Tucked into the northeast corner of England, the East Riding of Yorkshire feels like a county in no particular hurry. The land is wide and flat, the skies even wider, and the coastline steadily crumbles into the North Sea with quiet determination. It is not a place of dramatic headlines but of peaceful villages, old market towns, long beaches and big skies that go on forever.
The locals don’t make a fuss. They simply get on with life, enjoying a corner of Yorkshire that plenty of visitors still somehow manage to overlook, which is often exactly how they like it.
Beverley, minsters and markets done properly
Beverley is one of England’s most handsome small towns, all cobbled streets, tidy market squares and one extremely impressive minster. The stately Minster rises proudly over the town, every bit the equal of many English cathedrals, yet somehow without the crowds.
The town’s Saturday market remains a busy, proper market, not a carefully curated ‘artisan’ one, but a place where people buy fish, vegetables, and strong opinions along with their shopping. It all feels nicely unchanged.
Hull, proud port city with plenty to say
Hull (officially Kingston upon Hull) has had its ups and downs, but recent years have seen the city proudly reclaim its place as one of Yorkshire’s most interesting corners. As a major port, it was once the gateway for trade, fishing and shipping routes that stretched out across the world.
The old town’s narrow streets still echo its merchant past, while The Deep – a striking modern aquarium perched on the waterfront – has become one of the region’s most popular attractions. The city’s turn as UK City of Culture in 2017 left behind a lasting legacy and a burst of creative energy that still lingers.
Seaside towns, cliffs and the steady pull of the sea
The East Riding’s coastline offers long beaches and quiet resorts where fish and chips remain a perfectly valid reason for a day out. Bridlington provides sandy beaches, a working harbour, and that satisfying blend of seaside charm that has resisted the more garish excesses found elsewhere.
Further north, Flamborough Head’s white chalk cliffs curve out into the sea, home to puffins, seals and lighthouses that have kept watch for generations. The views here stretch for miles, the wind arrives briskly off the sea, and the sense of space is hard to beat.
Villages, flat fields and Yorkshire’s softer side
Inland, the East Riding becomes a gently undulating patchwork of fields, hedgerows and villages where the pace of life rarely exceeds second gear. Places like Driffield, Pocklington and Market Weighton offer market town charm, independent shops and the kind of tea rooms that always seem to have just baked something fresh.
The Yorkshire Wolds rise gently across the centre of the county, not dramatic hills, but enough to add a bit of shape to the landscape, with walking paths that wind through peaceful fields and wide, empty lanes.
Canals, waterways and the old ways of getting about
The county’s flatness once made it ideal for canals and navigable waterways, many of which remain in use for leisure boating and walking. The Pocklington Canal and Driffield Navigation are particularly good for quiet strolls, where herons, swans and the occasional boat provide the only real traffic.
Where England breathes deeply and takes its time
The East Riding of Yorkshire doesn’t need grand attractions or dramatic scenery to impress. It offers space, peace, proud towns, long views and honest charm. After a few days here, you stop looking for excitement and start appreciating how pleasant it is when nothing much happens at all.
10 best reasons to visit East Yorkshire
1) Beverley and its show-off of a Minster
Beverley is a handsome little overachiever of a town. Cobblestones, proper independent shops, and a Minster that looks like it wandered in from a much bigger city and decided to stay.
- Getting here: Trains to Beverley (often via Hull). Easy drive from the M62 and A63 routes.
- Facilities: Plenty of cafés, pubs, shops, toilets, parking, and places to linger.
- Best time to go: Spring and autumn for gentle weather and fewer people.
- Time needed: Half day to a full day.
- Don’t miss: A wander around the Saturday market, then a slow loop back via the Minster.
2) Hull, the underdog with a lot to say
Hull has personality in the way some cities have weather. Big port history, a brilliant old town, and an arts scene that still feels like it belongs to the place.
- Getting here: Direct trains to Hull from several UK cities (often via Leeds or Doncaster). Driving is straightforward via M62 to A63.
- Facilities: Excellent, it’s a proper city with museums, food, hotels, and rainy-day options.
- Best time to go: Year-round, especially good when the weather is sulking.
- Time needed: Full day or weekend.
- Don’t miss: A walk through the Old Town streets, then the waterfront for big-sky views.
3) The Deep, where fish live in a building from the future
A striking aquarium on Hull’s waterfront that makes the North Sea feel a lot less abstract and a lot more alive.
