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Explore Yorkshire by Rail

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20252026
5 days From £449 £399 per person
4.1 stars(711 reviews)
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Discover the best of Yorkshire from our base in Harrogate as you visit delightful towns, explore historic streets, and journey on heritage railways

Save up to £200pp

Save up to £200pp on selected British Isles 2025 departures, when you book by 25th November 2024.

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Mobility Rating 2

2025 Tour code: 25YHS

About the tour

Discover Yorkshire on this picturesque getaway by rail. With timeless towns and cities, Yorkshire is packed with rural landscapes, ancient streets, and diverse architecture, just waiting for you to explore.

After checking into your hotel in the elegant town of Harrogate and visiting the coastal town of Whitby, enjoy a journey on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway through rugged yet beautiful countryside. Uncover Yorkshire's hidden gems, discover the landscapes which inspired the Brontë sisters and travel into the steep valleys of Yorkshire's industrial past aboard the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.

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Unforgettable Experiences

Travelling through the wild and expansive Yorkshire Moors
Travelling through the wild and expansive Yorkshire Moors
Journey along a picturesque route through the heather-clad hills and valleys of the Yorkshire Moors on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, passing through one of the world’s oldest railway tunnels.
Exploring Whitby with a chance to visit its iconic Abbey
Exploring Whitby with a chance to visit its iconic Abbey
Discover the charming coastal town of Whitby and maybe walk around the iconic Whitby Abbey, whose ruins were the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Taking a trip into the past on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
Taking a trip into the past on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
Travel on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, through five miles of scenic countryside immortalised by the Brontës and the 1970s film, The Railway Children, based on Edith Nesbit’s novel.
Staying in the Victorian spa town of Harrogate
Staying in the Victorian spa town of Harrogate
Known for its Turkish Baths, an expansive park known as ‘The Stray’, and Betty’s tea shop, during your free time in Harrogate you could stroll through beautiful gardens and admire Victorian architecture.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - Our holiday starts in elegant Harrogate

Our Yorkshire adventure begins at the edge of the Yorkshire Dales in Harrogate, an attractive Victorian spa town with a 200-year tradition of providing restorative treatments. Popular among wealthy Victorians seeking both health benefits and luxury, Harrogate still offers Turkish Bath sessions at the Royal Bath House. Even if you don't opt for a treatment, the main attraction is the experience of visiting the baths and exploring the various heated rooms. The town has a traditional theatre, a variety of music venues and hosts several national and international events at its Convention Centre, not far from our hotel.

We meet our Tour Manager and the rest of our group at our central hotel, with time to look around the neighbourhood before we gather for dinner this evening.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - Whitby and a journey on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

This morning, our coach takes us to Whitby, one of the county's most popular seaside resorts. Crowned by its brooding Abbey ruins, Whitby inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula, and is known for its unique jet jewellery. With time at leisure, you could visit the historic Benedictine Abbey, found at the top of 199 steps on the east cliff. For panoramic views, head to St Mary's Church or stroll along the wide sandy beach and wooden pier.

Whitby is also renowned for its excellent fish and chip restaurants, which you could enjoy before joining the nostalgic North Yorkshire Moors Railway*. Travel in style on the restored heritage train and relax as views of heather-strewn moorland pass by. The scenic route follows the course of the Esk Valley, chugging by stunning countryside, quaint villages, and the timeless landscapes of the North Yorkshire Moors.

Along the way, you pass through delightful stations like Goathland, famous for its appearance as 'Hogsmeade Station' in the Harry Potter films. Our journey ends at Pickering where our coach transfers us back to our hotel in time for dinner.

*Some departures on this journey will be operated by diesel

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - A free day to explore Yorkshire at leisure

Today is yours to enjoy at your own pace. You could take the train to the famous walled city of York, with its magnificent York Minster. Here you could visit the medieval alleyway called The Shambles, walk along the City Walls, or sail down the River Ouse on a boat trip. The quaint town of Knaresborough is also easy to reach by train. Here you can walk up to the castle or explore Knaresborough's unique folk heritage on a visit to Mother Shipton's Cave.

Staying in Harrogate, The Harrogate Royal Pump Room Museum records the town's past as a popular spa destination. In the Montpellier Quarter, shops, galleries, and restaurants are housed in grand Victorian buildings. Harrogate is also known for its gardens, the finest of which is RHS Harlow Carr, on the outskirts of town with botanical gardens and scenic walking trails. Each town offers an inviting range of eateries, from relaxed pubs to upmarket restaurants.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 4 - A trip to the past on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway

We travel by coach to Ingrow today for a journey on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway*. After visiting the engine's shed, we board the train. This acclaimed 5-mile trip takes us up the Worth Valley to Oxenhope, passing the scenery from the much-loved classic 1970 film 'The Railway Children'. On-train commentary reveals the history of the railway as we ride.

Our coach takes us up to the village of Haworth, which is tucked away in the remote Pennine Hills. It was here, amid the isolated landscape of the Moors, that the Brontë sisters lived and wrote some of their most famous works during the 19th century.

We visit the Brontë Parsonage Museum, the sisters' former home, on a self-guided tour. You are free to explore at your own pace and wander the rooms which are now filled with a collection of artefacts, manuscripts, and personal belongings. Haworth also has a range of independent shops, quaint tea rooms, and traditional pubs which you might like to experience.

The coach takes us back to our hotel where we enjoy dinner on this last evening of our Yorkshire getaway.

