Menu
Menu
If you are planning a trip to the UK then you are likely looking for places to visit Yorkshire as part of your trip. The most popular areas in Yorkshire are in the east. Within this East Yorkshire Guide, I’m going to share with you everything you need to know about visiting East Yorkshire.
East Yorkshire is located towards the NE of England on the north side of the Humber River. It includes a vast coastline of chalk cliffs. The major city is Hull, which was the 2017 UK City of Culture.
I love East Yorkshire. It might be one of my favorite places to escape to when I am traveling. It may in part be due to the fact that my family lived in the area for over 300 years before moving to Canada.
Some distant relatives still live in the area so I have been back a few times now. I love how relaxed life feels. It is a true escape from the hustle and bustle of daily living for those of us on vacation taking a digital detox.
Where else will you find cows in a pasture in the middle of town across from a magnificent Minster?
Quick Tip: Book accommodation, tours and transport ahead of time online to save money and stress.
Best East Yorkshire Tours: Click here to check out the top East Yorkshire tours
Best East Yorkshire Accommodation: Click here to check out the best accommodation in East Yorkshire
Best East Yorkshire Transport: Click here to book a bus, ferry, or train in East Yorkshire
in one of my favorite places to go in Yorkshire. It’s a wonderful collection of gardens, ponds, an aviary, a stumpery, and historical artifacts collected over eight world tours. Many of the artifacts are identified by UNESCO as important.
If you are looking for slightly off-the-beaten-path things to do in East Yorkshire then a trip to the is a must.
An unspoiled chalk cliff coastline, not yet built up compared to other coastal towns. When the tide is out you can see many shipwrecks and go into the old smugglers’ caves or look for fossils.
There are also a number of events such as the Race the Waves and Sailing Coble Festival.
If you are interested in historic Yorkshire places to visit then Burton Agnes Hall is a beautiful Norman manor house and Elizabethan hall. It’s still privately owned and very family-friendly.
There are many good ghost stories and beautiful gardens and even a resident artist in the summer house. There is a ruin of an original Norman hall next to it. Every summer they hold a big garden fair for all the Yorkshire-based gardeners (professional and amateur) who come to sell their yearly crops of flowers and plants.
Beverley is becoming highly regarded for its restaurants and the 800-year-old Minster which is free to enter, although donations are appreciated. I love hearing the bells ring from its bell tower. One of my favorite restaurants is in Beverley – Lucia Wine Bar and Grill. They also have locations in Harrogate and York.
There is also the equine racecourse and for those who are literary lovers, the rabbit carving at St. Mary’s Church is said to have been the inspiration for the March Hare in Alice in Wonderland.
One thing that surprised me a bit was how active the nightlife in Beverly was! Many of the pubs turned into night clubs later in the evening.
The former RAF Holmpton was an important military site and was transformed into a control bunker for the RAF during the Cold War. You can now tour it and step back in time to the Cold War era and see the technology the British had.
This is another thing to do in East Yorkshire for history lovers. William was a British politician and an advocate for ending slavery in Britain and the British colonies. The house has been partially turned into a museum about slavery.
The Deep is an aquarium in Hull with over 3000 creatures. It also has an evening restaurant.
Who knew there were so many things to do East Yorkshire for nature lovers! There are puffins, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, herring gulls, fulmars and shags. There is also a 28 000 strong colony of gannets. They are the largest seabird in the UK.
This is one to consider if you are looking for fun days out in East Yorkshire.
William Bradley, the tallest Englishman ever recorded! Celebrating William Bradley Day in May would be a unique way to delve into a lesser-known aspect of English culture and history. Bradley was born in 1787 in Market Weighton, a small town in East Yorkshire, and he reached an astonishing height of 7 feet 9 inches. His life story is not just interesting because of his height; it also provides a glimpse into the societal norms and curiosities of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
If you’re in East Yorkshire around this time, taking part in the William Bradley Day festivities would be a unique experience. Market Weighton usually commemorates its famous son with various activities, like exhibitions, and walking trails, and even talks about the historical context of his life. Given that the day is dedicated to him, it’s a perfect time to explore the local history and appreciate the natural beauty of the region.
The Kiplingcoats horse race in Market Weighton. Run every year since 1519. Race rules were found in a vault. If the race has to be canceled, at least one person must walk or ride a horse along the course to keep the tradition alive or it is to be canceled forever.
in Pocklington is a Buddhist meditation centre that offers daily classes and weekend retreat in Gregorian Manor complete with a café and tranquil grounds.
