Ilkley Tourist Information

One of the most charming and elegant spa towns in Yorkshire, Ilkley is well known for its Victorian architecture, its spectacular array of independent local shops and its high-quality restaurants.

Ilkley Holiday Cottages

Ilkley is home to several museums, all of them unique and very different from larger museums you’ll find in the cities. Ilkley Toy Museum, for example, contains one of the most exquisite private collection of toys in the north of England, featuring everything from dolls and dollhouses to wooden and paper toys. Lovers of art will enjoy Manor House Art Gallery and Museum, converted from one of Ilkley’s oldest buildings, and The Elm Gallery, situated on one of the surrounding moors, housing an unusual collection including paintings by local artists Liz Clarke and David Marsh.

Ilkley’s spa heritage is well-displayed in its remaining spa halls, including Kings Hall and Winter Gardens, located right in the heart of Ilkley, which is made up of a glass-roofed spa hall and a conventional Victorian theatre. If you enjoy walking in the outdoors, why not take a stroll and take to the waters at White Wells Spa Cottage, located high on Ilkley Moor.

Also on Ilkley Moor, the Cow and Calf Rocks is an impressive rock formation comprised of an outcrop and a boulder, and is great for rock-climbing or an ad hoc geography lesson for the kids.

Ilkley, furthermore, is an excellent base from which to explore attractions around the area, including St. Ives Estate and the Five Rise Locks in the nearby town of Bingley.

Interesting fact: Lishmans of Ilkley, a local butcher, was named Britain’s best butcher and one of Rick Stein’s ‘superheroes’ in 2003.

For the latest Ilkley events, check the Hello Yorkshire blog.

Places to Visit:

Ilkley Toy Museum
Kings Hall and Winter Gardens
Manor House Art Gallery and Museum
Cow and Calf Rocks
The Elm Gallery
Ilkley Moor
White Wells Spa Cottage
St. Ives Estate
Five Rise Locks