Harry Potter, Brideshead Revisited, the Brontes, Captain Cook, James Herriot and Heartbeat Country are just a few good reasons to venture beyond York's city walls. Or you may just crave open spaces, big skies and fresh air.
On the doorstep of York are two National Parks - the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, as well as the golden beaches, picturesque fishing villages and dramatic cliffs, coves and headlands of the stunning North Yorkshire coast.

ATTRACTIONS

Beningbrough Hall & Gardens, York
Beningbrough Hall is a Georgian mansion, which was built in 1716. It contains one of the most impressive baroque interiors in England. Inside the house visitors can view some exceptional wood carvings, an unusual central corridor running the full length of the house and over 100 pictures on loan from the National Portrait Gallery. There is also a delightful garden, which is surrounded by water meadows. The gardens comprise an American garden, a Victorian conservatory, box-edged rose gardens, a lily pool and a walled garden.
Beningbrough, York, YO30 1DD, England.
Press contact: Helen Clarke, Tel: 01904 771904/702021, email: helen.clarke@nationaltrust.org.uk  website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-beningbroughhallandgardens  

Bronte Parsonage Museum
The three Bronte sisters Emily, Charlotte and Anne spent a large part of their lives in the West Yorkshire village of Haworth, where they lived with their father at the Parsonage. Their writings were heavily influenced by the surrounding Pennine moorlands, especially the area known as Top Withens, renamed by Emily as Wuthering Heights, in the book of the same name. The Parsonage is now an intimate museum cared for by the Bronte Society. Rooms are furnished as in the Bronte's day, with displays of their personal treasures, their pictures, books and manuscripts.
Haworth, Keighley, West Yorkshire, BD22 8DR, Tel: 01535 642323, email: info@bronte.prestel.co.uk,  

Castle Howard
Castle Howard is a spectacular eighteenth-century palace, which has been home to the Howard family for 300 years. The construction of this magnificent palace took more than 100 years and spanned the lifetime of three Earls and numerous architects and craftsmen. As the house was built and decorated, the grounds were filled with lakes, temples, monuments and a grand mausoleum. Indoors, furniture, paintings, sculptures and a host of other treasures were assembled by successive generations after their tours of the Continent. Castle Howard is today still home to the Howard family.
Castle Howard, York, YO60 7DA, Tel: 01653 648333, email: house@castlehoward.co.uk,  website: www.castlehoward.co.uk.  
Press contact: Rachel Jack, Tel: 01653 648624, email: rjack@castlehoward.co.uk  

Eden Camp Modern History Theme Museum
This award-winning museum is situated on the site of an original Prisoner of War Camp, built in 1942. It transports visitors back in time to wartime Britain with exhibits and reconstructed scenes. New areas of the museum include a Garden of Remembrance, War Newspaper Reading Room and an exhibition entitled Conflicts Since 1945 and WWI. The assault course for children remains one of its most popular areas!
Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 6RT, Tel: 01653 697777, email: admin@edencamp.co.uk,  website: www.edencamp.co.uk.

Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Estate
Fountains Abbey with Studley Royal Water Garden, four miles west of Ripon in North Yorkshire, is of outstanding historic and aesthetic importance. It is one of the best preserved and largest abbey remains in Britain and is set in the beautiful parkland of Studley Royal by the river Skell. The Abbey was founded in 1132 by 13 Benedictine monks seeking a simpler life. They later became Cistercian monks. The garden is a stunning panorama of elegant ornamental lakes, temples, follies and statues, ponds, cascades, bridges and tunnels. The visitor can explore over 10 historic buildings, including a superb Victorian church, the dramatic remains of a Cistercian Abbey and also a medieval deer park, home to 500 Red, Fallow and Sika deer. Holiday cottages are also available within the grounds.
The Estate Office Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Estate, Ripon, HG4 3DY, Tel: 01765 608888, website: www.fountainsabbey.org.uk.  
Press contact: Alexa Morton, Tel: 01765 643199, email: alexa.morton@nationaltrust.org.uk  

Newby Hall
The family home of Mr and Mrs Richard Compton, has featured in the BBC programme "Heirs and Graces". This is one of England's renowned Adam houses, an exceptional example of 18th century interior decoration, recently restored to its original beauty. Newby Hall is famous for its collection of classical statuary, one of the most important private collections in Britain. One piece from the collection, the Jenkins Venus, hit the headlines when it was sold at Christie's for a staggering £7.9 million, setting a new world record for an antiquity sold at auction, and helping to provide the funds for Newby's restoration. Newby Hall's contents also include the Gobelins Tapestry Room and an excellent Chippendale furniture collection.
Award-winning gardens include England's longest double herbaceous borders and an adventure garden for children, sculpture park and miniature railway.
Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 5AE, Tel: 01423 322583, email: info@newbyhall.com,  website: www.newbyhall.com.

