Experience a Summer Getaway in Yorkshire
There’s no better time to plan an escape to Yorkshire than summer. The days are long, the green hills and dales shimmer in the sun like emeralds, and there are festivals galore. This is the season when locals spend lazy afternoons in beer gardens, when bucket-and-spade sellers do a roaring trade at the seaside, and when hikers and bikers can enjoy long-distance trails with the sun on their backs.
Why Visit Yorkshire in Summer?
Summer temperatures in Yorkshire are typically several degrees lower than in the south of England, with little to no humidity. Consequently, it rarely gets too hot for walks or sun lounging. The region is a popular summer destination for holidaying Brits; however, be aware that during the school holidays (late July to end of August), the county’s cottages and campsites can get booked out months in advance or require minimum stays of two to seven nights.
June: Art, Follies, and Picnics
The Yorkshire Sculpture Park is Britain’s finest open-air gallery, with trails leading to more than 80 outdoor sculptures. Therefore, visitors can feel like treasure hunters while roaming over 200 hectares. June usually brings a wave of new exhibitions, making it an ideal month for a picnic. If you prefer your art a little more low-brow and offbeat, seek out the grotesques and gothic follies at Forbidden Corner, a Victorian-style walled garden that echoes the fantastical atmosphere of David Bowie’s Labyrinth.
Enjoy relatively crowd-free beaches in June with glorious cliff-backed stretches of sand at Whitby and Scarborough. The latter is a historical resort that’s favored by families for its annual Naval Warfare re-enactment with large model ships at Peasholm Park. This exciting event typically takes place Thursdays and Saturdays from late June until the end of August. Additionally, take the scenic 6-mile coastal walk along the cliffs between Whitby and the stunning old smugglers’ village of Robin Hood’s Bay.
July: Music, Beer Gardens, and Glamping
The Leeds Festival on the August bank holiday weekend serves as the climax of Yorkshire’s summer music scene; however, the festivities begin in July with Tramlines in Sheffield and the family-friendly Deer Shed near Thirsk in North Yorkshire. The latter features an eclectic musical lineup complemented by cinema, comedy, science events, and workshops. This month also marks the beginning of Luna Cinema, which hosts summer outdoor screenings at Yorkshire heritage landmarks, including York Minster and Castle Howard.
Yorkshire’s beer gardens and terraces often adopt festival vibes during the warmer weather. Some favorites include the Boar’s Head in Ripley, which backs onto a castle, and the courtyard with weekend food trucks at Magic Rock brewery in Huddersfield. Wine enthusiasts can join outdoor tours at Sheveling Estate, one of the UK’s most northerly wineries.
Early July is an excellent time for glamping trips, as the weather is warm enough for evening campfires, and school-holiday bookings haven’t fully kicked in yet. Yorkshire offers a variety of options: Camp Kátur provides a hive of activities, while Swaledale Yurts is perfect for cyclists and has its own waterfall. The Craven Arms pub near Bolton Abbey offers delightful shepherd huts within easy reach of its beer garden with views over Wharfedale.
July’s most notable event is the Great Yorkshire Show, which takes place annually in Harrogate. This event allows you to witness local farmers showcasing their endeavors, including animal beauty contests, tractor rides, and show jumping, all while enjoying Black Sheep beers.
August: Festival Magic
August serves as Yorkshire’s peak summer month for travel, bringing increased traffic on single-track roads in the dales and moors alongside family events at country estates. Hidden Horizons offers an impressive calendar of rock-pooling, fossil-hunting, and dinosaur walks along the North Yorkshire Coast to coincide with school holidays. Although the cities tend to quiet down, Leeds maintains its vibrancy with Leeds Beer Week, annual Pride festivities, and the lively West Indian Carnival, known for being one of the longest-running events in Britain.
In mid-August, the small village of Kettlewell welcomes a surge of visitors for its annual week-long scarecrow festival. Unique and creative scarecrows incorporate popular characters, attracting families and providing two fun trails for viewing, complete with walks along the River Wharfe and refreshments served in the village hall.
August also features Castle Howard’s gardens transforming into a classic music auditorium for the Proms, offering a picnic-style evening filled with orchestras, fireworks, and drinks. Many fans choose to camp overnight, setting their blankets down and hoping for clear skies. Such is the nature of a Yorkshire summer that travelers must be prepared for any surprise weather.
