Cottages in Pickering

Pickering is a pretty English village in a spectacular location. Brimming with popular tourist attractions, independent shops, and traditional eateries, it is situated in the foothills of the majestic North York Moors National Park, a haven for walkers and cyclists. Being a small town of only 7,000 people, you can rent a cottage in any part of Pickering and be less than ten minutes’ walk from the centre and all its associated goodies.

Cottages in Pickering stand out for their beautiful brownish-grey stonework, a pretty building material that brings a satisfying uniformity to the streets of Pickering. The buzzword for cottages in Pickering is cosy, with small but well-appointed rooms and real working fireplaces. They are mostly terraced or semi-detached, although there are a few larger detached cottages suitable for big groups. They all have outside space, and children will have no shortage of space to run around and burn off energy in the lovely gardens.

Pickering is a big draw for families looking to get away from the city for a weekend break in nature. As well as walks in the wholesome air of the North Yorkshire Moors, there are several family friendly attractions to treat your children. The most exciting is Flamingo Land Theme Park and Zoo, situated just outside of Pickering, one of Britain's best loved theme parks. The park boasts adrenaline-fuelled thrills, active play zones for younger guests, Lost Kingdom's vast African plains and the wet and wacky world of Splosh!

The archetypal English countryside of the North York Moors National Park a stone’s throw from Pickering is a mecca for ramblers. Gentle rolling hills, heather moorland, craggy cliffs, bubbling streams and waterfalls, all intertwined with that lovely English flavour of patchwork green fields, ancient stone walls and story-book villages with traditional pubs offering hearty fare. The park offers thousands of miles of walks, so grab a map in Pickering and take your pick!

Pickering is a thrilling destination for keen cyclists. Road bikers can ride the local country roads of North York Moors National Park past delightful scenery and through welcoming villages replete with traditional pubs and restaurants. Dalby Forest in the southern end of the park is a haven for mountain bikers, with miles of gentle green trails, right through to trickier reds, blacks and ‘slopestyle’ courses.

Beck Isle Museum is an independent social history museum housed in an imposing historic building beside Pickering Beck. It contains several rooms with various themes and myriad artefacts from ‘the good old days’.

Pickering Castle is a classic motte-and-bailey castle built in the 1100s. Raised by William the Conqueror, it was then added to by Henry III to protect from the marauding Scots. Today you can explore the castle and discover how it was used throughout the centuries.

At Pascal’s Winter Sourdough School the owner takes you on a journey through the world of sourdough baking and prepares you to become a sourdough bread expert when you return home. What a great skill to pick up on your holiday in Pickering!

The North Yorkshire Moor Railway is one of the world’s greatest heritage railway experiences. Climb on-board a heritage steam train, take your place in a cosy compartment, and experience 30 kilometres of Yorkshire’s arresting scenery. A genuinely magical experience for children and railway enthusiasts!

St Peter’s & St Paul’s Church is a typical English church found in towns and villages the length and breadth of the country. But its unremarkable exterior belies its unique interior, as the church is home to the most complete sets of mediaeval wall paintings in England, dating back 600 years!

Despite its modest size, Pickering boasts no fewer than three thriving theatrical venues. The Kirk Theatre, the Memorial Hall and the Friends Meeting house offer a diverse theatre, music and arts programme throughout the year.

This quaintest of tearooms is quintessentially English. With antique furniture, afternoon teas on cake stands with bone china teacups, staff dressed as they would have been at the turn of the last century, the tearooms offer a delightful journey through time and a very tasty one at that!