Malton doesn’t shout about itself, which is part of the reason it’s so good. It’s a small market town in North Yorkshire — officially dubbed Yorkshire’s food capital — with a proper high street, brilliant independent food producers, loads of history, and enough to keep you busy for a full day. I’ve visited more times than I can count and there’s always something new to try. Here’s the full rundown on what to do when you’re there.
- Malton Museum
- St Michael’s Church
- Eden Camp Modern History Museum
- Castle Howard and Gardens
- The Howardian Hills and North Yorkshire Moors
- River Derwent Walks
- Scampston Hall And Walled Garden
- Woldies
- Dalby Forest
- Malton Food Tours
- Rare Bird Gin School
- Malton Cookery School
- Vineyard Tours and Tastings at Howsham Hall
- The Milton Rooms Events
- Chapter Two Bar Music and Quiz Nights
- Flamingo Land Theme Park and Zoo
- Captain Barney’s Indoor Play Centre
- Yorkshire Arboretum
- Candle and Soap Making at Cosy Cottage
- Malton Food Lovers Festival
- Malton Christmas Festival
- Shopping in Malton
Malton Museum
Malton Museum on Chancery Lane is a proper little local museum with Roman artefacts from the town’s time as a garrison fort and finds from Malton Castle. It’s the kind of place that makes the town’s history click into place — Malton’s been important for a long time, and this is where you find out why. Opening times are limited so check before you visit, but entry is very affordable. I keep meaning to go back with my son when he’s old enough to properly appreciate Roman history.
St Michael’s Church
St Michael’s Church is a striking Georgian building right in the centre of town. Even if you’re not particularly into churches it’s worth a look as you wander through — Malton has centuries of history woven into its streets and this is one of the more visible reminders of it. It’s free to visit and lovely to walk around.
Eden Camp Modern History Museum
I love Eden Camp Modern History Museum. I remember visiting on a school trip in primary school and I was amazed by it. This site, a former prisoner-of-war camp from World War II, now showcases life during those challenging times.
Each hut offers different exhibits where you can learn all about things from rationing and air raids to wartime family tales.
Explore interactive displays that include smells and sounds for an immersive experience. I still remember the smell of the blitz hut and the oppressive feeling of the U-boat!
Convenient car park facilities make visits easy and stress-free.
Castle Howard and Gardens
Castle Howard is one of England’s finest stately homes. Built in the 17th century, it offers stunning views and a rich history tied to the Howard family. Its grand architecture and ornate interiors are breathtaking. I love visiting here, especially at Christmas when the Great Hall has the giant Christmas tree!
The gardens cover over 1,000 acres of beautiful Yorkshire countryside. You can walk around formal areas, woodland paths, and tranquil lakeside walks. Seasonal flowers bloom throughout the year, so it’s great for nature lovers! Skelf Island Adventure Playground adds fun for kids too.
Read my post about the Castle Howard Christmas Experience here.
The Howardian Hills and North Yorkshire Moors
The Howardian Hills are right on Malton’s doorstep, and if you’ve got any time spare after exploring the town it’s worth taking a drive through them. Villages like Hovingham are gorgeous — properly quiet and unspoilt, the kind of place that still has an independent pub and a village green. Venture further north and you hit the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, which is breathtaking especially in late summer when the heather is out. There are endless walking and cycling routes, and the views just go on forever. I never get bored of this part of the world.
River Derwent Walks
A walk along the River Derwent is one of the nicest free things you can do in Malton. The path runs alongside the river through beautiful North Yorkshire countryside and it’s properly peaceful — the kind of walk where you actually switch off. Grab something from one of the farm shops beforehand and make an afternoon of it. There’s a river bridge for crossing if you want to loop back around through the town. Perfect for burning off the food tour.
Scampston Hall And Walled Garden
Scampston Hall has one of the most beautiful walled gardens in North Yorkshire. The garden design mixes traditional and contemporary styles in a way that isn’t quite what you’d expect from such a grand 18th century country house — it’s really special. There’s a gift shop, a plant nursery, and a café, so you can make a proper full day of it. The house interiors are worth seeing too if you like country houses.
Woldies
Woldies is a great outdoor adventure for kids! You can explore nature trails, learn about bees and butterflies, get lost in the maze, play foot golf and more!
You can read all about when I visited here.
Dalby Forest
Dalby Forest is a fantastic place for outdoor adventures. It sits in the North York Moors and offers many walking and cycling trails. The forest is great for both peaceful strolls and thrilling mountain bike paths. Families can enjoy picnic spots, play areas, and even treetop activities like Go Ape.
Wildlife lovers might spot deer or rare birds while exploring this woodland escape. Visitors often praise its clean air and stunning scenery – it’s the perfect destination within the great outdoors!
Malton Food Tours
A food tour is one of the best ways to spend a few hours in Malton, particularly if you’re visiting for the first time. You get to explore Talbot Yard — a former stable block turned artisan food quarter, with chocolatiers, bakeries, and a patisserie all crammed into it — wander the market place, and visit the kinds of producers that make the food capital reputation actually mean something. You usually get to visit the Rare Bird Gin Distillery as part of it too. Good way to discover things you’d walk straight past on your own.
