Help me plan a holiday in Yorkshire!

[buzzswole]

Hello,
Looking for some local wisdom please :)

I'm planning a February half term break and can't fit in all the things we want to do. Definitely want to be in Leeds for several days but the kids like the sound of Whitby for the Dracula connection whilst I think we'd all like Haworth and the moors. Please throw any and all your suggestions at me though!
We'll stay in Airbnbs so can split our time across a couple of locations and we have a car. Realistically we'll probably have five days.
Thank you

Go to Staithes, it’s heavenly!

I'm not sure that several days in Leeds would be the best use of time if you're struggling to fit everything in. It's a lovely city but can easily be covered in 2 days, 3 max. I'd go from Leeds to Pickering/Malton/Helmsley as that gets you into the Moors for a day and then you can drive cross country to Whitby

Haworth but be prepared for snow in February half term. You wouldn't have got there one half term in recent years

Great choice! Although far too much glory and gorgeousness in Yorkshire to fit into 5 days!

You can make it to Haworth and Leeds easily from 1 base. Go for an Airbnb north Leeds way. You can get to those places and ilkley, Otley, north Yorks moors. Harwood House, Harrogate, RHS Harlow Carr also from there.

Agree with PP- go for staithes or robin hood's bay as a base for the coastal bit and a day in Whitby.

I'd skip Leeds in favour of York or Harrogate.

Leeds is less touristy, feels more exciting like a truly cosmopolitan big city rather than a quaint or touristy city like York or Harrogate. Brilliant theatre on offer at Leeds Playhouse. Authentic international cuisines, shopping. Depends what you are after.

I agree one or 2 days max in Leeds though.

Lucky you, it’s a great place to visit but do bring your big coat!
Leeds is great but you will only want 1 or 2 days there, maybe go to Harrogate or stay on the coast as well?

Would skip Leeds…Moore or dales far more gorgeous! Harrogate or York all the way. Castle Howard fab also!

It's such a big area. West and South Yorkshire have their own district feel away from North Yorkshire. I'd maybe focus on York and the North Yorkshire coast. Maybe a couple of nights in York then over to Whitby.

York has loads for families and great evening choices. Yorvik is fun for younger kids. But pricey

Depending on what your family enjoy and what's open fully in February, Id definitely recommend some of the wonderful houses,castles and abbeys of the area. Castle Howard is so iconic. Early spring is stunning at Fountains abbey with the daffodils out.

The smaller market towns and cathedral cities are special. Several to chose from. Ripon, a lovely little city that's quieter than York, Thirsk where the original James Herriot had his vets practice, Richmond and the villages of Swaledale and Wensleydale. Also the waterfalls of the Tees Valley will be in full force

Head over the Moors to Whitby. It's Heartbeat land here and there's a couple of lovely steam railway options as well as cute villages . Staithes is glorious but much more to do in Whitby. Dracula and the Goths, Whaling, fishing fleets. And the wonderful abbey. Plus fish an chips at the Magpie. Book ahead if you don't want to queue.

If you're feelin fit the Cleveland way passes from Whitby by the abbey along the cliffs to beautiful Robin Hoods Bay. It's about seven miles and it can be a bit hairy if the winds up. Careful with kids and dogs as it's very close to the cliff edges. Alternatively the cinder trail is the old railway line path that is easier and more sheltered. Nice pubs for lunch in Robin Hoods Bay and a easy bus back to Whitby.

I grew up nearby and spent every summer in Staithes so happy to help. Happy holidays.

This is priceless insider info, thank you.
We live on the coast so a) used to bone shattering cold b) never get snow c) quite fancy a bit of greenery so I'll check out these inland suggestions.
Me and kids are into Viking history so I'm
keen to visit York but looking at all the museums in Leeds I felt like I could spend two days just on those!
Thanks again!!

If you're just there for a week, I think you need to base yourself in two places, perhaps York and Scarborough or Whitby.
York is lovely to stroll around and then you've got Jorvik (amazing but through quite quickly) and the National Rail Museum (interesting and can be there for hours). There are also various smaller towns and villages which can be visited from there as well as places like Castle Howard.
You could then spend a day travelling across the Moors to the coast and then a few days on the coast. If you have upper primary aged DC and they like swimming, there's a good water park in Scarborough with excellent slides which would be a good contrast to museums and outdoor stuff.
If you do base yourself in Leeds, then trips to Fountains Abbey, Brimham Rocks and Mother Shipton's Cave are all fun for children and adults.

If you fancy a day off from driving , there are some bargain bus fares when you're visiting. Have a great trip!

www.transdevbus.co.uk/coastliner/pricedrop-coastliner

I used to live in York - lovely city to visit and absolutely loads to do ( Jorvik Viking centre, railway museum , minster , castle museum , city walls etc ) and plenty of places to recharge your batteries over hot chocs like Bettys . Definitely Whitby , staithes , Scarborough Robin Hood Bay though a chilly time of year to visit . Also consider Richmond - lovely market town with castle / waterfalls / stunning scenery ; knaresborough ( mother shiptons petrifying cave which kids might like ) .

01969 640638
maps.app.goo.gl/17ggcUJVd1JMDXn99?g_st=ic

forrbidden corner. The best fun day out ever.

tml.

I wouldn't try to cover Leeds and Whitby and the Dales and York and Haworth all in one go. Perhaps plan on coming back again, and again (and again).

I've lived in Yorkshire for 50 years, spent my entire childhood going out on trips and as an adult go out somewhere most weeks, and even I haven't seen everything I want to

Lots of great things mentioned already. There's also the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Sculpture Park, mining museum etc etc etc.

Scarborough, whitby and Filey.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

(located 7 miles outside of Wakefield and 20 miles south of Leeds in West Yorkshire).

This was the surprising hit of our holiday in Yorkshire. We went a bit reluctantly on the rec of a friend, but the whole family loved it.

Riveaux Abbey if you are in and around Scarborough, a nice drive inland. It’s beautiful and the setting is stunning. You could then pop up to Riveaux Terrace. Robin Hood’s Bay is cute and then a walk along Flamborough Cliffs.

MN loves Whitby but I'm afraid we hated it. Tacky and tatty. Love Robin Hoods Bay though.

I didn't much like Whitby either. I went a weekend before Easter and it was rammed, with people aimlessly wandering about. It felt quite dispiriting and I legged it pretty sharpish.

On the coast I'd go to Whitby and Robin Hoods Bay. Definitely recommend York, lovely cobbled streets, great cafés, jorvik for kids and the Castle Museum, also the Harry Potter shops in the shambles and the chocolate experience, you could easily spend two days there. Leeds is more shops and restaurants, maybe one day there. Haworth is beautiful, also Skipton. The moors of course.

jumping on this thread (which is fantastically useful) to see if anyone has any recommendations of places to stay for a fanily of 4. Probably would aim for York and Haworth as the two places I particularly would like to visit at some point in the easter holiday