John Bull’s World of Rock in Bridlington. You can roll your own stick of rock – the candy stick that looks sort of like a candy cane without the hook.
The main food in East Yorkshire is pub food and fish and chips. Yorkshire pudding is a staple as well. You will find a variety of foods though to suit various pallets and dietary needs.
You’ll also find Wensleydale cheese, a lot of rhubarb goodies, pikelets, which are like mini pancakes or crumpets, ginger beer, and parkin, which is a cake usually served around Guy Fox Night.
If you are staying at a B&B, you could make a sandwich from the croissants or bread and the bacon and cheese. That is what my mom and I did on our trip there. We also brought some snacks from home and picked more non-perishables up at the local shops.
If you aren’t a big drinker, you can order ½ pints of beer at the pubs, which is what I did and saved money on drinks.
With a variety of hiking and biking trails, running shoes or hiking shoes, an umbrella, a raincoat, and general athletic wear are great ideas to pack.
Quick Tip: View my full UK packing guide here including a downloadable checklist. And check out my UK packing guide here
Bed and Breakfasts are very popular here. My favorite B&B that I have stayed at is in Beverly – Trinity Guest House. The owners are so sweet and accommodating and they have a huge spread for breakfast with fresh bread and meats.
The average night here is about $110 USD.
You’ll also find a wide range of hotels in Hull such as the Holiday Inn and DoubleTree by Hilton that range in price from $100-$300 USD.
There is a hostel as well called Hull Trinity Backpackers.
Outside of Hull, B&Bs and Airbnb’s will be your main option for places to stay. The average cost is about $100/night for most.
Along the coast holiday parks are common. These are entire communities of homes and trailers/caravans, so if you want a more local option and plan to spend a few days in the area, these would be a unique option for getting to know some local people.
There are many Airbnb options in Bridlington and Flamborough, but some can be fairly expensive at about $180/night.
Click here to see a list of accommodation in Yorkshire on Booking.com
Getting to East Yorkshire you would likely be landing in London and taking the train up. That is the easiest way to get across the country as a tourist. I love the train system in England and have yet to rent a car. It’s been really helpful for me to just sit back and let someone else do the driving now that I am traveling after a concussion and need more downtime to recoup between activities.
The intercity bus system works great for getting from one town to the next. I had no concerns walking around at night or using taxis in any of these places.
There is no Uber in East Yorkshire, but there is Blabla car. This is a ride share service where people traveling from one place to another can offer the empty seats in their car to people for a fee. You can also request a ride to places. It wouldn’t be a quick solution if you were in need of a ride right away, but if you planned ahead, it would be a way to meet more locals. I haven’t used it personally.
You could also rent a car in Hull and use it to travel around here. The roads are not terribly busy, so it would be easier for those who have not yet driven on the other side of the road to feel more confident.
For reference, Beverley is about 16 minutes by train from Hull. It’s a quick jaunt and makes Beverley an easy starting point if you prefer a more relaxed place to rest your head at night over a larger city.
As with anywhere being mindful of what type of bag you have and making sure you secure the items in your bag is important, but no more so than what we should be doing on a normal basis.
As a woman, I felt safe walking around and didn’t experience any issues. Whenever I travel I use safety pins on zippered areas to interconnect them and hopefully deter pickpockets and I do keep a closer eye on my bag.
It’s never a good idea to travel without travel insurance. You can read Claire’s full review of the best backpacking insurance here.
If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that you need to be prepared for anything!
The Insurance companies I personally recommend are Hey Mondo and Safety Wing
Hey Mondo is great if you are looking for a great value flexible policy. They offer single trip cover, annual multi trip cover, and long term travel cover.
Safety Wing is great value with monthly cover starting at $39. It’s super easy to use and it just renews each month. I currently use them as they offer me free cover for my son as part of my policy.
Read my full travel insurance post here where I go into detail about the companies.
🧳 Any recommendations on what I should pack for East Yorkshire?
Yes! I have created a whole packing guide to East Yorkshire which you can read here and you can also check out my packing list for East Yorkshire on Amazon here.
🚗 Where can I book bus or private transportation while I’m in East Yorkshire?
I strongly recommend using Bookaway. You can book almost all transport in the major tourist destinations through them online. They don’t just cover buses they also cover shuttles, ferries, and private drivers.
