THINGS TO DO IN PICKERING & NORTH YORKSHIRE
A local’s guide
A local’s guide sharing our favourite places, walks, food & days out.
Born and bred in Yorkshire, I have a lifelong connection with this beautiful part of the world. Having grown up exploring the towns, villages, coast and countryside, I know there is so much more to discover beyond the well-known attractions.
The places featured here are those I have personally enjoyed and genuinely recommend to my guests – from favourite cafés and country pubs to scenic walks, family days out and hidden gems.
This is not intended to be an exhaustive guide, and opening times, facilities and communities are always changing, so I recommend checking directly with individual venues before visiting. I’m always discovering new favourites myself, and will continue to update these recommendations as I find them.
Explore our guide
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👨👩👧 Family Friendly ·
♿ Accessibility ·
🌱 Vegetarian / Vegan ·
🐕 Dog Friendly ·
🫖 Drinks ·
🥐 Breakfasts ·
🥪 Lunches ·
🍴 Dinners ·
🍰 Cakes / Sweet Treats ·
🥡 Takeaway ·
🚶 Walkable from the Cottage
🍴 EAT & DRINK
Our favourite places for breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, cake, and a good Yorkshire pint.
Ivy’s Tea Rooms
Market Place · Tea Room
👨👩👧 · 🐕 · 🍰 · 🥪 · 🌱 ·🚶· ♿ (1 small step in entrance)
A lovely traditional tea room right in the heart of Pickering, serving homemade food, cakes, and drinks.
⭐ Why we like it
Excellent homemade food and drink served with genuine care and kindness. A lovely independent local business.
📍 From The Swiss Cottage
About a 2 minute walk – right on the Market Place near the White Swan.
The White Swan Inn
Market Place . Gastro Pub
🐕 · 🥪 · 🍽️ · 🌱 · 🚶♂️ · 🍷
An 18th century characterful Pickering favourite, serving excellent food in the heart of town.
⭐ Why we like it
Delicious lunches and evening meals, with a lovely atmosphere and friendly service. A warm and cosy location both for dining, and a few drinks with friends and family.
📍 From The Swiss Cottage
About a 2 minute walk – right on the Market Place.
Namaste Bengal
Market Place . Indian Restaurant and Takeaway
🍽️ · 🌱 · 🚶♂️ · 🍷 · ♿️ · 🥡
A welcoming Indian restaurant serving flavour-packed curries, tandoori dishes, biryanis and plenty of vegetarian choices.
⭐ Why we like it
Delicious, freshly prepared food with lovely friendly service. A great choice for an easy evening meal — whether you fancy eating in or taking something back to the cottage. And believe them when they say they can make it flavoursome and spicy 🌶️
📍 From The Swiss Cottage
About a 2 minute walk – right on the Market Place opposite the Bay Horse.
Capplemans Fish & Chips
Market Place · Fish & Chips · Eat In or Takeaway
👨👩👧 · 🐟 · 🥡 · 🌱 · ♿️
Proper Yorkshire fish and chips, cooked fresh, with the choice to eat in or take them away. Gluten-free options are also available.
⭐ Why we like it
Crisp batter, good fish and generous chips — exactly what you want from a traditional chippy. Handy too when you want an easy supper without having to cook. Eat in or take-away. You can also pre-order online!
📍 From The Swiss Cottage
Just a few minutes’ walk away at 11 Market Place.
🏰 SEE & DO
Historic places, attractions and some of our favourite things to discover in and around Pickering.
North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR)
Pickering Station · Heritage Railway
👨👩👧👦 · 🐕 · 🚂 · 🌳 · 🚶 · ♿️ – limited specific space, but the staff do work extremely hard on accessibility. Call ahead for peace of mind.
Step aboard one of Yorkshire’s great heritage railways and travel through the beautiful North York Moors by steam or diesel train. The 24-mile route runs from Pickering towards the coast, with stops including Goathland and Grosmont and services through to Whitby.
⭐ Why we like it
It feels like an adventure from the moment you walk into Pickering’s wonderful old station. Beautiful scenery, historic trains and a genuinely lovely day out for children and adults alike. With frequent visiting heritage trains, special events throughout the year, onboard dining, and standard passenger travel, these trains are a vital asset in supporting our local community.
📍 From The Swiss Cottage
Only a few minutes’ walk away — Pickering Station is right in the heart of town, so you can leave the car behind and begin your day on foot.
Pickering Castle
Castlegate · English Heritage
👨👩👧👦 · 🐕 · 🏰 · 🌳 · 🚶
A remarkably peaceful Norman castle sitting just above the town. Explore its surviving stone towers, climb the motte for lovely views across Pickering, and discover how the original timber fortress gradually developed into the castle you see today.
⭐ Why we like it
It’s one of those places that feels slightly hidden despite being right in Pickering. There’s plenty for children to explore, space to wander, and enough history to make a short visit genuinely interesting without it becoming an all-day expedition.
📍 From The Swiss Cottage
An easy walk along Burgate onto Castlegate.
🌳 WALKS & NATURE ADVENTURES
From easy local walks to the North Yorkshire Moors, forests and the great Yorkshire Coast.
♿ SPECIAL SHOUT OUT FOR ACCESSIBILITY
We know first hand the importance of access, and the value that wheelchair and pram accessibility can make to many people’s well-being. Here are a few notable places which we feel worked hard to tick the box of Excellent Accessibility.