For those looking to combine a town and country experience, HOME AT FIRST also offers apartments in the small, prosperous city of Harrogate, between the Dales and York. The apartments are within a short walk (5 minutes or less) of shops, restaurants, and the rail station, making rail trips to York and other British cities attractive and convenient.

Harrogate Apartment Bedroom
Photo © HOME AT FIRST

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         York, namesake city and regional capital of Yorkshire, contains a great medieval old city center, crowned by arguably the greatest of Gothic cathedrals in Europe, York Minster. The old city is very walkable, and full of attractive shops, restaurants, open-air markets, and museums. Best of all, York is an easy day trip (about 60 minutes drive) from HOME AT FIRST's cottages on the southeastern edge of the Yorkshire Dales, or 45 minutes from our apartments in Harrogate.

Photo Credits: York Minster at dusk; Statue of a King from York Minster's
great screen; and Statue of a 17th century parishioner © HOME AT FIRST.
York Minster facade courtesy britainonview - Doug McKinlay.
York Minster from the Railway Hotel courtesy www.britainonview.com.
York Minster detail: Angels on high courtesy britainonview - Martin Brent.

York's Cathedral is the
crowning medieval glory
of England's north.

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England's glory is also found
among the hills, dales and
moors of North Yorkshire.
 

        Explore pretty villages with names that leave you giggling. Visit a working farm. Discover Wensleydale Cheese (England's best?) by car or by train and vintage bus. Climb the ramparts of Richard III's castle ruins at Middleham. Nose through a castle still inhabited at Skipton. Ride and walk to Bolton Abbey using the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway. Go to market at Knaresborough (every Wednesday since 1310). Walk the trails of Yorkshire Dales National Park. Stop for high tea in picturesque Grassington. Become a regular in the local pub. Find a new favorite restaurant daily.

Photo Credits: Naturelle Whole Foods Market, Sheep above
Wensleydale, Rural Church, and Cow in the Dales © HOME AT FIRST.
North York Moors Railway courtesy britainonview - McCormick-McAdam.
Castle Howard courtesy britainonview - Ian Shaw.

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         HOME AT FIRST guests in Yorkshire receive our exclusive England Activities Guide, full of suggestions and maps for day trips and other activities for your visit.

CLICK HERE TO SEE A SAMPLE DAY TRIP FROM
HOME AT FIRST'S EXCLUSIVE "ENGLAND ACTIVITY GUIDE:

Steam locomotive at York's
National Railway Museum.
Photo © HOME AT FIRST
 

         Drive the hills and the Dales. Explore pretty villages. Poke around craft shops. Hunt for antiques in Harrogate. Spend a day at York's National Railway Museum — the world's largest. Don't miss Ripon Cathedral (dating from the 7th century) or Fountains Abbey. Encounter Britain's Viking past at the Jorvik center in York, and take at ghost walk through medieval York at night. Discover and enjoy local pubs and fine restaurants throughout the region.

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        Should we bring the kids along? Are you kidding?! There are great parks, steam train rides and boat rides better than in any amusement park, and, oh yes, amusement parks, too. Want history to come alive for your kids? Why not take them where so much history has been made? Worried about being away from McDonald's and TV? Don't be. Kids of all ages can get their burgers, fries and CNN all over Britain. And, who knows, maybe the kids will discover new tastes: fish 'n chips, ice lollies, and the fun of exploring thousands of years of English history from the Roman Emperor Constantine and the Jorvik Viking Center in York

 

Yorkshire's rich history and intriguing
geography make it a natural playground
for children of all ages. Shown are teens
skipping on the strange exposed limestone
 formations found near Malham
in the Yorkshire Dales.
Photo courtesy britainonview.com — Martin Brent

city, to early medieval Richmond Castle, to riding the North York Moors (steam) Railway.

SEE OUR FAMILY TRAVEL PAGE FOR FULL INFORMATION!

KIDS STAY FREE WITH HOME AT FIRST!

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