Selby

Selby works well as a base for exploring North Yorkshire, with enough accommodation to suit different kinds of visit. The Owl Hotel by Marstons Inns and Bay Horse Hotel both rate well and draw steady streams of guests, while Maypole Farm offers something quieter if you want to stay on a working farm. There are five campsites in and around the area too, from Test Site—which has over 900 reviews—to smaller, more peaceful spots like Dove Cote Lodge. The Wishing Well and Olympia Hotel provide budget options if you're just passing through.

The food scene here punches above what you might expect. Sapori rates 4.7 from nearly 800 reviews, Caramba Steakhouse hits 4.5, and Mister C's reaches 4.4. The George Inn works as both a restaurant and a place to stay, so you could eat and sleep under one roof. McDonald's and a scatter of other venues round out the options, though the standout names suggest this is a town where people eat out seriously rather than casually.

Selby Superbowl offers bowling if you want an evening's entertainment, rated 4.3 from over 300 reviews. It's a modest offering in terms of formal attractions, so this is really a town for using as a stopover or base rather than as a destination in itself—which is fine; good accommodation and decent restaurants are more than enough reason to stay.