'''Yorkshire''' [http://www.discoveryorkshirecoast.com] [http://www.yorkshirevisitor.com] is the largest traditional county of England and (with a small part of old Lincolnshire tacked on) is now an entire region (Yorkshire and the Humber) of the United Kingdom and of the European Union.
Yorkshire is one of the most scenic, varied and interesting of the English counties. World famous countryside, bustling cosmopolitan cities, and an important history bring thousands of visitors to Yorkshire every year.
Regions
Currently divided for administrative purposes into several somewhat confusing modern counties and municipal areas, Yorkshire is still best understood largely along its traditional boundaries. Traditionally, Yorkshire was divided into three "Ridings" and the city of York, which did not belong to any Riding. These boundaries have changed greatly with various administrative changes, especially over recent decades. The following divisions are those that would be reasonably recognised by most Yorkshire people themselves:
{|
Cities
Bradford - Has a wealth of museums and fantastic architecture and is a very multi cultural city. The best curry restaurants in Yorkshire can be found here along with the National Media Museum and the Industrial museum. A great cathedral and a city hall to rival any in Britain. The city also is the birth place of the Bronte sisters and composer Sir Edward Elgar along with many other important historical figures.
Kingston upon Hull (Hull) - On the banks of the rivers Hull and Humber, Hull is the largest city in the east of Yorkshire. The city can boast of a rich history built upon fishing and shipbuilding, a bustling and attractive city centre, and a fascinating museum district.
Leeds - Leeds is Yorkshire's largest city and is the regional dynamo. It has a thriving cultural scene, fine historic architecture, and is famous for its myriad shops, restaurants, bars and clubs. Recently named Visitor City of the year and UK's favourite city.
Sheffield - a large, diverse city in Yorkshire, one of many cities said to be "built on seven hills", and with an industrial heritage as the centre of the steel industry. The city has grown a number of pop and rock bands, for example Def Leppard.
Wakefield - famous for its mystery plays and capital of the Rhubarb Triangle. Administrative centre for West Yorkshire and seat of the Yorkshire & Humber Regional Assembly.
York - traditional capital of Yorkshire, rich in medieval heritage, with a beautiful historic centre and breathtaking Minster.
Coastal
Scarborough - Traditional British seaside town, with its own castle and 2 beaches.
Rural
Skipton - Gateway to the Dales and the Yorkshire Dales National Park
Peak District on the south-west edge of Yorkshire.
North York Moors are a large area in the north-east of the county. The area is sparsely-populated, yet very popular with ramblers.
Towns
Huddersfield - Europe's largest town.
Rotherham
Harrogate
Pontefract - famous for liquorice and Pontefract Cakes. Excellent nightlife. Interesting Art Deco-style museum. Picturesque racecourse. The town is within the Rhubarb Triangle. Location of the first secret ballot in the Northern Hemisphere.
Haworth - Village which was home to the Bronte sisters.
Other destinations
Yorkshire includes all or part of three separate National Parks (see map below):
the '''Yorkshire Moors National Park''' [http://www.moors.uk.net] - located in North Yorkshire
the '''Yorkshire Dales National Park''' [http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk] - located in parts of West and North Yorkshire
the '''Peak District National Park''' [http://www.peakdistrict.org] - Britain's first National Park (established 1951), partly located in South Yorkshire
Bronte Country is a literature-inspiring Yorkshire region of moorland and atmospheric villages, close to Bradford, Keighley and Halifax, in which the Bronte sisters - Charlotte, Emily and Anne - found their literary muse.
Understand
Called 'God's own county' by the fiercely proud locals, and for good reason with wonderous countryside, great cities and warm locals
Get in
[http://www.lbia.co.uk Leeds/Bradford Airport] offers flights to Europe, including links to Heathrow and Amsterdam. A member of the [http://www.staralliance.com Star Alliance]
[http://www.robinhoodairport.com Doncaster Sheffield Airport] is Sheffield's main airport offering flights to Europe & North America.
By train [http://www.gner.co.uk GNER] or [http://www.tpexress.co.uk TransPennine Express] offer regular services linking all of the UK to the major cities, with connecting trains to smaller destinations
By road use the M1 (from South), A1 (from North/South), M62 (from West/East)
[http://www.gobycoach.com Coach] connects all of the UK's major towns and cities
[http://www.poferries.com Ferry] into Hull
Get around
[http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/planmyjourney Rail] offers an easy way to travel around Yorkshire
Yorkshire is well served by the UK Motorway network. Access from the East/West via the M62 and access from the North/South via the M1 & A1(M). There are also a number of scenic trunk road routes, including the A59 into Lancashire, and the A64 and A170 routes to Scarborough and the coast.
See
'''Fountains Abbey''', best preserved medieval abbey ruin in England.
'''Rievaulx Abbey''', near Helmsley
'''Sutton Bank''' - edge of the Hambleton Hills and a viewpoint for miles around
'''Scarborough's''' cliffs, bays and castle
Malham's fascinating '''limestone pavements'''
The '''Yorkshire Three Peaks''' - the Yorkshire Dales hills of Ingleborough, Whernside, and Pen-y-ghent
'''Wharram Percy''' - an excavated mediaeval village on the Yorkshire Wolds
'''Salt's Mill''', a world heritage site near Bradford
The '''Humber Bridge''', a large suspension bridge linking East Yorkshire across the River Humber to Lincolnshire
'''Rosebery Topping''' - the "mini matterhorn", the last hill of the North York Moors which overlooks industrial Teesside
'''Eden Camp''', a wartime base turned into a museum
'''Castle Howard''', a stately home famous to many as the setting for the tv series Brideshead Revisited
'''Bolton Abbey'''
The '''Settle-Carlisle Railway''', an historic and scenic railway line which features the Ribblehead Viaduct, a scheduled ancient monument
The '''Leeds-Liverpool Canal''', an historic and scenic waterway
Do
Yorkshire is a prime region for outdoor activities with a fantastic natural heritage and amazing scenery including three National Parks - one prime site for general information is [http://www.walkyorkshire.com Walk Yorkshire.com], the Yorkshire Tourist Board's Outdoor website, with links and info that extend beyond walking to include all manner of fresh air activities....
