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.
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.
One of Leeds’ most iconic buildings is set to be brought back to life.
Plans for a brand-new padel and leisure destination at The Roundhouse on Wellington Road have been approved by Leeds City Council’s West Plans Panel.
Consent has been granted for Ollo Padel to transform the Grade II* listed Roundhouse into a state-of-the-art sport, fitness, food, drink and community venue subject to conditions and completion of a Section 106 agreement.
Built in 1847 for the Leeds and Thirsk Railway Company, The Roundhouse was once home to the steam locomotives that powered industrial Victorian Leeds. In recent years, the building has stood largely unused.
Image: Supplied
The approved plans will restore and protect the landmark building and give the site a new, long-term future as one of the city’s most distinctive leisure destinations.
The three-acre site, located on the edge of Leeds city centre, will include nine outdoor doubles padel courts under a 10-metre canopy, plus a dedicated indoor coaching court within The Roundhouse itself.
At the heart of the site will be the Ollo Clubhouse; built around an all-day kitchen and bar, it will combine a comfortable lounge and co-working space, meeting rooms and live sport and events spaces.
The kitchen and bar will be run in partnership with Southbank Provisions, the independent Leeds hospitality team behind Headrow House, Belgrave Music Hall and Galleria whilst the gym will be operated by fitness and performance specialists Northbound, who will bring strength and conditioning practice, Hyrox training and pilates classes to The Roundhouse.
Image: Supplied
Construction is expected to begin later this year, with the venue aiming to open in early 2027.
Luke Gidney, Founder & CEO Ollo Padel: "This is a huge day for Leeds, for The Roundhouse and for Ollo. The Roundhouse has been part of the city’s story for nearly 180 years. It’s an incredible building but it needs people, energy and purpose again. Our plan is to bring it back to life as a place where people can play, eat, work, meet friends and feel part of something.
"Padel is growing so quickly because it’s fun, social and easy to pick up. But for us, this is about more than just the courts. We want Ollo to become a proper community destination for Leeds, somewhere welcoming, joyful and full of life.
"We’re incredibly grateful to Leeds City Council’s planning team, our case officer, the wider council team and everyone who has supported the project to this point. This has been a complex project but the sport and engagement throughout has been brilliant. Now the real work starts and we cannot wait to open the doors for you.”
Inside the Leeds factory that makes and supplies classic jukeboxes
Thomas Melia
This Leeds-based family-owned business is famed for supplying pubs, clubs and even ordinary people's homes with classic jukeboxes.
Started up in 1978, Sound Leisure really is a local business like no other, creating and distributing classic jukeboxes to over 40 countries.
This music-machine-making company notes that 75% of the jukeboxes they manufacture and sell throughout the year are bought for everyday homes.
The remaining 25% of orders are for the all-expected hospitality venues like bars, clubs and hotels, with the jukeboxes sometimes bought for company headquarters and retail outlets too.
Although there are other jukebox manufacturers, especially across the pond in the US, Sound Leisure is the only factory in the world that creates jukeboxes to play out across all formats: CD, vinyl and digital.
This jukebox business even runs the world's only 'Custom Shop', which is a design service that offers any music lovers the chance to personalise their pristine player.
So whether you're after a themed jukebox, customisable nameplate or even a bespoke design, this jukebox company's website states: "If you can dream it, we can build it".
One of Sound Leisure's prized products is the music machine inspired Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band-themed jukebox which any fan of The Beatles would dream of being its lucky owner.
And there really isn't anything they can't do, as alongside creating classic jukeboxes, the same team even make pinball machines, football tables, LED signs and more.
With CD and vinyl jukeboxes from £5,000 and digital jukeboxes quoted from upwards of £12,000, we're going to need a fair few rainy days to save up our money.
However, you can still marvel at these magnificent music machines without having to dip into your savings, with guided tours starting from just £15.
If you're up for learning a little bit more about music technology or simply after admiring these classic jukeboxes in all their glory, you can find out more about the factory and book your guided tour ticket HERE.
Clementine Hall -
3rd September 2024 
