Yorkshire travel ideas

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Phei Shan is studying Pharmacy here at the University of Bradford. In her blog, she tells us some of her favourite places that she’s visited in the UK.


Phei Shan, Pharmacy

As an international student, I love exploring the UK, and the fact that Bradford is so easily connected to other cities and towns in Yorkshire makes it easy to have day trips. I travel about once a month and over the two years I have spent in the UK, I have visited quite a few places, so I thought I’d share some travel ideas.

We all know how unpredictable British weather is, so I have categorised the attractions as indoor and outdoor activities. I have also noted some information on what I would recommend in terms of transport options and sightseeing itineraries, but these are my own views, so feel free to add your own personal touch to it!

Leeds

Travel duration: 20 minutes by train, approximately 35 minutes by the X6 bus and 45 minutes by the number 72 bus.

Travel cost: £5 – £8 for a return ticket, trains are generally slightly more expensive than buses and bus fares work out cheaper if you travel as a group of up to five people because you get to split the family day ticket. In general, it may also be cheaper to travel on weekdays. Refer to the First Bus website for latest updates.

Free attractions: Leeds is popular for its shopping areas and these range from arcades to malls. The best part is that they are situated all along the main street, so it’s easy to go from place to place when you shop.

Indoors: Leeds Art Gallery, Trinity Mall, County Arcade, Kirkgate Market, Corn Exchange
Outdoors: Roundhay Park, Hyde Park, Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds Water Taxi

Where to eat and price range (£ – £££)
Leeds is definitely not short of eateries, and my top recommendations are:

  • Kirkgate Market has a wide selection of food. The corner of the market situated close to the bus station has a food court with individual shops selling cuisine from Vietnam, South America, Istanbul and many more different places. My personal favourite dish is the roasted meat rice from Maxi’s Rotisserie and it’s a must-visit for me each time I drop by Leeds! (£)
  • The food court in Trinity mall is another place to visit if you want variety, but the dishes tend to be slightly pricier. (££)
  • Haute Dolci if you want something sweet after your meal. (££)

Manchester

Travel duration: Approximately one hour by either bus or train.

Travel cost: Prices vary but a return bus ticket usually costs about £6 – £8. Refer to the National Express website for further information.

Free attractions: I am personally not a football fanatic, but if you are, you should absolutely visit Manchester as it is home to both the Etihad Stadium and Old Trafford. From November to January, the city also has its iconic Christmas markets.

Indoors: Intu Trafford Centre Mall, Arndale Mall, Science and Industry Museum, John Rylands Library, Manchester Central Library
Outdoors: Northern Quarter, Platt Fields Park

Where to eat and price range (£ – £££)
Manchester is definitely metropolitan, and this is evident in the diversity of the cuisine that it offers:

  • Chinatown – my personal favourite is bubble tea/boba from either ICFT or Happy Lemon. (£)
  • Curry Mile – basically a street with middle-eastern restaurants serving all sorts of curries, what’s not to like! (£ – £££)
  • Richmond Tea Rooms (££)

Harrogate

Travel duration: About an hour by Yorkshire Tiger 747 bus.

Travel cost: Refer to the Yorkshire Tiger website.

Free attractions: Harrogate is a lovely town if you enjoy a simple day trip of enjoying nature and drinking tea as a getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. If you have a few hours to spare, I would also recommend visiting Knaresborough, which is about 30 minutes by bus from Harrogate city centre.

Indoors: I do not have much in mind for indoor activities as the appeal of Harrogate was definitely the sightseeing, in my opinion.
Outdoors: Valley Gardens, Knaresborough Castle, Nidd Gorge, Bebra Gardens, Knaresborough Market

Where to eat and price range (£ – £££):
I sadly did not get the chance to spend an entire day in Harrogate, but many travel websites suggest Bettys Café Tea Rooms (££)

Hebden Bridge

Travel duration: 20 minutes by train.

Travel cost: Approximately £6 for a return train ticket.

Free attractions: Hebden Bridge is one of the most serene places I have ever visited, and a fun fact is that it was Ed Sheeran’s childhood home! It shares some similarities with Harrogate as both towns are hidden gems which are more attractive outdoors than they are indoors. I would suggest walking along the Hebden Bridge canal and visiting the vintage shops in the town centre. If you are feeling adventurous, you could also take a bus or hike up to Heptonstall, which is a small village a short distance from Hebden Bridge.

Sheffield

Travel duration: One and a half hours by coach.

Travel cost: A return bus ticket costs around £6. Refer to the National Express website for further information.

Free attractions

Indoors: Meadowhall shopping centre, Winter Garden, The Moor
Outdoors: Weston Park, Kelham Island

Where to eat and price range (£ – £££):

  • Head to the food court in Meadowhall and be spoiled for choice with eateries ranging from takeout places to buffets (£ – £££)
  • Little Snack Bar (£) if you’re interested in trying Taiwanese food. The surrounding shops also sell other Chinese and Taiwanese meals.

York

Travel duration: One hour by train.

Travel cost: Approximately £11 for a return train ticket.

Free attractions: York is known for its traditional architecture and is a good getaway idea if you enjoy learning about Vikings and the history of York. Most attractions are not free, but are still worth admiring from a distance if you are on a budget. I would recommend visiting on a sunny day as most attractions require you to stay outdoors.

Indoors: National Railway Museum
Outdoors: York Minster (entrance fee applies), walk along the Medieval City Walls, Clifford’s Tower (entrance fee applies), walk along The Shambles, St Mary’s Abbey

Where to eat and price range (£ – £££)

  • The York Roast Co. – what better place to try Yorkshire Pudding (which is not actually dessert pudding by the way) than in York? (£)

There are so many places to visit and explore in Yorkshire and it’s surrounding areas, so get planning your next day trip!

 

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