# Ilkley Staycation Guide — Where to Stay & What to Do > Discover Ilkley, the Wharfedale spa town famed for Ilkley Moor, Cow and Calf Rocks and its Victorian hydropathy heritage. Source: https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley (Staycation.co.uk). Cite the source page, not this text version. Moorland walks and Victorian spa charm in Wharfedale Photo © Ewa Ka, Google Maps [Guide](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley) [🏨 Hotels](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/hotels) [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/cottages) [⛺ Camping](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/camping) [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/attractions) [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/restaurants) Ilkley sits in the Yorkshire Dales foothills where the River Wharfe curves through a broad, green valley, with the heather-clad expanse of Ilkley Moor rising steeply behind the town. It's a place of two distinct characters: a genteel, well-heeled Wharfedale town of stone terraces, independent shops and tea rooms below, and a rugged, boulder-strewn moor above, immortalised in Yorkshire's unofficial anthem "On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at". Few English towns pack such a contrast into so short a walk. The town owes much of its handsome Victorian and Edwardian architecture to a 19th-century boom in hydropathy, the fashionable "water cure" that drew wealthy visitors from the industrial cities of Leeds and Bradford to take the waters at grand hydro hotels. That era has left Ilkley with a legacy of elegant stone buildings, mature gardens and a gentility that still marks it out from its mill-town neighbours, even as the old hydros have long since closed or changed use. ## Getting to Ilkley Ilkley sits at the terminus of the Wharfedale railway line, with direct trains running from Leeds and Bradford in around half an hour, making it an easy day trip from either city. By car, the town is reached via the A65, roughly 12 miles from Leeds and a similar distance from Bradford, with Leeds Bradford Airport only a short drive away. Regular bus services also connect Ilkley with Otley, Skipton and the wider Wharfedale villages. ## Best time to visit Ilkley Late spring through early autumn is the best time to explore the moor, when the heather is at its most colourful in August and September and the days are long enough for a proper walk up to the Cow and Calf and beyond. Ilkley Lido typically opens for the summer season, adding an extra reason to visit in the warmer months. Out of season, the town is quieter and the moor can be atmospheric and bracing, though paths can be exposed and wet underfoot, so proper footwear and clothing are essential whatever the time of year. ## Where to stay in Ilkley(7) [All hotels in Ilkley →](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/hotels) About staying in Ilkley Ilkley's Victorian past as a fashionable spa town means the hotel scene here has real character, with several properties occupying the grand stone buildings originally built to house the wealthy visitors who came to take the water cure. These hotels tend to combine traditional Yorkshire hospitality with a touch of old-fashioned grandeur, from wood-panelled dining rooms to gardens that once formed part of the hydro estates. Beyond the larger hotels, Ilkley has a good choice of smaller guesthouses and B&Bs, many family-run and set in the same handsome stone terraces that line the town's streets. Staying centrally puts you within easy reach of The Grove's shops and restaurants, the railway station for day trips to Leeds or Bradford, and the footpaths that climb directly onto Ilkley Moor. Whichever style of stay you choose, Ilkley works well as either a relaxed weekend break in its own right or a comfortable base for exploring Wharfedale and the southern Yorkshire Dales, with Bolton Abbey, Skipton and the wider Dales all within easy striking distance by car. [Ilkley Riverside Hotel Riverside Gardens, Ilkley](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/hotels/ilkley-riverside-hotel) [Innkeepers Lodge Ilkley The Cow And Calf Vintage Inn, Ilkley](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/hotels/innkeepers-lodge-ilkley) [Rooms by Bistrot Pierre at The Crescent Inn Brook Street, Ilkley](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/hotels/rooms-by-bistrot-pierre-at-the-crescent-inn) [The Black Hat 11 Church Street, Ilkley](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/hotels/the-black-hat) [★★★3 star The Craiglands Hotel Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western Cowpasture Road, Ilkley from £79/night](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/hotels/the-craiglands-hotel-sure-hotel-collection-by-best-western) [The Gin Lounge Rooms 45 Brook Street Floor3/4, Ilkley](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/hotels/the-gin-lounge-rooms) [The Wheatley Arms Wheatley Lane, Ilkley](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/hotels/the-wheatley-arms) ## Things to Do in Ilkley(4) [All attractions in Ilkley →](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/attractions) Top things to do in Ilkley Ilkley rewards both energetic and easy-going visitors, with the moor above the town offering some of the best walking in Wharfedale and the town itself full of independent shops, galleries and places to eat. - **Ilkley Moor** — the great gritstone moor above the town gives its name to Yorkshire's best-known folk song and offers miles of open access walking, with sweeping views back down over Wharfedale. - **Cow and Calf Rocks** — a dramatic outcrop of millstone grit on the eastern edge of the moor, popular with walkers, climbers and photographers, and one of the most-photographed viewpoints in Yorkshire. - **Ilkley Lido** — an open-air heated swimming pool dating from 1935, one of only a small