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One of Britain’s biggest and most famous deserted medieval villages, Wharram Percy in North Yorkshire has remnants of century-old houses, a church and ancient ruins for visitors to explore

Travellers journey from all corners to glimpse the UK’s ‘best preserved’ medieval village, Wharram Percy in North Yorkshire, which lay deserted for centuries and now serves as a fascinating site for walkers and history enthusiasts.

Nestled in North Yorkshire, Wharram Percy is one of the largest abandoned medieval villages in Britain and undoubtedly the most renowned. Visitors are invited to stroll through the historic grounds, taking in the remnants of age-old houses, a church, and manorial ruins.

Ideally located halfway between popular attractions Scarborough Castle and Clifford’s Tower in York, it makes for an excellent stopover on your trip between these two sites. While entry to the village is free, there is a nominal £2 charge for parking.

Over an impressive 60-year period, archaeologists have gradually unearthed more details about Wharram Percy’s history. Their findings have shed light on why the area was initially abandoned and what life was like here in bygone times.

Perched on the edge of a Yorkshire valley, this unique village once housed inhabitants for up to six centuries but was deserted after the 1500s. It’s believed that even today, outlines of old houses can be discerned in the ground, alongside the more substantial remains that attract curious visitors.

The history takes some understanding, but experts believe the earliest settlement dates back to approximately 50 BC. This land was subsequently transformed into farmland but lay deserted during the 5th century, before eventually becoming a Middle Saxon settlement.

It’s important to note that reaching the village requires roughly a 3/4 mile walk from the car park to the main site, which is frequently both steep and muddy. The site features rough terrain throughout, which can be challenging for some visitors and is generally unsuitable for wheelchairs or buggies.

A TripAdvisor reviewer highlighted this, writing: “Parking on the Heritage car park off the B1248 prepare for a trek to the village.” They went on to describe it as a “sharp gravelled decline” and a “daunting” journey unsuitable for those with limited mobility, as the route passes through fields.

Following their visit, one enthusiast praised their experience, saying: “Lovely walk from the car park to the site, but people with mobility issues may struggle. It’s a fascinating historical site that has been really well managed. Only a few visitors when we visited, which added to the peace and tranquillity of the place. Loved it!”.

Another guest added: “This lovely deserted mediaeval village is truly fascinating! The history is incredible, and it was wonderful to wander around and explore. We really lucked out and had beautiful weather, so we got to sit on the grass by the pond and soak it all in.”

WITH its wide open beaches, vibrant seaside towns and cathedral-studded cities, Lincolnshire makes for a perfect UK getaway.

Add to that brilliant food and drink options, incredible natural wonders and family-friendly attractions, and it’s no wonder the East Midlands county is one of the top destinations for 9.50 holidaymakers.

In fact, there are so many great places to explore near your £9.50 Holiday park that the hardest question will be: where to visit first?

The coast is unmissable. Long, sandy beaches ripple for more than 50 miles along the eastern shore of England from the Humber to the Wash.

Seaside towns like Mablethorpe, Skegness, Cleethorpes and Ingoldmells are consistently highly rated and hark back to traditional bucket-and-spade holidays.

Expect quintessentially British promenades, piers and arcades as well as super-clean beaches that have earned Blue Flag Award status.

Here you can find everything from the thrilling rides of Fantasy Island to family-friendly land trains and more.

But you’ll also find secret beaches if you prefer – head somewhere like Anderby Creek for beach fun without the crowds.

If it’s nature you’re after, you’ll be spoilt for choice in Lincolnshire.

Again, the coast is a good place to start, with its landscape of sand dunes, open marshland and protected nature reserves like the Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park and Gibraltar Point.

You can also spot seals at Donna Nook, one of the UK’s largest grey seal colonies, and learn more about them and other marine life at Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary and Wildlife Centre.

If you prefer your wildlife-watching somewhere cosy with a cuppa, the North Sea Observatory is free to enter and makes for a brilliant wet weather option, too. 

Keen to dabble in history? Then Lincoln Castle, around an hour’s drive from the coast, should be top of your list.

It contains one of only four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta, as well as having medieval walls, dungeons and towers to explore.

While in the city, you can soak up more history at the Cathedral or swing by Louth with its historic market. 

It may be the birthplace of the Lincolnshire sausage, but there’s far more to this county on a culinary level.

