Things To See & Do

Thirsk Racecourse

Thirsk Racecourse is just a matter of minutes walk from the Golden Fleece making us the perfect place to stay, eat and drink ahead of race day!

As a forward-thinking and progressive venue, they continue to build on the region’s long and rich association with horse racing, providing the modern and family-friendly facilities for which they are renowned and which today’s racegoers rightfully demand. Conveniently located at the heart of North Yorkshire, Thirsk Racecourse is one of the country’s most picturesque with its attractive architecture complemented by beautifully kept lawns and flowered gardens.

Thirsk Racecourse has broad appeal, providing excellent public facilities for racegoers, superb hospitality facilities and catering, a wonderful family day out (with lots of children’s entertainment in the summer) and, of course, with good, competitive flat racing at the heart of every race meeting.

Thirsk also provides the perfect year-round venue for a wide variety of events, especially weddings and other family celebrations, as well as conferences, banquets, Christmas parties, concerts, charity functions, sports events, exhibitions, markets and caravan rallies.

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Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre

Located at Sion Hill Hall, Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre was set up to ensure that birds of prey would survive to provide the public with a rare opportunity to see and enjoy these beautiful birds.

If you have ever dreamed of seeing eagles soaring above your head, owls sweeping past or ducking and diving as vultures fly by then this is the place for you!

Falconry UK fly their birds in three amazing flying displays each day, with different birds in each display and the chance to get up close and personal in a handling session after each display (at no extra cost!). In between displays all our beautiful birds are on display providing great photo opportunities!

It’s a fantastic trip out for all the family. For the latest news and offers visit FalconryUK on facebook.

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Mount Grace Priory

England’s most important, best preserved and most accessible of the ten medieval Carthusian houses (charterhouses) in England.

The individual cells reflect the isolation of the monks who live as hermits, each occupying his own cell and coming together in the chapel only for the nocturnal liturgical hours, Sundays and feast-days. They are silent order and their diet is strictly vegetarian.

Entrance is via 13th-century manor house containing an exhibition and two newly restored arts and crafts rooms.

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Sutton Bank National Park

Vet and author James Herriot declared the tremendous view from the dramatic Sutton Bank escarpment over the Vale of Mowbray and the Vale of York, the “finest in England”. So why not stop at the top of the bank, visit the Centre and blow away the cobwebs with a walk or cycle ride? It’s an official Dark Sky Discovery Site too, one of three in the North York Moors.

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James Herriot Museum

World of James Herriot is the writer’s home visitor attraction in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. The attraction covers the life and books of the 20th century veterinarian and author James Herriot within the Yorkshire Dales

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Mouse Man Visitor Centre

From a single acorn to a finished piece of beautifully hand crafted oak furniture. One man’s work from start to finish. A simple ethos established by Robert Thompson – The Mouseman of Kilburn.

In perfect reflection of this, the new Mouseman Visitor Centre will take you on an amazing journey through the life and times of the Mouseman from humble beginnings to furniture legend. Visitors to the centre can pass through rooms set in the 1930s that are full of Robert Thompson’s own personal furniture made with his own hands and signed with early examples of the carved mouse symbol. Learn all about the Mouseman of Kilburn from the audio-visual display then browse through the gift shop where you can purchase any of the handcrafted items sold.

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