number of surviving lidos in the country and a much-loved summer institution. - **Manor House Museum** — a small museum housed in a medieval manor built on the site of a Roman fort, with free entry and displays covering the town's Roman, medieval and Victorian past. - **White Wells** — an 18th-century bathhouse high on the moor above the town, built around the original spring that first drew visitors to Ilkley for its supposedly restorative waters. - **All Saints' Parish Church** — home to three Anglo-Saxon crosses and a peaceful churchyard right in the centre of town, a reminder of Ilkley's much older origins. - **The Grove and town centre** — a tree-lined street of independent boutiques, galleries and cafes that forms the heart of Ilkley's shopping and dining scene. [Ilkley Cinema ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/attractions/ilkley-cinema) [Ilkley Toy Museum ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/attractions/ilkley-toy-museum) [Ilkley Pool and Lido ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/attractions/ilkley-pool-and-lido) [🎟️Trails & Treasure Hunts The Ilkley Mystery Treasure Trail](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/attractions/the-ilkley-mystery-treasure-trail) ## Where to Eat in Ilkley(63) [All restaurants in Ilkley →](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/restaurants) About eating out in Ilkley Ilkley offers 63 restaurants and places to eat, with 58 rated on Google at an average of 4.6 out of 5. The town sits where Victorian character meets the moorland of Wharfedale, making it an appealing stop for a meal whether you're exploring locally or passing through. Of the listings, 46 have a 5 food hygiene rating, 12 offer outdoor seating, and 8 are dog-friendly. Among the most recommended venues, Bettys Cafe Tea Room holds strong appeal with 1846 reviews at 4.6 out of 5. Piccolino also rates 4.6 out of 5 from 1473 reviews. La Stazione stands out at 4.8 out of 5 from 414 reviews. Kings Hall Winter Gardens and The Cow Ilkley both score 4.6 out of 5, with 583 and 577 reviews respectively. Black Hat rates 4.4 out of 5 from 988 reviews. Seven restaurants listed here also offer hotel accommodation: The Wheatley Arms, The Black Hat and Ilkley Riverside Hotel are all in Ilkley itself. This mix makes it straightforward to combine dining with an overnight stay in the town. For those wanting vegetarian options, 7 of the listed restaurants cater to this preference. Nearby towns including Leeds, Huddersfield, Keighley and Shipley have their own separate dining pages if you're exploring further afield. [The Chess Centre ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/restaurants/the-chess-centre) [Rizias Bottega ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/restaurants/rizias-bottega) [Emporio Italia ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/restaurants/emporio-italia) [Bini Dough Co ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/restaurants/bini-dough-co) [Brooks ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/restaurants/brooks) [Galo’s Kitchen ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/restaurants/galo-s-kitchen) [Yard Bar and Kitchen ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/restaurants/yard-bar-and-kitchen) [Clipnclimb ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/restaurants/clipnclimb) ## Attractions Near Ilkley [All attractions in Ilkley →](https://staycation.co.uk/attractions) Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Ilkley. [5 mi The Leisure Centre Keighley Keighley · ⭐ 4.0](https://staycation.co.uk/keighley/attractions/the-leisure-centre-keighley) [🎟️Trails & Treasure Hunts 5 mi Otley Spy Mission Treasure Trail Otley](https://staycation.co.uk/otley/attractions/otley-spy-mission-treasure-trail) [5 mi Cliffe Castle Park and Museum Keighley · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/keighley/attractions/cliffe-castle-park-and-museum) [5 mi Hesketh Farm Park Skipton · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/skipton/attractions/hesketh-farm-park) [🎟️Museums & Galleries 6 mi Craven Museum and Gallery Skipton](https://staycation.co.uk/skipton/attractions/craven-museum-and-gallery) [6 mi St Ives Estate Country Park Bingley · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/bingley/attractions/st-ives-estate-country-park) [6 mi Shipley Glen Cable Tramway Baildon · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/baildon/attractions/shipley-glen-cable-tramway) [6 mi Ingrow Museum of Rail Travel Keighley · ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/keighley/attractions/ingrow-museum-of-rail-travel) ## Camping in Ilkley(1) [All campsites in Ilkley →](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/camping) About camping in Ilkley Ilkley Moor's dramatic gritstone landscape looks like classic wild camping country, but it's important to be clear: wild camping without the landowner's permission is illegal in England, including on Ilkley Moor, and this popular open-access land is managed for walkers, grazing and conservation rather than informal camping. Anyone hoping to sleep out under the stars near Ilkley should instead look to the area's licensed campsites and glamping sites in Wharfedale and the surrounding Dales, many of which make the most of the same views and moorland access that make wild camping tempting in the first place. The terrain around Ilkley is quintessential Yorkshire moorland: exposed gritstone outcrops like the Cow and Calf, close-cropped heather and bracken, and steep-sided valleys where the Wharfe cuts through the landscape below. Campsites in the wider area tend to sit either in the sheltered valley bottom, close to the river and villages, or higher up with long views across the moor tops, so it's worth thinking about how much shelter versus scenery you want before booking. The best camping season here runs from late spring to early autumn. Summer