Home to two national parks by way of the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors, Yorkshire is the largest of England's counties and one of the most scenic. With its strong Viking heritage, picturesque villages and perfect mix of scenery and seaside, Yorkshire offers a diverse range of coach holidays offering weekend and longer breaks.
For those after a coastal break Scarborough is an impressive option. As the premier coastal resort in the region it offers an elegant promenade, style and some of the finest gardens in the country. The picturesque fishing village of Whitby also makes a popular excursion.
Theme-based coach holidays to Yorkshire allow fans of the hit TV shows 'Emmerdale' and 'Last of the Summer Wine' to take a filming location tour of the county's landmarks used in the programmes, like the inn known as The Woolpack. The 1940s Haworth Weekend are popular, as are coach trips to the ever-growing Harrogate Spring and Autumn Flower Show. Later in the year various Christmas markets dot the county, like the one at Skipton with its bustling market and food stalls. Tea lovers can head to the quintessentially Yorkshire Betty's Tea Rooms in Harrogate and round the day off with a trip to a less quintessential Turkish spa.
Weekends by coach are available to explore medieval York, great shopping can be found at Leeds and Sheffield and there is also the chance to explore the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales and Moors.
Tourist offices:
For further information about visiting Yorkshire please visit the Official Tourism Website at yorkshire.com
Yorkshire covers such an expanse that it would be difficult to cover everything in one go, although we've given it our best shot. Here is our run down of the top few:
Whitby
As a maritime town, Whitby is bursting with character. The ruins of Whitby and St Hilda's Abbeys dominate the Whitby skyline, high on the East Cliff and are still used today by sailors as a landmark. Whitby also boasts a blue flag beach, which is the perfect place to visit on a sunny day. Don't forget to try some the locally sourced seafood on offer in traditional sea-shanty inns!
Harrogate
This historic spa town has magnificent architecture, which serves as a reminder of Harrogate's regal era. Today, you can visit the 19th Century Royal Pump Room Museum which houses the original sulphur well. You can even take a Turkish bath in the Royal Baths Assembly Rooms which were built in 1897, or perhaps treat yourself to a delicious afternoon tea at Betty's Tea Rooms.
York and York Minster
With 2,000 years of history squeezed into one breath-taking city, take time to meander through the twisting streets of York and explore the countless tearooms and traditional English pubs!Whilst at the York Minster cathedral be sure to visit the Quire, Treasury, Chapter House and Crypt. If you are feeling particularly energetic you can also climb up the central tower of the Cathedral for stunning views of the streets below.
Castle Howard
As one of the grandest private residences in Britain, Castle Howard was built between 1699-1712. It has housed the Howard family for over 300 years and has some of the Castle been opened for public viewing. Explore the dramatic interiors followed by the impressive gardens.