YorTours

11/06/2026

Look out for Hawkshead Grammar School Museum in the directory 2026 events “Hidden Histories: Lives between the pages” , and you’re in for a great experience 👏

Heritage Open Days 2026: 11-20 September

11/06/2026

Some Yorkshire “ treasures “ to visit below ⬇️ including some of my own favourites as a professional British Guild of Tourist Guides ; what a most helpful & comprehensive list thanks to Yorkshire Treasures 👌

Looking for some indoor activities? Over 20 great places to visit for history and culture lovers:

- Swaledale Museum is a small museum crammed with fascinating items, with a hands-on approach to history

- Join a tour and enjoy the Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond, North Yorkshire Experience in Richmond, led by a knowledgeable guide who will tell you about the shows, actors and audiences from Georgian times

- Visit the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes to discover the story of the people and landscape of the Yorkshire Dales, past and present

- Visit 17th century Kiplin Hall by George Calvert, Secretary of State to James I and the founder of Maryland, USA. There's also an award-winning tea room!

- Venture underground and explore one of the show caves at Stump Cross Caverns, Ingleborough Cave and White Scar Cave

- There are plenty of indoor areas at Bolton Castle including the armoury, dungeon, Great Chamber, old kitchens, nursery and bed chambers.

- Explore every corner of Skipton Castle, from the Banqueting Hall, the Kitchen, the Bedchamber, and discover the Long Drop

- Appreciate the treasures inside Newby Hall, and then contrast them with the very different conditions at Ripon Workhouse Museum

- Nidderdale Museum, Pateley Bridge is a small museum that's a little tardis-like, with room after room crammed with fascinating exhibits about Nidderdale life

- Visit the Grade 1 listed The Folly Museum and Coffee House, Settle built in 1679 (currently undergoing refurbishment), home to the Museum of North Craven Life, with a lovely cosy cafe (still open)

- Visit Skipton Town Hall, cultural hub and home to Craven Museum (see Shakespeare's First Folio and lots of local history,

- The Richmondshire Museum displays local history. They have ten galleries including: James Herriot's surgery, lead mining, Victorian grocer's shop, ironmonger's shop and life in a cruck barn

- Learn more about the story of James Herriot at the The World Of James Herriot in Thirsk.

- The Green Howards Museum in Richmond charts the 300 year history of this local regiment.

- Go to a gallery to buy something beautiful to treasure. Take a look at Masham Gallery, The Nolon Stacey Gallery, Stacey Moore, Inspired by gallery

- Ryedale Folk Museum is in the lovely setting of Hutton-le-Hole, and offers plenty of beautiful historic buildings, workshops and cottages to explore.

- The Land of Iron museum near Skinningrove tells the story of ironstone mining heritage with interactive exhibits and guided underground experience.

- At Danby Lodge National Park Centre interactive displays, the Inspired by... Gallery, and a great programme of exhibitions and events offer interesting insights into the nature and life of the North York Moors National Park

- Castle Howard is a magnificent stately home and setting for many TV programmes and films. There are few more splendid places to shelter from the rain!

- Nunnington Hall (National Trust) is a manor house on the banks of the River Rye with period rooms and changing exhibitions

- Captain Cook Memorial Museum in Whitby is in the 17th century house where young James Cook lodged as apprentice seaman.

- visit Whitby Museum to learn about fossils, local jet jewellery, archaeology and local history

Which other indoor attractions in the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales would you add?

10/06/2026

Something close to my own interests and taking visitors on tour to see where their grandfathers trained and were based in the north of England; specifically Yorkshire on their training in preparation for D Day ; see below ⬇️ a most informative blog on the real events leading up to the WW2 landings in France. All thanks to Tim Real Yorkshire Tours 👌

Either coming back from tours of Whitby or on my way to Castle Howard, I often visit the ruins of Kirkham Priory. Once home to a community of Augustinian Priors, this is a beautiful spot on the edge of the Howardian Hills and the banks of the River Derwent. The Priory was abandoned after the Dissolu...

31/05/2026

This most remarkable business woman ; Anne Lister whose life was captured in her 26 volumes of diaries, 14 volumes of travel notes amounts to over 5 million words ( of which a sixth in her own code) . Contemplation sculpture by Diane Lawrenson in Bronze , 2021 . Thought provoking & inspiring for me as British Guild of Tourist Guides too !

31/05/2026

Just spotted this foto; and in both respects I can highly recommend - taken in Haltwhistle - the Centre of Britain too ! one of my own personal favourites when on tour Visit Hadrian's Wall

Walking or cycling Hadrian's Wall? Pre-booking a local luggage transfer company can keep things light. We spotted Hadrian's Haul picking up with their van called Romulus earlier today.

27/05/2026

sometimes as professional British Guild of Tourist Guides its just great to feel so appreciated and yes for going the xtra mile....

what a fab note I've just received below from yesterdays tour around a number of gardens and the south Yorkshire Dales National Park:-

"Hello, Nick,
What a pleasure yesterday was! I enjoyed our day together in the Yorkshire Dales. Thank you for being such a wonderful host and ambassador for your part of the world.
I also greatly appreciate the lovely goodie bag you provided-such a considerate treat.
If I ever come back to Yorkshire as a tourist I hope to have you as my guide again!
PS-I saw something on social media that perhaps King Charles was in Harrogate yesterday. We were so close! If we'd passed him he might have thought he saw his younger brother driving around in Yorkshire!
Best regards,
Margaret"

20/05/2026

A Syrian archer who served on Hadrians Wall ? His 25 year long service & good conduct certificate- discovered in Bulgaria ? This and much more awaits your visit & experience to be discovered on Visit Hadrian's Wall see below ⬇️ and my favourite to take visitors on tour 🤫

Did you know that one of the units stationed on Hadrian's Wall was from modern-day Syria? Amongst them was an archer known as Longinus Festius.

- Longinus was part of the First Cohort of Hamian Archers: the only archery unit ever stationed on Hadrian's Wall. They arrived at Magna Fort around 122 AD, just as Hadrian's Wall was being built.

- The Hamians were no ordinary soldiers. Boys from Hama started training with bows as children, and their skills with a composite bow were so exceptional that, rather than teach Roman soldiers to shoot, the Roman Army simply brought the experts in from Syria.

- Longinus served his 25 years. When he retired, he received the diploma every Roman soldier was given on leaving the army: a certificate recording his service and his rights. His diploma was found centuries later in Bulgaria, thousands of miles from where he served.

We're excited to say that until 3rd October you can see Longinus's bronze diploma on display at Segedunum Roman Fort & Museum as part of its fascinating 'Following the Eagle' exhibition.

Want to get hands on? Learn more about the Syrian archers and have a go at perfecting your archery skills with the interactive bow at the Roman Army Museum.

Image: Roman Army Museum at The Vindolanda Trust

19/05/2026

Podcast 2 of the real James Herriot; get yourself a real cuppa Yorkshire Tea comfy seat and listen up The World Of James Herriot see below ⬇️ link

Part 2 of our conversation with Roger French is here... and if you loved Part 1, this one is going to hit just as hard. 🎙️

Roger goes even deeper into what makes James Herriot so special - the stories, the memories, and that feeling that so many of you will know. The one where Herriot's world doesn't just feel like something you read or watched, but somewhere you genuinely belong.

It's a warm, honest, and at times quite moving conversation - exactly what the Real James Herriot Podcast is all about! 🫶

Put the kettle on and settle in. Part 2 is waiting for you here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eVIq2QGUXw

🎧 Watch or listen via the link below - and if you haven't seen Part 1 yet, we'd suggest starting there first.

Podcasts