Explore Yorkshire

Discover rated places to stay and visit in Yorkshire

From Roman invasion to Viking incursions, and from the Wars of the Roses to the ‘harrying of the north’ Yorkshire has seen its share of history. Put together, the four Yorkshires cover nearly 12,000km² (4,500 sq miles), with a population of around 5.5 million people.

In terms of landscapes, Yorkshire has it all. Its coastlines are majestic, dramatic, charming and forbidding by turn. It also has plenty of open space, including two National Parks and any number of Areas of Natural Beauty. The Yorkshire Dales National Park and the North York Moors National Park are both in North Yorkshire, which also includes the popular coastal towns of Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay and Scarborough.

‘Riding’ comes from the Old Norse, meaning a third of a county, which is ironic as now Yorkshire is divided into four. The only ‘riding’ left is the East Riding, which surrounds the unitary authority of Hull and takes in part of the Humber estuary.

West Yorkshire is much more urban, taking in Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield and Wakefield, as well as more picturesque towns like Hebden Bridge and Todmorden.

South Yorkshire has the industrial and cultural powerhouse of Sheffield, as well as Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham. It also makes up part of the Peak District National Park, another striking natural attraction.