Rare Bird Gin School
The Rare Bird Gin School has been on my to-do list for too long. The idea is brilliant — you create your own gin by choosing your combination of botanicals, distil it using a copper still, and take a full bottle home at the end. It’s in Talbot Yard, right in the heart of Malton’s food quarter, and the sessions last a few hours which makes it a proper activity rather than just a taster. I can imagine it working brilliantly as a hen do or birthday treat, but honestly I’d do it on my own.
Malton Cookery School
Malton Cookery School runs classes covering all sorts — bread, pasta, meat preparation — using local produce, which fits perfectly with what Malton is about. Classes are small, so you get proper attention from the instructor. I haven’t been myself yet but it’s the kind of thing I’d love to do for a solo day out or with a friend. They do gift vouchers too if you’re stuck for a present idea for someone who loves food.
Vineyard Tours and Tastings at Howsham Hall
Yorkshire wine is a real thing now, and Howsham Hall — a stunning country house near Malton — is one of the places doing it properly. The vineyard tours take you through the winemaking process with tastings included, and the setting is gorgeous. Even if wine tours aren’t really your usual sort of thing, it’s a lovely place to spend an afternoon. They have rooms if you want to make an overnight trip of it.
The Milton Rooms Events
The Milton Rooms in the Market Place hosts live music, theatre, comedy, and local events throughout the year. It’s a brilliant little independent venue — worth checking what’s on before you visit because catching a show there in the evening would make a really nice end to a day in Malton.
Chapter Two Bar Music and Quiz Nights
Chapter Two Bar is a good spot for an evening drink, especially if there’s live music or a quiz night on. It gives Malton more of an evening destination feel — it’s not just a daytime food trip, there’s a reason to stay. Check their socials for what’s on.
Flamingo Land Theme Park and Zoo
Flamingo Land is a full-on theme park and zoo about 20 minutes from Malton, and if you’re visiting with kids it’s an obvious choice for a day out. There are proper big rides for older kids, gentler stuff for little ones, and a zoo with over 140 species including tigers and giraffes. It’s a long, exhausting, brilliant day. Worth booking in advance, especially in the school holidays.
Captain Barney’s Indoor Play Centre
Captain Barney’s is an indoor play centre perfect for families with younger children. There are slides, ball pits, and climbing frames, plus a café for the grown-ups to have a coffee while the kids run riot. It caters to both toddlers and older children which is handy if you’ve got different ages. One of the best options on a rainy North Yorkshire day when you need somewhere warm to contain small people.
Yorkshire Arboretum
Yorkshire Arboretum offers 120 acres of stunning trees and peaceful landscapes. It’s the perfect spot for a relaxing day out with family or friends. Kids will love exploring the open spaces, while adults can enjoy guided walks or quiet moments in nature.
Located near Castle Howard, this arboretum is home to rare plant species and seasonal displays. You might also spot wildlife like birds and small mammals along its trails. My favourite are the red squirrels!
Candle and Soap Making at Cosy Cottage
Cosy Cottage runs candle and soap making workshops in Malton and they look like a really lovely way to spend a few hours. You make your own candles and soaps to take home, and the classes are kept small which makes for a much nicer experience. This is the kind of activity that sounds purely crafty but works brilliantly as a date afternoon, a hen do option, or just something fun to do with a friend.
Malton Food Lovers Festival
The Malton Food Lovers Festival is a foodie’s dream. Held twice a year, it celebrates Yorkshire’s best flavours with over 150 stalls. You’ll find local cheeses, fresh bread, and handmade chocolates.
Families can enjoy street food, live music, and kids’ activities. It’s not just food, there’s loads to do!
Malton Christmas Festival
The Malton Food Lovers Festival may fill your stomach, but the Christmas Festival warms your heart. Streets glow with fairy lights, and shop windows sparkle with decorations. Independent shops stay open late, offering perfect gifts.
Local food stalls serve warm mince pies and mulled wine to keep you cosy. Carol singers spread cheer while brass bands play festive tunes. Don’t miss Yorkshire Lavender’s seasonal treats or unique crafts from Talbot Yard Artisan Producers!
Shopping in Malton
Malton’s shopping is genuinely brilliant for a town its size. The Market Place has a good mix of independent shops — boutiques, antiques, and gift shops with the kind of things you actually want to bring home rather than shove in a cupboard. The food shopping in particular is special. Small delis with local cheeses and chutneys, bakeries with fresh bread, shops selling things you wouldn’t find in a supermarket. And then there’s Talbot Yard, which brings together chocolatiers, bakers, and food producers in a gorgeous old stable yard. If you’re only visiting for a day, clear some boot space before you go.
- Pizza On The Square By SALT Malton Review
- FortySix Malton Review
- The Talbot Hotel: A Lunch Food Review
- The Library Bar – A Speakeasy Whisky Bar In Malton
- The Stone Trough Inn
- The Best Waterfalls In North Yorkshire
- Baby And Toddler Groups In Malton
- Things to do with kids in North Yorkshire
- Things to do in Pickering
- Things to do in Saltburn
- Florian Poirot Malton Review
- Things to Do in North Yorkshire in the School Holidays
Wow this looks like such a lovely place!
This is a comprehensive list, like that it’s detailed. Looks like a place I’d love to visit one day.