Moors covered in carpets of heather and a heritage coastline studded with fossils. The scenery in the North East is worthy of romantic Bronte sisters' novels and magical Harry Potter film sets. Starry nights sparkle over Northumberland National Park's clear skies, an astronomer's paradise. You'll always be looking up in York at the cathedral's epic stained glass and to medieval buildings that huddle over cobbled alleyways, or at Durham's World Heritage towers and turrets. Leap into the 21st century in Newcastle with its world-class music and arts venues overlooking the River Tyne criss-crossed with a family of impressive bridges.
North East England
November events: Get inspired at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival
Listen along to amazing performances at the UK’s largest international festival of new and experimental music.
Location: Huddersfield , West Yorkshire
Take in a weekend of jazz at Marsden Jazz Festival
Hear old school traditional to cutting-edge contemporary jazz at Marsden Jazz Festival.
Location: Marsden, West Yorkshire
Get your jazz hands out for the Scarborough Jazz Festival
Each September, the annual Scarborough Jazz Festival on Yorkshire’s north coast provides the ideal tonic for music lovers to wash away those summer blues.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
July events: Holmfirth Art Week
Over 400 artists combine art, music, comedy, theatre and literature for the UK's largest open art exhibition.
Location: Holmfirth, West Yorkshire
July events: Scarborough Cricket Festival
The annual festival is one of the most historic sporting events in the world and has played host to some great cricketers over the years.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
September events: Experience arts and culture at Hull's Freedom Festival
Hull’s annual festival, Freedom, features torchlight processions, flaming installations, street dance, pop up galleries, aerial acrobats and music.
Location: Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
Visit the largest Viking Festival in Europe
Immerse yourself in the gruesome world of the Vikings as the city of York celebrates its Norse past.
Location: York, North Yorkshire
Get beside the seaside for the Coastival arts festival
Be part of Scarborough’s three-day celebration of all things music, theatre, dance, film and art.
Location: Scarborough, Yorkshire
Experience York's Literature Festival
Rub shoulders with best-selling authors as York gets all bookish.
Location: York, North Yorkshire
May events: Visit the 1940s in West Yorkshire
Head to Haworth in West Yorkshire and get a glimpse into life in the 1940s.
Location: Haworth, West Yorkshire
October Events: Read and be merry at the Ilkley Literature Festival
Book lovers simply can’t miss this prestigious literature event in the Yorkshire Dales, that's taking place between 1 and 17 October.
Location: Ilkley, West Yorkshire
October Events: Party hard at England's biggest indoor world music festival
Take a journey through the world of music at Whitby’s annual Musicport Festival, an event full of excellent live music and cultural diversity.
Location: Whitby, North Yorkshire
Have a bloomin’ lovely time at the Harrogate Flower Show
Get your green fingers ready this prestigious gardening event in April, one of the biggest of its kind in the UK.
Location: Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Herald the coming of spring with a real old English knees-up
Marsden welcomes the cuckoo back to rural West Yorkshire with traditional English dancing, music and sunshine at the Marsden Cuckoo Festival in April.
Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Indulge in all things vintage in York
‘York Does Vintage’ better than anyone else as the city’s affordable vintage fair in Merchant Adventurers’ Hall transports you to bygone eras.
Location: York, North Yorkshire
May events: Put your best foot forward at WalkFest
Put a spring in your step over the spring bank holiday weekend at the North York Moors National Park’s annual walking festival.
Location: North York Moors, North Yorkshire
June events: Become part of the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival
Celebrate Hebden Bridge's quirky and distinctive arts scene at this unique festival, known for delivering big names in a local setting.
Location: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire
July events: Seafest
Celebrate Scarborough’s seafood heritage by filling your hamper with some of the best food from local suppliers and heading for the beach.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
September events: Pop-up galleries and festival arts in North Yorkshire
The Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage in North Yorkshire invites visitors to experience a unique weekend featuring 130 artists in 90 pop-up galleries.
Location: Whitby, North Yorkshire
September events: Celebrate Doncaster at the St Leger Festival
Join the party at The William Hill St Leger Festival, the oldest classic horse race in the world, with an array of music, fine food, arts and culture – and racing of course!
Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire