Are you starting to feel festive? As the Christmas period draws nearer, more and more events are popping up across the UK and beyond. But if you’re a proud Yorkshire resident, there’s no need to travel far and wide for your festive fun!
The region is blessed with a packed calendar of great opportunities for family days out, date nights and more. They don’t all demand blowing your budget either – handy when the average person spent £642 on Christmas in 2022.
So start planning your festivities for this year with our round-up of the top 5 places to visit in Yorkshire this Christmas!
Christmas in York
York is one of Yorkshire’s best-loved tourist locations – and a magical place to be at Christmas, when its ancient streets are even more bustling and cosy.
The Christmas lights are switched on from November 16th, with 100s of traditional Scandinavian-style huts opening soon after selling festive goods. There’s also a Christmas Tree Festival held at York Minster – and you can top everything off with a mulled wine at the pop-up Thor’s Tipi Bar!
Castle Howard
Not far outside of York sits the stately home of Castle Howard. Worth a visit all-year round, for Christmas it’s transformed into a stunning winter wonderland!
This year the main house takes on a magical Peter Pan theme with a range of decorations and installations. You can enjoy plenty of activities too, from meeting Father Christmas to crafting your own wreath and supping afternoon tea.
Stockeld Park
Stockeld Park sits between the pretty towns of Wetherby and Harrogate. It’s a vast outdoor space that gets beautifully illuminated each Christmas, with a host of twinkling installations and sounds for you to wander around and between.
You might even feel inspired to recreate the illuminations at home with frosty icicle lights, a fireplace display or perhaps a reindeer or two outside!
Mother Shipton’s Christmas experience
Mother Shipton is a historic spot next to the river in the photogenic town of Knaresborough. Its Christmas event is perfect for kids, with Santa’s elves ready to greet them as you wander through his woodland and grotto for a meeting with the man himself!
There are plenty of treats for adults too – including delicious hot chocolate and mince pies.
Leeds Christmas markets
Leeds might be the most visited city in Yorkshire, but the pandemic and economic challenges stripped it of its Christmas markets in recent years. Thankfully they’re back with a bang for 2023!
The city will host around 120 German-style festive market stalls at different spots in the centre, as well as an outdoor ice rink, pantos and other experiences to enjoy.
Which locations have made it onto your Christmas wish list this year?