Accessible places to visit and things to do

Outdoor Yorkshire

With three National Parks and two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Yorkshire is a region full of outdoor splendour. With miles of rolling countryside, thick woodlands and hills covered in heather and green pasture, the landscape is magical and an ideal place to relax with your thoughts.

Pennine Yorkshire is a largely rural area, home to traditionally industrial towns and many of Yorkshire's stunning waterways. Calder Holmes Park in Hebden Bridge is a great rural escape and home to special events including the Classic Car Weekend in August, an annual Bonfire and is an ideal place for a quiet round of golf or tennis. Why not take the children - the skate park and play area will keep them occupied for hours!  Wellholme Park in Brighouse offers free car parking, beautiful floral bedding displays and is an ideal spot for summer picnics, where wildlife is in abundance. Follow the path of Clifton Beck which runs through the heart of Wellholme before enjoying refreshments in the newly opened cafe.

Bradford is a diverse city, with so much to see and do outdoors. Part of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Bingley Five Rise Locks and Cafe is a unique five rise staircase reaching 60 foot high. Opened in 1774 these locks really demonstrate how exciting Yorkshire's waterways are. Horton Bank Country Park is a beautiful location for relaxing by the lake and simply enjoying people watching in Bradford.

Leeds is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city, rich in countryside and places to explore. Canal Gardens is a beautifully typical walled garden and is one of Leeds' more popular outdoor attractions. Relax in the small nearby cafe or saunter around the large pond which is home to lots of wildlife. Roundhay Park also has a large lake, plus a dam, tennis courts, a golf course, castle ruins, 700 acres of parkland, and gorgeous scented gardens. The large arena is ideal for live shows and Tropical World is a great day out with the animals.

Wakefield was built on industry, but now houses beautiful outdoor areas. Hemsworth Water Park has two lakes - the largest of which is ideal for pedalo rides and has sandy beaches, whilst the smallest lake is abundant with wildlife. There are many secluded grassy areas which are ideal picnic spots, or places to hideaway with a good book.

York is brimming with history and exploration, and is a great city to visit for a real taste of rural Yorkshire. Murton Park is home to the Yorkshire Museum of Farming with agricultural equipment on display at the Farming Museum, and historical delights in the form of a Celtic Settlement, Roman Fort and a Dark Age Village. The Tudor Experience and Home Front Experience offer very educational days out, and are especially great for children.

Hull is an area of rejuvenation and home to several rural retreats. Pearson Park is one of Hull's most historical outdoor attractions. Situated one mile outside the city, this was the first public park to open in Hull. Boasting 23 acres of land, plus gateways and any now listed structures you will be in awe at the sites. Enjoy the fountain or simply relax by the lake and absorb the beauty. The park is home to an impressive Victorian conservatory with two aviaries containing foreign finches and small parrots, plus 16 tanks for other animals. Pickering Park has a large lake and is great for fishing or simply enjoying the great Yorkshire outdoors.

Some other natural sites to visit in Yorkshire

South Yorkshire is a place of culture and countryside. The Botanical Gardens, Sheffield have extensive gardens with over 5,500 species of plant. The gardens are Grade II listed by English Heritage as gardens of special architectural interest. The Kew-style gardens are landscaped by Robert Marnock, a famous 19th-century landscape designer. Wentworth Castle Gardens are some of the most important historic gardens in the North of England. Rare formal gardens have been rediscovered and national collections of rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias enhanced, and over 100,000 bulbs planted throughout a 50 acre garden to create a carpet of colour. Enjoy atmospheric views, woodland routes and majestic follies at this gorgeous location.

North Yorkshire has plenty of outdoor adventures that are just waiting to be discovered through the North Yorkshire Year of Adventure. With ideas for a variety of activities, including easy access sites, we have ideas for every week of the year and hope to add a taste of adventure to your trip.

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Galleries, Museums and Indoor Attractions

A region full of inspiration, Yorkshire offers a variety of cultural sights to satisfy all tastes. From galleries and exhibitions, to interactive museums and bold stately homes, you'll be spoiled for choice, and as these indoor attractions are scattered across the region, you will have the chance to explore more fully what Yorkshire has to see and do.

Bradford has developed from a city of industry to become a cultural hotspot in West Yorkshire. The 1853 Gallery at Salts Mill is a large and varied exhibition located in the World Heritage Site of Saltaire. Four comprehensive galleries feature over 400 works by David Hockney in this Grade II listed mill building, built in 1853, hence the name. Salts Mill and Saltaire include various retail outlets and a beautiful park for lazy Sunday afternoons. The mill also houses a diner providing food and drinks in fine surroundings. The entire area is great for a day out loosing yourself in an area of architectural and cultural interest.

The Brontë Parsonage Museum was formerly the Brontës' home from 1820-1861; now a museum, it has opened its doors to visitors giving you the chance to soak up the literary atmosphere and see the clothes, furniture and personal possessions of these world famous sisters. Set in the unique village of Haworth, yet close to wild moorlands beyond, this homely Georgian house still retains the atmosphere of the Brontës' time.

The Bradford Industrial Museum has a permanent display of textile machinery, steam power, engineering and motor vehicles, along with an exciting exhibitions programme. Enjoy the splendour of the Mill Owner's House, or visit the more humble mill-workers' terraces. Moorside Mills is also home to the museum's team of working horses. Some of the horses may be out working on the streets of Bradford or even starring in a film or television programme, but there will always be at least one in the stables waiting to meet you.

Halifax is home to Bankfield Museum, set in a wonderful Victorian mill owner's house, and with a growing reputation as a centre for textiles and contemporary craft. With its internationally important collection of textiles, weird and wonderful objects from around the world, plus commissions by leading makers and a varied programme of exhibitions and events, there is much to see and enjoy. Don't miss the Toy Gallery, the Duke of Wellington's Regimental Museum and the Marble Gallery. Eureka! The National Children's Museum, also in Halifax, is Britain's leading interactive museum for children, opening up a fascinating world of hands-on exploration. Over 400 interactive exhibits invite children up to the age of 12 years to unleash their imaginations and discover more about themselves and the world around them.

Hull is renowned for its museums, and even has a Museum Quarter which consists of free entry sites. The Deep is Hull's award-winning 'submarium' and is the place to go to experience the dramatic story of the world's oceans, from the dawn of time and into the future. Home to 40 sharks and 3500 fish, highlights include the Twilight Zone, the world's largest exhibition featuring weird animals from the deep, and slime!, where you can discover how animals ooze, stick and slide to survive.

The Streetlife Museum of Transport is a free-entry must-see museum. Visitors are able to experience a first-class collection of transport exhibits, including trams to tricycles. The award-winning galleries allow visitors to sample the sights, sounds and smells of 200 years of transport history and guarantee a fun filled day out, for enthusiasts and families alike.

Dinostar is full of prehistoric wonders. Dinosaurs hold a fascination for youngsters and Dinostar is just the place to go for your prehistoric fill! This is an exciting interactive exhibition full of information about these historic creatures. See a full-scale T-Rex skull, Triceratops bones you can actually touch, or play with the sound box to recreate all kinds of strange noises.

Leeds has a vibrant and lively cultural scene with all sorts of attractions and exhibitions to keep your mind alive. Harewood House is the outstanding home of the Earl of Harewood and is renowned for its stunning architecture and exquisite Adam interiors, containing a rich collection of Chippendale furniture, fine porcelain and outstanding art collections.  'Below Stairs' at Harewood displays over 1000 objects to help you unravel the stories of the House and the lives of those who lived and worked there. Tropical World offers an unforgettably fun adventure on a tropical island. Land on the sandy white beach before trekking inland to the rainforest where you will find waterfalls tumbling into jungle pools, exotic animals including meerkats, snakes and lemurs, plus many unusual insects!

