Make the most out of your day in this picturesque town nestled in the Wharfe Valley with our insider's guide to the best things to eat, drink and do in Ilkley.
Fancy escaping the hustle and bustle of the city for a day away in the countryside?
Then Ilkley is the place for you. Only a 25 minute train ride away from Leeds, Ilkley is a quaint town drenched in history with lots to explore.
The area’s often named as one of the best places to live in the UK — and with so much to offer and the Yorkshire dales on your doorstep, it’s easy to see why.Â
Stuck where to begin?
The Hoot’s got your back.
Morning
There's no better way to kickstart your day than with a banging brunch.
Just a five minute walk away from Ilkley train station is Thirty Nine The Grove, a family-run independent cafe that is your one-stop-shop for everything homemade.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
From fresh barista coffee with hunks of banana loaf to perfectly poached eggs atop your favourite brunch dish, it’s a wonderful spot to visit and people watch on their sunny terrace that overlooks one of Ilkley's busiest streets.
Once you're all fuelled up and ready to embrace the day, it's time to get your stomp on and take to the Ilkley moors.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Head upward toward White Wells and from there you can choose a route as long or as short as you fancy, but we do recommend stopping by the iconic Cow and Calf rocks where you'll find the best views overlooking the Wharfe Valley.
But beware of the sheep as they're often wandering aimlessly through the bracken-laden hills and taking in the stunning vistas themselves.
Afternoon
Success! You've got some of the city air out of your lungs and now it's time for a spot of shopping.
Take a leisurely stroll down The Grove where you'll find some of the town's best independent boutiques and shops.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Make sure to pop into The Grove Bookshop which has been there for over 40 years and stocks a wide range of titles in pretty much every genre.
If you're a homeware fiend then Covet is the place for you, a treasure trove of carefully sourced unique pieces that will bring a smile to your face just by looking at them. From authentic Turkish towels to Danish ceramics, we could spend hours in here curating our dream home.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And of course it wouldn't be a trip to Ilkley without popping into Betty's, the famous tea rooms are a proper Yorkshire institution and if you don't have time for a spot of sophisticated afternoon tea then a takeaway bag jam-packed with fat rascals and fondant fancies will most definitely do the trick.
Gosh, all this shopping is thirsty work isn't it? And luckily for us, just at the end of The Grove you'll find Friends of Ham.
A firm favourite in Leeds, this craft beer and wine bar is the perfect afternoon pick me up that also serve up a mouthwatering selection of (yes, you guessed it) ham and tapas plates if you're feeling peckish.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Take a seat on their sun drenched terrace, order an Aperol Spritz and get stuck into one of their delicious charcuterie boards. You'll be cancelling your flights to Barcelona in no time.
Evening
Right, now that you've wet the whistle with a couple of spritzes it's time to visit some proper Yorkshire pubs and luckily, Ilkley's got plenty of them.
Paying homage to the iconic song, the Bar T'at is a lovely pub that have a fantastic selection of local beers and a local, friendly atmosphere.
Image: Fuggle and GoldingImage: Bar T'at
If the sun is shining then The Black Hat just across the way boasts a huge outdoor terrace that is perfect for soaking in those precious rays.
Fuggle and Golding Tap House is a local favourite and if you can nudge yourself in there on a busy evening, then it's a wonderful little place to enjoy a taster of some beer from their ever-changing keg lines which showcase some of the best breweries in Britain and from around the world.
Right, it's time for tea and we hope you fancy Italian because that's what Ilkley does best.
Emporio Italia is a family-run eatery that has a real cult following, with a menu that changes daily you can guarantee that the freshest ingredients of the highest quality are used in creating authentic dishes made from the heart.
Image: Emporio Italia Image: The Hoot Leeds
Allow Luigi and his wonderful family look after you in their warm and cosy restaurant, but make sure to book in advance as this place is always bursting at the seams.
Born in Ilkley, Pranzo Italian are dishing up homemade pasta inspired by founder Marco’s legendary Nonna. Their four-hour braised beef shin ragu mafalde never misses and paired with a glass (or bottle) of red, that'll top your day off in Ilkley just perfectly if you ask us.
It's fantastic news for our city as Leeds has been crowned one of the best cities in the UK for foodies.
It's news that we've been pretty certain of for some time, but it's still nice to be recognised isn't it?