*Some departures on this journey will be operated by diesel

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - Homeward bound

After breakfast this morning, it's time to say goodbye to your Tour Manager and fellow travellers before heading home. Before you do, you might like to visit one of the town's parks, such as the central Valley Gardens or 'The Stray', or step into Betty's Tea Room for tea and a 'Fat Rascal', a large scone studded with almonds and glacé cherries.

As you head homewards, the special memories of this holiday in Yorkshire are sure to remain with you - from the handsome Victorian streets of Harrogate and the cobbled lanes of Haworth, to the wonderful scenery of the vast Yorkshire Moors.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Please note - Departure information

Please note that the itinerary order may differ dependant on departure. Please call for more details.

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotel

Crown Plaza

Crowne Plaza, Harrogate

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Trains

Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
North Yorkshire Moors Railway

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Reviews

4.1 stars4.1 / 5 · 711 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (285)
  2. 4 stars
    (275)
  3. 3 stars
    (110)
  4. 2 stars
    (25)
  5. 1 star
    (16)

Robert Robson

5 stars

Submitted 12/Nov

Very enjoyable and interesting 4 night break. Harrogate an excellent base. Hotel couldn't be faulted, food very good and plentiful. Ample free parking, which made for a stress free break. Friendly, helpful staff. Very skilled, knowledgeable and experienced coach driver and courier. Excellent value.

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C Martin

4 stars

Submitted 2/Nov

I really enjoyed this tour. The destinations very interesting in this lovely county. Slightly long coach journey on one day , although I am not sure how this could be avoided. The hotel was extremely good. Very comfortable, excellent food and very helpful staff.

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elaine kuwahara

4 stars

Submitted 31/Oct

Very enjoyable break, hotel was comfortable and spacious and food good. Itinary interesting and varied, although the day in Whitby was rushed and the museum/ art gallery was closed on Monday as were some other places so the schedule should be changed with another day. It was good to have a free day and our guide Ken Owen was very competent and kind and kept us all organised. It was good value for money and I would do more trips by train.

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Ian Falconer

5 stars

Submitted 31/Oct

For me, not a product, an excellent short break. 3 dozen of us in our group: I think we gelled well together. Ken was a genial & helpful Tour Manager and Neil a knowledgeable and entertaining Coach Driver. The steam train ride on the North Yorks Moors Railway back from Whitby to Pickering was most enjoyable and the diesel hauled train on the Keighley & Worth Valley took us to the loco works at Haworth for a fascinating guided tour, as we also had when we went later to the "Rail Story" at Ingrow, where there were beautifully restored carriages. We had plenty of time to visit the fascinating Brontë museum in the Parsonage. I used the time at Whitby on the Monday to go on the open top bus. On the free day I experienced the Turkish Bath in Harrogate, which I found surprisingly relaxing, and took the bus to Ripon to look at the Cathedral, with St Wilfrid's original crypt, the oldest in England. The Crowne Plaza, where we stayed in Harrogate, has comfortable rooms. The buffet breakfast had a good variety of options. The 3 course evening meal, different each day & with choices, was always well cooked, with generous portions. The hotel staff in general and the restaurant staff in particular were friendly, efficient and helpful. I wouldn't have gone had the cost not been reduced from the original, and there was no single supplement - now I'm a widower I don't even consider holidays with this surcharge. Glad I went - so much packed into 4 days without getting worn out, and some great folk to talk to with all sorts of different backgrounds and experiences.

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Christine Matthews

2 stars

Submitted 31/Oct

Wish there was more train travel, only had 2 short train journeys on the trip. Disappointed with Whitby, the open-top bus ride was cancelled, so went on a later one which meant we couldn't look around the Abbey, we had to be back to catch a train. Also, some museums were closed on a Monday. Just an idea, swop the itinerary around to accommodate this.

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customer

4 stars

Submitted 27/Oct

We had been on the Norwich Holiday with Rail Discoveries earlier this year and thoroughly enjoyed it and had great expectations this time. We travelled to Harrogate by train in keeping with the spirit of the holiday and took a taxi to the hotel (it was raining), Hotel reception was excellent and our room was good on the 9th floor with a great view and three operating lifts. Later we were “summoned” by our guide Alistair, to a “most important meeting” which turned out to be a summary of the information which we had already received about timings for the next four days. What we had appreciated most about the Norfolk trip was the very laid back approach by our guide then, David, who controlled us all with the lightest of hands and in the most friendly way. Alistair, although he did all the right things, such as phoning us beforehand, seemed to sacrifice empathy for efficiency. The hotel provided a magnificent buffet breakfast, but fell rather short on dinner.. The scenery of the Yorkshire Moors and Countryside was exquisite and all the visits and excursions made were as advertised or better, which even all the rain of the first three days couldn’t dampen. It was unfortunate that the commentary given by the volunteer local guides was totally drowned out by the clatter of the diesel train substituted at one point for steam. I fully appreciate the amount of time given for self exploration (we took ourselves to Knaresborough which even the rain couldn’t spoil) but a full day seems excessive. In Norwich we had a local guide giving us a really interesting and instructive tour taking just a morning and leaving plenty of exploration time afterwards. Something similar here would have been more appropriate. We absolutely loved the holiday and the whole experience. Just a few of the things I mention above took a little of the edge off and should be easily avoidable and are the reason I award only four stars instead of five.

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