these daytrips, I wanted to pick destinations that showcased the very best of Yorkshire. The things I love most about living here. So here you are: the best 4 daytrips from York!

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Where to eat & drink (cafes, restaurants, pubs)
The best daytrips 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. And after much deliberation and visits to some of the most spectacular ruined abbeys across the county, I have to say that Fountain’s Abbey is still probably my favorite. I first visited Fountain’s Abbey when I was studying abroad in Nottingham, and no other set of abbey ruins has won over my heart like this (although Rievaulx Abbey did give them a run for their money!) There is simply so much here to explore.

The ruins themselves are extensive. You can see the 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.

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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. And exploring the Temple of Fame, and the Octagon Tower. And walking around the pretty fountains and water. And spotting deer as you stroll 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 daytrip to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city, and wander through somewhere peaceful.

Castle Howard

There are a lot of stately homes in Britain, in England, and in Yorkshire! These gorgeous manor houses, like the old castles but a bit more refined, are symbolic of the country itself. One of the best in the country is Castle Howard, and it’s located just outside 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, with the family still living in the house and occupying the east wing. The Great Hall is grand and you’ll probably hurt your neck staring up at the domed ceiling for too long.

But like Fountain’s Abbey, the house isn’t the only attraction when visiting Castle Howard. 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 Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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 all the gardens on top of that! Castle Howard is only about a 30 minute drive away from York’s city center, and a fantastic example of the impressive stately manor homes dotted around the country. It’s certainly one of the best daytrips from York.

Read More: A Christmas Trip To Castle Howard

Whitby

Britain and England are almost synonymous with the seaside. As an island, Brits have a huge number of towns and villages along the sea! One of the most charming and picturesque of all of these is Whitby, in 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 daytrip, and just under a 90-minute drive from York.

North York Moors

Am I cheating with this one? Kind of. Do I care? Nope! 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 beautiful area. So whether you’re driving through on the way to Whitby, or simply wanting to take another daytrip and get outside, head to the North York Moors.

You can hike around the Hole of Horcum (I always start in Levisham to save money on parking!) and admire the views. I recommend going when the heather is in full bloom towards the end of August to see the moors turn into a blanket of purple! You can climb the “Yorkshire Matterhorn” and check out the scenery from Roseberry Topping.

You can explore more abbey ruins (sensing a theme?!) at Rievaulx Abbey, and do the short 3-mile walk to the charming town of Helmsley. You can see the thatched cottage in Thornton-le-Dale and dip your toes in the beck running through the village. You can visit Goathland to see the real-life Hogsmeade Station (Goathland Station was used for filming in Harry Potter)—or even take a ride on the North York Moors Railway!

There are so many options for adventures here. The North York Moors will have something for everyone, whatever your interests may be! And while I do love the Yorkshire Dales, I think I love the North York Moors just a little bit more. The North York Moors National Park is around a 45 minute drive from York (at the shortest distance). It’s one of the best daytrips in the York area!

Planning Your Trip to Yorkshire

Wondering about public transportation? All of these places are accessible by public transportation! The Dales Bus runs seasonally from York to Fountains Abbey on the Fountains Flyer (#822) on Sundays and bank holidays in the summer (there’s no other direct public transport besides this service). You can take bus #181 from York to the Castle Howard parking lot. Whitby is accessible by the #840 Coastliner bus. The Coastliner also runs through the North York Moors, so if you want to get off at Thornton-le-Dale, the Hole of Horcum, or Goathland, it’s very easy! To reach Rievaulx, take the 31X bus from York to Helmsley. From Helmsley, take the M4 bus heading to Stokesley, and get off at Rievaulx Abbey. It can be tricky with bus times, but these daytrips 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. I always use Trainline to find the best deals for train tickets. 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.

Planning on staying overnight in York? If you want to visit these destinations on a daytrip, you really should! 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 book hostels in York here, and check out hotels in York here!

So there you have it! You can see the best of what Yorkshire has to offer, all as daytrips from the city of York! Abbey ruins, stately homes, charming seaside towns, and great views in a national park—all of it is accessible from the city! For a week-long trip to York, you could ideally spend three days thoroughly exploring the city, and the other four days on these daytrips. These are the absolute best four daytrips from York, and are not to be missed!

Interested in a FREE 10-page York Mini Guide?

Included in this York Mini Guide are: