Ooh baby, it’s cold outside – but it’s fine because it just so happens that Yorkshire is home to an array of extremely wonderful places to hole up in this festive season. We’re talking pure The Holiday vibes, proper fireplaces, country checks, twinkling Christmas trees and top-class hospitality. Covering an array of budgets, here’s our pick of the most Christmassy places to stay in Yorkshire this festive season.
1. Willow Pastures
East Yorkshire’s Willow Pastures has revamped one of its cosy lodges into a festive fantasy – complete with Christmas tartans, tons of festive decorations, twinkling lights, Christmas trees and so much more.
During their stay, guests can cosy up in front of the fire, enjoy hot chocolate in the hot tub, munch on festive treats, or enjoy wintery walks in the beautiful East Yorkshire countryside that surrounds.
Willow Pastures can be found in Skirlaugh, just a short drive from both Hull and beach towns such as Mappleton and Tunstall. Find out more and book here.
Willow Pastures, Hull Rd, Skirlaugh, Hull, HU11 5AE.
2. The Pheasant, Helmsley
Roaring fires, AA rosette dining, great wines – what more could you ask for in a wintery stay?
At The Pheasant in Harome, that’s exactly what you can expect, alongside proper country house vibes, quaint views of the local duck pond, and proper village amenities – basically, it’s the makings of a Hallmark movie.
Each room has been decorated with all things cosy in mind – think country checks, calming neutrals, and cushions aplenty, with tranquil surroundings to boot. Peaceful whatever time of year you visit. Find out more.
The Pheasant Hotel, Harome, Mill St, York, YO62 5JG.
3. Peak Edge
We don’t say this often because we love so many places in and around Yorkshire, but Peak Edge, so far, has been one of our all-time favourite places to stay.
While it’s not in Yorkshire – it’s just a very short drive over the border towards Chesterfield, sitting right on the edge of the Peak District (as its name, of course, would suggest), and if you ask us, it’s certainly worth leaving God’s Own Country for.
In the hotel itself, guests can expect cosy, yet upmarket country decor accompanied by garden views – while in the Red Lion pub and restaurant downstairs, it’s all about traditional pub vibes with warming woods, roaring fires, cosy checked upholstery, stone walls and perfect pints. The perfect place to retreat to over the festive season. Book here.
Peak Edge Hotel, Darley Rd, Chesterfield, S45 0LW.
4. Catgill Farm
Another spot that ranks incredibly high on our ‘favourite places to stay’ in Yorkshire list is Catgill Farm – a luxurious glamping site on the edge of the Bolton Abbey estate.
Home to an array of bell tents and glamping pods, Catgill Farm takes glamping to a whole new level, offering unique pods that are complete with their very own firepits and wood-fired hot tubs outside.
Inside, each pod is kitted out with a proper kitchen, double bed, bunk beds and a proper shower room and toilet – meaning you don’t have to dig out the wellies every time you need to go to the bathroom. Told you, this is glamping on steroids.
The pods also boast their own heating, too, meaning you can enjoy them all year round. They’re incredibly cosy, so we reckon these would make the perfect festive staycation. Find out more.
Catgill Farm, Bolton Abbey, Skipton, BD23 6HA.
5. Swinton Estate
Swinton Estate is extra special all year round, but in particular, at Christmas time – when the fires are roaring, the festive decor is out and the warming castle vibes feel more fairytale-like than ever before.
Offering each and every guest the royal treatment, visitors can unwind in a selection of stunning rooms within the castle, including various cosy living areas, a games room (complete with a roaring fire, cinema, darts, and snooker table), and lavish drawing room.
The cosy rooms have that gorgeous cottage feel, too, making for a beautifully Christmassy place to stay this winter. Book here.
Swinton Estate, Swinton Park Hotel, Ripon, HG4 4JH.
6. Simonstone Hall
Nestled deep inside the Yorkshire Dales, Simonstone Hall decks the halls each Christmas with cosy festive decor – gracing the many mantles, twinkling in each and every corner, and even hanging from the ceiling in stunning installations. Yep, I meant it when I said they really deck the halls.
Found in the quaint village of Hawes – which even has a picturesque beck running through the cottages – guests can enjoy cosy, stylish rooms with plush furnishings, alongside the gorgeously festive bar and restaurant, which just so happens to serve up incredible grub. Find out more.
Simonstone Hall, Hawes, DL8 3LY.
7. Shibden Mill Inn
Formerly owned by Anne Lister’s lover, Ann Walker, the Shibden Mill Inn is the perfect place to retreat to during the winter months (and spring, and summer, and autumn…) thanks to its traditional decor, roaring fires, and low-beamed ceilings – AKA, everything you need for that big warming hug feeling.
At the 17th-century inn, guests can enjoy fine dining using Yorkshire ingredients, great beers, and cosy, country-style rooms with all the essential boutique touches for a comfy, cosy stay. Book here.
Shibden Mill Inn, Shibden Mill Inn, Shibden, Shibden Mill Fold, Halifax, HX3 7UL.
8. Aldwark Manor
While Aldwark Manor is warm and welcoming no matter what time of year you visit, at Christmas in particular, the magic really comes to life – with stunning, glowing Christmas trees, roaring fires and a generally warming atmosphere.
The manor’s plush velvety decor is amplified by festive garlands and decor, menus are packed full of warming wintery dishes, and rooms are complete with the most homely and luxurious touches.
We highly recommend having a quick drink in the gorgeously inviting Library bar, before treating yourself to dinner in the Elements restaurant and retreating by the fire in the Squadron bar. Find out more.
Aldwark Manor, Aldwark, Alne, York, YO61 1UF.
9. The Knaresborough Inn
A homely spot found in charming Knaresborough, The Knaresborough Inn offers snug vibes from the second you walk through the door – with its dark academia-style decor, a roaring fire, and proper pub-style bar sitting front and centre.
If you ask me, the decor is tailor-made for a winter retreat, and thanks to its proper pub grub-style menu, it’s the kind of place you don’t have to leave at all if you don’t want to. Scran a few pies, knock back a few pints and simply roll back to your cosy room. The dream. Find out more.
The Knaresborough Inn, Bond End, Knaresborough, HG5 9AL.
10. The Red Lion, Burnsall
Found in the sleepy village of Burnsall in the Yorkshire Dales, the Red Lion is your quintessential country pub, complete with old-fashioned fireplaces, wood-panelled walls, cosy drinking corners and great pub grub.
Getting cosy in this place is so easy. They even have dog beds so your pooch can settle in, too.
Upstairs, the pub is home to an array of quaint bedrooms, with views of the village and the river to boot, comfy finishings, and, of course, the perfect place to grab a pint just steps away. Book here.
The Red Lion, Burnsall, Skipton, BD23 6BU.
Read more: 43 Of The Most Festive Yorkshire Christmas Markets And Events To Enjoy This Winter
