Tim Barber's

On 13 July 2026, Leeds will celebrate a remarkable milestone: 400 years since the city received its first Royal Charter from King Charles I. The Charter of 1626 marked an important moment in Leeds’ development, granting the town a greater degree of self-governance and laying foundations for the civic institutions that would help shape the city we know today.

Hanging Stones Walk – stunning Andrew Goldsworthy art installations hidden in barns across Northdale in the North York Moors

We found the Helmsley Castle to Rievaulx walk on the English Heritage website at a distance of 3 miles one way. So guessed if we we’re to set off at a good yomp we could be there and back in just over a couple of hours.

Hot on the heels of the City of Culture and the 2026 Turner Prize being held in Bradford, Cartwright Hall in Lister Park is now hosting a new exhibition of art by Jim Moir – the artist formerly known as the comedian Vic Reeves.

Recently, I did a tour for an American couple where the husband Chris had researched his ancestry back to Brompton near Northallerton. He contacted me to ask if I could collect them in York, take them around the historic city on the morning then show them a bit of the surrounding area before dropping them in Brompton where they had booked a room overnight in the local pub. As part of his research he had found that one of his great, great, grandfather had been Christened at th

I started to hear reports that they served great food, then in October 2025 the Highland Laddie took the number one spot in the 100 Best Pubs listing published by The Good Food Guide.

But, The Hoffman Lime Kiln just outside Settle between Langliffe and Stainforth is on a completely different scale and size, whilst being a great location to explore especially going inside the large lime kiln itself. England’s best preserved lime kiln just outside Settle

Most people up North are familiar with the Yorkshire institution which is Betty’s Café & Tearoom, with their traditional posh afternoon teas, immaculate silver service, fat rascals and amazing cakes! Now with café’s at 5 locations around the region I thought I would shed some light on the story behind the brand.

As you drive across the Yorkshire Dales or other areas of Yorkshire you often come across standing crosses outside church yards, on village greens, along ancient routeways or in market squares. These free standing upright stone structures were mostly erected during the medieval period up to the 1500’s, although many have been repaired or replaced more recently.