Skipton is conveniently located for day trips to the surrounding areas, including the Dales, York, the Lake District, and the West Coast, and has earned the nickname “The Gateway to the Dales” as a result. A colourful market occupies the cobblestone setts on either side of the high street in this charming market town, which also features a beautiful old parish church and an ancient castle open to the public. Skipton was ranked as the best place to live in Britain by The Sunday Times in 2014, and it was again named one of the top nine towns in Yorkshire and the North East in 2016. Steam railways at Embsay and Bolton Abbey offer regular excursions, and the Leeds–Liverpool Canal passes through Skipton, offering quick access to the mile-long Foulridge Tunnel and the five-rise locks at Bingley. You can leave your car at home and still enjoy golf, swimming, squash, tennis, and snooker thanks to the reliable public transportation system.
