Helmsley Market Town and Castle

If you’re looking for a market town in Northern England to relax and enjoy a short break, then look no further than Helmsley!

Only a 45-minute drive from York it is the gateway to the North York Moors, and with the market square, castle ruins, independent coffee shops and pubs it is the ideal place to use as a base for countryside exploring.

The castle is nearly 900 years old and was built by the same person as nearby Rievaulx Abbey and Kirkham Priory (both also well worth a visit), and was the scene of a 3-month siege by Oliver Cromwell’s men during the English Civil War in which half of the keep was blown up.

The castle is an English Heritage site and tickets can be booked online, free for members and £8.60 for non-members: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/helmsley-castle/

More info on Helmsley can be found on the Welcome to Yorkshire tourism website: https://www.yorkshire.com/places/north-york-moors/helmsley