Once a busy industrial centre filled with tanners, weavers and chandlers, the delightful market town of Helmsley now welcomes visitors to its many galleries, boutique shops. cafes and restaurants. A few minutes walk from the market square are a castle, a church, a country house and a famous walled garden.

The ancient settlement of Elmeslac pre-dates the Domesday book, as its original Old English name suggests. After 1066 the lands fell into Norman hands. A fortification was first established in the 1120s and grew into a substantial castle by medieval times. Now in the custodianship of English Heritage, the ruins are a distinctive feature on the skyline. On the opposite side of the square, the imposing All Saints Church chronicles the history of Helmsley: an early church was replaced in the 12th century and substantially rebuilt in Victorian times. Duncombe Park, family seat of the Lords Feversham, and the Helmsley Walled garden are close by. 

In and around Hemsley you will find serviced and self-catering accomodation, from budget YHA to luxurious boutique spa. The wild and wonderfull attractions of the North Yorks Moors are a boot stride away and international performers can be discovered in unexpected local venues.