The top eight spots to visit outside of York for the perfect day trip

North Yorkshire is the UK’s biggest county and is often considered to be one of the most beautiful. However, I’m willing to bet that most students have hardly explored the country outside of York.

If you want to fix that before you graduate, here are eight top spots to visit outside of the city, from quick nearby afternoon trips to further full days out – almost all accessible by public transport.

Harrogate

35 minutes by train, Harrogate is a gorgeous spa town, perfect for a longer afternoon. Take a walk through the Valley Gardens and the shopping area (Commercial Street, Beulah Street and Parliament Street) for local independent stores. The first Bettys tearoom opened in Harrogate in 1919, for those willing to spend a little more.

Knaresborough

Knaresborough is only 25 minutes by train and is a picturesque spa and market town, perfect for an autumn afternoon trip. The town is also a 15 minute train/car ride from Harrogate, making it a great combination for a day out. The view of the viaduct everyone posts is from Knaresborough Castle, a great rest spot after walking along the River Nidd. You can also rent row boats along the river or stop at Mother Shipton’s Cave. The town centre is full of local shops, tea rooms, and pubs for a great Sunday roast – I recommend the Old Royal Oak.

Malton

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Malton is known as Yorkshire’s food capital, perfect for an afternoon visit and it is 35 minutes by train. Malton has its own shambles, focusing on vintage and second hand stores. I highly recommend the Purple Carrot café. The weekly traditional Saturday market runs from 9am-2.30pm, where you can find local food, gifts, and more.

Leeds

Leeds is a great easy city to visit in a day and is 25 minutes by train. Kirkgate Market is one of Europe’s biggest indoor markets, full of independent businesses and foodie spots – Banh & Mee is a great popular Vietnamese stall offering vegetarian options. The Victoria Arcade is beautiful shopping arcade worth visiting. There are also loads of fantastic restaurants and bars around Leeds Dock and the river, such as LIVIN’Italy and the Canary Bar.

Scarborough

50 minutes by train, the closest beach to York is an ideal summer day out – or a winter one if you bring your coat. Enjoy the pier and beach with some traditional fish and chips or take a walk up to Scarborough castle for stunning cliff-top views. Over the summer, the Scarborough Open Air Theatre hosts a variety of musical events – this August, artists such as Will Smith and The Smashing Pumpkins are set to perform.

Whitby

A one hour drive or approx two hours by bus, Whitby is a gorgeous spot for a summer day trip – smaller and further than Scarborough, but arguably the more traditional and scenic choice. Visit Whitby Abbey ruins and the museum for a piece of history – the ruins and the rest of the town inspired Bram Stoker to write Dracula! The dramatic clifftops make a perfect walk.

Castle Howard

If you have use of a car for the 25 minutes drive (or you can get one of your mates to drive you), Castle Howard is a perfect way to spend a couple of hours. A filming spot for Bridgerton, the huge castle and sprawling grounds are truly stunning – even more so at Christmas, or on a sunny afternoon. Partially designed and built by John Vanbrugh, the namesake of Vanbrugh College, the castle took over 100 years to be built and was completed around 1801. And yes – there is a café. Currently, house and garden tickets are £27 for adults, tickets just for the garden are £11.

North York Moors

The North York Moors National Park is one of only 15 national parks in the UK, and making use of it during your time at York cannot be recommended more highly. Without a car (or willingness to take multiple buses), lots of the famous spots further in are unfortunately quite hard to reach. With public transport, the town of Helmsley can currently be reached in about one hour by bus on the 31X. The only market town in the national park, it offers gorgeous walks along the river, a walled garden, and a plethora of independent shops and cafes.

By car, there are lots of famous sights worth seeing further into the moors – don’t leave your walking boots at home. Roseberry Topping is about an hour away, a huge hill with rewarding views at the summit. The moorland valley of Rosedale Abbey is also an hour’s drive and is one of the most popular walks in the moors. Goathland was used as a filming spot for the Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter, and is right next to the Mallyan Sprout Waterfall, the tallest in the moors. You’ll be pleased to know that all these spots have a pub nearby.

So if you’re a third year who is feeling guilty you haven’t explored North Yorkshire while you have the chance, or a first year that would prefer a scenic walk this weekend than another night of clubbing, there are lots of options to choose from. Make the most of these sunny, spring days and get exploring!