On Ilkley Moor Bar t'At, on Ilkley Moor Bar t'At...
Fancy escaping the hustle and bustle of the city for a weekend away in the countryside? Then Ilkley is the place for you. Only a 25 minute train ride away, Ilkley is a quaint town drenched in history with lots to explore.
Located on the doorstep of the Yorkshire Dales, you are spoilt for choice with different rambles to embark on, all with breathtaking panoramic views guaranteed. After working up an appetite you'll find a lively drinking and dining scene to indulge in, all with a side of that good old Yorkshire hospitality.
With lots to choose from, we have cherry picked our favourite places to visit in Ilkley this weekend.
The Cow and Calf Rocks
Image: The Hoot Leeds
You simply can't visit Ilkley without visiting the iconic Cow and Calf Rocks on Ilkley Moor. Take a hike up to the top, breathe in that good Yorkshire air and marvel at the impressive panoramic views of the town and beyond.
The rock formation is named the Cow and Calf because one is large and the other sitting close by it, small. According to local legend, the Calf was split from the Cow when Rombald, the local giant, trampled on the rock when fleeing his angry wife. The wife then dropped the stones in her skirt, forming the surrounding rock formation 'The Skirtful of Stones'. So when you're up there, watch out for any angry giants!
The famous Betty's Tea Rooms are a Yorkshire institution and well worth a visit when in Ilkley.
Expect impeccable service, carefully curated seasonal menus and cakes that look just too good to eat. Their offerings celebrate their Yorkshire roots whilst paying homage to their Swiss heritage, a winning combination if you ask me. Grab a table by the window and treat yourself to the traditional afternoon tea whilst watching the world go by. Or order my favourite, a fat rascal scone lathered in warm butter served alongside a piping hot cup of Yorkshire tea, yum!
Pranzo
Image: The Hoot Leeds
This family-run Italian restaurant serve up ‘homemade pasta inspired by Nonna’ and let us tell you, it is well worth a trip to indulge in Pranzo Italian Ilkley's food.
The Seafood Bigoli is the star of the show - perfectly al dente pasta jam packed with fresh mussels, juicy tiger prawns, anchovies and calamari in a white wine sauce.
The Grove Bookshop
Image: The Grove Bookshop
If you're a book lover, the Grove Bookshop is an absolute corker. They've been selling books to the people of Ilkley for over 40 years and is one of the best-known independent bookshops in the North of England.
On the first floor you'll find shelves lined with books from every genre, from old school classics to works from new and exciting authors. Downstairs is entirely dedicated to music, offering an extensive selection of sheet music and CDs.
Joel's
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're after a good Sunday roast then you've got to go to Joel's on The Grove. Their roast is simply on another level, the 45 Day Aged Sirloin of Beef is sealed over sweet chestnut over their live fire grill and served perfectly pink (or however you like it).
The potatoes are perfectly crunchy and salty, the carrot sweet and the Yorkshire pud crispy and pillowy in equal measure. Not to mention the Cauliflower Cheese which is wickedly indulgent and a must order.
Bolton Abbey
Image: Flickr
Located in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, Bolton Abbey is the perfect place for a riverside walk or to enjoy a picnic whilst admiring its breathtaking landscapes.
Just a ten minute drive from Ilkley awaits 30,000 acres of beautiful countryside and 80 miles worth of footpath to explore and enjoy. There are numerous cafes dotted about for a well earned pit stop and a number of themed trails are put on during the year making it a perfect day out for the family.
La Casita
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Head to this tapas bar for a jug of sparkling sangria alongside a selection of divine small plates. Patatas bravas, padron peppers, croquettes, they do all the classics and they do it well.
Real Food Ilkley Market
Image: The Ilkley Kitchen
Time your trip to Ilkley for the first Sunday of the month and I promise that you won't be disappointed. Real Food Ilkley hosts a bustling market on the Grove which features local venders offering speciality food, drink and crafts. The market has a real community feel to it and boasts immense talent from all its venders.
