Yorkshire

Explore Yorkshire

Rolling green hills and endless countryside, ancient cities and elegant spa towns, Yorkshire is a gem of a county!

The County of Yorkshire with its undulating green dale landscapes, stately period manor houses and historic links takes us from the heritage city of York, home to its Gothic Minster and Roman walls, along the stunning Yorkshire coastline, from tiny fishing villages clinging to rocky cliffs to glorious stretches of white sand and finally to the elegant spa town of Harrogate. The north of England is said to be the spiritual home of Brass bands and Yorkshire certainly has its fair share of music festivals and brass players. A very friendly and welcoming part of the country where a good cup of tea and our native dish of Fish and Chips are waiting for you to sample!

Our Tour Highlights


York

Rich in history and surrounded by its ancient walls, York is the ultimate heritage city. ...more

Harrogate

The elegant spa town of Harrogate is home to magnificent buildings, colourful banks of flowers, broad tree-line boulevards and a diverse range of shops ...more

Castle Howard

Built over 300 years ago, Castle Howard’s rich and varied history is waiting to be discovered and is considered one of the most spectacular period houses in Yorkshire. ...more

Dales, Ale and Rail

The Yorkshire Dales National Park is famous for its wonderful scenery and stunning meandering landscapes. ...more

Performance Venue Highlights


The Piece Hall, Halifax

Hailed as Yorkshire’s most significant secular building, this Grade I listed building is an architectural and cultural phenomenon, the sole survivor of the great 18th century northern cloth halls, it has stood proudly at the heart of Halifax since 1779. It has recently undergone a £19 million conservation and transformation programme and provides a fascinating insight into this once thriving cloth industry.
  • Perfect for: All musical ensembles and performance groups
  • Repertoire: Mixed
  • Performance times: In the summer months, performances are welcomed in the spectacular courtyard at the epicentre of this historic building.

The National Centre for Early Music

Located in the medieval Grade One listed converted church of St Margaret’s in the heart of York. This unique performance venue was converted in 2000 and transformed the building into a stunning setting. It also runs a year-round music programme promoting classical, folk, world and jazz music as well as hosting the internationally acclaimed York Early Music Festival. A truly special venue!
  • Perfect for: All musical ensembles and performance groups
  • Repertoire: Mixed
  • Performance times: Available for private hire daily for evening performances.

Hardraw Scar Natural Amphitheatre, Yorkshire Dales

The setting in this beautiful gorge, surrounded by high cliffs, provides excellent acoustics and welcomes musical ensembles to perform. It is a natural amphitheatre and is the site of a world famous annual brass band contest. Even more famous is Hardraw Force, England`s largest single drop waterfall, and is set within the grounds behind a historic inn, another excuse for a Yorkshire ale.
  • Perfect for: All musical ensembles and performance groups
  • Repertoire: Mixed
  • Performance times: Daytime during the summer months

Ripon Cathedral

Ripon Cathedral dates back almost fourteen centuries with the present church being founded in 672 and it has been rebuilt several times since. The ancient Saxon crypt, one of the oldest in the country, is the only part of the original church that remains. The medieval woodcarvings that decorate the choir stalls are believed to have inspired Lewis Carroll with his novel, Alice in Wonderland.
  • Perfect for: Choirs, Bands, Orchestras
  • Repertoire: Sacred, Classical
  • Performance times: Lunchtime concerts take place on Thursdays. During holiday periods, the Cathedral welcomes visiting choirs from close by and from all over the world to sing services. For a very special concert experience, the cathedral can be hired for an evening concert.

Harrogate Bandstand

Located in the glorious Valley Gardens, the bandstand setting encompasses a 17-acre English Heritage Grade II listed garden in regal Low Harrogate. Popular with locals of all ages, it includes beautiful historic buildings, such as the Sun Pavilion and colonnades, and plentiful eye-catching floral borders and of course the bandstand itself.
  • Perfect for: Bands
  • Repertoire: Mixed
  • Performance times: Sunday afternoons throughout the summer months

Fountains Abbey

Veiled in a secluded valley, this National Trust property promises to surprise and captivate with its vast Cistercian abbey ruins, Georgian water garden, a medieval deer park, Elizabethan Hall and Gothic church. Performances can be arranged in the unique setting of the abbey cellarium and at certain times of the year, choirs are invited to perform in either Fountains Hall or the abbey cellarium.
  • Perfect for: Choirs
  • Repertoire: Mixed but serious repertoire
  • Performance times: Weekends and special events

Music Festivals

Why not combine your performances to Yorkshire with a visit to appreciate some of the local talent? The most notable being the Harrogate Music Festival and York Early Music Festival both in July, or why not head to the coast for music loving Whitby, hosts to a 60s music festival in May and Folk Festival in August!
  • Christmas in Yorkshire: Yorkshire is also home to the award winning Victorian Skipton Christmas Market and the organisers would welcome visiting choirs to entertain visitors with some Christmas cheer during this all-encompassing festive event.

