landmark
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
An 18-mile heritage steam line from Pickering across the moors to Grosmont and on to Whitby, one of the busiest in Britain.
1 km · about 5 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Pickering
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Pickering
Pickering works well as a base: 20 minutes from Kirkbymoorside, 10km from Hole of Horcum.
Pickering is in England, United Kingdom, with about 6,900 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Kirkbymoorside, about 11 km away.
Pickering Castle is a motte-and-bailey fortification in Pickering, North Yorkshire, England. The original castle was made of timber, and the later stone castle was a temporary prison for Richard II in 1399. The castle is owned by the Duchy of Lancaster and managed by English Heritage.
Where to Stay in Pickering
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Pickering?
Within an hour or so of Pickering: North Yorkshire Moors Railway (1 km), Hole of Horcum (10 km), Rosedale Chimney Bank (13 km), North York Moors National Park (16 km).
Are there any good drives near Pickering?
The nearest famous roads are Rosedale Chimney Bank, B6270 Swaledale and A684 Wensleydale (Sedbergh to Leyburn).
Where is Pickering?
Pickering is in England, United Kingdom, about 11 km from Kirkbymoorside.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 6,936
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 54.2500, -0.7667
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Pickering
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
Hole of Horcum
A vast natural amphitheatre 120 m deep on the Pickering-to-Whitby road, hollowed out by spring sapping rather than by ice.
10 km · about 20 min drive
famous road
Rosedale Chimney Bank
One of England's steepest roads, hitting 1-in-3 (33%) as it climbs from Rosedale Abbey onto the North York Moors past old ironstone kilns. A rite of passage for drivers and cyclists; caravans are banned.
13 km · about 25 min drive
national park
North York Moors National Park
Vast expanse of heather moorland turning purple in August, with deep valleys, a dramatic coastline and the historic North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
16 km · about 30 min drive
castle
Castle Howard
A stately home in North Yorkshire, not a true castle but one of England's grandest Baroque residences, famous from Brideshead Revisited.
17 km · about 20 min drive
film location
Goathland Station (Hogsmeade Station)
This preserved North Yorkshire Moors Railway station was Hogsmeade Station in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, where students arrive by steam train.
17 km · about 20 min drive
film location
North Yorkshire Moors Railway (Hogwarts Express line)
The heritage line between Pickering and Grosmont carried the Hogwarts Express in the early films; steam services still run the route.
17 km · about 20 min drive
waterfall
Mallyan Spout
The tallest waterfall in the North York Moors at around 21 m, in a wooded ravine below Goathland.
17 km · about 20 min drive
Driving roads near Pickering
- Right hereRosedale Chimney BankOne of England's steepest roads, hitting 1-in-3 (33%) as it climbs from Rosedale Abbey onto the North York Moors past old ironstone kilns. A rite of passage for drivers and cyclists; caravans are banned.
- 29 kmSutton BankA steep escarpment with a 1-in-4 hairpin climb and a view James Herriot called 'the finest in England', looking over the Vale of York.
- 36 kmRoseberry ToppingA distinctive half-cone hill on the edge of the North York Moors, its shape the result of a 1912 landslip caused by mining.
- 64 kmHumber BridgeVast single-span suspension bridge over the Humber estuary near Hull: the world's longest of its kind for 16 years after opening in 1981, with a 2.2km crossing that still feels like flying over water.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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