Thirsk market square
Travellers' Choice 2026One room on the market square, full of homemade cake, and all of Thirsk still ahead of you.
From the kitchen
On the square and nearby
At the cafe · Upstairs at Tea TimeFree co-working upstairsUpstairs at Tea Time9am
Booking now · £45 · Book a place → · Upstairs at Tea TimeFestive Foliage wreath making masterclassUpstairs at Tea Time1pm
Booking now · £25 · Book a place → · Upstairs at Tea TimeChristmas rag wreath workshopUpstairs at Tea Time10am
On now · Seasonal · Swinton Park, MashamLuminescence, the winter light trail at SwintonSwinton Park, Masham
Music and stage · Ritz Cinema, ThirskAt the Ritz: De Gaulle, Resistance (15)Ritz Cinema, Thirsk7:30pm · 5 min walk
Markets · Market Place, ThirskThirsk MarketMarket Place, Thirsk8am · 1 min walk
Music and stage · Old Courthouse, ThirskRural Arts: The Arts Collective Autumn ExhibitionOld Courthouse, Thirsk5 min walkSeasonal · Castle HowardCastle Howard: A Dickens of a ChristmasCastle Howard35 min driveAround town · NorthallertonNorthallerton late-night shoppingNorthallerton
Seasonal · Leeming Bar stationThe Polar Express Train Ride from Leeming BarLeeming Bar stationMarkets · Market Place, ThirskThirsk Artisan MarketMarket Place, ThirskAround town · Market Square, RiponRipon Christmas lights switch-onMarket Square, Ripon1pmMarkets · Village Hall, TopcliffeTopcliffe Christmas FairVillage Hall, Topcliffe10amAround town · Auction Mart, ThirskThirsk Heritage ShowDate not yet confirmedAuction Mart, Thirsk10amMusic and stage · Galtres Centre, EasingwoldGaltres Centre: Cinderella, the Easingwold Players pantomimeGaltres Centre, Easingwold7pmSeasonal · Nunnington HallNunnington Hall: Nature's NoelNunnington Hall10:30am · 30 min driveMarkets · Market Place, RiponLittle Bird artisan market in RiponMarket Place, Ripon10am · 28 min driveMarkets · Ripon CathedralRipon Cathedral Christmas Food and Gift FairRipon Cathedral9:30amSeasonal · Forbidden CornerForbidden Corner: Forbidden GrottoForbidden Corner55 min driveMusic and stage · St Oswald's, SowerbyMowbray Singers autumn concertSt Oswald's, Sowerby7:30pmMarkets · Village Hall, SessaySessay Christmas FayreVillage Hall, Sessay10am
Music and stage · Town Hall, ThirskTaste of Yorkshire ChristmasTown Hall, Thirsk7:30pm
Markets · HusthwaiteHusthwaite Village MarketHusthwaite11amMusic and stage · Harrogate TheatreHarrogate Theatre: Sleeping BeautyHarrogate TheatreSeasonal · Harlow Carr, HarrogateRHS Harlow Carr: GlowHarlow Carr, Harrogate4:30pmMarkets · Showground, HarrogateThe Great Yorkshire Christmas Fair, HarrogateShowground, Harrogate9:30am
Around town · Market Place, ThirskChristmas FairMarket Place, Thirsk4pmAround town · Market Place, RichmondRichmond: Christmas lights switch-onMarket Place, Richmond5pmMarkets · Tennants, LeyburnWinter Wonderland Christmas Fair at Tennants, LeyburnTennants, Leyburn10amSeasonalAmpleforth Abbey Christmas Craft Market10am · 25 min driveSeasonal · Mother Shipton's CaveChristmas at Mother Shipton's, KnaresboroughMother Shipton's CaveAround town · BedaleChristmas in BedaleBedaleMarkets · Old Courthouse, ThirskChristmas Makers Market at Rural ArtsOld Courthouse, Thirsk10am · 5 min walkFrom the lunch menu
Pastrami, homemade slaw, Emmental and chunky gherkins between two thick slices of toasted local sourdough.
Rosa's story
In 2018 Rosa bought a 1967 Citroen H van, named her Henrietta, and spent two summers selling scones at Yorkshire festivals as The Rolling Scones. In 2019 she took on the old Arabica cafe at 87 Market Place, and Tea Time opened before the year was out.
A 1967 Citroen van, two summers of festival scones, then 87 Market Place in 2019.
Traditional afternoon tea
Finger sandwiches, a warm scone with jam and clotted cream, three of the day's cakes and as many hot drinks as you like, on vintage crockery.
Traditional Afternoon
Tea Time
24.9 per person
Minimum 2 guests · book any half hour from 12 to 3, or 12 to 2 on Sundays
Make a day of it
83 places worth your time, 19 of them close enough to walk. Load a ready-made day or build your own, check the weather, print it and go.
Tea Time in gold, and 19 places within a walk of the door. Tap a pin for the walk time.
Walk Thirsk's stories
The original twenty-stop walk passes Alf Wight's former surgery at 23 Kirkgate. A new plaque marks Rowardennan, the Sowerby family home where he wrote much of the James Herriot books. Choose the town circuit, the original twenty, or continue to the new stop.
Begin at the World of James Herriot museum, then follow the plaques at your own pace.
Visit
87 Market Place, Thirsk, YO7 1ET. Market days are Monday and Saturday, when the square fills with stalls. Dogs welcome; treats behind the counter.
On the socials
Today's bakes and specials, as they come out of the oven.
