If that’s true, you’re spoilt for choice in Yorkshire, which is peppered with charming villages boasting spectacular scenery and stunning architecture.
Bilbury, in the Cotswolds, recently topped Forbes Magazine’s list of the world’s 50 most beautiful villages.
But there are plenty of villages in God’s Own County that we reckon could give it a run for its money, with picture-postcard settings and a traditional Yorkshire welcome to boot.
They’re not just great places to visit, but excellent spots in which to set down roots.
Thriving communities, a superb range of independent shops, cafes and restaurants, and, in many cases, good transport links to nearby towns and cities, make them an ideal choice for househunters looking for somewhere a bit different to live.
One of the villages is steeped in literary history, another is the setting for a popular TV drama, and a third has a fascinating museum with an unusual star attraction.
With the average house costing a little over £200,000 in a couple of these locations, they’re surprisingly affordable too.
What’s the prettiest village you’ve ever visited, and where do you think is the best places to live in Yorkshire?
If you’re considering a move, you might want to check out our list of the best market towns in Yorkshire with good train links.
5. Grassington
Even if you've never visited, you may well recognise Grassington as the setting for the popular TV adaptation of James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small. It's little wonder the show's makers chose the picturesque spot, nestled in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, as the perfect filming location. Its cobbled market square, stone cottages and spectacular scenery make it one of the UK's prettiest places. Grassington is officially a market town, though it has the feel of a village, and it boasts a charming array of independent shops, cafes, restaurants, and pubs. It also hosts many popular events, including the Grassington Dickensian Festival. The average house price in Grassington is £384,421, according to Rightmove. | Yorkshire Post Newspapers Photo: Tony Johnson
6. Thornton Dale
You'd be hard pushed to imagine a prettier village than Thornton-le-Dale, also known as Thornton Dale, in North Yorkshire. It could hardly be more quintessentially British, with its beautiful village green, the meandering beck running through its heart, and traditional thatched cottages. Located close to the market town of Pickering, it boasts some excellent cafes, restaurants and pubs, and is a great base from which to explore the surrounding countryside. The average house price in Thornton Dale is £384,139, according to Rightmove. | Google
7. Osmotherley
Osmotherley is a tiny village in North Yorkshire's Hambleton Hills, on the edge of the North York Moors National Park. The pretty village has everything you need, including three pubs, two cafes and a fish and chip shop, and it's close to the beautiful Cod Beck reservoir. The average house price in Osmotherley is £363,278, according to Rightmove. | National World Photo: Simon Hulme
8. Hutton Le Hole on the North York Moors. Photograph by Tony Johnson. 18th March 2025.
Hutton-le-Hole, near Pickering, in North Yorkshire, is a small village which is big on charm. Pretty cottages are dotted around a babbling brook, with sheep grazing on its banks, and it's set within the natural majesty of the North York Moors National Park. One of its biggest attractions is the Ryedale Folk Museum, an open-air museum transporting visitors back in time to learn more about the area's rich history. The average house price in Hutton-le-Hole is £345,000, according to Rightmove. | National World Photo: Tony Johnson