The best things to do in East Yorkshire

East Yorkshire has a multitude of attractions on offer, including breathtaking beauty spots, as well as fun for all the family, and a step back in time thanks to the area’s cultural heritage. Be charmed by the model village with its adorable depictions of community life, and boggle at the grandeur of the stately homes and their exquisite landscaping. 

If you like your nature accessible, head to the rolling countryside for a gentle amble, and make a pitstop at the vintage railway while you’re there. Get the call of the sea? There are miles of golden Yorkshire beaches to play on, as well as a fascinating, narrow peninsula for a unique glimpse of wildlife and windswept beauty. Kids can also let off steam at an award-winning green adventure playpark – nature and nurture at its best.

Whatever shape your holiday takes, East Yorkshire delivers, and we have rounded up some of the best things to do in the region, including suggesting some lovely cottages where you can stay. 

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Bondville Model Village

Image credit: Bondville Model Village

Who doesn’t love a model village? All the world in miniature, lovingly created in perfect detail, including a row of shops complete with jokey shop names. Bondville Model Village in Sewerby has benefited from an update recently and now has a garden tearoom and an appealing calendar of events.  

Set yourself the challenge of counting the 800 figurines carefully positioned around 200 handcrafted buildings, including a castle, windmill and working railway. A dream day for kids and big kids alike. 

Yorkshire Wolds Way

Yorkshire offers spectacular scenery throughout the county, but some of the loftier aspects can be a little challenging underfoot (I’m looking at you, Three Peaks). For more of a bimble than a yomp, head to the Yorkshire Wolds Way. 

The chalky undulations of this 79-mile stretch of countryside rarely make you out of puff, but still offer equally uplifting views. There are plenty of interesting sights on the route to help momentum.   

Yorkshire Wolds Railway

Also on the Yorkshire Wolds, located just outside the deliciously named Wetwang, is the Yorkshire Wolds Railway. Small but perfectly formed, it offers passengers a ride of just over 300 metres, so it’s more of a heritage attraction than a way of getting from A to B. 

The opportunity to climb aboard this restored train is available on Sundays and bank holidays from April 6 to the end of October (and Wednesdays during the summer holidays). Train aficionados will love learning about the locomotive ‘Sir Tatton Sykes’ from the friendly volunteers.

Discover the East Yorkshire coast

The 53-mile stretch of glorious East Yorkshire coast takes in cheerful resorts, breathtaking vistas and abundant wildlife. Discover chalk-white cliffs at Flamborough Head and beautiful golden beaches at Bridlington. Here are some of the seaside towns and villages worth visiting along the East Yorkshire coast: 

Bridlington

Bridlington is lively and packed full of family-friendly diversions such as the land train, the fascinating Old Town, and not forgetting the expanse of sandy beaches trimmed by a Victorian promenade. Hop on Bridlington’s land train to arrive in style at nearby stately home Sewerby Hall. 

Hornsea

For a more tranquil seaside destination, try Hornsea, which is around 15 miles south of Bridlington. The pace of life is dialled down a notch, and the novelty of Yorkshire’s largest freshwater lake, the Mere, provides the chance of a gentle bob around in a rowing boat. Little ones will love a visit to Honeysuckle Farm, where they can get lost in a maze and meet friendly goats and sheep.

Flamborough

If you’re after a fix of natural beauty, then Flamborough Head is the place where land meets sky, and where the meadows are teeming with butterflies sipping from flowers and curlews swoop above. Flamborough is also home to a historic lighthouse near Bempton Cliffs. It’s one of the most important seabird colonies in Europe where you can be sure of a feathery spectacle from five different viewpoints. 

Burton Agnes Hall

One of the significant landmarks in the Yorkshire Wolds is Burton Agnes Hall. Built during the reign of Elizabeth I, it has remained a family home for 15 generations, with original Elizabethan mouldings sitting alongside Georgian furniture and French impressionist paintings. A highlight is the magnificent Long Gallery, which spans the entire length of the house and offers spectacular views of Bridlington Bay. 

The grounds are a delight for all, with an adventure playground, giant-sized board games to play in the walled garden, a maze, and a woodland walk. The award-winning flowerbeds are gorgeous all year round – take a tour with the head gardener.

Burton Constable Hall

22 miles south of Burton Agnes Hall in Holderness sits another grand Elizabethan pile, Burton Constable Hall. Much of the house has been changed by various owners throughout the years, so you’ll find a grand Georgian drawing room alongside the Chinese Room, which was inspired by visits to Brighton Pavilion in the 1820s. There’s also a treasure trove of intriguing artefacts known as the ‘cabinet of curiosities’.  

The parkland surrounding Burton Constable Hall was designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, and you’ll find serpentine lakes and tree-lined trails. Don’t miss the wonderful Georgian orangery, which was once used to grow exotic fruits for the Constable family. Visitors can also explore the restored Stable Block, but don’t expect any horses – you’ll find a whale skeleton that was washed up locally and pieced together by eminent Victorian surgeon James Alderson. 

William’s Den

Image credit: William's Den

William’s Den is a theme park with a difference – every activity is designed to spark curiosity and boost creativity. There are zip-wires, tree houses and water play, all constructed using natural materials. If the clouds threaten rain, do not fret, as there’s an enormous barn with plenty to do, such as a mud kitchen and stream. 

Toddlers will love the mini versions of the big kids’ play areas, where they can safely explore and build with confidence. The sustainable message of William’s Den continues in the superb café that serves hand-made pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven, and locally made ice cream from neighbouring Jersey cows.

Dumble Farm

Are you mad about cows? Then Dumble Farm is for you. This award-winning conservation project must be one of the most unusual things to do in East Yorkshire. It has over 80 adorable Highland cattle to admire in a beautiful meadow setting outside Beverley. 

You can choose from a range of inventive experiences to appreciate these handsome beasts, from cow-cuddling sessions (from autumn to spring) to a cow safari and wildlife tour. While Dumble Farm is aimed primarily at over-16s, children can join the private ‘Meet the Coos’ tour. 

The Deep 

The Deep has welcomed more than 10 million visitors since its opening in 2002, and when you visit this impressive aquarium on Hull’s estuary, it’s easy to see why. Inside the imposing steel structure resembling a ship, there are a variety of underwater worlds accommodating thousands of fish and sea creatures. 

Endless Ocean is one of the deepest tanks in Europe, with an underwater viewing tunnel offering up-close and personal marine encounters with sharks, rays and a pair of rescued Loggerhead sea turtles. You can also see a wonderful array of colours at Living Reef, where tropical fish dart in and out of beautiful corals 

Take a tour around Spurn National Nature Reserve

Climb aboard the Unimog – an ex-military adapted lorry – to go exploring on a Spurn Safari. It takes you down the 3 miles of Spurn – the windswept peninsula known as ‘Yorkshire’s Land’s End’ – to discover a stunning nature reserve teeming with life.  

The ever-changing landscape of shorelines carved out by the sea is studded with the bright-orange berries of the sea buckthorn bush and the silky fronds of dune grasses. There’s also a range of walking trails around Spurn if you fancy exploring this unique Yorkshire Wildlife Trust nature reserve on foot. 

Map of things to do in East Yorkshire

Find all the best things to do in East Yorkshire with this handy map:

Find your perfect East Yorkshire cottage

Have you been inspired to explore the East Yorkshire coast and countryside? Now it’s time to choose a base; whether it’s a dog-friendly cottage in Bridlington or a family-friendly holiday home in the Yorkshire Wolds, there’ll be somewhere that ticks all the boxes for you. Explore our selection of East Yorkshire cottages to pick your perfect home while away.