North Yorkshire

Unitary authority in England

Coordinates:	54.09, -1.4
OS grid ref:	SE 39 66

North Yorkshire covers a huge swathe of northern England, running from the limestone valleys and patchwork fields of the Yorkshire Dales and the heather moors of the North York Moors to a dramatic North Sea coastline of bays, cliffs and sandy beaches. The area is dominated by national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so walking, cycling and coastal holidays are major draws.

Historically it is rich in market towns and medieval sites - stone castles at Richmond, abbey ruins like Rievaulx and the spa town heritage of Harrogate sit alongside atmospheric fishing ports such as Whitby and Scarborough. Iconic railways, notably the Settle–Carlisle line and scenic coastal routes, have long helped shape the area’s character and accessibility.

Economically the authority is a blend of agriculture, tourism and light industry, with growing services and tech pockets and commuter links towards Leeds and Teesside. Socially it balances busy visitor centres and festivals with sparsely populated rural communities, facing familiar rural pressures on housing, transport and local services while retaining a strong local identity and outdoor‑activity culture.

North Yorkshire postcode districts

BD23, BD24, DL6, DL7, DL8, DL9, DL10, DL11, HG1, HG2, HG3, HG4, HG5, LS24, TS9, YO7, YO8, YO11, YO12, YO13, YO14, YO17, YO18, YO21, YO22, YO51, YO60, YO61, YO62

Most populated places in North Yorkshire

Places in North Yorkshire

Barlby Built-up area
Barlby with Osgodby Parish
Bedale Built-up area
Boroughbridge Built-up area
Brayton Built-up area
Catterick Built-up area
Catterick Garrison Built-up area
Cross Hills and Steeton Built-up area
Easingwold Built-up area
Filey Built-up area
Glusburn and Cross Hills Parish
Great Ayton Built-up area
Harrogate Built-up area
Hunmanby Built-up area
Ingleby Greenhow Parish
Kirkbymoorside Built-up area
Knaresborough Built-up area
Malton Built-up area
Northallerton Built-up area
Norton-on-Derwent Built-up area
Pickering Built-up area
Richmond Built-up area
Ripon Built-up area
Scarborough Built-up area
Selby Built-up area
Settle Built-up area
Sherburn in Elmet Built-up area
Skipton Built-up area
Stokesley Built-up area
Tadcaster Built-up area
Thirsk Built-up area
Whitby Built-up area