Wakefield has a Cathedral which forms the focal point of the town. People attend, not only for regular worship, but also for bigger services that every Cathedral and Civic Church provides. Enjoy the prayers, or simply soak up the peace and stillness. The building itself has remained unchanged throughout the last century, so truly is a historical treasure. Pontefract Museum is small and compact, yet full of life, history and artefacts from the town's earliest beginnings to the present day.

York is a place of historical interest and countless cultural attractions. Visit Barley Hall, an ideal place to step back in time to the War of the Roses and explore the home of William Snawsell, Lord Mayor and Goldsmith of the City of York, under the Royal Houses of Lancaster, York and Tudor. Barley Hall is a real hands-on experience - try out the furniture, handle the pottery, glass and metalwares and even try on some medieval costumes!

Located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Castle Howard is a magnificent 18th century house situated in breathtaking parkland, dotted with temples, lake statues and fountains; plus formal gardens, woodland gardens and potager. Seasonal displays include daffodils, rhododendrons, roses and delphiniums which are magical, or you may wish to share the story of the house itself with a guided tour of the collections, architecture and landscapes.

Some other museums to visit in Yorkshire

South Yorkshire has many galleries and museums hosting a variety of events, exhibitions and specialities for all tastes. Millennium Galleries is both elegant and innovative, breaking with the traditional institutional image of an art gallery and is a welcoming and vibrant place to be for pleasure, education or business. With four individual galleries under one roof, there are all sorts of wonderful things to see and enjoy. Be inspired by treasures from the past, admire masterpieces from Britain's national collections and discover new creations by artists and makers still working today.

Cusworth Hall is an imposing 18th century country house set in extensive landscaped parklands, once home to the Battie-Wrightson family. The Grade I listed house is deemed a Site of Special Interest due to the preservation of all elements of a Georgian Country House. It hosts displays mainly of Doncaster and its people. Doncaster Racecourse is a place of sheer spectacle and excitement. A prestigious world-class venue for horse racing in Yorkshire, the Racecourse is very proud of the position it holds within the heritage of the sport, both nationally and internationally. Get amongst the crowds and have a great day out in Doncaster, and who knows, maybe even win!

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Entertainment

Bradford is cultural, lively and full of entertainment. The Priestley hosts excellent jazz night, theatrical productions, musicals, dance and Shakespeare productions so you really are spoilt for choice. The beautifully architectured Alhambra Theatre is the jewel in the crown of the city. Built in 1914 and refurbished in 1986 with stunning result, it is a testimony to the splendour of the Edwardian music hall era. Today, The Alhambra Theatre is regarded as the North's premier touring venue and hosts the best in large scale entertainment from ballet and opera to variety and comedy, musicals, drama and of course, the annual pantomime. Regular visits are made from prestigious companies including the Northern Ballet Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, which perfectly complement productions like Grease and Whistle Down the Wind.

Halifax's Victoria Theatre hosts musical tributes to stars including Meatloaf, Queen and Solid Silver 60's as well as comedians like Jethro and all round entertainers including Joe Longthorn. This is the ideal venue for a night out.

Hull is well known for its theatres and lively entertainment scene. Hull New Theatre continues to be one of the UK's premier touring venues and features the best in musical, opera, ballet, drama, children's shows and one night performances, with a highlight of the year being the annual spectacular Christmas pantomime. The Theatre continues into the 21st century, providing first-class entertainment for the people of Kingston upon Hull and beyond.

Leeds is a lively city, whether you visit by day or by night. The Grand Theatre & Opera House was built in 1878 in a backlash to the music hall tradition which was thought by 'polite society' to lower the tone of entertainment via the sort of humour presented in these pub-based establishments. Home to numerous musicals, tributes and Shakespeare, it is a guaranteed night of escapism on a grand scale.

York, along with its great history and bustling shopping scene, offers a valid night of entertainment and excitement. York Theatre Royal offers more than just great plays. Full to the brim with exciting services for all the family to enjoy, you may wish to relax over lunch, take a theatre tour, be belle of the ball with the help of costume hire, join the Youth Theatre and, of course there's always the possibility of seeing a show!

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