East Yorkshire Attractions

Country houses, museums, historic towns, and hidden gems across the East Riding — all within easy reach of the cottage.

The East Riding of Yorkshire doesn't shout about its attractions the way some parts of the country do, but the quality is remarkable. Elizabethan country houses, Georgian estates, outstanding museums, medieval churches, and a dramatic coastline all sit within 30-40 minutes' drive of the cottage. Add the cities of York and Hull, and you won't struggle to fill a week with memorable days out.

Country Houses

Burton Agnes Hall

Burton Agnes Hall, about 15 miles north-east of the cottage, is one of the finest Elizabethan houses in England. The great hall is extraordinary — a carved chimneypiece and screen of exceptional quality, dated to the early 1600s. The house has been in continuous occupation since it was built and feels lived-in rather than preserved in aspic.

The current owners have assembled a notable collection of modern and contemporary art, displayed throughout the house. The combination of Elizabethan architecture and 20th-century painting is unexpected and works surprisingly well. The gardens are excellent, with a walled garden, maze, and woodland walk. The adjacent Norman manor house is also open to visitors.

Sledmere House

Sledmere, roughly 15 miles north-west of the cottage, is the seat of the Sykes family, who have shaped the Yorkshire Wolds for over 200 years. The house is an 18th-century Georgian mansion with fine interiors, set in parkland designed by Capability Brown. The Sykes family's influence on the surrounding landscape is visible for miles — the estate villages, woodlands, and farmland they created define the northern Wolds.

The house was largely rebuilt after a fire in 1911 and its Turkish Room, modelled on a sultan's apartment in Istanbul, is a genuinely surprising find in the middle of East Yorkshire. The village of Sledmere has a distinctive war memorial and a good cafe.

Sewerby Hall

Perched on the clifftop north of Bridlington, Sewerby Hall is a Georgian house with gardens, a small zoo, and sea views. It's less grand than Burton Agnes or Sledmere but makes a pleasant outing, especially for families. The grounds include a pitch-and-putt course, a children's playground, and a cliff-top walk to Bridlington.

Museums and Galleries

Hull — The Deep

The Deep is one of the country's largest aquariums, housed in a dramatic building at the confluence of the Hull and Humber. Its main tank holds 2.5 million litres of water and a remarkable range of marine life, from sharks to rays to a colony of penguins. It's a major attraction and one of Hull's most visited sites.

Hull — Ferens Art Gallery

The Ferens holds an impressive collection ranging from European Old Masters to contemporary works. Entry is free. The gallery was refurbished for Hull's year as UK City of Culture and is now one of the best regional galleries in England. Allow at least an hour, more if you're interested in art.

Hull — Maritime Museum

Hull's maritime history — whaling, fishing, and trade — is told through exhibits in the former Dock Offices in the city centre. The whaling section is particularly strong, reflecting Hull's importance as one of the country's leading whaling ports in the 18th and 19th centuries. Free entry.

Beverley — The Treasure House

Combining a museum, art gallery, library, and archives, the Treasure House is Beverley's main cultural venue. The local history collections cover the East Riding from prehistoric times, and the art gallery features works by local painter Frederick Elwell alongside changing exhibitions. Free entry.

Historic Churches

East Yorkshire has an unusual concentration of fine medieval churches. Beyond Beverley Minster (covered in our Beverley guide), notable examples include:

• Howden Minster: A partially ruined former collegiate church with a striking tower visible for miles across the flat land south of the Wolds
• Patrington Church: Known as the "Queen of Holderness," a remarkably complete and beautiful 14th-century church in the flat countryside south-east of Hull
• Holy Trinity, Hull: One of the largest parish churches in England, with medieval brickwork and a beautiful interior

Day Trips Further Afield

York

The city of York needs little introduction. The Minster, city walls, Shambles, JORVIK Viking Centre, National Railway Museum, and Castle Museum would fill several days. York is approximately 40 minutes' drive from the cottage and easily managed as a day trip.

Castle Howard

North of York, Castle Howard is one of England's grandest country houses — familiar to many from the television adaptation of Brideshead Revisited. The house and grounds are open to visitors, and the scale is genuinely impressive. Allow half a day at minimum. About an hour's drive from the cottage.

The Humber Bridge

When it opened in 1981, the Humber Bridge was the longest single-span suspension bridge in the world. It remains an impressive piece of engineering and a landmark visible from many points on the Wolds. Walking across the bridge (free) takes about 20 minutes each way and offers views up and down the estuary.

The country park on the north bank is a pleasant spot for a walk, with views back to the bridge and across the water to Lincolnshire.

For coastal day trips, see our Yorkshire coast guide. For family-specific activities, browse our family days out guide.