We recommend making a beeline for 'The Ilkley Kitchen', an award-winning food stall where you can find the best sausage rolls in Yorkshire and an array of irresistible sweet treats all lovingly made with local ingredients in the heart of the town. The market is held from 10-3pm and is not one to be missed.
Fuggle & Golding Tap House
Image: The Hoot Leeds
This craft beer and bottle shop is a local favourite and it is no surprise why. Established in 2015, they have a fantastic reputation for its wide range of craft beer, relaxed atmosphere and friendly, knowledgable staff.
Pop in for a pint or fill up a reusable glass bottle from one of their ever-changing keg lines which showcase some of the best breweries in Britain and from around the world.
Emporio Italia
Image: Emporio Italia
This family run Italian restaurant is the business. 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.
Stop by for your morning espresso before a walk on the moors and you'll feel compelled to come back for a bowl of their delicious fresh pasta accompanied with a cold glass of wine. Sit inside their trattoria-style restaurant or basque in the sunshine on their terrace. What's not to like?
Now, this cinema isn't just your average cinema. Intimate auditoriums fit with swanky sofas point towards Europe's smallest Ultra 4k Digital Single Screen, creating an experience so immersive you'll feel as though you could walk into the screen.
Yes, we know there's one in Leeds but the one in Ilkley is well worth a visit too. Specialising in finest charcuterie, cheese, craft beer and wine, this is a great spot to wind down on the weekend and pick your way through their irresistible menu. Might we recommend the baked Tunworth cheeses served with a crusty baguette and cornichons.
Find yourself there on a sunny day? Their two outdoor terraces are a perfect sun trap and provide the best location to enjoy an Aperol spritz (or three) whilst watching the world go by.
Leeds Festival is returning to Bramham Park for perhaps its biggest lineup yet, and here’s everything you need to know ahead of this huge live music weekend.
The enormous annual festival - twinned with Reading down south - will this year welcome headline performances from Fontaines DC, Florence & The Machine, Dave, Raye, Charli XCX, and Chase & Status.
But the wider lineup will cover everything from hip hop to pure pop, indie rock to metal, because if there’s one thing that Leeds Festival boasts, it’s an eclectic and diverse music soundscape for all to enjoy.
Leeds Festival has been providing Yorkshire residents and festival-goers from across the UK with some cracking acts and performers since 1999 - and this year is no different.Â
Here's everything you need to know if you're going to Leeds Festival 2026.
Leeds Festival 2026 lineup
Fontaines DC are one of the headliners of Leeds Festival 2026
Headliners for Leeds Fest 2026 will include Charli XCX, Chase & Status Live, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C. and RAYE, with Kasabian making history as the first-ever Thursday night headliner at Leeds Festival.
They are joined across the weekend by the likes of Skepta, Sombr, Role Model, Blossoms, Declan McKenna, JADE, Maisie Peters, Keo, Kneecap, Geese, Kettama, Holly Humberstone and many more.
The 2026 festival will also look very different on site, with The Grid, The Gallery, The Warehouse, The Ballroom and The Canopy making up the new-look stage offering, alongside returning late-night favourite LS23.
The revamped layout is being billed as the biggest staging and arena overhaul in the festival's history.