Of course, you’ll find a decent carvery like The Beck in Mablethorpe and budget-friendly cafes like Cosy Corner Cafe in Skegness.

But there are also cafes with quirky touches you won’t find elsewhere, like the 1940s-style Blitz Tea Room.

Top chippies are hard to whittle down in this part of the world, but good places to start include Salts Fish & Chip Shop in Skegness and The Marina Fish & Chips in Chapel St Leonards.

Meanwhile, Hardys Fish & Chips and Meggies, both in Cleethorpes, are also highly rated chip shops – with prices that won’t break the bank.

A top tip for a pint on the beach is to make for somewhere like the Admiral Benbow, which has a bar in a boat on the sand at Chapel St Leonards. 

For families seeking a day out, there’s everything from seal sanctuaries and wildlife parks to explore.

Hubbard’s Hills is a good budget option, costing just £1 to park before you access picnic areas, dog walking trails and a cafe with a play area.

Meanwhile, Rand Farm Park not only offers indoor and outdoor play areas and a variety of animals to meet and help feed, it also offers childcare should you need some time to yourself on your holiday (book ahead).

Looking for a cosy UK weekend getaway this winter? This award-winning country pub ticks all the boxes, our writer Sam Kistamah found out on a recent stay there

Approaching The Gunton Arms, we quickly realised it’s not your average local. It is a pub, but one set in a 1,000-acre deer park near Cromer in rural Norfolk, kitted out in furnishings to rival posh department store Liberty and with walls covered in art by the likes of Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst. And there’s a restaurant that’s in the Michelin Guide too. The deer park surrounds the 18th-century Gunton Hall, and The Gunton Arms was originally a farm that became the second house to Gunton Hall.

After careful restoration by art dealer Ivor Braka (hence the amazing collection), The Gunton Arms opened as a pub with bedrooms in 2011, and earlier this year was listed in the top 20 of The Good Food Guide’s best British pubs.

The food at The Gunton Arms

The Elk Room restaurant is dominated by a giant Irish elk skull, which hangs over an open fire. That’s where chef Stuart Tattersall cooks local fare, including venison from the deer park and beef from the Blickling Estate. Being four miles from the coast, The Gunton Arms also offers seafood, including a popular Cromer crab pasta dish.

We began with fried cod cheeks with caper and bronze fennel mayonnaise, and mixed beets with pickled walnuts and Binham blue. We loved the tender nuggets of cod with their zingy sauce, and the sweet beets were beautifully contrasted by creamy blue cheese and tangy slivers of walnut.

For mains, we devoured the sirloin steak, which had been perfectly cooked on the fire, and came with roast potatoes and a jug of Béarnaise sauce, and the roasted halibut special, accompanied by a buttery spinach and chive sauce and tasty Portland cockles. As keen dessert fans, we inhaled the Norfolk treacle tart with clotted cream and buttermilk pudding with honeyed fig.

The next day, we had lunch at The Gunton Arms’ sister pub The Suffield Arms, which serves outstanding Mediterranean tapas. Highlights included the corn ribs with mojito mayonnaise, and the white Andalusian prawns with garlic and chilli.

The rooms at The Gunton Arms

There are 16 rooms and we stayed in the stunning Rocksavage suite, which gave us some major inspiration for our own home renovation with its muted tones and carefully chosen pieces of art and dark wood furniture. Everything, from the marble bathroom with its roll-top tub to the sumptuous bed, oozed elegance. While the suite was traditionally decorated, we appreciated the Nespresso machine and Roberts radio, and the Norfolk Natural Living toiletries were a nice touch too.

What is there to do around The Gunton Arms?

You can explore the deer park but we were told not to approach the herd as it was rutting season when we visited – we loved watching them from the pub garden while enjoying a glass of chilled Gavi. The pretty seaside town of Cromer is a 10-minute drive away, and the pub is an ideal base for visiting the beautiful North Norfolk coast. With its towering sand dunes, Holkham Beach is a must-see spot that’s loved by the royals as it’s close to Sandringham.

How much does it cost to stay at The Gunton Arms?

Rooms at The Gunton Arms start from £145 per night.

Looking for a cosy UK weekend getaway this winter? This award-winning country pub ticks all the boxes, our writer Sam Kistamah found out on a recent stay there

Approaching The Gunton Arms, we quickly realised it’s not your average local. It is a pub, but one set in a 1,000-acre deer park near Cromer in rural Norfolk, kitted out in furnishings to rival posh department store Liberty and with walls covered in art by the likes of Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst. And there’s a restaurant that’s in the Michelin Guide too. The deer park surrounds the 18th-century Gunton Hall, and The Gunton Arms was originally a farm that became the second house to Gunton Hall.

