God’s own county is a great place to spend your anniversary. Whether you’re a Yorkshire native, you got married or met in the area, or you just have a soft spot for the land of Emmerdale, Yorkshire pudding and parkin, there’s something for every kind of couple in our list of top anniversary ideas.
1. A day of indulgence in York
Gorgeous York is a quaint gem of a city, with its Gothic Minster, winding medieval streets and Tudor buildings. Start your day with a brisk stroll around the city walls, then descend down into the Shambles and surrounding streets, for a morning mooch around this network of charming boutiques, cafe spots and picturesque chocolatiers. Stop off for lunch at stylish deli Filmore and Union, then take a tour
Dine_Moulin Rouge around the impressive Minster. Of course, a visit to Betty’s tea rooms is obligatory when you’re in York. If you’re going on a weekend, beat the crowds by booking the Belmont Room upstairs for your fancy afternoon tea. If you’ve still got room for dinner after, top your day off with an exquisite meal at The Star Inn The City. Job done!
2. Fun times in Leeds
Begin your adventure with a little bit of indie shopping at the Corn Exchange. Nourish your mind with inspirational tomes, graphic-led periodicals and homewares at Colours May Vary, and then fuel up with Indian street food at Bundobust. In the afternoon, have a wander around the 700 acres of beautiful award-winning parkland, woodland and lakes that make up Roundhay Park. But this isn’t just an aimless meander: Roundhay is also home to Tropical World, which boasts the largest collection of tropical plants outside of Kew Gardens, and many animal besides. A good walk deserves a good feed, so sate your appetite with a scrumptious meal at The Garden Room at The Mansion, which looks out onto the park and serves up amazing locally-sourced food. Finish by catching some off-the-radar bands at
the Brudenell Social Club.
Art can have the most memorable effect on you, and the Sculpture Park near Wakefield is a truly immersive day out, breaking down the usual barriers between art and the public by means of touchy-feely interaction. Ideal for a cultural slant on your anniversary, these 500 acres of carefully sculpted views with indoor spaces, underground galleries and vast open air exhibitions will take you on a voyage of discovery together. Free to enter with a licensed restaurant (and family friendly too, in case you’re bringing the kids along), the joy of chancing upon unexpected views and sensory experiences with your significant other makes for some lasting memories.
4. A trip on the Belmond Northern Belle
If you can’t stretch to the Orient Express, this train tour, departing from several Yorkshire destinations (including Harrogate, Leeds, York, Doncaster and Sheffield) is surely the next best thing. Luxury rail travel in beautiful carriages fully restored to their 1930s elegance – an anniversary trip on this is just the height of opulence. Pretend you’re in an Agatha Christie novel during the golden age of travel, and make with the vintage glamour aboard this magnificent train, with on-board gastronomic adventures complete with fizz and musical entertainment. Choose from short breaks to stunning destinations around the UK, or round trips for a scenic tour around your favourite areas. There are regular dining events hosted by numerous celebrity chefs, as well as themed occasions. The most decadent trip you’ll ever make in Yorkshire.
5. The Forbidden Corner, Leyburn, North Yorkshire
Perfect for those who like something a bit different, this fantasy garden is a unique trip out. Created in four acres of land, there’s something a tiny bit Alice in Wonderland about this attraction, with mazes, follies, labyrinthine tunnels and chambers and some of the weirdest buildings you’ll have seen. Reawakening an irresistible sense of wonder in even the most jaded spirits, it’s a feast for the imagination that will have you discussing your experience long after your day’s done! While you’re in the area, pop into the Sandpiper Inn, which won Yorkshire Life Dining Pub of the Year, and whose chef, Jonathan Harrison, won the Roux Scholarship.
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