Yorkshire for free this Easter
Let’s face it, with the cost of living whizzing up into the stratosphere, we all want to know what we can get for free. We Yorkshire-folk don’t like wasting money and quite rightly expect to get a good deal. The season in the UK is starting, the Easter holidays are looming, followed by an extra May Bank Holiday/Spring Break (is there a wedding going on?) so here we take a look at what you can do in Yorkshire for free this Spring. For visitors and home tourists, this list shows that you can always get something for nothing. I have listed all atttractions, places and venues that are free and have included ideas for ‘budget” food and drink suggestions that won’t break the bank.
A day at the seaside
Enjoy the lovely scenery and take the 843 Coastliner bus from York to Scarborough. Scarborough has great beaches and a lively town full of culture as well as traditional seaside fun. Fun on the beach, a walk around town followed by fish and chips at Wackers should be fun for the whole family.
National Media Museum
I don’t understand Bradford recently got voted ‘worst place’ in the UK. It’s a vibrant city, with lots to see and do. The National Media Museum is always a great day out, and what’s more, it’s seven floors dedicated to visual media are free (with the exception of the IMAX cinema). There is lots to explore, a host of interactive elements such as a Television Studio, film and special effect sets. You can eat reasonably cheaply in the cafe there, or even stroll around the corner for a fabulous curry at the Karachi.
Art and urban regeneration in Leeds
The brilliant Henry Moore exhibition is on until June 13th. Henry Moore is an exhibition in collaboration with Tate and aims to uncover the range and quality of his work in new ways. Read more on my blog post about it here. Lunch at the beautiful Tiled Hall Cafe in the Gallery and then take a walk through Holbeck Urban Village afterwards.
Saltaire, river Aire & picnic
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the village of Saltaire is named after Sir Titus Salt who built his textile mill on the river Aire, the highlight is Salts Mill, where 17 miles of cloth used to be produced every day. Today it has been transformed into a buzzing and vibrant place celebrating art (especially David Hockney) and commerce by Jonathan Silver but you can really get the feel for how it used to be when it was a working mill. On a fine day the walk along the towpath is splendid and a lovely place for a picnic and there are lots of lovely shops and cafe’s to explore in the village.
Have a free day sightseeing in York
York might be the UK’s fourth more visited CIty but there is plenty for free. York Art Gallery is currently displaying David Hockneys ‘Bigger Trees Near Warter’ – his largest ever painting and the fabulous National Railway Museum is always fun for adults and young, budding train drivers. On a budget, and with the luck of a fine day, a picnic in the Museum Gardens, with the ruins of St Marys Abbey in the background, is a fine choice.
Have a family bike ride
Blogger Arthur writes about the best cycle rides near York here, or the Visit Yorkshire website has plenty of ideas and routes across Yorkshire.
Spring in the Yorkshire Dales
Aysgarth Falls, a product of the Ice Age, is a triple waterfall carved out by the River Ure is a spectacular stretch of water in Lower Wensleydale. Featured in the Kevin Costner film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, it’s a top pick for a walk. You can park in the Visitors centre car park. We used to make Nature Trails, a good way to keep the family occupied while the adults can take in the glorious views.
A royal wedding
Even though plenty will turn their noses up at it, most will find it hard not to get caught up in the excitment of Kate n Will’s big do. An extra public holiday, street parties are being held everywhere and some public places will be screening the event live. I’ll do a post soon about the best places to watch it, for royalists, secret or not. As an amusing digress, an amusing article was posted on Yahoo recently showing the things Kate can’t do once she is married.
I have listed other events going on over Easter in my What’s On Page , many of them are free.
