Yorkshire

Things to do on a rainy day: Yorkshire

Don't let the weather keep you cooped up inside. 

There's lots to explore in Yorkshire this winter, whatever the weather. From perfectly preserved Victorian family homes to mighty castles, we've chosen our top picks for a rainy day.

Head underground in York

Shelter from the wet weather in an underground nuclear bunker. York Cold War Bunker was designed to monitor fallout in the event of a nuclear attack during the Cold War.

Explore behind the blast-proof doors, take a guided tour to discover the site's intriguing past and discover the operations rooms with its colourful psychology detector and highly advanced top-secret computer.

Explore York Cold War Bunker

Whitby Abbey Museum

Seek out some fascinating finds in the Whitby Abbey visitor centre. There are items from throughout the abbey's history; from when it was a working abbey to being a private family home after the suppression. In fact, the visitor centre itself is housed in the Cholmley family mansion.  

Talk to characters from the abbey's history (including Abbess Hild, a monk, and Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula) through interactive touchscreens to find out more about Whitby's story.

Discover Whitby

Afternoon Tea

Set inside a Victorian country house, the warm and friendly tearoom at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens is the perfect place to refuel on a rainy day. All food is freshly prepared, and on a wet day nothing a warm cup of tea and a slice of cake. 

For a treat to remember, take in panormaic views across the castle grounds from the tearoom in the Master Gunner's House at Scarborough Castle.

Explore Scarborough Castle

Explore a Victorian Family Home

Take a step back in time at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens. Built in the 1860s, Brodwsworth was a family home for over a century and has been preserved exactly as the last resident, Sylvia Grant-Dalton, left it in 1988.

While some rooms have kept a sense of grandeur, elsewhere the years of gentle decline as Sylvia's resources dwindled are apparent. Some unusual objects remain - look out for a Second World War baby's 'cradle gas mask', and a rare stuffed specimen of an American 'passenger pigeon'. 

Visit Brodsworth Hall

See more in Yorkshire

'step into englands story