York is centrally located for the Vale of York and East and North Yorkshire, making it a great base for days out in any direction:
Aldborough Roman Villa
(http://www.english-herita...) - it`s a bit of a push to the top of the county but well worth the trouble.Castle Howard
(http://www.castlehoward.co.uk/) - one of the locations for the filming of Brideshead Revisited, this amazing stately home is a great day trip out of York. If you've got a car and go to Castle Howard its worth a look at Kirkham Priory too, just off the A64 at the top of the hill near Castle Howard. Additional local historic sites in the York area include Beningbrough Hall, Bolton Abbey, Nunnington Hall and Riveaux Abbey.Yorkshire Lavender
(http://www.yorkshirelaven...) - Only 3 miles from Castle Howard, Yorkshire's Award-Winning Lavender Farm & Lavender Gardens is set in a spectacular hillside farm of nearly 60 acres, within the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.Leeds
biggest city in Yorkshire. Fantastic for shopping, drinking, dining, and as a base for exploring Yorkshire.Northallerton
from here get a bus to the picturesque, authentic, village of Osmotherley with three great pubs and plenty of good walking.North York Moors National Park
The coast
Victorian Scarborough with two popular beaches and a castle, Victorian Bridlington, Filey and Whitby. Filey is a smaller and less developed resort; it is home to a brigg that can be accessed at low tide, has long stretches of beach, however has reduced facilities compared to its larger neighbours. Whitby is a popular coastal town and home to many historic sites of interest. If you are visiting the town around mealtimes try one of the fish and chip restaurants. The portions are large and the taste to die for. Mushy peas are optional! This used to be the national dish before chicken tikka massala - and in Whitby they show you why. If you are travelling the main road between Scarborough and Whitby, try making a detour into the moors on the landward side of the road. Only a couple of miles or so from the road you will be into a land of babbling brooks and comfortable pubs most without music where you can enjoy a quiet drink and a well-cooked meal at very reasonable cost. And the plus is it seems like another world.Thirsk
small horse-racing market town. Well known as a horse racing venue, but for me its claim to fame is as the home of James Herriott. There is a museum dedicated to his reallife and vetinary practice and is well worth making a detour to visit. It`s a "hands on" type of museum and to any fans of the books and films constitutes and couple of hours well spent. You can sit in the actual Austin 7 car that he made his visits in and can round off the visit in the museum shop. Enjoy!Afterwards a drink in a local pub and perhaps a very substantial lunch.