After careful restoration by art dealer Ivor Braka (hence the amazing collection), The Gunton Arms opened as a pub with bedrooms in 2011, and earlier this year was listed in the top 20 of The Good Food Guide’s best British pubs.

The food at The Gunton Arms

The Elk Room restaurant is dominated by a giant Irish elk skull, which hangs over an open fire. That’s where chef Stuart Tattersall cooks local fare, including venison from the deer park and beef from the Blickling Estate. Being four miles from the coast, The Gunton Arms also offers seafood, including a popular Cromer crab pasta dish.

We began with fried cod cheeks with caper and bronze fennel mayonnaise, and mixed beets with pickled walnuts and Binham blue. We loved the tender nuggets of cod with their zingy sauce, and the sweet beets were beautifully contrasted by creamy blue cheese and tangy slivers of walnut.

For mains, we devoured the sirloin steak, which had been perfectly cooked on the fire, and came with roast potatoes and a jug of Béarnaise sauce, and the roasted halibut special, accompanied by a buttery spinach and chive sauce and tasty Portland cockles. As keen dessert fans, we inhaled the Norfolk treacle tart with clotted cream and buttermilk pudding with honeyed fig.

The next day, we had lunch at The Gunton Arms’ sister pub The Suffield Arms, which serves outstanding Mediterranean tapas. Highlights included the corn ribs with mojito mayonnaise, and the white Andalusian prawns with garlic and chilli.

The rooms at The Gunton Arms

There are 16 rooms and we stayed in the stunning Rocksavage suite, which gave us some major inspiration for our own home renovation with its muted tones and carefully chosen pieces of art and dark wood furniture. Everything, from the marble bathroom with its roll-top tub to the sumptuous bed, oozed elegance. While the suite was traditionally decorated, we appreciated the Nespresso machine and Roberts radio, and the Norfolk Natural Living toiletries were a nice touch too.

What is there to do around The Gunton Arms?

You can explore the deer park but we were told not to approach the herd as it was rutting season when we visited – we loved watching them from the pub garden while enjoying a glass of chilled Gavi. The pretty seaside town of Cromer is a 10-minute drive away, and the pub is an ideal base for visiting the beautiful North Norfolk coast. With its towering sand dunes, Holkham Beach is a must-see spot that’s loved by the royals as it’s close to Sandringham.

How much does it cost to stay at The Gunton Arms?

Rooms at The Gunton Arms start from £145 per night.

HARRY Styles’ American actress girlfriend Zoe Kravitz has been spotted wearing a ring on her wedding finger.

The star, 37, looked more loved up than ever with her 31-year-old pop star partner as they wandered arm in arm in Rome.

Zoe wore a gold band on her wedding ring finger weeks after first sparking engagement rumours.

Harry – who is worth £225million – carried a shopping bag after popping into a jewellery store on a Christmas shopping trip.

He wore a long grey coat with sunglasses placed on top of his head, while Zoe’s relaxed cape-style jacket with a bright purple scarf.

The Sun revealed how Harry and Zoe had begun dating casually – after years of friendship – back in August.

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Harry has dated some of the most high-profile women on the planet including Taylor Swift and Kendall Jenner, with last proper relationship being with director Olivia Wilde.

Meanwhile Zoe has been single since October 2024, when she and fellow actor Channing Tatum called off their engagement after three years.

Since hooking up with Harry, the pair have been inseparable – travelling to New York and Rome in recent months.

And in an unusual move for both the stars they have ended up being photographed a lot.

They haven’t shied away from the camera like they would usually do – and we can reveal why.

Our insider explained: “Harry is a very private man – it’s no secret he’s dated lots of people but it’s not always so public. 

“If he wanted to, Harry knows exactly how to keep things underwraps.

“He’s been in this industry a long time and he knows how his fanbase reacts to things. 

“He doesn’t take introducing the world to a new girlfriend lightly. 

“He has thought long and hard about it but he’s prepared for the backlash because he thinks Zoe is the real deal.

“It’s never easy for someone to date Harry and they’ve definitely chatted about what it will be like – and Zoe is fully on board. 

“It’s not just a fling and them happily being snapped really shows that.”