What better place to enjoy a cold, crisp winter’s day than enjoying the local offerings available at Skipton market along with a variety of wonderful, quaint shops and a historic castle located in the heart of the town.
We decided to spend some time in this town with hope of experiencing the local festivities, our only disappointment was finding out that we missed the infamous market that was supposed to have been scheduled but instead only offered a small scattering of stalls.
The market is the pinnacle of Skipton and given that it only runs a couple of days each week, it is imperative that you do sufficient research prior to heading to Yorkshire because there is a vast difference between a market day and one where you just have the local shops to wander!
Our day in Skipton began with the drive to this town which in itself is a great experience given that you are driving though many of the local hamlets and villages once you head off the M65 and through Colne to the smaller winding roads. There are so many wonderfully named towns that you visit such as Earby and others that are just lacking in activity but delightfully shaped in architecture and heritage.
Skipton Castle
Once you approach the town of Skipton, you venture along the local railway lines which allows locals and tourists the option to visit nearby Bolton Abbey via a winding train journey that takes in the beautiful countryside.
There really is one major car park in Skipton and this is located behind the local town hall and near Marks and Spencer’s. Parking here isn’t particularly cheap, expect to pay in the region of 3-5 pounds if you are wanting to experience the town for the full day. This is also a great spot to park if you want to experience Skipton Castle.
Although we didn’t take a tour of this castle, we did read some literature which provided a great insight even if you don’t walk on the grounds of the historic feature. Over 900 years old, Skipton Castle is one of the most complete and best preserved medieval castles in England and is well worth a visit at any season of the year. Despite the price of parking, there really is plenty of things to do in this town to spend a full day, though our experience here was cut short given our desire to explore further parts of Yorkshire.
Skipton Market
As mentioned earlier, the pinnacle of Skipton is the wonderfully acclaimed market, where locals offer their products for tourists who travel from locations afar to be a part of this experience. I have been fortunate enough to visit Skipton Market on several occasions growing up so can attest to the fact that this is one of the better ones around in England.
Market Days are usually scheduled from 9am – 5pm on the following days (exceptions being the Christmas markets which are generally held on the first two Sundays in December):
- Monday
- Wednesday
- Friday
- Saturday
Clothing, confectionary and ‘bits and bobs’ are popular items that seem to sell great on a market even though they may seem trivial. Our sole purchase was some delicious local yogurt covered bananas which were reasonably priced for a decent sized bag. The market runs all the way down one side of the street and then on the other side of the road, market stalls are dotted running parallel to the local shops.
Local Shops
Craven Court which is beautifully designed especially at this time of the year when there is a gorgeous, decorated Christmas tree in the heart of the shopping area and plenty of other decorations lining the shops and upstairs.
The local shops are certainly not to be ignored and there is a gorgeous indoor area that is worth wandering down especially if you want to get out of the chilly weather for a few minutes.
Skipton offers plenty in terms of cuisine options. The famous Stanforth Butchers provide world-renowned pork pies that have won many awards over the years for their delectable taste. There are a myriad of flavours available and all are reasonably priced meaning that anyone visiting the region must sample one of these!
Local bakeries offer shoppers the option to take in a quick snack or you could always venture into a local pub for some excellent pub grub whilst sipping down a local ale if that tickles your taste buds! Our choice of the local Fish and Chips from Bizzies directly in front of the town’s Marks & Spencer’s establishment was certainly a good option in our opinion.
Positives
- There is plenty of things to do in Skipton but it is well advised to visit here on a market day.
- Plan to visit here for a full day or at least half a day because you can spend several hours taking in the local market, shops and then sample the historic town hall or Skipton Castle.
- There is ample parking to the rear of Skipton Town Hall and directly behind the local M&S food store.
Negatives
- Parking is expensive especially if you are only planning on staying for a hour or so. It works out cheaper to stay longer in terms of the price per hour.
- Beware that on the market days and especially Christmas market days, the town centre is heaving with tourists and locals.
- Be prepared for the hustle and bustle. This can be a benefit though because you are able to experience the wonderful atmosphere.
I’m impressed – there is blue sky in that picture! was that THIS Christmas!!! market towns are beautiful
The picture with the blue sky was actually taken a couple of years ago and not this Christmas. While visiting in December it was overcast, drizzling and cold so all in all a typical England day! But even when the weather is against you, these idyllic market towns are just great to go and explore and wander around.
This article took me back to my childhood! My parents love Skipton and often take their dog to visit
Ste, I remember frequently going to Skipton as a kid with my parents! We would go there and walk around the market and the other shops before grabbing something to eat for lunch and then coming home. It’s really only a short drive from Ramsbottom or Bury and it’s picturesque as you drive through Colne and then on through the likes of Earby!
What an incredibly gorgeous place – I’d totally go!
It’s really beautiful and I would certainly recommend heading over to the Yorkshire Dales if you get the opportunity!!
I love markets in small English cities. This looks fantastic.
You certainly won’t be disappointed Lance if you head on over to Skipton on a market day. In fact, if you do your research right prior to heading to Yorkshire you can likely take in a few different markets on the same day in the region, there are so many of those quaint little downs in this part of England!
Looks like a rather damp day! I was in Skipton when the Olympic flame passed through and the place had quite an atmosphere.
If you’re ever there again, head to the Woolly Sheep for lunch (advanced booking recommended). It’s an excellent little pub with some outdoor seating space for when the weather is a little more welcoming!
Paul
Typical English weather right Paul! It wouldn’t be the same without a damp, murky day in Yorkshire. Either way it was a great day there. We have been to Skipton a few times over the last couple of years, whenever we return home to visit my family in Lancashire, we tend to take a trip over to the Yorkshire Dales and head to places such as Haworth and Skipton.
We will definitely check out the Woolly Sheep the next time we are in Skipton – always looking for some new pubs to sample for sure!!
That looks like lots of fun and the yoghurt sounds delicious. It doesn’t look like a very nice day but then that’s what I would expect for England in winter.
Ohhhh i love visiting markets and this looks great! 🙂
I was just reading this morning in The Sunday Times that Skipton has been voted the best place to live in the UK.
I have many happy memories of visiting Skipton as a child, I grew up in West Yorkshire. It is a quaint and very appealing little town. Always worth stopping by if anyone gets the chance.
So appreciating all of your excellent posts for England! We are swapping houses with a friend in Manchester for 2 weeks this summer and can’t wait to explore all the area has to offer.
Ah so many childhood memories from Skipton 🙂