Everything you need to know about North Yorkshire

When you think of rolling hills and English countryside, you’re probably picturing the Cotswolds and the Lake District – two of the most visited places in the UK. But here’s the thing: their fame means these hotspots are getting overcrowded, and going here for a staycation is more expensive than ever.

So in 2026, there’s never been a better time to do things a little differently – to get out and discover the UK‘s less-trodden regions. There, you can avoid the crowds, stick to your budget, and see corners of the UK you might never have expected visiting. And we’ve got just the place. Enter: North Yorkshire. While nearby regions have seen tourism soar, this eclectic county has somehow remained pretty under the radar. It’s home to every kind of holiday on the spectrum – not just its wild, natural landscapes but some stellar city breaks and lively seaside towns, all incredibly do-able on a budget.

And if you are walking the budget tightrope when booking a holiday – to North Yorkshire or further afield – turn to your unexpected travel partner Lloyds to find some handy solutions for making your cash go further. The Lloyds app is teeming with tools that make planning a trip simpler, such as setting savings goals. There’s also Save the Change®, which automatically rounds up what you spend on your Lloyds debit card to the nearest pound and pops the change into your Lloyds savings account.

Ready to discover one of the UK’s hidden gems? Here’s everything you need to know about a trip to North Yorkshire. 

Explore the Yorkshire Dales National Park

Buzz for Yorkshire has been growing in 2026, in part thanks to the release of Wuthering Heights starring Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie – a fair bit of which was filmed right here on the dramatic hills of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Looking for your own windswept Cathy moment? You’re in just the right place. Picture the Lake District, but slowed right down – just miles and miles of rugged green hills, trickling waterfalls and plenty of picturesque villages to dip into and explore, all against the backdrop of North Yorkshire’s gleaming limestone cliffs.

The most famous of these, Malham Cove, is a must-visit, and part of one of the most epic walking trails in the Dales, taking you on a three-hour loop past Janet’s Foss waterfall and the Gordale Scar gorge.

York: the ultimate city break

For a weekend away, York is endlessly charming, incredibly affordable, and great fun to visit any month of the year. If you swerve the main summer months, you might just snag a room at the city’s top luxury hotel The Grand for as little as £160 – with its newly-opened Subrosa Spa included. Lloyds Travel Booking in the Lloyds app is the ultimate partner for helping you to secure a great deal on hotels: here, you can browse places to stay, compare pricing and book your room.

This city is packed with great things to do, from Ouse River cruises to walking the old city walls. But its highlight is certainly the magnificent Shambles, a quaint, winding street filled with higgledy-piggledy shops and restaurants that feels like stepping back in time (or possibly straight into a real-life version of Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley).

You can pick up plenty of souvenirs at the Shambles, but it’s mostly touristy. For local boutiques and independent shops, head to Bishopthorpe Road instead (Bishy to locals), dubbed the Notting Hill of York. Pick up an ice cream from Sicilian spot Trinacria while you’re at it – it’s the best in the city.

For dinner, head to unpretentious café/bistro Brancusi for great food and natural wine. Here for a special occasion? Book ahead at Roots, a Michelin-starred farm-to-table restaurant, for one of their fantastic tasting menus.

If you're exploring the city with your partner or with a group of friends, you might feel a little bit of that holiday ‘mental load’ – you know, the feeling of not quite being able to relax as you try to mentally track who covered the last round of drinks or coffees. Request a Payment in the Lloyds app takes the hassle out of splitting the bill by letting you share a secure link or QR code with friends and family in a few clicks. You can also keep track of your outgoings with Lloyds' Spending Insights tool. Which means less worrying, more exploring.

Get your seaside fix at Whitby  

Remember when we said North Yorkshire did it all? We meant it. A large part of this county is by the coast, so it’s home to a string of great seaside towns too, from Staithes to Scarborough.

Our top pick for 2026, however, is certainly Whitby, a lovely little seaside town – and home of Dracula! Author Bram Stoker found much of his inspiration for the book in Whitby, thanks to its windswept harbour (complete with spooky shipwrecks), the dramatic ruins of Whitby Abbey and St Mary’s Church, and rich local folklore. Follow the Dracula trail, or book into one of the guided Dracula tours, to explore the history for yourself.

Of course, the town isn't just its gothic heritage, and these days it’s also perfect for families or groups of pals, with enough trendy businesses to put it up there with Margate and St Leonards. For something posh, book a room at Saltmoore, a luxury hotel and spa that opened at the end of 2024 – or opt for family-friendly The Stables, in a 17th-century farmhouse.

There’s something for everyone: spend the day at Whitby Sands, climb the 199 Steps, pick up smoked fish from the iconic Fortune’s Kippers and head to Stoker’s favourite, Whitby Abbey, at sunset for spectacular views across the bay. From spring 2026, you’ll be able to eat at brand-new The Treasury, a restaurant and bar with rooms that has taken over the site of an old Grade II-listed bank. Want the full experience? Visit in May or October for Whitby Goth Weekend – it’s great fun and completely unique. 

Plan, book and spend with Lloyds, your unexpected travel partner.

Small print:

Lloyds Travel Booking, powered by Hopper.

Fee-free debit card spending and cash withdrawals abroad are valid for Club Lloyds, Silver, Platinum and Premier accounts. Monthly account fees may apply. For Premier account, eligibility criteria also applies. UK residents, 18+. When you’re abroad, choose to pay in the local currency, that way you avoid the overseas provider’s currency conversion fees.

Best Price Guarantee is offered in connection with flight and hotel bookings made through Lloyds Travel Booking. If you find the same itinerary on another competing site at a lower price and claim within 24 hours of booking, you’ll get the difference back in Travel Credits, ready for your next trip. The price must be available to the general public. For example, this means that the rate doesn’t need you to log into a site or have a special membership or an available discount personal to you.

The Price Prediction tool is built into Lloyds Travel Booking within their app. It suggests when to book or when to wait. Then, if you book your flights through the Lloyds app and the tool says you’ve got a great price, it will continue to track your flight booking after you’ve locked it in. Should the price drop below what you paid, you’ll automatically receive up to £50 in travel credits towards the difference.

Order travel money in the Lloyds app by 3pm for next-working-day delivery. Free delivery on orders over £500. You need Internet Banking or Mobile Banking app access and a Lloyds current or savings account.

Request a Payment limits apply. Ask for up to £150 each time and get up to £500 a day.