brings the longest days for exploring the moor and a chance to combine a stay with a dip at Ilkley Lido, while late August and September add the bonus of the heather in full bloom across the moor. Spring can be glorious but changeable, and Yorkshire moorland weather is notoriously quick to turn, so a good waterproof and warm layers are essential whatever month you visit. For those who'd rather skip the tent altogether, glamping has taken off across Wharfedale and the wider Yorkshire Dales, with shepherd's huts, safari tents and pods offering a more comfortable way to experience the same moorland scenery. These sites typically combine proper beds and log burners with the same easy access to walking routes up onto Ilkley Moor, making them a popular choice for a weekend escape without compromising on comfort. [Brown Bank Caravan Park ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/west-yorkshire/camping/brown-bank-caravan-park) [Beamsley Mill Caravan Park ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/camping/beamsley-mill-caravan-park) [Cringles Caravan Park ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/west-yorkshire/camping/cringles-caravan-park) [Moor Valley Caravan Park ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/west-yorkshire/camping/moor-valley-caravan-park) [Clarion Lodge Campsite ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/camping/clarion-lodge-campsite) [Tip Top Campsite ⭐ 4.8 · from £20/night](https://staycation.co.uk/silsden/camping/tip-top-campsite) [Dobrudden Caravan Park ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/west-yorkshire/camping/dobrudden-caravan-park) [Catgill Farm ⭐ 4.5 · from £28/night](https://staycation.co.uk/skipton/camping/catgill-farm) ## Self-Catering Cottages in Ilkley [All cottages in Ilkley →](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/cottages) [🏡Cottage The Ilkley Loft Suite 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £357](https://staycation.co.uk/bradford/cottages/the-ilkley-loft-suite-uk48767) [🏡Cottage Sefton House Apartment 2 bed · sleeps 3 · from £467](https://staycation.co.uk/bradford/cottages/sefton-house-apartment-uk50033) [🏡Cottage Garden Cottage 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £245](https://staycation.co.uk/bradford/cottages/garden-cottage-syk1064536) [🏡Cottage Belle Vue 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £418](https://staycation.co.uk/bradford/cottages/belle-vue-syk1063074) [🏡Cottage Otter Hollow 1 bed · sleeps 4 · from £961](https://staycation.co.uk/bradford/cottages/otter-hollow-uk51010) [🏡Cottage Olicana Croft 3 bed · sleeps 5 · from £649](https://staycation.co.uk/bradford/cottages/olicana-croft-syk1154307) [🏡Cottage Myddelton Grange 22 bed · sleeps 46 · from £5,875](https://staycation.co.uk/bradford/cottages/myddelton-grange-syk1171081) [1 Upper Austby Farm Cottage 3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £478](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/cottages/1-upper-austby-farm-cottage-syk1201538) ## Common questions about Ilkley How many campsites are there in Ilkley? We list 1 campsites in and around Ilkley, of which 1 take tents and 1 offer glamping. Are there dog-friendly campsites in Ilkley? Yes — 1 of the 1 campsites we list in Ilkley accept dogs, including Clarion Lodge Campsite. Which campsites in Ilkley have electric hook-up? 1 of the 1 campsites we list in Ilkley offer an electric hook-up. Where can I stay in Ilkley? We list 7 hotels, B&Bs and guest houses in and around Ilkley. Prices start from around £79 a night. What is there to do in Ilkley? We list 4 attractions and things to do in and around Ilkley. Where can I eat in Ilkley? We list 63 restaurants, pubs and cafes in and around Ilkley. ### 🏨 Find Hotels in Ilkley Search hotels, B&Bs and self-catering on Booking.com. [Search Accommodation →](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101762279-15734754?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fsearchresults.en-gb.html%3Fss%3DIlkley%252C%2BUnited%2BKingdom) Affiliate link ### Explore Ilkley - [🏨 Hotels & B&Bs](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/hotels) - [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/cottages) - [⛺ Campsites & glamping](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/camping) - [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/attractions) - [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/ilkley/restaurants) - [🗺️ More in West Yorkshire](https://staycation.co.uk/west-yorkshire) - [🧭 All of the Yorkshire and the Humber](https://staycation.co.uk/regions/yorkshire-and-the-humber) ## Staycation ideas for Ilkley [All staycation ideas →](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas) [The Best Last-Minute UK Staycations Six well-connected UK towns and cities worth booking at short notice, chosen for easy travel and a decent spread of accommodation once the school-holiday crowds have thinned.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-last-minute-staycations) [Rainy Day Staycations: Best UK Breaks for Bad Weather When the forecast turns grim, these UK cities and spa towns keep their appeal indoors, with museums, galleries and grand architecture to fill a wet weekend.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/rainy-day-staycations-uk) [The Best Dog-Friendly Staycations in Britain From Cornish coast paths to Lake District fells, these six British destinations offer the open beaches, moors and forests that make a staycation genuinely enjoyable for dogs and their owners alike.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/dog-friendly-staycations) [The Best UK Staycations for Families with Young Kids From New Forest ponies to Cornish rock pools, these six UK destinations combine easy logistics, safe beaches and family-friendly attractions for a stress-free break with young children.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-staycations-for-families)