A Flavour of Yorkshire at Christmas

Meet your Tour Manager at your hotel in Harrogate. This traditional English town became fashionable with the affluent classes as a spa resort during the Georgian and Victorian eras, thanks to its natural, mineral-rich spring waters. Today, it's a welcoming destination with a rich cultural and historical heritage, with an abundance of beautiful gardens, elegant boutiques and quaint cafés, as well as some exquisitely restored baths and chic spas.

You have some time to settle in, and enjoy a glass of tasty mulled wine before dinner.

• Dinner

It's Christmas Eve today, and you begin by taking a short walk to the famous Bettys Tea Rooms, a Harrogate institution since its establishment in 1919 and a must-try for visitors to the town. You settle down in the elegant, historic surroundings and are treated to a delectable cream tea, enjoying delicious scones and some excellent local teas.

This afternoon, you travel to Leeming Bar to join the heritage Wensleydale Railway, which dates back as far as 1848 and takes you on a nostalgic journey through miles of Yorkshire's finest countryside. You enjoy a festive 'Santa Special' trip, indulging in a mince pie as you travel through the striking wintry scenery.

This evening, back at your hotel, there's a prosecco reception and festive carols around the Christmas tree.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today is Christmas Day, and you're free to enjoy the festivities. After a relaxed morning, you sit down to a traditional 5-course Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings at your hotel.

Your afternoon is free; you could take a stroll around the seventeen acres of the English Heritage Grade II Listed Valley Gardens, where amongst the manicured gardens you'll discover historic buildings and sculptures including the Sun Pavilion and the Cherub Fountain.

This evening, a buffet dinner is served, followed by a fun quiz and bingo.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

It's Boxing Day, and you spend the day discovering more of the stunning scenery of Yorkshire. First, you join the scenic Keighley & Worth Valley Railway for a return trip to Oxenhope. The line originally opened in 1867. After its closure in 1961, it reopened as a heritage railway in 1968 with the help of a preservation group. The line passes through five miles of wild countryside immortalised by the Brontës, taking in some of England's most beautiful scenery. It's also famous for its role in the 1970 movie "The Railway Children."

Later, take the coach to Bolton Priory, an atmospheric church and ruins of a 12th-century Augustinian Monastery that sits on the banks of the Strid River. Established in 1154, this magnificent Gothic building remained in service until King Henry VIII's dissolution of monasteries in 1539. Today, visitors can enjoy miles of walking trails and striking views of the ruins. You have some free time here before returning to Harrogate for dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today's excursion takes you to York, where you embark on a fascinating guided walking tour. York is a magnificent medieval city which offers history and beauty in abundance. Enclosed by the most complete medieval walls in England, York's ancient streets nearly all lead to the centrepiece of the city: York Minster, the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe, which you see on your tour.

You also visit the Shambles, one of the world's best-preserved medieval streets. Walking down the Shambles is a remarkable experience, as you take in the quaint cobblestones and overhanging timber-framed buildings - some of which date back to the 14th century.

Following the tour, you have free time. With its medieval charms and old-world atmosphere, York is an idyllic city in which to enjoy the festive atmosphere.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Your holiday comes to an end today, and after breakfast, you're free to leave Harrogate. 

• Breakfast