York, Historic Homes and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Make your own way to our hotel in York where you will meet an experienced Tour Manager. Enjoy a relaxing evening with dinner and a drink served in the hotel's restaurant.

After breakfast, we travel by coach into the centre of York and embark on an introductory walking tour with a local guide. Our tour will end at Fairfax House, one of England’s finest Georgian townhouses. We have included entrance to this remarkable house, which will transport you to the glory days of city living in 18th-century York. Fairfax House was originally the winter home of Viscount Fairfax and his daughter Anne. The richly decorated interiors and magnificent stucco ceilings make it a masterpiece of Georgian design and architecture. Set in the heart of York, Fairfax House reveals the domestic interiors in which these Georgians would have walked, the tastes and fashions of the day for architecture, interior decoration, food and furnishings, as well as the customs and habits of York’s wealthy gentry and aristocracy. A beautiful collection of furniture brings the house to life and creates a special feeling of warmth. It evokes a life once lived in comfort and grandeur, vividly recalling a lost world of townhouse living in the 1760s. 

After our visit here, we will then board our coach and travel to Nunnington Hall for an afternoon visit. Situated on the banks of the River Rye, this manor house dates back to 1249 and tells the story of three families: the Grahams, Rutsons and Fifes. Outside you will also find a walled garden and, if you are lucky, you might even spot the resident peacocks or the otters in the river. We will have ample time to explore the hall and its gardens before returning to our hotel by coach for our evening meal.

After breakfast, we will make our way across the North York Moors National Park by coach to the moorland village of Goathland, also known as ‘Aidensfield’ in the television series Heartbeat. This quaint village has been attracting visitors since the 19th century and offers a small selection of independent shops and tea rooms, which you can explore during some free time.

After our visit to Goathland, we will board our coach and travel on to the much-loved seaside town of Whitby. Overlooked by the dramatic ruins of Whitby Abbey, Whitby is referenced in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, as well as being the location where Captain Cook’s ship, the Endeavour, was built. We’ll have some more free time here before we join the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for a scenic journey along the length of the line from Whitby to Pickering. We arrive into Pickering for a short stop before continuing by coach back to our hotel where dinner is served.

After another enjoyable breakfast, we will join our coach and travel to the market town of Helmsley, where our first stop will be a visit to Helmsley Castle. Posed as a medieval fortress, a Tudor mansion and a Civil War stronghold, Helmsley Castle offers over 900 years of history.

After some free time to explore, we will continue our journey to Castle Howard in the heart of the Howardian Hills. One of Britain’s finest historic houses, it has been the private residence of the Howard family for over 300 years. First created by Charles Howard, the 3rd Earl of Carlisle, the house has seen eight generations and has also been used occasionally for TV filming. You’ll have free time to explore this delightful castle and its grounds which span over 1,000 acres and include parkland, a walled garden, lakes, waterways and wildlife.

We will return to our hotel by coach for a relaxing final evening and dinner.

After a leisurely breakfast, it is time for you to check out of the hotel and make your way home.