Leeds Festival 2026 stage times - Thursday 27 August
The Grid
7pm – Arkayla
7:55pm – The Lathums
9:20pm – Kasabian
LS23
10pm – CamUKG
11:15pm – Halfpint
12:30am – C100
2am – Lens
Friday 28 August
Chase & Status will perform at Leeds Festival 2026Florence and the Machine will perform at Leeds Festival 2026
The Grid
12:15pm – 54 Ultra
1:30pm – Dylan John Thomas
2:45pm – Arthur Hill
3:55pm – Blossoms
5:25pm – Role Model
7:20pm – Florence + The Machine
9:30pm – Chase & Status Live
The Gallery
12pm – Mulaa Joans
12:50pm – After
1:40pm – Holly Humberstone
2:45pm – Julia Wolf
4pm – Duke Dumont
5:30pm – The K’s
7:15pm – Kettama
9:40pm – Kneecap
The Warehouse
12:25pm – [IVY]
1:25pm – Saint Ludo
2:55pm – Hamdi
3:55pm – Notion
5:25pm – SOTA
6:25pm – Hedex
7:25pm – Hybrid Minds
The Ballroom
12:40pm – Betty
1:45pm – Westside Cowboy
2:55pm – Dexter In The Newsagent
4:10pm – The Clause
5:45pm – WHATMORE
7:20pm – Bassvictim
9:30pm – Paris Paloma
The Canopy
12pm – Alex Spencer
12:40pm – She’s Green
1:20pm – Raynor
2pm – December 10
2:50pm – Untitled
3:40pm – Kilu
4:35pm – Violet Grohl
5:55pm – F3miii
LS23
11pm – ZERO
12:30am – 1991
1:45am – CROSSY
Saturday 29 August
Charli XCX is a Saturday headliner
The Grid
12:30pm – Beth McCarthy
1:25pm – Keo
2:35pm – James Marriott
3:45pm – Declan McKenna
5:15pm – Skepta
7:10pm – Charli XCX
9:20pm – Fontaines D.C.
The Gallery
12pm – JD Cliffe
12:30pm – DJ EJ
1:30pm – Rose Gray
2:45pm – ADELA
4pm – Skye Newman
5:20pm – Geese
7:20pm – SINN6R
9:05pm – 4AM Kru
The Warehouse
12pm – Meeshy
1:15pm – Djammin
2:30pm – Julian Fijma
3:30pm – Omar+
5pm – Locky
7pm – Alisha
9:05pm – Skepta B2B East End Dubs
The Ballroom
12:20pm – Bleech 9:3
1:30pm – Cardinals
2:40pm – Clementine Douglas
4pm – Overpass
5:30pm – Florence Road
7:15pm – Unpeople
9:15pm – YT
The Canopy
12pm – Tooth
12:40pm – Lamb
1:20pm – Florentenes
2pm – The Guest List
3pm – People I’ve Met
4:05pm – Day We Ran
5:05pm – Villanelle
6:05pm – Camille Blackman
LS23
11pm – Delilah
12:30am – Osmosis Jones
1:45am – Soul Mass Transit System
Sunday 30 August
Raye and Dave headline Sunday at Leeds Festival 2026
The Grid
12:05pm – Absolutely
1:35pm – Slayyyter
3pm – Maisie Peters
4:15pm – JADE
5:50pm – Sombr
7:35pm – RAYE
9:35pm – Dave
The Gallery
12pm – M60
12:45pm – Say Now
1:50pm – Clara La San
3:05pm – Kingfishr
4:15pm – Niko B
5:50pm – Nine Vicious
7:20pm – Jamie Webster
9:25pm – Josh Baker
The Warehouse
12pm – Jack Marlow
1:30pm – Silva Bumpa
2:45pm – In Parallel
4pm – Riordan
5:30pm – Mall Grab
7:15pm – Rossi.
The Ballroom
12:30pm – Garage Flower
1:45pm – The North
3pm – Basht.
4:15pm – Bar Italia
5:45pm – The Lilacs
7:40pm – SPEED
The Canopy
12pm – Sade Olutola
12:40pm – Pozzy
1:25pm – Amma
2:05pm – Ruby Roberts
3pm – Cruz Beckham And The Breakers
4pm – Kibo
4:50pm – Finessekid
6pm – Gurriers
LS23
11pm – Megra
12:30am – Pretty Girl
1:45am – Riria
Where can I get tickets for Leeds Festival 2026?
Tickets are available through the official Leeds Festival website and Ticketmaster, with weekend camping, non-camping, and individual day tickets among the options.
At the time of writing, official prices include £325 for weekend camping, £295 for weekend non-camping, £55 for Thursday, £125 for Friday, £155 for Saturday, and £125 for Sunday.
Two-day non-camping tickets are also available at £230.
You can see the latest availability and buy tickets HERE.
Where is Leeds Festival?
