York, Piece Hall & Lunch at the Woolpack

🏨 The Britannia Leeds Bradford Hotel

The Britannia Leeds Bradford Hotel is a comfortable base for a coach holiday, with everything you need in one place. The hotel has a lift to the upper floors, and you’ll have relaxed communal areas to unwind in after a full day out.

There’s an on-site restaurant where your evening meals and breakfasts are served, along with a bar area that’s handy for a quiet drink and a catch-up. Bedrooms are en-suite and come with the usual practical touches like tea and coffee making facilities and a TV.

If you fancy a bit of downtime, the hotel also has leisure facilities on site, including an indoor pool, gym and sauna.

🏡 Otley, Esholt & The Woolpack Pub

Enjoy a proper Yorkshire day out, starting with time in Otley - a characterful market town on the River Wharfe with a lovely feel to it. It’s ideal for a relaxed wander along the riverside, a browse through independent shops, or simply taking in the scenery, with the Otley Chevin rising above the town if you fancy those classic Wharfedale views.

From there, we head to the picture-postcard village of Esholt, best known to many as the original filming location for Emmerdale for a number of years. It’s a great wee stop for a stroll and a few photos, with that instantly familiar village look and feel.

The highlight of the day is lunch at The Woolpack pub - the original Woolpack made famous on screen, and still a warm, traditional pub full of character today. Lunch is included and served as a generous buffet, giving you time to relax and enjoy the setting, with a selection of sandwiches, sausage rolls, quiche, pork pies, an Indian platter, crispy chicken tenders, hand cut chips, plus potato salads and slaw, making it a really enjoyable, unhurried break in a place that feels like a proper one-off.

🏛️ The Piece Hall

The Piece Hall is one of those places that feels impressive the second you step into the courtyard. Built in 1779 as a trading hall for “pieces” of cloth, it’s now been beautifully restored into a lively space lined with independent shops, cafés, bars and places to eat, all wrapped around a huge open-air square. It’s ideal for a relaxed wander, a browse for something a bit different, and a sit down for a coffee while you take in the Georgian architecture.

🏰 York

York is one of those cities where you can pack a lot into a simple wander. York Minster is the big headline - even if you just admire it from outside, it’s a proper wow building, and if you go in you’ll see some of the finest medieval stonework and stained glass in the country. Not far away, The Shambles is the classic York experience - a narrow, cobbled medieval street with wonky, overhanging buildings and loads of little shops to browse.

If you fancy stretching your legs, the city walls are a brilliant way to get elevated views and really feel the history around you. And if you’re after something a bit different (and indoors if the weather turns), the National Railway Museum is a great shout - entry is free, and it’s one of York’s most popular stops for a reason.