- Getting here: Walkable from Hull city centre or a short taxi/bus ride.
- Facilities: Café and visitor facilities on site, plus plenty nearby in the city.
- Best time to go: Any time, especially when it’s raining sideways.
- Time needed: 2–3 hours.
- Don’t miss: The big tanks and the general sense that fish are quietly judging you.
4) Flamborough Head and those white cliffs that mean business
Chalk cliffs, seabirds, lighthouses, and wind that turns your hair into modern art. It’s one of East Yorkshire’s most dramatic corners.
- Getting here: Drive to Flamborough village or nearby cliff-top parking. Public transport is possible via Bridlington plus local buses/taxis.
- Facilities: Limited on the headland itself. Best to plan food and loos around Flamborough village or Bridlington.
- Best time to go: Late spring and summer for seabirds and clearer days.
- Time needed: Half day.
- Don’t miss: A cliff-top walk with a warm drink waiting afterwards.
5) Bridlington, for proper seaside days
This is the seaside doing what it’s meant to do. Sand, harbour life, fish and chips, and that satisfying feeling that nobody is trying too hard.
- Getting here: Train to Bridlington. Driving is easy from the A165.
- Facilities: Strong. Beaches, toilets, cafés, arcades, and all the usual seaside essentials.
- Best time to go: Summer for classic beach days, or winter for bracing walks and empty sands.
- Time needed: Day trip or weekend.
- Don’t miss: Harbour-side fish and chips eaten outdoors, even if you need a scarf to do it.
6) The Yorkshire Wolds, gently dramatic and gloriously quiet
The Wolds are rolling hills rather than heroic peaks, which is exactly why they’re so good. Big views, quiet lanes, and villages that feel pleasantly unbothered.
- Getting here: Best by car. Good bases include Pocklington, Driffield, and Beverley.
- Facilities: Villages and market towns provide pubs, cafés, and supplies. Trails vary.
- Best time to go: Spring and early autumn for walking weather.
- Time needed: A day for a taste, a weekend for the full slow unwind.
- Don’t miss: A countryside walk followed by a pub lunch that feels deserved.
7) Market towns that still do market towns properly
Driffield, Pocklington, Market Weighton and other towns keep things refreshingly real. Independent shops, tea rooms, practical everyday charm, and a steady supply of local opinions.
- Getting here: Easy by car; some towns also have bus links from Hull, Beverley, and York areas.
- Facilities: Very good for day-to-day needs, cafés, pubs, parking, and browsing.
- Best time to go: Weekdays for calm, weekends for livelier markets and bustle.
- Time needed: Half day per town, or do a slow “market town crawl” over a weekend.
- Don’t miss: A café stop where the cake is fresh and the conversation is sharper than the knives.
8) Canals and waterways made for unhurried wandering
East Yorkshire is brilliant for slow walks where the main excitement is a heron taking off like it’s late for a meeting.
- Getting here: Best by car for picking up towpaths and access points. Pocklington and Driffield are handy starting points.
- Facilities: Limited on the paths themselves, so bring water and plan stops in nearby towns.
- Best time to go: Spring and summer for wildlife and longer evenings.
- Time needed: 1–3 hours for a gentle stroll, longer if you’re in a wandering mood.
- Don’t miss: An early morning walk when the water is still and everything feels quietly perfect.
9) Big skies and that rare sense of space
East Yorkshire has horizon for days. The landscape is open, the sky is enormous, and even a simple drive can feel like a reset button.
- Getting here: Anywhere rural is best reached by car. The joy is in the wandering.
- Facilities: Sparse in the open countryside, plentiful in towns.
- Best time to go: Golden-hour evenings in spring and summer are particularly good.
- Time needed: As long as you can justify to yourself.
- Don’t miss: Pulling over somewhere safe just to stare at the sky like you’ve never seen one before.
10) Yorkshire charm, but in a calmer mood
You get proud towns, proper pubs, coast and countryside, but without feeling like you have to “do” anything at speed. It’s Yorkshire with the volume turned down slightly.
- Getting here: Hull is the main rail hub. A car makes the whole region much easier to explore.
- Facilities: Strong in towns and coastal spots, lighter in the deep countryside.
- Best time to go: Any time, but spring through early autumn gives you the easiest exploring.
- Time needed: Weekend minimum, 4–5 days if you want coast + Wolds + towns without rushing.
- Don’t miss: Building in a full afternoon with no plans at all. East Yorkshire rewards that.
