I’ve always wanted to take a proper trip to Yorkshire. Interestingly, I nearly chose to study in York on two separate occasions! Although I’ve passed through Yorkshire briefly, I’ve never taken the time to really explore it, even the beautiful city of York, which I’ve only seen from a train headed to Scotland.
Everything changed a couple of weeks ago when we finally had a few free days. We decided to set off and truly explore Yorkshire. Traveling often makes me appreciate England even more, especially places like London. These experiences drive home the urge to explore what’s right around us, especially after trips like this one.
It only takes about two hours by train to get from London to York. While we’d never visited the city before, we opted to skip it this time to pack as much of Yorkshire as possible into our two-day adventure (technically three days and two nights). York will have to wait for another trip. Instead, we picked up a rental car and headed straight for Castle Howard, a place I’d only recently heard about. It’s one of the rare privately owned castles in England; many such estates were handed over to the National Trust when old wealthy families could no longer maintain them.
Castle Howard is a sight to behold! You find yourself lingering outside, awestruck by its grandeur before you even step in. It might seem familiar since it has appeared in many films, most notably “Brideshead Revisited.” The overcast weather added a certain drama to the scene, making a warm cup of tea inside even more inviting.
We spent time admiring the many rooms and halls of Castle Howard. The interior is as splendid as the exterior, with rooms decked out for the season. Christmas trees, gifts, and opulent beds make you feel like you’ve stepped into “Downton Abbey” (which is supposed to be in Yorkshire, even though it was mostly filmed in the south).
One of my favorite spots was right in front of a gigantic Christmas tree in what I dubbed the grand hallway. Although I wasn’t familiar with Castle Howard before visiting, I fell for it instantly. You should definitely check out the various living, drawing, and dining rooms. They showcase classic English living so beautifully that I found myself wondering what it would be like to call this place home.
The afternoon’s highlight wasn’t just the architecture or the elaborate decor but afternoon tea itself! We enjoyed it in the Grecian Hall of the main house. The setting was perfect, with a roaring fireplace, Christmas music, and the scent of a beautifully adorned tree filling the air.
I began with a glass of champagne while Lloyd, who was driving, opted for Yorkshire tea. The food included an assortment of freshly prepared sandwiches, scones, cakes, and other treats. It’s no secret that Yorkshire excels in food, and everything was just perfect. Booking for afternoon tea is essential because it’s quite popular and fills up quickly.
After tea, we returned to our car, feeling rejuvenated and excited to see more of Yorkshire. Our destination was Ravenscar, where we’d be staying for a few days. On the way, we drove past the Hole of Horcum, a stunning heather-filled canyon, which is even more impressive in daylight.
We also visited Goathland, known to Harry Potter fans for its train station, which was used as Hogsmeade. While the station is charming, the village itself is well worth a visit, and it truly feels like a step back in time. It’s the type of place where even the sheep act unconcerned with passing cars.
We checked into Raven Hall Hotel, where we stayed in a lodge that felt more like a spacious apartment than a hotel room. We settled in quickly—perhaps too quickly—as we found ourselves rushing to make a dinner reservation in Whitby.
Everyone we’d spoken to highly recommended Whitby, though we didn’t have much time to explore it since we arrived at night. We dined at The Star Inn, a renowned eatery owned by Michelin Star chef Andrew Pern. The restaurant even has its own ice cream parlor next door, which is perfect for a seaside town.
I’m usually careful with bread served before meals, but this time I couldn’t resist because it was warm and the butter was delightful. Yorkshire is famed for its seafood, so we jumped straight into the seafood menu. I started with calamari while Lloyd enjoyed Celeriac & Spiced Quince Soup and something called ‘scraps.’
‘Scraps’ in Yorkshire refers to the leftover bits from frying fish at chip shops, but these were little parcels of flaky, delicious fish that sparked food envy without fail. I must admit I helped myself to Lloyd’s scraps a bit more than I should have!
For a palate cleanser, we were served beetroot ice cream with goat cheese, toasted nuts, and more. It was a surprisingly good combination. For the main course, I chose local lobster, and Lloyd went for fish and chips.
After our meal, I understood why The Star Inn’s chef earned a Michelin star; the food was exceptional and reasonably priced. Dessert was caramelized apple rice pudding, which was so good I have to credit the chef.
Thoroughly full, we returned to Raven Hall Hotel, where I fell asleep almost immediately. Despite only being in Yorkshire for a few hours, I was already captivated by its charm and knew I’d made the right decision to spend a couple of days there.
