All About Yorkshire

Live Music

If singing “On Ilkla Moor Baht ‘at” as you stroll across the moors has got you in a musical frame of mind, you will be pleased to find that, for a relatively small town, Ilkley has a surprisingly lively live music scene. The Kings Hall and Winter Gardens (website) is a 500 capacity venue hosting a variety of performances ranging from classical to contemporary.  Ilkley Concert Club (website) and Ilkley Chamber Orchestra (website) offer more options for connoisseurs of  classical music, while Ilkley Amateur Operatic Society (website) brings a mix of musical theatre and opera to the stage. Ilkley Playhouse (website) hosts both musicals and live bands and Ilkley Manor House (website) also serves as a unique venue for intimate music events, showcasing local and international talent in a historic setting.

You’ll likely have to travel to Leeds or Bradford for bigger named acts.

Theatre

Theatre lovers will find a thriving community in Ilkley. Kings Hall and Winter Gardens and Ilkley Playhouse present a wide array of productions, from modern dramas to classic plays. The Menston Thespians (website) and Ilkley Amateur Operatic Society add to the town’s theatrical diversity, offering everything from light-hearted comedies to grand operas.

Leeds and Bradford also offer a wide range of theatrical choices.

Cinema

Ilkley Cinema (website) is a small cosy independent cinema located in the town centre. It shows a range of films, from the latest blockbusters to and independent productions. Advanced booking is recommended. Ilkley Film Society (website) cater to film aficionados with a selection of mainstream, art house, indie, and foreign films.

Ilkley has been the star of many a film and TV show. If you’re a movie buff, you may be interested to find out more about Ilkley cinema and TV history.

Comedy

For a night of laughter, Kings Hall and Winter Gardens hosts some of biggest names in UK comedy on national tours while Stagefright Comedy Club at Ilkley Play House, and Moor Laughs Comedy (website) are the go-to spots for up and coming talent.

Museums

Ilkley Manor House, set within a Grade II* listed building dating back to the 14th century, offers insights into the area’s rich heritage and the lives of its former residents. Ilkley Toy Museum (website) delights visitors with its captivating collection of vintage toys and dolls from around the globe, showcasing centuries of playtime history.

Art Galleries

Ilkley is home to a number of small art galleries, showcasing the work of local artists as well as artists from further afield.

Tamara Lawson Gallery and Studio (website) and Tinker Gallery (website) both showcase contemporary artworks, highlighting the town’s vibrant art scene.

Exhibitions

The Solar Gallery at Ilkley Manor House and the Winter Gardens host various exhibitions throughout the year, showcasing a range of subjects and media. Past exhibitions have included everything from photography and painting, to sculpture and mixed media.

Annual Events

Launched in 1973 by poet W. H. Auden, Ilkley Literature Festival (website) is the second oldest literature festival in the UK and it has subsequently grown to become one of the premier events in the UK’s literary calendar. Each autumn the festival welcomes a plethora of poets, novelists, journalists and biographers to join together with fans and enthusiasts in the Yorkshire spa town in a celebration of the written word through talks, workshops, and performances. 

Over the years, the festival has attracted some of literature’s A listers, from Margaret Atwood to Philip Larkin to Alexander McCall Smith and Colin Dexter as well as Yorkshire’s own deep, rich well of literary talent – from Poet Laureate Ted Hughes, to playwright Alan Bennett, TV presenter Michael Palin, ‘Angry Young Man’ John Braine, icon of comedy writing Barry Cryer, and ‘Bard of Barnsley’ Ian McMillan.  We can’t wait to see who’s on the bill for this year’s edition!

Walking

Walkers are spoilt for choice in Ilkley, with a host of town trails, valley walks and moorland hikes to explore. Can you even say that you’ve been to Ilkley if you haven’t stomped through the bracken across Ilkley Moor and marvelled at the stunning views across Wharfedale?

The Dales Way, (website) is a long-distance footpath that starts at the Old Bridge in Ilkley and continues along the River Wharfe through the Yorkshire Dales National Park and on, all the way to Bowness-on-Windermere in the Lake District.

For those looking for something shorter, there are a number of shorter trails and footpaths in and around the town that offer a chance to explore the local area. Ilkley Civic Society (website) have a number of suggested trails some taking just a couple of hours to the day long trek to Beamsley Beacon.

We recommend walking through the idyllic Mill Gill at the top of Brook Street in the centre of town. Keep heading up the hill and you’ll find yourself on the edge of the moors. There you can choose to follow the Darwin Gardens Trail (you can download the trail here) or following in Charles Darwin’s footsteps (read more here) and head on up on to the moors themselves. The historic White Wells, is a steep but short walk from the gate near the boating pond. From there you can either head to the Neolithic or early Bronze Age rock carving known as the Swastika Stone or to the Cow and Calf Rocks. Find out about the fascinating folklore surrounding the Cow and Calf Rocks.

There are also a number of historical trails in the town, created by the Ilkley Civic Society including a blue plaque heritage walk; details of which are available from Ilkley Manor House. These walks take approx 90 minutes.

Road Cycling

Ilkley’s claim to be the cycling capital of Yorkshire is certainly compelling one. Who can forget the sight of the Tour de France cycling past the iconic Cow and Calf Rocks as part of the Grand Depart in 2014? The town is surrounded by beautiful countryside and challenging twisty roads, making it a haven for road cycling enthusiasts. The town boasts the UK’s largest and most successful cycling community clubs, awarded the national “Sports Club of the Year”in 2013,  and the club has a comprehensive list of nearly 300 road cycle routes around Ilkley you can find here.

Mountain Biking

If off road cycling is more your thing, there are also a number of mountain biking trails in the area, including on Ilkley Moor and the surrounding hills. Bradford Council’s Access Policy for Ilkley Moor is available here.

Cycle Shops and Bike Hire

For those in need of a bike or supplies, there is a cycle shop, Wheelbase Ilkley (website) located on Skipton Road on the edge of the town centre. Unfortunately, there is currently nowhere to hire bikes in Ilkley.

Sports Clubs and Activities in Ilkley

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How to Get to Ilkley