Leeds Festival 2026 headliners announced. Credit: Georgina Hurdsfield
Of course you may be thinking this is a silly question to ask considering its location is mentioned in the festival title, however Leeds Festival actually isn’t in the city centre.
Located in Bramham Park, this bank holiday weekend music destination is a 30 minute drive from the city centre.
The full address is: Leeds Festival, Bramham Park, Leeds, England, LS23 6ND.
How to get there
From Leeds City Centre
If you’re travelling from Leeds city centre, the easiest option is to head to Leeds Train Station and catch the dedicated Leeds Festival shuttle bus to Bramham Park.
The festival shuttle operates from Sovereign Square Park, next to Leeds Train Station, from Wednesday 26 August through to Monday 31 August. Tickets can be bought through the First Bus app.
Leeds Train Station is around a 30-minute drive from the festival site, although journey times can vary considerably during the festival due to traffic.
There are regular trains into Leeds from major UK cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and London, making the train-and-shuttle combination one of the simplest ways to reach Bramham Park without driving.
From around the UK
If you're travelling from further afield, the official festival travel partner Big Green Coach is offering return coaches to Leeds Festival from dozens of locations around the UK. Weekend services can arrive on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and return on Monday, while day-return services are available for Thursday through Sunday.
For those driving, festival parking is included with tickets. Drivers should head towards the A1, M1 or A1(M) and then follow the festival's temporary signage, as routes into Bramham Park vary depending on where you're travelling from. The festival advises following the on-the-ground signage rather than relying on old sat-nav directions or printed maps.
If you're being dropped off or collected, use the dedicated Pick Up and Drop Off zone off York Road (A64). There is no pick-up or drop-off facility near Yellow Gate, and the festival warns against stopping or waiting on the A64 or access roads.
For those flying in, Leeds Bradford International Airport is around a 30-minute drive from Bramham Park. You can take the 757 bus into Leeds and then use the festival shuttle from Leeds Train Station, or take a taxi to the station before continuing to the site.
‘Unprecedented’ El Niño to batter UK with storms when it arrives this autumn
Emily Sergeant
This autumn, the UK is being told to brace for a series of storms when the 'unprecedented' El Niño weather event arrives.
It's already been a summer of extremes for the country, with multiple heatwaves over the past couple of months, but now it appears that autumn and winter are set to have some extremes of their own, as the Met Office is warning that this upcoming El Niño could be one of the most significant in recent memory.
El Niño is declared when sea temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific rise 0.5°C above the long-term average, which therefore impacts global rainfall patterns and average temperatures.
The natural warming of sea temperatures is forecast to reach more than 3°C in the coming months, according to the Met Office, making this year’s weather event have the potential to be 'the largest since the 19th century'.
El Niño will create a heightened risk of drought in the tropics, southern Africa, and north eastern Australia, but over in north western Europe - including the UK - it means we are likely to experience wetter and stormier conditions.
The UK, and of course Yorkshire, is absolutely no stranger to a storm around this time of year, but forecasters say this could be an entirely different beast.
The UK is set to be battered by storms as 'unprecedented' El Niño arrives this autumn / Credit: Johannes Plenio (via Unsplash)
"We should be clear that this is an unprecedented event," warned Professor Adam Scaife, who is the Head of Long Range Forecasting at the Met Office.
"I have never seen an El Nino signal this intense in our forecasts."
Professor Scaife concluded: "A typical El Nino leads to an equatorial Pacific sea-surface temperature rise of between one to 2°C, with 2°C being a really big event. This implies that, if the forecast is accurate, and other forecast systems show similar extreme values, then 2026 will far exceed our recent experience of El Niño and its worldwide climate influences.'
Forecasters and officials, however, have warned that it could take months of sustained rainfall before rivers, reservoirs, and groundwaters are 'completely replenished' - which is when a drought can officially be declared as over.
It also warned drought conditions could persist into the new year as, despite El Niño, as current forecasts do not suggest this autumn will have the amount of rainfall needed to drive recovery.
Clementine Hall -
17th March 2022 
