The market town of Guisborough is steeped in history and as you walk along its cobbled streets you can see it has maintained its heritage with more than 100 listed buildings within its conservation area.
Lying just outside of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, the town is nestled among forestry, hills and moorland. With its historic charm comes a modern twist - the high street and its side streets boast a richness of independent restaurants, shops and bakeries.
The town, mentioned in the Domesday Book, saw a large expansion in the 19th century due to ironstone mining and houses being built to accommodate the miners. It saw further growth in the 1960s and 1970s thanks to the steel industry.
Now it has a bustling and thriving feel making it popular with young professionals and families of all ages. There is a strong community spirit among the businesses and the residents. Only recently, Guisborough’s Brickyard Bakery gave away thousands of free breakfasts for students sitting their SATs exams and local volunteers got involved too helping deliver the food to schools.
Talking of schools, Guisborough has excellent education opportunities, including a campus of York’s Askham Bryan College of Agriculture.
The traditional market is still held twice a week on Thursday and Saturday and the newly renovated Town Hall not only offers an information centre, it is home to Shorty’s Gins, a shop and award-winning distillery as well as offering luxury accommodation.
Guisborough provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. On its doorstep is the forest with walking routes, cycle trails and bridleways. Great road links get you to the coast in no time so fish and chips at the seaside is certainly on the menu when you fancy some sea air.
Near to Guisborough lie the charming villages of Newton under Roseberry, located at the base of the distinctive Roseberry Topping, and Upleatham with its Grade II listed church, believed to be one of the smallest churches in England.
The picturesque town with its rich history dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period continues to attract new and exciting additions. With a Nordic bakery, bistros and micro breweries, there is a real cosmopolitan feel to Guisborough and it is certainly putting itself on the map of desirable places to live.
EXPLORE
Guisborough is not short of wonderful places to eat and drink so if you fancy brunch with your bestie, a leisurely lunch or a cheeky cocktail, there is plenty of choice.
The Nordic inspired Koselig Bakeri on Westgate is the cafe definition of hygge. A sense of calm and cosiness washes over you when you walk through the door and their raspberry and custard brioche hits the sweet spot every time.
Slightly off the beaten track is Finn’s Bakery and from Thursday to Sunday it serves up a delicious continental menu. It has proved a hit with customers so don’t leave it too late to try their dishes.
As well as serving up coffee and cake, No 30 Westgate also hosts pottery workshops for those wanting to try their hand at ceramics. Taster workshops, pottery parties and short courses mean you can get creative and have a go at wheel throwing.
Rest and relaxation is very much the order of the day at Gisborough Hall, the four star country house hotel just outside the town. The hotel has its very own Revival Zone where you can escape everyday life for a pamper session. Ease away all the stress and aching muscles with facial and body massages.
With batteries fully recharged, there is no shortage of shops to browse for an afternoon of retail therapy. There are well-known national chains within the town including a Marks and Spencer Foodhall, but it really is the home of independent shops and that makes it such an interesting destination.
The Guisborough Bookshop is one of the largest independent bookstores in the area and it is a literature lover’s dream where you can bag a bestseller or indulge in stunning stationery.
Dreamy interior homewares can be found at Love All Things Quirky where founder Nicola Ash has curated a perfect blend of styles, textures and colours. Culture vultures are well-catered for with music nights and comedy clubs at Brass Monkey Beer Boutique. At Gisborough Priory you can enjoy a programme of outdoor events including brass band concerts, heritage open days and guided tours.
TOWN LIFE
When former hair and beauty lecturer Emma Fletcher decided to take the plunge and open her own business, she knew Guisborough would be the perfect location. Six months ago she opened Denham Hair and Beauty Studio on the Market Place, bringing a derelict building back into use and creating a luxury salon where you can be pampered from head to toe. In the space of just six months she has built up a thriving business, employing four stylists. She says: “I had always found Guisborough to be a place I was drawn to and I knew it was where I wanted to open a salon. The people who live and work here are really friendly. There is such a wide range of businesses here and I think we have brought something new to the town. We have been made so welcome and the support has been wonderful. Quite a few other business owners now come here for a haircut or pamper and likewise we buy from the lovely cafes and shops. That is what it’s like to be here and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
BAG A PROPERTY
Being a picturesque market town on the edge of the North York Moors, it is easy to see why Guisborough is a sought after place to live. Newer housing developments on the outskirts of the town provide ample space for families with the convenience of a bustling town centre close at hand.
While prices clearly vary depending on the type and size of property you are after, large detached houses sell for around £400,000, though some are on the market for £600,000 and more on the Prince Regents Court development on the edge of town.
For those looking for something smaller, there are a number of apartments for sale while rental properties include a mix of terraced houses, apartments and newer builds.
Guisborough is served with good road links to Middlesbrough, Whitby and Stokesley and while there isn’t a train station in the town, nearby Nunthorpe Station has trains to Sunderland and Newcastle.
Guisborough is a wonderful example of a traditional market town that manages to celebrate its heritage without being stuck in the past. With great schools, clubs, shops, eateries and the huge expanses of forestry and moorland, it is ready to welcome you.
