Welcome to Yorkshire
Inspiration • August 12th, 2026
|Results day can be one of the biggest moments of the school years. After months of lessons, revision, exams and waiting, A Level and GCSE students finally discover what comes next.
For some, that means celebrating the grades they hoped for. For others, plans may need to change. Either way, results day is worth marking – and Yorkshire has plenty of ways to spend it, from special family meals and spa days to theme parks, escape rooms, outdoor adventures and days at the coast.
When are A Level and GCSE results days in 2026?
In England, the two main school results days are:
A Level results day – Thursday 13 August 2026
GCSE results day – Thursday 20 August 2026
A Level results day is particularly important for students waiting to discover whether they have secured university places or deciding between university, apprenticeships, employment and other routes.
GCSE results can determine sixth-form and college choices, apprenticeships and the subjects students are able to continue studying.
Whatever the outcome, there is usually more than one route forward.
Celebrate with a special family meal
Results day is often as significant for parents and families as it is for students themselves, making lunch or dinner together one of the easiest ways to celebrate.
York Minster – The Ivy St Helen's Square or Bettys York
After visiting York Minster, walk through the historic centre to The Ivy for an occasion-worthy family meal, or head to Bettys for afternoon tea, cakes and something a little more traditional. Both work particularly well if results day also involves shopping or sightseeing in York.
Fountains Abbey – The Inn at South Stainley
Combine a walk around Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal with a meal at The Inn at South Stainley, between Ripon and Harrogate. It's a relaxed option for families who want to turn results day into a North Yorkshire day out rather than heading into a busy city centre.
Whitby Abbey – The Magpie Café
Few Yorkshire celebrations are more traditional than fish and chips beside the sea. After climbing the 199 Steps and exploring Whitby Abbey, head back towards the harbour for fish and chips at the famous Magpie Café – followed, perhaps, by an ice cream on the seafront.
The Piece Hall, Halifax – The Trading Rooms
The Piece Hall makes an easy destination for a results-day afternoon, with its independent shops and impressive historic courtyard. The Trading Rooms inside the Piece Hall provides a convenient option for food and drinks without having to leave the complex.
Royal Armouries, Leeds – Mumtaz Leeds
A visit to the Royal Armouries can be followed by a family meal at Mumtaz at Leeds Dock. Its waterfront location makes this an easy combination, while the city centre is only a short distance away for anyone wanting to continue the celebrations with shopping, cinema or another activity.
The Deep, Hull – Ambiente Tapas
After exploring The Deep, head across the city centre for a celebratory meal at Ambiente Tapas. Sharing dishes work particularly well for families and groups, and the location makes it easy to combine dinner with a walk around Hull's historic Old Town.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park – The Weston
For a quieter results day, spend a few hours exploring Yorkshire Sculpture Park before eating at The Weston. The restaurant sits within the park and looks out across the surrounding landscape, making it an easy option without having to drive somewhere else for lunch.
Harewood House – The Harewood Arms
Explore the house, gardens and grounds before heading into Harewood village for a meal at The Harewood Arms. It's a good option for families travelling between Leeds and Harrogate who want a countryside setting rather than a city-centre celebration.
Salts Mill, Saltaire – Don't Tell Titus
After exploring Salts Mill, David Hockney's work and the UNESCO World Heritage village of Saltaire, head to Don't Tell Titus for a relaxed meal nearby. It's particularly well suited to older GCSE and A Level students looking for somewhere that feels celebratory without being overly formal.
North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Pickering – The White Swan Inn
Turn results day into a steam railway adventure before returning to Pickering for dinner at The White Swan Inn. It's a particularly good choice for families who would rather celebrate with a full North Yorkshire day out.
Scarborough – The Lookout on the Pier
A day on Scarborough's beaches, at the castle or around the seafront can finish with a meal overlooking the coast. The Lookout on the Pier offers a suitably seaside setting and keeps the celebration close to the town's main attractions.
Bolton Abbey – The Devonshire Arms
For a bigger A Level results celebration, combine a walk around the Bolton Abbey Estate with a meal at The Devonshire Arms at Bolton Abbey. This is one of the more special-occasion options and works particularly well for families wanting to make a real event of the day.
For A Level students and their parents who want to make a real occasion of it, Yorkshire also has some exceptional restaurants. Michelin-starred and Michelin Guide restaurants can be found across the county, including around York, Harrogate and the wider Leeds and Sheffield areas.
The celebration doesn't need to be expensive, either. Fish and chips at the seaside, afternoon tea, a favourite takeaway or a big family barbecue can be just as memorable.
#Ad notice: – We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on this site.
Have a results day adventure
Not everyone wants to sit around a restaurant discussing grades.
For something considerably more energetic, Yorkshire's attractions provide plenty of ways to turn results day into a proper day out.
North Yorkshire Water Park near Scarborough offers an inflatable Aqua Park alongside paddleboarding, kayaking and other outdoor activities. Groups could also try climbing, high ropes, zip wires, trampolining or one of Yorkshire's many activity centres.
Theme park fans could head to Flamingo Land, while younger GCSE students and families have attractions including Yorkshire Wildlife Park, The Deep in Hull and Eureka! in Halifax to consider.
For a slightly more sedate experience, try Mother Shipton's Cave in Knaresborough or Filey Bird Garden and Animal Park.
Sometimes a few hours concentrating on getting around an obstacle course is exactly what's needed after months concentrating on exams.
Whatever happens, mark the moment
Getting brilliant results deserves celebrating. Getting unexpected results doesn't mean the day has to be written off.
GCSEs and A Levels are important, but they are also one stage in a much longer journey.
So have the special dinner, book the spa, head for the coast, ride a rollercoaster, challenge your friends to an escape room or simply get everyone together for pizza.
Celebrate the work that went into getting this far – and then work out what comes next.