Where To Stay


*official star rating

Crowne Plaza, Harrogate

  • Central location
  • Newly refurbished in 2017
  • Rooms equipped with TV, Hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities
  • Hotel facilties include bar and restaurant

*official star rating

Queens Hotel, York

  • City centre hotel with views of the River Ouse
  • Rooms equipped with TV, Hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities
  • Hotel facilties include a restaurant and bar overlooking an idyllic riverside location

Sample Itinerary

This itinerary is for guidance only and will be tailored to meet your exact tour requirements. The excursions and concerts featured below will be subject to your chosen tour dates, availability and budget. Please get in touch to discuss your potential tour in more detail and other opportunities available to your group!
MorningAfternoonEvening
Day 1Travel to your destination from your chosen collection pointWelcome drink at the hotel and time at leisure in Harrogate or YorkGroup evening meal at the hotel and time to socialise!
Day 2Day visit to York with guided tour of the city and boat cruiseLunchtime concert in York Evening meal at the hotel and evening activity
Day 3Day excursion to the glorious Yorkshire Dales Lunch at a historic inn with afternoon outdoor concert opportunity at the Hardraw Scar Natural AmphitheatreEvening meal at the hotel and potential evening concert
Day 4Morning visit to Ripon with lunchtime indoor concert in Ripon Cathedral or outdoor concert in a nearby parkAfternoon visit to Fountain’s Abbey. Potential performance opportunityEvening meal at the hotel
Day 5Morning excursion to The Piece Hall and informal performance opportunity at this historic and spectacular building Afternoon excursion to Harrogate with afternoon tea at Betty’s tearoomFarewell meal in local restaurant
Day 6Optional morning excursionOnward journey home

Brilliant tour, expertly organised. Kindness and compassion. Nothing was too much trouble. Colin, our driver, was a complete gem and so knowledgeable about the isle. Lovely hotel staff where nothing was too much trouble
Felicity CourageChoir Director, Courage Choir
Care and attention to detail of the highest degree. The planning with Jo Porter was detailed and meticulous, with nothing being missed, and although she was not involved in the accommodation arrangements, she nevertheless checked it out and acted as an intermediary.
Robin SpencerChoir Secretary, Phoenix Choir

In May 2020 we were due to tour the Stirling area in Scotland and due to the current coronavirus pandemic we took the difficult decision to call off the tour. I’d like to give our thanks and praise to Jo and her team for all the planning and preparation she had done to put the itinerary together – she was able to provide us with an excellent range of stunning concert venues, plus some great suggestions for our leisure time, and we look forward to working with her again soon.

Sally ColesSecretary, Cantamici
Sound Escapes did a fantastic job on arrangements for our tour . Would thoroughly recommend Jo to any choir looking to travel . All feedback has been positive from everyone who travelled . The extra care at meeting us at the coach and check in to ensure things ran smoothly went above and beyond .
Don OakleyMalmesbury ChoirOxford 2023
Jo and her team came up with a fantastic itinerary for our choir and planned everything to the last detail. We always felt we were in safe hands and that they were on the end of a phone to help us with anything we needed. We couldn’t recommend them highly enough.
Rosie SayersChairperson for Sing It Loud Community Choir
You’ve been patient and kind all the way through this, Jo – especially with it being the first international tour I’ve done, and with all the unforeseen changes to the travel arrangements, so thank you to you and the team.
Sarah MonteithChoir DirectorResound ChoirParis 2023
From cathedrals and abbeys, churches and stately homes, all steeped in centuries of history, some in Roman Towns others in quintessential English ‘picture postcard’ villages, every choir and musical ensemble should spend a tour exploring the United Kingdom and Ireland. Whatever part of the country you to choose to visit, by working with a knowledgeable team of people who know the regions inside out from both a tourism and musical perspective, you will be guaranteed the richest of touring experiences
Tim KnightBritish composer and Choral Director
One of the best tours we have ever undertaken – musically, socially and geographically. Would heartily recommend Sound Escapes to any group considering a tour.
Carole Lindsay-DouglasAmici SingersWeston-Super-Mare 2023
Fantastic tour in Bonnie Scotland, enjoyed by all who went, singing and non-singing. Brilliant organisation from Jo who really made it all look so easy.
Kate HymansTour organiser for Masterworks Chorale
As a Chorister, and eventually Head Chorister in our local church choir for eleven years, Jo was talented, dedicated and could always be relied on to work to the utmost of her undoubted abilities. I would expect that she would apply the same attributes to her professional life
P BuckmasterChoral Director