11 Reasons Why Yorkshire is the Place to Be - Celebrating Yorkshire Day at Winston Solicitors
Yorkshire Day is high on the list of important dates to celebrate here at Winston Solicitors. We are fiercely proud of our Yorkshire heritage and the decision to open our office in Roundhay in North Leeds was due to its proximity to homes, local businesses, and a wonderful park.
Reasons to Love Our Life in Yorkshire
1. Breathtaking Scenery
There’s nothing quite like taking a deep breath of clean, country air. There’s a reason Yorkshire is known as God’s Own Country, It’s the largest county in the UK, boasting a whopping four million acres of rural landscape. That’s why hiking is officially the favourite pastime of Yorkshire-dwellers. From wild moors to lush dales, there’s something for all ages and fitness levels.
2. Peaceful Parks
The naturally formed Yorkshire countryside is stunning, but we also do a good line in purpose-built parks and nature reserves. Places such as Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which is a fantastic mixture of curated art exhibition and guided country walks, set against the backdrop of a protected wildlife sanctuary.
A short walk from the Winston Solicitors office is Yorkshire’s biggest park, Roundhay, In fact, it’s one of the largest city parks in Europe!
3. Historical Yorkshire is Wonderfully Multicultural and Diverse
With a history as vast as Yorkshire’s, there are all kinds of thriving communities wherever you go. Arabic names appear in the Domesday Book as far back as 1086 in Yorkshire. Hebden Bridge is a favourite with the LGBTQIA community. And Leeds has its own Pride March every August.
Yorkshire also had some prominent suffragists heading up the suffrage movement. Such as Mary Smith, who was the first woman to formally request that women be allowed to vote. We like to think we’ve continued that tradition, with women making up a significant percentage of our team.
4. Yorkshire Has Some of the Best Universities in the Country
Universities in Yorkshire rank highly, not just in the UK, but worldwide. York is listed as one of the top universities in the country.
And because Yorkshire cities such as Huddersfield, Sheffield, and Leeds (to name but a few) are so fantastic, many of the students who come here stay after they graduate.
5. Yorkshire Folk are Friendly
Many visitors to Yorkshire are taken aback by how friendly we all are. Whatever your circumstances, complete strangers will often rush to lend a hand if you find yourself in a pickle. Just don’t try to lie to us because we do not suffer fools up here. You always know where you’re up to with Yorkshire folk. We’re friendly, fair, and forthright.
6. We've Got Music in Our Soul
If it’s music you’re after, Yorkshire has all kinds of venues. As well as the larger arenas, there are those hidden gems, such as Leeds’ Brudenell Social Club and Sheffield’s Leadmill. Both of which are considered to be iconic venues that attract small bands and big hitters alike.
Several world-famous bands originated in Yorkshire. The Arctic Monkeys, Def Leppard, The Human League, and The Cribs all cut their teeth in God’s Own Country before becoming household names.
7. Yorkshire Culture is Varied and Impressive
Yorkshire has absolutely everything you could possibly want to keep yourself occupied, whether it’s just a flying visit, or you’re in it for the long haul. Art galleries, beautiful theatres, international film festivals, flavourful foodie events, gritty television shows, museums... Yorkshire is absolutely steeped in history and culture.
Leeds nightlife has a great reputation, both in the city centre and further afield. From street food to fine dining, from real ale pubs to swanky cocktail bars, we have something for everyone. You may even spot an Emmerdale Farm celebrity or two while you’re here.
8. From Cricket to Rugby, Yorkshire Sports Are On Point
If it’s sports you’re after, we’ve got it all! Rugby league was developed in Huddersfield, and Yorkshire makes up half of the premier Super League, which is Europe-wide. We also have several premier league football clubs and many fantastic cricket clubs.
If you’re more about the participation, we have golf courses galore, including Moortown golf course, which is famous for hosting the Ryder Cup. And if it’s the geegees you’re after, we have nine, well respected racecourses throughout Yorkshire.
9. Yorkshire is the Heart of the UK
Yorkshire is smack-bang in the middle of the UK, making it a great central hub for people travelling from any direction. Another reason why we chose to call Yorkshire our home. Roundhay has a similar hub-like status and is easily accessible from Harrogate, Ilkley, and Wetherby,
10. Amazing Animals
Along with the wildlife that stalks the moors, Yorkshire has its own, slightly tamer, mascots. Dogs, rodents, and birds alike have become synonymous with Yorkshire in general, and specific cities in particular. You wouldn’t be surprised to see a man walking a ferret on a lead, for example. And Leeds has an owl trail, which is a unique way to explore the city centre.
With all this countryside around, it comes as no surprise that there are a vast number of farms, Yorkshire hosts several agricultural shows where you can see all manner of interesting farm animal breeds.
We hate to make this all about us, but Roundhay's animals may well be the most colourful. In the wonderfully warm environment of Tropical World, butterflies, rare fish, alligators, and meerkats all live (separately) under one roof.
11. The Best Fish and Chips
It may not be the birthplace of this UK speciality, but everybody the world over knows that the best fish and chips come from Yorkshire. Yorkshire batter is so light and crisp that most fish and chip shops offer the Yorkshire delicacy of scraps (little pieces of deep-fried batter that melt in your mouth). And with a regular supply of fish from our wonderful coasts, you can guarantee that your food will be very fresh.
Happy Yorkshire Day!
The 1st of August represents the day when the brave Yorkshire soldiers fought in the Battle of Minden. It is also the anniversary of the day in 1834 when slavery was finally abolished after Yorkshireman, William Wilberforce’s extensive campaign. The first Yorkshire day took place in 1975. Established by the Yorkshire Ridings Society, it began as a protest to the division of the “Ridings,” but has now become synonymous with Yorkshire Pride. And you can’t say fairer than that.
So today, we tip our flat caps to Yorkshire and take a moment to appreciate this wonderful and unique county that we call home.