Royal Armouries Museum
The Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds was opened in 1996 as the home for the national collection of arms and armour. Each of the five themed galleries covering War, Tournament, Self-Defence, Hunting and the arms and armour of the Orient offers something to captivate every visitor The museum is renowned around the world for its remarkable collection in armours. The collection has its origins in the arsenal of the British army preserved at the Tower of London and consists of approximately 8,000 pieces of armour, including 4 personal armours of Henry VIII, armour from the royal workshops at Greenwich, Stuart royal armours, medieval armour of the Knights of St John at Rhodes, munition armour of the 16th and 17th centuries, about 7,500 European swords (including some royal examples), about 6,300 daggers and bayonets and approximately 4,200 European staff weapons.
Royal Armouries Museum, Armouries Drive, Leeds, LS10 1LT.
Press contact: Nicholas Boole, Tel: 0113 2201979, email: press@armouries.org.uk  
Website: www.royalarmouries.org  

Sutton Park
Situated in the heart of the immaculately well-kept village of Sutton-on-the-Forest, Sutton Park is a charming, early Georgian house built in 1730, overlooking beautiful parkland. This is the home of Sir Reginald and Lady Sheffield and their family. The house contains beautiful 18th century furniture, paintings mostly from Buckingham House, now Buckingham Palace, and an important collection of porcelain. Award-winning gardens contain a Georgian icehouse.
Sutton-on-the-Forest, York, Tel. 01347 810249, email: suttonpark@statelyhome.co.uk,  website: www.statelyhome.co.uk.

World of James Herriot
The World of James Herriot is a unique tribute to vet and author Alf Wight. Based in his original surgery at 23 Kirkgate in Thirsk, North Yorkshire - the ‘Skeldale House' of the Herriot books - it takes visitors on a journey back to the 1940s and 1950s. And it is the only centre of its kind in the UK dedicated to Veterinary science. When Alf Wight died in 1995, Hambleton District Council bought the old surgery and set about painstakingly restoring it. The £1.4 million project includes recreated living quarters for the 40s and 50s, sets of the TV series All Creatures Great and Small, a visible farm featuring the latest in computer wizardry and displays of veterinary artefacts past and present.
23 Kirkgate, Thirsk, YO7 1PL, North Yorkshire, England. Tel: 01845 524234, email: james.herriot@hambleton.gov.uk,  website: www.worldofjamesherriot.org.

Captain Cook Memorial Museum, Whitby

Captain Cook spent the first nine years of his sea-going career in Whitby, and is commemorated in the 17th century house where he lodged. The Museum, meticulously restored, houses an important collection of authentic material. Letters illustrate Cook's friendship with his master Captain Walker, the Admiralty's disputes with the botanists Banks and Forster, and the sorrow of King George at Cook's death. There are paintings by Gainsborough, and Hodges, Webber and other artists of the Voyages. The museum has an active exhibitions policy, bringing to Whitby shows from major museums, Curiosities from the Endeavour (2004), and Skin Deep: a history of tattooing from the National Maritime Museum (2005). The tripartite purchase of the group portrait of Omai, Banks and Dr Solander was a widely praised initiative. Ship models, maps and Pacific artefacts add to a rounded picture of Cook and his associates, his career and his great voyages of exploration.
Grape Lane, Whitby, YO22 4BA. T: 01947 601900, website: cookmuseumwhitby.co.uk/cookmuseum@tiscali.co.uk.  
Press Contact: Charles Forgan. T: 01642 712429 email: charles.forgan@btinternet.com.  

Yorkshire Air Museum
This fascinating museum is authentically based on a World War Two Bomber Command Station. The unique displays include the original Control Tower, Air Gunners' Collection, Barnes Wallis' ‘bouncing bomb' and a superb new Airborne Forces Display. The expanding collection of historical aircraft depicts aviation from its earliest days through to the WWII. Items on display also include uniforms, log books, photographs and many other rare artefacts from WWI & WWII.
Yorkshire Air Museum, Halifax Way, Elvington, York, YO41, 4AU.
Website: www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk.  
Press contact: Ian Richardson, Tel: 01904 608595, email: pr@yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk.  

North Yorkshire Moors Railway
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway operates steam trains along an 18-mile line between the market town of Pickering and the village of Grosmont. The line runs through the heart of the North York Moors National Park and passes through a wide-ranging scenery, from wooded valley to heather clad moorland. It also calls at villages along the way and offers access to unspoilt countryside for walkers and cyclists. Its most famous stop these days is undoubtedly Goathland station, which played the part of Hogwarts Station in the Harry Potter films, and is also best known as Heartbeat Country as the station and village provide the setting for the popular TV series Heartbeat. The NYMR is one of the earliest and most historic lines in the North of England. Its origins go back well over a century and a half, when it was an important trade link between Pickering and Whitby.
North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Pickering Station, Park Street, Pickering, YO18 7AJ. Tel: 01751 472508, email: phil.bustard@nymr.co.uk,  website: www.nymr.co.uk  

