Richmond is a stunning Georgian market town and is founded by the Normans in the 11th century.
Introducing Richmond, Yorkshire
Richmond is a stunning Georgian market town.
Richmond is a charming market town founded by the Normans in the 11th century. The town is dominated by the stunning castle - Richmond Castle. It has the largest marketplace in England and is famous for its fabulous Georgian architecture and buildings. I'm captivated by its beauty.
The town has a lot of things to see from museums to the castle and just walking around. Bear in mind you need to decide how long you want to stay in the town. Not easy to decide! You can easily find a place for eating and drinking after a long walk. Just sit outside and enjoy the views.
Things To Do
Main Activities
Just walk around the town. You can find things to do and see easily in Richmond, Yorkshire. Here is my selection of some of the best.
Go to Easby Abbey
You can reach this beautiful ruin by car or you can easily walk from the town centre. It is located approximately four miles away. Easby Abbey is a ruined Premonstratensian abbey and one of the best preserved monasteries with its refectory, a gatehouse and its Canon dormitory still remaining on the site. You can find it on the eastern bank of the River Swale.
Spend at least one to two hours to see the best of Easby Abbey inside and outside.
Address | Richmond DL10 7EU, UK / Hours | 10am to 6pm daily / Admission | Free
See medieval paintings at St Agatha's Church
St Agatha's is located just behind ruined Easby Abbey. The church dates mainly from the 12th to 13th centuries. This church has a splendid series of medieval wall paintings in the chancel which depict scenes from the creation and the Nativity. The wall paintings are absolutely magnificent.
Spend at least 30 minutes to one hour to see the best of the church inside and outside. Plus you can view the stunning Easby Abbey gatehouse from the church area and also the abbey itself.
Address | Easby Abbey, Richmond, Yorkshire, DL10 7EU, UK / Hours | Check the church website / Admission | Free but donations are most welcome
Wander around Richmond Castle
Richmond Castle dominates the skyline of Richmond town. You can feel that you are stepping back in time. It is a beautiful ruin with an interesting history and story. We explored every part of the castle including its tower where you are rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding Dales. Go to Cockpit Garden with friends and loved ones for a picnic or just for relaxing.
Richmond Castle was built by Alan the Red after the Norman Conquest in the late 11th century. The castle is one of the finest Norman castles in Britain. By 1540 the castle was derelict, but it later became a popular tourist destination. During the First World War it was used as a prison for conscientious objectors, including the Richmond Sixteen.
Richmond Castle is one of the places associated with King Arthur and his knights. According to legend, the castle is built over a cave where King Arthur and his knights are sleeping in their tombs, waiting to rise from their slumber to defend England in her hour of need.
Spend at least one to 1.5 hours to see the best of the castle.
Address | Tower Street, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 4QW, UK / Hours | Open daily, 10am to 5pm / Admission | Adult £7, Child (5 to 7 years) £4.20, Concession £6.30, Family (2 adults, up to 3 children) £18.20 & Family (1 adult, up to 3 children) £18.20
See and buy at Richmond Indoor Market Hall
The Market Hall is open seven days a week. The choice of things to buy is quite varied, from books to sculptures and handicrafts. It is a great place to visit whilst in the town and for sure you can stop at one of the cafes inside for afternoon tea.
Address | Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 4QL, UK / Hours | Check Market Hall website / Admission | Free
Buy at Richmond Georgian Marketplace
Richmond marketplace dates from the Georgian period. The marketplace is surrounded by a stunning series of Georgian buildings. If you are in Richmond at the weekend there is a Saturday Market. It's held here on the cobbled street and is popular with local people and visitors alike. A huge variety of foodstuffs and goods are available including fresh fish, meat, cheese, fruit and vegetables, flowers etc.
Address | Richmond Marketplace, UK / Hours | The market is hold in Saturdays but the square itself open year round / Admission | Free
Go to and learn some history at The Green Howards Museum
The Green Howards Museum is located in the old Trinity Church. Finding the museum is easy: it is located not far from the Marketplace. The museum is well-known for its regalia of Yorkshire military regiments and provides a rich history. The history of the regiment goes back over three centuries. It's quite fascinating if you like this kind of museum.
Spend at least 30 minutes to one hour to see the best of the church inside and outside
Address | Trinity Church Square, Richmond DL10 4Q, UK / Hours | Check the museum website / Admission | Check the museum website
Learn history from the Richmondshire Museum
The museum was founded in 1974 and opened to the public four years later. Richmondshire Museum tells the story of Richmond and its people from early times until the present day. It is full of interesting exhibitions, both permanent and temporary. If you're travelling with small children, there are activities available for your children too.
Spend at least 45 minutes exploring and learn about Richmond history here.
