Thirsk is a traditional market town in North Yorkshire, 23 miles north of York and eight miles south of Northallerton. The town centre has a cobbled market square with a town clock, a variety of shops, and a traditional market that’s held twice a week.
Thirsk train station has hourly services to Middlesbrough, York, Leeds and Huddersfield, making it a great place for commuters. There are accessible local road networks too, with the A19 linking Thirsk directly with Middlesbrough and York. The A1 is nearby, making long-distance travel north and south an easy option too.
Thirsk has a range of schools for children of all ages. For very young children, there’s Jack & Jill’s Nursery School, moving into primary schools including Thirsk Community Primary School. All Saint’s RC Primary School and Sowerby Community Primary School are just outside of the town, and Thirsk School & Sixth Form College offers secondary education.
Thirsk has a great mix of shops in the town centre. Enjoy independent shops like Crafts of Thirsk, Well Heeled Boutique (a ladies clothing store) and Unique Gifts, for something a little different. The award-winning White Rose Book Café is a local gem with a book shop, café and a garden terrace. Johnson’s of Thirsk is a local butchers that’s been trading here since 1830 and sells local produce only, to support local farmers and promote sustainability.
This traditional market town doesn’t disappoint when it comes to pubs, with plenty around the market square and hidden down side streets too. The Golden Fleece is a 19th-century coach inn with amazing seasonal food, and The Little 3 is a real ale pub working with great Yorkshire breweries to provide the best local beers.
Local cafes don’t disappoint either. Yorks of Thirsk has amazing coffee and food, and Bliss Café has a lot of gluten-free choices. Plenty is another great choice, with tasty options and friendly staff. There are some fantastic restaurants too like Bianco Ristorante Thirsk, which is a family-run Italian serving authentic dishes, and Racha Thai Bistro, which is another local gem.
The local amenities in Thirsk are really good. There are several GPs and pharmacies, and there’s Friarage Hospital nearby in Northallerton. The town has a library, a leisure centre, a Post Office and even a cinema. There’s a good selection of supermarkets too, including a Tesco Superstore, Lidl, Heron Foods and a Londis. Market days run twice a week on the cobbled Market Square, with stalls selling fruit, veg and so much more.
Thirsk is well known for James Herriot; the vet who wrote the amazing series of books that inspired the TV series All Creatures Great and Small. The World of James Herriot is a visitor attraction based in the author’s home.
Thirsk has its own racecourse, which hosts meets throughout spring and summer, and has a Ladies Day in September every year.
