Welcome to Yorkshire
Inspiration • October 11th, 2025
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Whether you’re planning a foodie escape, seeking starlit adventures under the Dark Skies Festival, or booking ahead for gigs and theatre shows, this weekend’s round-up has all the highlights to inspire your next Yorkshire experience.
Netflix’s new period drama House of Guinness — from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight — tells the story of Ireland’s famous brewing dynasty, with Yorkshire’s breathtaking Broughton Hall near Skipton stealing the spotlight as the family’s grand 19th-century estate.
Birdwatchers were thrilled this week as a white-throated needletail—one of the world’s fastest and rarest birds—was spotted at Tophill Low Nature Reserve in East Yorkshire, marking the first confirmed sighting in England in over 30 years.
A powerful new mural by Afghan artist Shamsia Hassani has transformed the side of Bradford College’s ATC building, created in collaboration with local students and refugees as part of Bradford 2025 to celebrate courage, empowerment, and women’s safety through vibrant public art.
York-based mobility brand Neo Walk Ltd, founded by Lyndsay Mitcheson, won Silver at the National Business Women’s Awards 2025, celebrating its stylish, inclusive walking stick designs that are redefining mobility and proudly showcasing Yorkshire innovation on a national stage.
CrowdedHouse, a stylish new rooftop restaurant opening at Trinity Leeds, pairs panoramic city views with locally sourced dishes by Yorkshire chef Simon Jewitt – including Sunday lunches with bottomless Yorkshire puddings.
Malton patissier Florian Poirot has teamed up with Hunmanby’s Spirit of Yorkshire distillery to create a delicate Filey Bay whisky-cream macaron, available online, in Florian’s Malton and York boutiques, at York Christmas Market, and at the distillery’s Pot Still Coffee Shop.
Middlesbrough’s much-loved restaurant Jolsha has been crowned North East Chef of the Year 2025 at the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards, spotlighting Teesside’s vibrant Asian food scene on the UK culinary map.
Appletreewick’s New Inn has been shortlisted in two categories at the 2025 Deliciously Yorkshire Food Awards, celebrating its impressive revival under new owners Alexa and Chris Ives and the rising culinary talent of chef Mikael Paylor.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park has welcomed Noubia, a ten-year-old spotted hyena from Belgium, who’s joined resident male Speedy as part of a Europe-wide breeding programme aimed at protecting this fascinating species and building a new hyena clan in Doncaster.
Military vs Cancer is pulling a 1-ton field gun 1,000 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End to raise £150,000 for armed-forces families affected by cancer, with over 1,300 volunteers joining the epic 45-day challenge.
Hidden inside Todmorden’s Victorian indoor market, the cosy Market Tavern surprises visitors with a traditional pub vibe and an ever-changing line-up of Lancashire real ales served on Yorkshire soil.
Leeds has launched a landmark MA in Classical Ballet Performance through a partnership between Northern Ballet and the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, offering world-class professional training for the next generation of ballet artists.
Bradford City’s manager Graham Alexander and wing-back Josh Neufville have both been nominated for the September Sky Bet League One Awards, meanwhile Bradford City’s young centre-back George Goodman has earned a call-up to the Northern Ireland U21 squad for the European Qualifiers in Belfast.
York RLFC will bid farewell to several key players after the 2025 season — including Super League–bound Connor Bailey and retiring club legend Ukuma Ta’ai — marking the end of an era and the start of a new chapter for the Knights.
Yorkshire Dental Suite is stepping in to restore and preserve Guiseley’s iconic Leeds United mural, ensuring the much-loved community landmark remains safe, vibrant, and part of the town’s heritage for years to come.
From dazzling light festivals and thought-provoking theatre to family fun at REPLAY and festive panto at the Alhambra, the Bradford district is packed with cultural highlights and creative events to enjoy throughout autumn and winter.
The Yorkshire Dales Cheese Festival returns from 10–19 October 2025, bringing together more than 50 local pubs, cafes, and producers across the National Park for ten days of tastings, workshops, and celebrations of Yorkshire’s finest cheeses, food, and drink.
A giant four-metre glowing sphere called Lightweight is lighting up Harrogate on 10–11 October as part of the Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival, inviting visitors to see their own animated portraits projected onto the interactive artwork outside The Crown Hotel.
Tingley Garden Centre unveils Britain’s biggest Lemax Winter Village on 11 October, a 52-square-metre miniature wonderland where one lucky child will help Santa switch on the lights and visitors can explore festive scenes, treasure hunts, and a charity wishing lake.
The world’s biggest chicken wing festival returns to Sheffield’s FORGE Warehouse from 17–19 October, serving up 60,000 wings, live music, axe-throwing, and fiery eating contests in a three-day celebration of all things chicken.
Running from 18 October 2025 to 25 January 2026, New Horizons: Growing Sheffield’s Art Collection at the Millennium Gallery showcases a decade of new acquisitions—from Lucian Freud and Grayson Perry to local talent John Hoyland—celebrating the generosity and creativity shaping Sheffield’s evolving art scene.