🎫 Where can I buy tickets for museums, attractions, and tours in East Yorkshire?
I recommend either Viator or GetYour Guide. They have a lot of options!
👩⚕️ What is the best insurance to have while traveling?
I recommend using Heymondo for a great value policy. The app also offers you 24/7 Dr Chat. For Digital Nomads check out SafetyWing digital nomad insurance.
I have also written a blog post covering all my recommended travel insurance here
✈️ Any flight recommendations?
WayAWay offers you cheap flights with cashback. You can use this code CLAIRE22 to get 10% off. Otherwise Skyscanner or Expedia are my go-to flight searching platforms.
📱What do you use for internet connection while traveling?
I’m a big fan of personal WiFi devices and they have saved my ass so many times when traveling. I wrote a full review of the top travel WiFi devices you can read here. I personally use GlocalMe as I can either pop in a physical sim card or use their local carrier.
With regards to my phone connection, I use e-sims while traveling, so rather than having to swap out my regular sim card I can download the app and buy a virtual sim card. I recommend using eitherAirhub or Alosim. Both have great coverage of multiple countries and are very easy to use.
🛏️ What is the best platform to use for booking accommodation?
The 3 best platforms that I normally use are Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Expedia They offer great deals and multiple options. I always check all three to be sure of the best deals.
🛅 Do you have any luggage recommendations for traveling?
I do have a complete list of the best packing and luggage products that I recommend, you can check the list here. I’m currently traveling with this suitcase and this backpack.
The best time to visit East Yorkshire is during the late spring and summer from May to September.
The weather is warmest and the countryside is green and lush. There are also many festivals and other events taking place during the warmer weather.
Nicole is a high school teacher with a passion for travel and experiencing various cultures and historical sites. She has been to 24 countries across six continents and has an ever-growing bucket list of countries and experiences she wants to cross off.
After a mild traumatic brain injury left her with some limitations, Nicole has begun sharing her love for travel and her understanding of the importance of self-care and wellbeing over on her blog Wellbeing Wherever.
You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Ultimate United Kingdom Travelist is a great companion on your trip to the UK. You can get it before your trip to help you plan out all of the best places to go. It’s a go to bucket list of the not to miss places to visit in the UK.
It’s full of beautiful photography and it goes much further than just the typical tourist traps and includes everything from coastal walks, music festivals, and hidden away pubs you must visit.
If you are interested in learning more about the upper echelons of the British aristocracy then this book abut the life of Anne Glenconner is a great read.
She has long been at the center of the royal circle as a life long friend of the Queen and her sister. Her father was the Earl of Leicester and controlled one of the largest estates in England.
Sadly Anne turned out to be “the greatest disappointment” to her father and she was unable to inherit his great estate and instead make her own way in the world while surviving the vipers of court life! And interesting read to see how the ‘other half’ live.
The UK that you will see today is a product of the post WWII industrial revolution.
Nineteenth-century Britain experienced an unprecedented series of changes in the wake of the war. Cities grew fast and revolutions in transports, communication, science, and the way people lived happened in quick succession.
Added to these changes was a growing skepticism of religion, a questioning of power resulting in political and social unrest.
In spite if these turbulent times Britain remained strong on a global level which saw it quickly rise as a global leader… this was of course before Brexit!
If you are looking for a light read to accompany yo on your UK vacation then Bridget Jones’s Diary is the perfect literary companion. Even if you have watched the movie, the book is soooo much better.
Us brits are legit obsessed with manners to a fault. Seriously we love nothing more that throwing as many please and thank you’s in to a sentence as we can make fit. And don’t even get me started with our obsession with apologizing for EVERYTHING!
But our obsession doesn’t just stop there, there is so much more to British etiquette most of which will confuse the hell out of visitors from foreign lands.
In this book you will get an illuminating insight in to all of the social rules we are governed by, from never putting your elbows on the table to holding open doors. But this book goes deeper and shines a light on where this crazy obsession with good manners comes from. Its a interesting and quirky must read.
Looking for a novel to sink your teeth into on those long cross country train journeys in the UK. White Teeth is it.
Set against London’ s racial and cultural tapestry, venturing across the former empire and into the past as it barrels toward the future, White Teeth revels in the ecstatic hodgepodge of modern life, flirting with disaster, confounding expectations, and embracing the comedy of daily existence.