Walking
the [http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk National Trail website] includes walks on the Cleveland Way, the Pennine Way and the Wolds Way National Trails
the [http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/paths/nidderdale.html Nidderdale Way]
The '''Ingleton Waterfalls Walk''', named by writer Alfred Wainwright as the "finest walk in England".
Sport
Yorkshire has a wealth of top professional sports teams to watch, and lots of outdoor (& indoor) activities to enjoy.
'''Athletics'''
[http://www.leeds.gov.uk/Leisure_and_culture/Sports_clubs_and_centres/page.aspx Leeds] and Sheffield both boast fantastic athletics facilities, which are available for spectators or participants.
'''Football'''
[http://www.bradfordcityfc.premiumtv.co.uk Bradford City], [http://www.hullcity.co.uk Hull City], [http://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk Barnsley], [http://www.leedsunited.com Leeds United], [http://www.sheffutd.co.uk Sheffield United] and [http://www.sheffwed.co.uk Sheffield Wednesday] all play the national sport football (soccer), though ticket prices can be high. It also advisable to book ahead.
'''Cricket'''
[http://www.yorkshireccc.co.uk Yorkshire County Cricket] play the traditional English sport of Cricket at venues around Yorkshire during the summer, with most of their games in Headingley, Leeds. Headingley also occasionally hosts international matches, though tickets must be booked well in advance.
'''Rugby League'''
[http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk Bradford Bulls], [http://www.hullfc.com Hull FC], [http://www.hullkr.co.uk Hull KR] & [http://www.leedsrugby.com Leeds Rhinos] all play this exciting physical sport in the UK [http://www.superleague.co.uk Superleague]. International matches are regularly played across Yorkshire. Ticket prices are usually reasonable, though top matches often sell out so book ahead.
'''Rugby Union'''
[http://www.leedsrugby.com Leeds Tykes] play at Headingley, tickets are always available as the sport is still 2nd choice to Rugby League for many Yorkshire fans.
'''Ski'''
Sheffield has a dry ski slope.
[http://www.xscape.co.uk Xscape] is a real snow indoor snow dome in Castleford near to Leeds.
'''Swim'''
There are 50 metre pools in both Leeds and Sheffield. There are 'fun' pools in Barnsley, Bradford, York and Doncaster. Sheffield has Ponds Forge, one of the best leisure complexes in the UK, which was built for the World Students Games in the early nineties, and where the Channel 4 programme ''The Games'' holds its swimming and diving trials.
Talk
Generally, Yorkshire folk speak quite understandable English, and even many dialect speakers have a "posh voice" that they can put on to speak to tourists; however, some phrases may catch you out.
Owt or nowt - means anything or nothing (both words can be used separately).
Love - is used when greeting "Hi love" or "Yes love"
Snicket/Ginnell - The former is a covered alley, the latter an uncovered one. E.g. 'I heard him racing down the snicket!'.
There are also words like "hither" "sethee" "thee" "thine" "thy" "duntha" and numerous others and if spoken as dialect is very difficult to understand by people from outside the region.
Some small industrial towns in West and South Yorkshire may be more difficult to understand. However, these are not popular tourist venues.
Eat
A few of the region's specialities include:
'''Yorkshire Pudding''' - made from a batter and can be eaten as a savoury or sweet meal
'''Yorkshire Parkin''' - a ginger cake traditionally made around Guy Fawkes' Night
'''Liquorice''' - a black confection from Pontefract
'''Wensleydale Cheese''' - crumbly and traditionally eaten with Christmas Cake, as loved by Wallace in the animated series 'Wallace and Gromit'
[http://www.bettys.co.uk Betty's Cafe] is a famous cafe throughout Yorkshire
Drink
[http://www.smoothlydoesit.co.uk Tetley's Bitter] or [http://www.johnsmiths.co.uk John Smiths] in a traditional British pub
[http://www.yorkshiretea.co.uk Yorkshire Tea]
Two famous beers are brewed in Masham, North Yorkshire - Theakston's Old Peculiar, and Black Sheep Ale
Spring Water is available from several spa towns in Yorkshire including Harrogate
Stay
'''[http://www.berrybankscottage.com Berry Banks Cottage Whitby]''' Luxury Self-Catering Accommodation Riverside View, Whitby. Berry Banks Cottage is in an outstanding and tranquil location in an elevated position above the valley of the River Esk and by the side of a Grade II listed railway viaduct. Watch the steam train pass by from the cottage.
Stay safe
Yorkshire in general is fairly safe. But like many places in the north of England, the collapse of various industries in Yorkshire has had a devastating effect on the economy, thus crime rates have become very high in some areas, mostly due to high unemployment. It's very unlikely that tourists will be victims of crime, but you should keep your wits about you if you decide to venture into areas that aren't tourist orientated.
Out in the countryside there is little risk of crime (other than valuables left on view in cars in isolated places), though if going walking in winter take sensible precautions against the [http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/northeast/index.shtml?summary=show02 weather]. Also make sure you have a map and compass if you decide to go off the beaten track, you can very easily get lost without them.
In towns and cities, keep valuables out of sight, and stick to well-lit busy areas at night as is recommended for all UK towns and cities.
Get out