The Guardian has released their ranking for Britain's top 30 greatest villages, and two in Yorkshire take the top spots.
We're truly spoilt for choice for quaint villages over here in God's Own County, but there's two in particular that have caught the hearts of journalists over at The Guardian.
In their new list of Britain's 30 greatest villages, they took into account a combination of good looks, convenience for day trippers and overall tourism background to discover which truly are the best.
The travel experts picked Saltaire in West Yorkshire and the North Yorkshire settlement of Hutton-le-Hole as the top two spots.
Images: Wikimedia Commons
Gosh, aren't we lucky?
Saltaire, home to the historic Salts Mill that houses a huge selection of artwork by David Hockney, sits on the bank of the River Aire and is perfect for a weekend mooch around.
It became a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2001 and was called an “outstanding example of a model village”, so you can't really get much better then that can you?
Located in the North York Moors National Park, the idyllic village of Hutton-le-Hole is famous for its grazing sheep, quaint cottages and vistas reminiscent of a holiday postcard.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
The Telegraph said: “Hutton-le-Hole combines its good looks – pillowy village green, white picket fences, babbling beck, creeper-covered cottages – with a firm sense of reality. Sheep graze the greens, volunteers help at the Ryedale Folk Museum, and the village hall organises community events (the annual duck race is a favourite).
It continues: “Watch chocolates being made at The Chocolate Factory, find hand-turned wood items, glassware and jewellery at Greenwood Crafts, pick up picnic treats from The Old School House Deli and Bakery or, on sunny days, relax with a drink outside The Crown Inn.”
The greatest 30 villages in Britain, according to The Telegraph, is as follows:
Saltaire, West Yorkshire
Hutton-le-Hole, North Yorkshire
Dent, Cumbria
Alnmouth, Northumberland
Cartmel, Cumbria
Mells, Somerset
Cranborne, Dorset
Lustleigh, Devon
Shaldon, Devon
Lizard, Cornwall
Laxfield, Suffolk
Great Massingham, Norfolk
Wing, Rutland
Ombersley, Worcestershire
Broadway, Worcestershire
Wootton, Oxfordshire
Alfriston, East Sussex
Ditchling, East Sussex
Bosham, West Sussex
Dedham, Essex
Chilham, Kent
Hambleden, Buckinghamshire
Sonning, Berkshire
Solva, Pembrokeshire
Laugharne, Carmarthenshire
Aberffraw, Anglesey
Beddgelert, Gwynedd
Tobermory, Isle of Mull
Inverie, Highland
St Monans, Fife
So, which village will you take a trip to this weekend?
Modern funk and soul band Jungle are officially heading back to Leeds.
The Mercury Prize-nominated group will be performing at the First Direct Bank Arena this November, following their blistering summer on the festival circuit last year.
They'll be heading to Leeds on Saturday 21 November 2026.
Jungle was formed back in 2013 by producers and friends Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland.
While they technically worked as a duo for years (until 2023, when touring member Lydia Kitto became an official member of the band), Jungle are known for their huge live performances.
They always fill stages with musicians and vocalists, for incredible funk n soul live shows.
The bands huge hits include Back on 74, Casio, and Busy Earnin’, from four top-10 albums including 2023’s groundbreaking Volcano.
The upcoming Leeds date forms part of the band’s upcoming world tour, which arrives in the UK in November 2026 following a string of international performances across Europe, North America, and beyond.
Fans can expect a setlist jam packed with standout tracks, including fan favourites such as ‘Volcano’ and ‘Back On 74’ and newer material from their upcoming album ‘Sunshine’, released on 14 August that continues to push the band’s signature sound forward.
With over 3.4 billion streams to their name, Jungle’s Leeds show is set to be one of the hottest tickets of 2026 so we wouldn't mess about if we were you.
Tickets for Jungle in Manchester will go on general sale from 10am on Friday 27 March, with pre-sale from 10am on Thursday 26 March.
Leeds band Yard Act announce 2026 UK tour including homecoming gig
Clementine Hall
Yard Act are back as they announce first round of UK headline dates since 2024.
We are so, so back.
It's been a few years, but Yard Act have just announced a small selection of UK gigs for later in the year including a homecoming gig at the O2 Academy on Friday 6 November.
The dates follow the band’s first show of the year at the 6Music Festival this Friday across The Pennines in Manchester.
After Leeds, the lads will be performing shows at the O2 Victoria Warehouse on Friday 13 November before making their way down south to the O2 Academy in Brixton on Thursday 26 November.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Yard Act completed the touring for their critically acclaimed second album Where’s My Utopia? with a victory lap back home at the 5000 capacity Millennium Square in Leeds in August 2024.
It was a record that brought a stark change of pace to the acerbic, post-punk of their debut, embracing something altogether more playful and bringing a different energy. It shifted the dynamic on stage too, with the addition of dancing backing singers and additional musicians and openly challenged listeners to reconsider who they thought Yard Act were.
Since then, the band have remained active, whether writing Where’s My Utopia’s follow-up on scratching the itch to get back on stage, heading out across the UK and Europe with The Hives, which was preceded by an intimate one-off show at Blackpool Tower last May.
Following a lengthy stint in the studio, the band now look to the Autumn for three big UK dates and we cannot wait.
Tickets go on artist presale from 10am on Wednesday 25 March before hitting general sale at 10am on Friday 27 March. Sign up here.
Clementine Hall -
31st May 2024 
