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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted tour

York and Railways of Yorkshire - July 2026

Eight-day escorted Yorkshire rail holiday: London to York, steam trains, heritage railways

Illustration of York and Railways of Yorkshire - July 2026

The Railway Touring Company operates this eight-day escorted tour that starts in London and explores Yorkshire's railways, coast and heritage. From London King's Cross, you travel in First Class to York, your base for the first four nights. Day 2 features The Waverley, a steam-hauled train that climbs the Settle and Carlisle line to Carlisle, passing Ribblehead Viaduct and Dent station on the way. You also visit Castle Howard, a 1,000-acre stately house; tour the medieval streets and Minster of York with a guide; explore Whitby Abbey and the seaside town of Whitby; and ride the heritage railways of North Yorkshire and Wensleydale. You spend your final three nights in Scarborough. A Tour Manager leads the group throughout, and all meals, coach transfers, entrance fees and heritage train journeys are included. This tour suits repeat rail travellers, history enthusiasts and couples who prefer escorted, all-in comfort.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure listed: July 2026. Confirm availability and book early.
  • The ground-only price (GBP 2,095) excludes rail travel from London; the full package price (GBP 2,195) includes First Class rail from London King's Cross to York and return.
  • Pricing is per person based on two persons sharing; single room supplement not listed in the evidence.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: York

    Rail travel from London to York

    Morning departure from London King's Cross by high-speed First Class rail to York, with refreshments included on board. Arrive early afternoon and walk to the hotel, then spend the afternoon at the National Railway Museum before dinner at the hotel.

  2. Day 2overnight: York

    The Waverley day trip

    Steam-hauled day trip aboard The Waverley from York, with breakfast served on board, via Church Fenton and Hellifield (locomotive water stop) onto the Settle & Carlisle line at Settle Junction. Climbs 15 miles largely at 1 in 100 past the Three Peaks, crosses Ribblehead Viaduct and Blea Moor Tunnel, passes Dent (the highest open station in England) to Ais Gill Summit (1,169 feet), then on to Carlisle with time to explore the Border City before a four-course dinner served on the return journey to York.

  3. Day 3overnight: York

    Visit to Castle Howard

    Leisurely hotel breakfast, then coach to Castle Howard, home of the Howard family (exterior largely built by 1725, completed 1801-1811) with 1,000 acres of gardens to explore; picnic lunch included at Castle Howard. Return to York by coach in the afternoon with free time, dinner at the hotel.

  4. Day 4overnight: Scarborough

    Guided walking tour of York and visit to York Minster

    Guided walking tour of York including The Shambles, York Castle, The King's Manor, Museum Gardens and York Minster, with free time for lunch. Afternoon coach transfer to Scarborough, the base for the next 3 nights; dinner at the hotel.

  5. Day 5overnight: Scarborough

    Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery and Scarborough

    Free morning in Scarborough with a day ticket for the Heritage Seafront bus (a 1956 Leyland open-top bus). Afternoon coach transfer to the Spirit of Yorkshire Whisky Distillery for a guided tour from field to bottle, a whisky sampling and afternoon tea, before returning to Scarborough for dinner.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Scarborough

    Whitby and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

    Coach to Whitby to explore the town, Whitby Abbey and the Church of St Mary. Afternoon return trip on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway to Pickering (24 miles of scenery, with time at Pickering's 1930s-themed station) before transferring back to Scarborough for dinner.

  7. Day 7railovernight: York

    Railway excursion on the Wensleydale Railway

    Coach from Scarborough across the North Yorkshire Moors to Leeming Bar, stopping at Thornton Le Dale. Visit the museum at the Wensleydale Railway then a return heritage train journey to Leyburn, before coach travel to York for the final night.

  8. Day 8rail

    First Class rail travel from York to London

    Final hotel breakfast, then walk to York Railway Station and return to London King's Cross in First Class, arriving early afternoon.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Climb aboard The Waverley steam train from York, ascending 15 miles largely at 1 in 100 past the Three Peaks, crossing Ribblehead Viaduct and passing Dent, England's highest open station, to reach Ais Gill Summit at 1,169 feet.
  • Day 3Explore the 1,000 acres of gardens at Castle Howard, the stately house built by the Howard family from 1725 to 1811, with a picnic lunch included on the grounds.
  • Day 4Walk through York's medieval streets with a guide, visiting The Shambles, York Castle, The King's Manor and Museum Gardens before touring York Minster.
  • Day 6Travel 24 miles on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway from Whitby to Pickering's 1930s-themed station and back, with time to explore Whitby Abbey and the Church of St Mary.

Included

  • First Class rail travel from London to York and return
  • 7 nights accommodation
  • 7 Breakfasts (including 1 served onboard the train)
  • 2 Lunches
  • 7 Dinners (including 1 served onboard the train)
  • All rail and road coach journeys as detailed in the itinerary
  • All visits as detailed in the itinerary
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is rail travel included?
Yes. First Class rail from London King's Cross to York and return is included in the package price of GBP 2,195. A ground-only option (GBP 2,095) excludes this leg and joins at York.
Which trains are featured?
The Waverley (steam-hauled, York to Carlisle and return via the Settle and Carlisle line), the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (Whitby to Pickering), and the Wensleydale Railway (Leeming Bar to Leyburn).
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. A Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout, leading activities and transfers.
What meals are included?
Seven breakfasts (one served on the train), two lunches (one at Castle Howard), and seven dinners. Refreshments are included on the First Class rail journeys.
Where do you stay?
Four nights in York and three nights in Scarborough. Specific hotel names are not listed in the operator's package description.
When does the tour run?
July 2026. Only one departure date is listed.

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