About Ilkley - With its spa town heritage and surrounding countryside, Ilkley's main industry is tourism. The town centre is characterised by Victorian architecture, wide streets and floral displays. Ilkley Moor, to the south of the town, is the subject of a folk song, often described as the unofficial anthem of Yorkshire, "On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at". The song's words are written in Yorkshire dialect, its title translated as "On Ilkley Moor without a hat."
Shopping - Ilkley town centre is a tourist attraction with a high proliferation of small independent shops. Of particular note is Lishmans of Ilkley, an award-winning butcher shop whose owner, David Lishman, became
|
 |
one of Rick Stein's superheroes in 2003. Ilkley is one of five towns to feature Yorkshire's Bettys tearooms.
Things to do - The Manor House, one of the town's oldest buildings, houses a museum and art gallery. The museum contains prehistoric artefacts and documents the Roman fort of Olicana - remains of which are exposed at the back of the building - as well as the rise of Ilkley as a Victorian spa town. The Ilkley Toy Museum has a collection of toys dating from 350 BC and contains a collection of English wooden dolls.
For days out with children see: www.kidsdaysout.co.uk/
|