It comes from a new study carried out by credit card brand Aqua who analysed 30 major UK cities across a range of dining and social media metrics, including cuisine variety, restaurant availability, meal affordability, Michelin recognition and TikTok hashtag volumes.Â
Coming in at number on was, of course, London.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
With 47 cuisines, 22.5 restaurants per 10,000 residents and 81 Michelin-starred establishments, the capital unsurprisingly continues to dominate the UK’s culinary scene.
But in at number two was our glorious city of Leeds, supported by the highest restaurant density in the study, with 38.5 establishments per 10,000 people, and strong affordability compared with cities in the south.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
We will absolutely take that.
Other northern spots to feature on the list include Sheffield and Bradford in sixth and eighth place.
The top ten UK cities for foodies are:
London
Leeds
Nottingham
Edinburgh
Wolverhampton / Leicester
Sheffield
Birmingham / Glasgow
Bradford / Swansea
Preston
Milton Keynes
Here in Leeds we've got so many fabulous food spots, with new openings cropping up every month it's hard to keep track.
From the multi award-winning Bavette Bistro in Horsforth to the highly acclaimed indie Bundobust that started off in Leeds - you certainly won't find yourself hungry or at a loss for somewhere to eat here.
Audio North’s Artist of the Month: Cole LC | March 2026
Thomas Melia
The North is full of amazing artists, and we’re spotlighting one every single month – it's time to go 'Rollin' with Cole LC
Leeds' own Cole LC has got very far doing his "little music thing" and has seen him reach all new heights as his upcoming project suggests with its title West Yorkshire to Westend Show
This musician has built a pretty distinctive artistic style that fuses rap, all while making sure his West Yorkshire identity was kept in the forefront.
That's because, all of Cole's visuals have been filmed across the city at some pretty recognisable spots like Kirkgate Market, City Varieties and Belgrave Music Hall.
So far, this local lad has captured the attention of music lovers with songs like 'Westbrook' and 'Your Tings My Ting' both having over one million streams.
Now, Cole LC sits down to talk all about being Audio North's ‘Artist of the Month’ and shares more teasers about his highly-anticipated EP.
An interview with Cole LC - Audio North's Artist of the Month
Audio North's Artist of the Month: Cole LC | March 2026 / Credit: Supplied via Press shots
What can we expect from your upcoming EP?
This is my first big release in quite a while after the release of Favourite Version in 2023 and I've done a lot of growing. I started writing last Summer when I was going through a tough period but it's gone onto create some of my best songwriting stories. It's a one big note to self that I hope helps other people out.
What is it like being a Northern independent artist?
I grew up in Roundhay with my family and Leeds as a city has had a monumental impact on what I do as an artist. By being close to the city centre, it has allowed me to be exposed to different types of music, soaking up all these genres has helped influence what I do now.
How do you think Leeds is shaping the UK music scene?
This city is a big credit to music and it's a testament to the musicians of Leeds having that talent but also being hardworking. It's also about authenticity and that's what we've got. The climate of music in general is very intense and there's lots of competition but the sheer talent here in Leeds makes it impossible for us to go unnoticed.
Cole LC has played a key part in Leeds' music scene / Credit: Supplied via Press shots
Who are some up and coming artists you're checking out?
Ellur and you spell it "Ell-uh" because she's from Bradford. She's an Alt-pop artist who I've been listening to a lot. I've also loved Charlotte Plank, especially her latest single 'crybby blue'. There's even Aaron Rowe who supported Lewis Capaldi.
What does a performance day look like for you?
I don't have a specific routine before a show. Practicing my lyrics is a big one and having a mint tea too.
What is your ultimate dream musically?
I'd love to perform whenever I like and just know people would be there and support me. I'd love the financial freedom to be able not worry and creative new tracks whenever whereever I want. Music is so powerful and speaks to everyone, I want to keep improving my quality and progress.
If you could collaborate with anyone who would it be?
Probably Justin Bieber because of how much I love him, he's the greatest of all time, he just is. When I was 14 I was so fuming watching him and seeing how good he is, I thought he'd put be out of a job forever. He has some unreal albums.
What's next for Cole LC?
I can guarantee you new music every single month for 2026. I know a lot of people have been getting in touch regarding a headline show so I'm hoping to organise a gig. I'm also going to make sure I keep the connection with people who enjoy my music whether that's in person or online.
Clementine Hall -
3rd September 2024 
