Harrogate remains one of the North’s most desirable towns — elegant, leafy and endlessly liveable. Its Regency and Victorian homes, independent shops and celebrated gardens create a sophisticated pace of life within minutes of open countryside. Nearby, Ripon combines cathedral heritage with the tranquillity of a traditional market town, enriched by the neighbouring UNESCO-listed Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden. York stands as the region’s cultural anchor: Roman walls, medieval streets, acclaimed restaurants and high-speed rail links make it one of England’s most atmospheric and best-connected cities.

Moving into the Dales, Richmond is a standout — a handsome Georgian market town crowned by its Norman castle and overlooking the River Swale. Its theatres, galleries and access to sweeping walking routes, including sections of the famous Coast-to-Coast Path, position it perfectly for those seeking both culture and countryside.

As the landscape shifts east towards the Moors, Thirsk provides a welcoming gateway, its classic square and James Herriot heritage giving it a familiar charm. Northallerton, with its wide high street and strong rail connectivity. Further east, Helmsley captures the essence of the Moors — honeyed stone cottages, castle ruins, and immediate access to the Cleveland Way and Rievaulx Abbey.

These towns and their surrounding villages sit within a region defined by outstanding scenery, from dramatic waterfalls and ancient woodland to expansive moorland that blooms purple each summer. The property landscape is equally varied: stone-built cottages, Georgian terraces, substantial country homes and discreet contemporary builds that frame uninterrupted views.

Together, the Dales and Moors deliver a lifestyle shaped by heritage, culture and year-round natural drama. For those drawn to authenticity, calm and the romance of the North, this region offers an enduring way of life — rooted in landscape, enriched by community, and as timeless as the hills themselves.