Wetherby is bustling with life as I make my way into town across the Grade II-listed bridge spanning the River Wharfe.
It’s a little before 10am on a Wednesday when I visit, but the day already feels well underway as people dip in and out of shops or catch up over coffee. And when I park up by the picturesque riverside, groups of togged-up walkers look ready to explore the outdoors.
Before I’ve even stepped out of my car, I can sense a lovely energy in this historic market town, a gem in the heart of Yorkshire’s golden triangle. It feels buzzy, bright and welcoming ‒ the sort of place where you’d meander to the shops and find yourself stopping for friendly chats along the way.
There’s something so appealing in that sense of community, and it’s a joy to find places where it’s still alive and well.
My first stop is to view Wetherby Bridge from the riverside, following in the footsteps of renowned artist JMW Turner. He immortalised the view in an 1816 sketch, now in the care of the Tate Gallery in London.
A Turner Trail board tells me: ‘JMW Turner could have visited Wetherby several times during his long association with Yorkshire, which began in 1797, and lasted some 30 years.
‘The town was a busy staging post on the Great North Road from London to Edinburgh, which the A1 now broadly follows. It was in the summer of 1816, his last grand tour of Yorkshire, when the artist took the time to sketch the town, while on his way to York. His sketch included the bridge, river and the old church of St James in the background.’
History lesson complete, I head into the centre of Wetherby, where I find a seriously impressive offering.
All too often, high streets are plagued by boarded-up windows and empty shops. Here, this isn’t the case.
Wetherby is bursting with independent shops and businesses, cosy cafés, plenty of places to eat and drink, plus florists, butchers, bakeries and a library. The town even has its own independent cinema, showing the latest big releases.
Coupled with pretty streets and examples of fine Georgian architecture, it’s not hard to see why it often features on ‘best places to live’ lists. While there isn’t a train station, Wetherby sits next to the A1 (M), making it an attractive spot for commuters, with York, Leeds and Harrogate easily accessible.
According to Rightmove, house prices in Wetherby averaged £444,455 over the last year. Sold prices over the same period were 15 per cent up on the previous year and six per cent up on the 2021 peak of £418,628.
GO SHOPPING
If you’re a foodie, a visit to the very cool & Salt is a must. It’s an Aladdin’s cave of speciality ingredients, cookbooks, food magazines, kitchenware and great gift ideas, including hampers.
Every corner of this small but mighty store is stacked with delectable goodies you’ll find very hard to resist.
The gorgeous Kemps Books is a delight. An ‘emporium of beautiful and unusual gifts and books’, the store is a treasure trove to explore.
For stylish fashion pieces, head to OAKS boutique. Founded in 1983, the store prides itself on offering high-end looks without high-end prices. Its vibe is about catering to all ages, all shapes and all price points.
Similarly, Olivia Grace’s selection of labels is designed to offer quality and value, with an individual edge. You’ll find a store stocked with clothing, handbags, jewellery and accessories, plus products from the luxury Italian soap and fragrance company, Ortigia Sicilia.
There’s also The Shoe Tree, boasting an excellent selection of footwear, and for little ones, head to Doodlebug, an independent baby and children’s boutique, which stocks organic and handmade pieces.
And for those looking for interiors inspiration, Wetherby is also home to Jeremy Wood Designed Interiors, which has been creating handmade bespoke kitchens, utility rooms, boot rooms, bedrooms, dressing rooms and media rooms for more than 30 years
Meanwhile, the town’s traditional open market runs on Thursdays, and between February and December, an artisan market runs on the second Sunday of the month (the third in November).
OUT AND ABOUT
Catch a film at the historic Wetherby Cinema. It opened its doors in April 1915 as the ‘Raby Picture House’ to entertain troops who were billeted in the town.
In 1945, it was purchased by the Star Cinema Group and was named ‘Rodney’ after the son of one of the owners. There was a stint as a bingo club, before it reopened as a cinema in 1993.
As well as current releases, the cinema also shows indie films and screenings of National Theatre and Royal Ballet productions.
With special senior screenings – for those aged 60 and above – there’s a complimentary tea or coffee and a slice of cake included with your ticket.
The cinema is also included in the town’s Blue Plaque trail. There are 21 plaques across the town on buildings and sites of historical interest – pop to the library and pick up a guide.
The town is also home to the historic Wetherby Racecourse – the jump season begins in mid-October and continues into the new year and spring, ending before the first flat meeting of the season at the end of April. Flat fixtures continue into June, when the season ends.
3 OF THE BEST PLACES TO EAT
Kofi & Co
Great coffee and a welcoming atmosphere await at Kofi & Co. There’s an extensive menu, which includes a section devoted to eggs – from Kofi Benedict to spiced eggs and halloumi, and more.
Market Place
@kofiandco_
Mango
This award-winning vegetarian and vegan Indian restaurant comes highly recommended. Its mantra is ‘good food, good people, good times. Life is too short for anything else’.
We wholeheartedly agree.
Bank Street
@mangowetherby
Once Upon A Vine
If wine, cheese and charcuterie get your taste buds going, then Once Upon A Vine is a must-visit. Delve into the menu, packed with artisanal meats and cheese, and create your own sharing board.
Cross Street
@onceuponavineyorkshire
GO EXPLORE
Wetherby’s riverside is only a short walk from the town centre ‒ a pretty area to enjoy the peace or have a picnic.
Popular bandstand concerts also run on Sundays as spring and summer arrive. This year’s programme begins on April 26 with a performance from Wetherby Silver Band. Visit facebook.com/TheWetherbyBandstand
Relax in the peaceful Jubilee Garden, home to the Georgian Bath House. Says its Blue Plaque: ‘This Georgian building is a rare example of the cold water therapy popular then for relieving various ailments. An icy dip followed by a walk around the bath was repeated as often as possible.’
Wetherby also has the multi-Green Flag award-winning Sandringham Park, where there’s plenty of space for children to play, while walkers and cyclists will find lots to love about the three-mile Harland Way. The greenway runs between Spofforth and Wetherby on part of the former York & North Midland Railway route.
For those looking for a family day out, Stockeld Park will appeal to young and old. Its Enchanted Forest features outdoor adventure playgrounds and nearly a mile of accessible pathways, while the Playhive is filled with adventure playgrounds spanning 20,000 sq ft.
TOWN LIFE
Clair Strike runs Nicolla Florist on Bank Street. She tells Yorkshire Life why she loves the town.
‘It’s such a safe place to live, you can walk into town and there’s always something to do. We are right in the middle of the countryside, and the most wonderful thing about Wetherby is that it has got this community feeling about it. If you needed something, there’s somebody in the town who could help you. Wetherby has definitely got that market town feel to it still.
‘If someone is coming during the day, I think start yourself off with a nice breakfast. We get our coffee from either Bottle and Bean or Kofi.
‘We would either go for a wander around the shops, or for a walk along the river. You can walk to Collingham and back, or you can walk up to the racecourse, or you can walk up to Spofforth.
‘Then, on an evening, especially down my street here, there are so many restaurants.’
