Middle Cottage

Thirsk's market square has drawn visitors for centuries, and these days many come for its connection to James Herriot, the vet and author who based his stories on the town and its surrounding countryside. Middle Cottage sits just off the square itself, a mid-terrace property with its own enclosed rear garden and patio, offering a quiet base despite its central location. The house sleeps four across two bedrooms—a double on the first floor and two singles in the second bedroom—with one bathroom and a separate toilet. Downstairs, the living room and kitchen/dining room open off each other, giving you space to spread out without the property feeling institutional.

The essentials are taken care of: bed linen, towels and Wi-Fi are included, along with electricity. The kitchen has an electric cooker, microwave, fridge and washing machine, so you can manage self-catering properly. Each bedroom has a television, and there's a 40-inch screen in the living room with a DVD player. The bathroom has a bath with shower over. You have one parking space on site and step access to the entrance. The cottage is non-smoking.

From here, the World of James Herriot is within walking distance, and Thirsk Museum occupies the birthplace of Thomas Lord, who founded Lord's cricket ground. The market square itself hosts twice-weekly markets and is ringed by independent shops, pubs and cafes—all roughly 100 yards away. The Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors, and coastal towns like Scarborough and Whitby are easy drives.