Northallerton

Northallerton is the county town of North Yorkshire in England. With a population in 2011 of 16,832, it has light industry, local government employment, a large hospital, Friarage, and the Leeming RAF base. Most visits will be related to those, as the town, though pleasant enough, lacks "sights" and attractions. But it's a possible base for touring the North York Moors, the Vale of York, and the northern part of the Yorkshire Dales.

Get in
Northallerton is on the East Coast main railway line. Hourly trains from London Kings Cross take 2 hr 30 min via Peterborough, Newark, Doncaster and York, and continue north to Hartlepool and Sunderland or to Darlington,  Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Edinburgh.

Transpennine Expresses run hourly from Manchester Airport and Piccadilly via Huddersfield, Leeds, York and Thirsk, continuing to Yarm, Thornaby (for Stockton-on-Tees), Middlesbrough and Redcar.

is just south of town centre.

Dales & District Bus 70 runs every couple of hours M-Sa between Northallerton, Thirsk and Ripon, which has frequent buses to Harrogate and Leeds.

Hodgson's Bus 72 runs every couple of hours M-Sa between Northallerton and Darlington, taking 50 min.

By road it's simplest to take A1(M) to Leeming Bar then A684 east into town. You might also approach via A19.

Get around
You need wheels to reach the various sights.

See

 * on High St is the Church of England parish church. The earliest parts date from 12th century but most of it is 19th.

Do

 * The Forum on Bullamoor Road has theatre, comedy, music and so on. It's on Bullamoor Road near the hospital. Box Office is +44 1609 776230.
 * Jazz Club: Bedale & Northallerton Jazz and Swing Cabaret Club meet alternate Fridays at Romanby Golf Club, see below.
 * Thirsk & Northallerton Golf Club is in Thirsk.
 * Organised hikes: Northallerton Ramblers meet on Thursday.
 * Organised hikes: Northallerton Ramblers meet on Thursday.

Buy

 * Market days are Wednesday and Saturday. The Country Market is Friday within Town Hall.
 * Tesco in town centre is open M-Sa 6AM-midnight, Su 10AM-4PM.

Eat

 * Other places for sit-down meals are Lion of Asia (closed Monday) and Red Chilli (open daily).
 * Other places for sit-down meals are Lion of Asia (closed Monday) and Red Chilli (open daily).

Drink

 * Other town centre pubs are Stumble Inn, Tickle Toby Inn, Katch (formerly Black Bull), Odd Fellows Arms, Potting Shed, Nag's Head, The Standard, Mason's Arms, Tithe Bar and The Little Tanner.
 * Further out but within walking range are Jolly Minister south on Valley Rd, and Willow Beck north on Finkills Way.
 * See Thirsk for the highly-rated Buck Inn at Maunby.
 * See Thirsk for the highly-rated Buck Inn at Maunby.

Connect
As of March 2024, Northallerton and its approach roads have 4G from Vodafone, and 5G from EE, O2 and Three.

Go next

 * The North York Moors rise a few miles to the east.
 * Ripon is close to magnificent Fountains Abbey.
 * Harrogate and Knaresborough are genteel well-preserved spas.
 * Whitby is where the Yorkshire coast becomes attractive, east of industrial Middlesbrough and Redcar.