Running from 24 October to 2 November, the Dark Skies Fringe Festival celebrates Yorkshire’s incredible night skies across the Dales, North York Moors, and beyond, with stargazing, creative writing, night walks, and family adventures under the stars.
The York Board Games Convention returns from 24–26 October at St Peter’s School, bringing hundreds of players, top game designers, and special guests from The Traitors for a fun, inclusive weekend of tabletop gaming, tournaments, and family-friendly activities.
Wakefield Exchange (WX) is transforming into a Halloween hub from 25 October to 2 November, with free family fun, spooky discos, creative workshops, and a Day of the Dead party making it the go-to spot for half-term celebrations in Wakefield.
Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre hosts Queer Spaces: Climate Pride on 29 October — a one-night event where Yorkshire LGBTQIA artists share powerful new short plays exploring climate justice, community, and hope through a bold queer lens.
William’s Den in North Cave is bringing back its immersive Trick or Treat Street experience this October half-term, inviting families to solve a brand-new Halloween mystery through interactive theatre, games, and spooky fun by day or after dark.
Political comedian Mark Thomas swaps stand-up for drama in Ordinary Decent Criminal, playing recovering addict Frankie in Ed Edwards’ gripping prison-set play at Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre on Tuesday 28 October.
Bradford City’s Josh Neufville has been named Sky Bet League One Player of the Month after a standout September, while the Bantams’ home clash with Lincoln City has been rescheduled to Tuesday 28 October due to international call-ups.
All 14 UK UNESCO Creative Cities will gather in York on 6 November for Reignite XI, a major event hosted by Aesthetica and York BID that celebrates creativity, collaboration, and innovation as part of the Aesthetica Film Festival — highlighting York’s global role as the UK’s City of Media Arts.
Light Up Wakefield returns from 21–23 November with an expanded city-centre light art trail, interactive installations like giant glowing rhubarb and building-sized gaming screens, plus festive workshops, Santa’s Grotto and family-friendly entertainment.
The heartfelt tribute show Looking For Me Friend: The Music of Victoria Wood is on its penultimate UK tour this autumn, with Yorkshire dates in Huddersfield, Yarm, and Leeds celebrating the beloved comedian’s songs, wit, and legacy.
Norwegian pop star Sigrid brings her 2026 headline tour to Leeds O₂ Academy on 18 March, performing hits and new tracks from her upcoming album There’s Always More That I Could Say — a powerful, personal record launching this October.
Daliso Chaponda’s Topical Storm tour (Feb–Jul 2026) brings sharp, thought-provoking comedy about the chaos of modern news and journalism to 40 UK venues, including Bradford on 7 Feb and Leeds on 7 June.
Embrace will celebrate their 30th anniversary with a huge homecoming show at Halifax’s Piece Hall on Saturday 13 June 2026, joined by Idlewild and local openers The Hazy Janes.
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Just Go Holidays’ new 2026 brochure launch comes with early bird savings – including up to £75 off longer European coach trips, £50 off holidays by air, and discounts on spring breaks and event getaways – for bookings made by 31 October 2025.
Greene King Inns is offering 15% off autumn weekend stays between 1 September and 31 October 2025, with Yorkshire locations in Pontefract, Wakefield, Middlesbrough, Rotherham, Hull, and Wentworth providing the perfect cosy base for a seasonal getaway.
Up to 30% off on selected half term getaways at Sykes.
What's on in Yorkshire this week?
Yorkshire is buzzing with an exciting line-up of events to suit all tastes. Whether you’re looking for live music, comedy, sports nostalgia, or family-friendly entertainment, there’s something for everyone. Here’s what’s coming up in the next week:
- BBC Radio 2 DANCE Sounds of the 90s with Vernon Kay at Scarborough Spa Grand Hall on October 11th, 2025 7:30pm
- Russell Kane: HyperActive at Connexin Live, Hull on October 12th, 2025 7:00pm
- Killswitch Engage at O2 Academy Leeds on October 13th, 2025 6:00pm
- Rick Wakeman – Six Wives + King Arthur at York Barbican on October 14th, 2025 7:30pm
- Afternoon Jump Horse Racing at Wetherby Racecourse – Wednesday 15 October 2025
- Tom Houghton: Deep at Wardrobe, Leeds on October 16th, 2025 7:30pm
- Rings and Thrones by Mystery Ensemble at Bradford Cathedral on October 17th, 2025 7:00pm
- Sheffield International Concert Season 2025/26 – BRNO Philharmonic at Sheffield City Hall Oval Hall on October 18th, 2025 7:00pm
- Premium Tickets – Imperial Classical Ballet presents The Nutcracker at York Barbican on October 19th, 2025 3:00pm
A look at the history of The Old Jail, Ripon, with Dr Emma Wells
The Old Jail in Ripon, now the Prison & Police Museum on St Marygate, charts over three centuries of penal history—from its 1684 House of Correction roots to a Victorian prison, later a police station, and today a museum preserving stories of justice and reform. Read more.
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