The Surrounding Countryside
The North York Moors National Park, northeast of York, covers 1432 sq km of North Yorkshire scenery, including 42 km of coastline and 1609 km of footpaths and bridleways. Farmed dales dissect England's largest expanse of continuous heather moorland, rich in wildlife.
To the west of York, the Yorkshire Dales National Park covers 1769 sq km, and is the finest area of upland limestone country in Britain, with pastoral valleys, limestone cliffs, gorges and flower-rich hay meadows.
Along Yorkshire's coastline, every cliff face, cave, cove and village harbours stories and secrets - of smugglers, the great explorer Captain Cook, even of Count Dracula. Whitby is steeped in historic charm, its narrow, cobbled streets and picturesque, pantiled houses stand on the steep slopes of the River Esk, dominated by the ruins of the cliff top abbey, said to have been the inspiration behind Bram Stoker's Dracula. The broad twin bays and mighty headland of Scarborough, dominated by the gaunt remains of Scarborough Castle, make an impressive, panoramic setting for North Yorkshire's largest seaside resort and historic spa town.

HOW TO GET OUT OF TOWN

Scarborough Spa Express
If you fancy a day at the seaside, take the steam train from York to the seaside resort of Scarborough. Tel: 01463 239026, website: www.steamtrain.info,  booking office 0845 128 4681

Yorkshire Coastliner Bus
Regular services from York to attractions including Castle Howard, Eden Camp, Goathland (Heartbeat Country) and Pickering, the starting point of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway line, and to the coast - Bridlington, Filey, Scarborough, Whitby. Buy a Freedom Ticket for unlimited travel all day (family tickets also available), and ask the driver for your Heritage Voucher for discounted admission into some attractions.
Tel: 01653 692556, email: enquire@yorkshirecoastliner.co.uk.  
Website: www.yorkshirecoastliner.co.uk.  

STAYING OUT OF TOWN

Hazelwood Castle
Live like kings at this castle dating back to 1086. The 1086 Restaurant overlooks beautiful gardens and chef John Benson-Smith also runs cookery schools here. 25 minutes into York city centre. Paradise Lane, near Tadcaster. Tel: 01937 535353, website: www.hazlewood-castle.co.uk.  

Crown Hotel, Boroughbridge
Independently owned, 3-star hotel with leisure facilities in the centre of this historic market town, just 1 mile from A1(M) motorway.
Tel: 01423 322328, website: www.crownboroughbridge.co.uk.  

Black Swan, Helmsley
Welcoming country hotel overlooking Helmsley's picturesque market place, with an excellent restaurant. Market Place, Helmsley, Yorkshire, YO62 5BJ. Tel: 01439 770466, website: www.blackswan-helmsley.co.uk  

Fountains Abbey Holiday Cottages
Three delightful National Trust stone cottages within the grounds of the Fountains Abbey estate, overlooking the River Skell. Two luxury apartments are also available in Fountains Hall. Tel: 01765 608888, website: www.fountainsabbey.org.uk Press Contact: Alexa Morton, tel: 01765 643199, email: alexa.morton@nationaltrust.org.uk

OUT OF TOWN SHOPPING

York Designer Outlet
The York Designer Outlet is situated just outside the city centre on the A14/A19 intersection. A park and ride service is available every day between the outlet and the city centre from 7am.

The outlet has over 115 stores including Gap Outlet, Marks and Spencer, Karen Millen, Armani Collections, Paul Smith, Reebok, Calvin Klein jeans, Burberry, The Professional Cookware Company and Hugo Boss. The centre is open 364 days a year including Bank Holidays. Opening times: Monday-Wednesday 10am-6pm, Thursday 10am- 8pm, Friday-Saturday 10am-6pmand Sunday 10am* - 5pm (*larger stores open at 11am). Bank Holidays 10am-6pm (excluding Christmas)

St Nicholas Avenue, Fulford, York, YO19 4TA (off the A64 on the A19 towards Selby), Tel: 01904 682700.
Press contact: Amy Watkinson, Tel: 01904 682700, email: amy.watkinson@mcarthurglen.com, or Georgina Power, telephone: 020 7535 2483, email: georgina.power@mcarthurglen.com,  website: www.yorkdesigneroutlet.com.  

Tanya Bicknell or Rachael Taylor
Tel: + 44 (0) 1483 238 852
General: + 44 (0) 1483 238 840
Email: tanya@kavanaghcommunications.com

For any further information and your free guide to York, please contact: York Visitor Information Centre, Tel: 01904 550099, email: info@visityork.org or visit the website at www.visityork.org.

Press contact:  Kay Hyde, PR Manager - Visit York, Tel: 01904 554451, email: kh@visityork.org, website: www.visityork.org.