Address | Ryders Wynd, Richmond DL10 4JA, UK / Hours | Check the museum website / Admission | Check the museum website
Go to St Mary's Church
We walked to this church from the Market Square after visiting the Market Hall. St Mary's Church is raised on the hillside above the River Swale. It's quite a beautiful church with history and some beautiful stained glass.
The church can be traced back to the 12th to 13th centuries. The 12th century can be seen at the west end of the church. The church was rebuilt in the late 15th century and later restoration took place from 1855 to 1859 by Sir George Gilbert Scott.
One of the highlights is a poor box near to the main door dating from the reign of Edward VI. Do walk around to see other highlights.
Spend at least 45 minutes exploring and learn about Richmond's history here.
Address | Station Rd, Richmond DL10 4LB, UK / Hours | Check the church website / Admission | Free but donations are most welcome
See the waterfall and enjoy the view
River Swale Waterfall is one of the waterfalls that you can see and enjoy along the River Swale. It is popular amongst the town people because of the location and is accessible from the town centre.
Walk around Friary Garden
A visit to the Friary Garden is a must for any visitors to the town. The garden is dominated by one of the town's oldest monuments, a 15th century bell tower. It was built by the Greyfriars of Richmond. There are benches to sit down and watch the world rush by. The garden is very pretty, especially in Spring and Summer.
Walk around the town
Even though you may not plan to visit one of the attractions in the town, to walk and wander around the town can be a great thing to do. Start your walk from Friary Garden and end up at the waterfall not far from the castle. While you're walking you'll pass some beautiful Georgian buildings that make this town so charming, not to mention its stunning castle that dominates its skyline.
Spend at least 30 minutes to one hour to see the best of the church inside and outside
See the Culloden Tower
This gorgeous tower is located a short walk from the town centre on the edge of the town.
Originally it was built as a folly in around 1746 by John Yorke. It was a feature in the park surrounding his mansion, the Green; the mansion was demolished in 1820. In the 19th century it was called Cumberland Tower or Temple.
The tower was in a state of disrepair by 1979 and rescued by the Landmark Trust. The Trust completed the restoration in 1982. So now you can stay or rent this beautiful tower for a few days or for an event.
Richmond is near to villages and towns, and if you have enough time there are beautiful places or villages that you can visit for your day out.
Go to Middleham village and castle
Middleham village and its castle are definitely a place you should go after wandering around Richmond town. It is located 30 minutes drive from the town. The stunning Middleham Castle is located at the top of the village. This ruined castle gives you a sense of being back in time. After exploring the castle, do walk around this quiet village. It is popular amongst cyclists and walkers too as it is a stop-over location before they move to other places. Plus, there are cafes and restaurants waiting for you to try.
Travel Practical Information
Well prepared pre-planning and research will help make your travel plans easy. It also helps you to understand what you are looking for and what to do in each location. Here is the information I've prepared and that you might want to consider and use when planning your own trip to Richmond Yorkshire.
Location of Richmond, Yorkshire
Richmond town is located in the county of North Yorkshire on the River Swale and is near the north-eastern border of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Getting to Richmond
The best way to get to the town is by car, either renting a car or driving your own car. There are buses connecting from different villages, towns or nearby cities. There is no direct train connection to the town. The nearest train station is located in Darlington and then you have to take a bus to get to the town.
How to get to Richmond by bus
If you prefer to take a bus, Richmond is well connected by bus services. You can easily travel locally – Scotch Corner to Richmond, Darlington to Richmond, Barnard Castle to Richmond by bus. It depends on where your last location is. Before you go, check the bus timetables.
Getting around Richmond
If you are visiting the town only, the best way to explore it is on foot. Some of the attractions are easy to reach from one to another, especially if you like to walk. In case you're planning to visit nearby villages or attractions you may require a car to get to them or take a bus. You have to check on bus timetables in advance if you do prefer to take the bus.
Places to stay
If you are planning to stay a night or two nights in Richmond, there are plenty of choices of places to stay in the town. Just check on Booking.com or Airbnb.com to find out the availability of the hotels or other accommodations. In Summer the places to stay can be difficult to find because it is a busy season.
Places to eat
There are a lot of places to eat in Richmond town centre, from very traditional English restaurants to Asian restaurants. Do check TripAdvisor.com to find out places to eat before you go.
How long to spend in Richmond Yorkshire
The number of days you stay depends on your travel plans, travel budget and things you want to see. We had a day trip to Richmond and we think that it is sufficient enough. But we'll be coming again to explore the town and the places that we had no time to visit when we were there last. Some people spend 3 days or more here and use it as their travel base.
Concluding remarks on trip to Richmond
I hope this guide helps you to find things to do in Richmond, Yorkshire. It gives you a good start on what to do here. The stunning Georgian market place and beautiful Castle standing high over the River Swale are the highlights. There’s a great sense of history here and lots that you can learn. It's a great place if you like outdoor activities such as walking. Even though I've only visited it once, I'll probably be coming back in the Summer to explore it again.
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