TownData.co.uk
Home› England› North Yorkshire› Skipton

Skipton, North Yorkshire

Yorkshire and the Humber · Population 14,873 · 4.2 sq miles

Avg House Price
£285,000
Schools Rated Good+
92%
Crime vs National
Well below average
Avg Broadband
64 Mbps
Nearest GP
0.3 miles

Skipton is known as the "Gateway to the Dales" — a handsome market town in North Yorkshire at the southern edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, consistently ranked among the best places to live in the North of England. With a population of just 14,873, it is small in scale but enormous in character, offering a remarkable combination of independent shops, excellent schools, a magnificent castle, beautiful canal walks and instant access to some of the finest countryside in England.


The town centres on the magnificent High Street — one of the widest and finest market streets in England, lined with independent shops, cafés and restaurants. At the top stands Skipton Castle, one of the most complete and best-preserved medieval castles in England, built in 1090 and enlarged throughout the medieval period — still privately owned and beautifully maintained. The Craven Museum, housed in the Town Hall, traces the history of the Craven area from prehistoric times through the industrial revolution to the present day.


Skipton sits on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, and the canal basin in the town centre is a charming hub of narrowboats, towpath walks and waterside cafés. The canal offers wonderful walking for miles in both directions. Just beyond the edge of town, the Yorkshire Dales begin — Malham Cove, Gordale Scar, Bolton Abbey and Grassington are all within 20 minutes' drive, making Skipton an ideal base for walkers, cyclists and anyone who loves wild landscapes.


Crime is exceptionally low — well below the national average. Schools are excellent. House prices average £285,000. Direct trains reach Leeds in 40 minutes and Bradford in 25 minutes. For families seeking a safe, characterful market town with outstanding countryside access, Skipton is hard to beat.

Data last updated: June 2026 · Sources: ONS, Land Registry, Ofsted, Police.uk, Ofcom, NHS Digital
🏠

Housing & Property Prices

HM Land Registry
Average Price
£285,000
All property types
Detached
£420,000
Average sold price
Semi-detached
£255,000
Average sold price
Terraced
£200,000
Average sold price
Flat / Maisonette
£155,000
Average sold price
Annual Change
+3.8%
vs previous year
🎓

Schools & Ofsted Ratings

Ofsted
Outstanding
3
schools
Good
8
schools
Requires Improvement
1
schools
Inadequate
0
schools
🔒

Crime Statistics

Police.uk
Crime Rate
42
per 1,000 residents
vs National Avg
Well below average
England & Wales
Most Common
Anti-social behaviour
crime category
Anti-social behaviour
280
Violence & sexual
240
Burglary
95
Vehicle crime
120
Shoplifting
85
📡

Broadband & Connectivity

Ofcom
Average Download
64 Mbps
median speed
Superfast Coverage
88%
30 Mbps+
Ultrafast Coverage
54%
100 Mbps+
Full Fibre (FTTP)
32%
premises
🏥

Health & NHS Access

NHS Digital
Nearest GP Surgery
Dyneley House Surgery
0.3 miles away
NHS Trust
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust
responsible trust
Nearest Hospital
Airedale General Hospital
5.4 miles
🌿

Environment & Green Space

DEFRA / ONS
Air Quality Index
Good
annual average
Green Space
58%
of local area
Flood Risk
Low
Environment Agency
🚂

Transport & Connectivity

DfT / National Rail
Nearest Station
Skipton Railway Station
0.3 miles
To London
3h 15m
approx by rail
Nearest Motorway
M65
8.4 miles
Nearest Airport
Leeds Bradford Airport
18 miles
⭐

Skipton at a Glance — Area Scorecard

TownData.co.uk
Overall
8.4
Very Good
Family Life
9.0
Excellent
Schools
9.0
Excellent
Transport
7.0
Very Good
Nightlife
5.0
Average
Value for Money
8.0
Very Good
Safety
9.0
Excellent
Green Space
10.0
Excellent

Scores calculated from official data sources including ONS, Police.uk, Ofsted and Ofcom. Rated out of 10.

👥

Who is Skipton Good For?

TownData.co.uk
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
Families
✅ Great for families
💼
Commuters
⚡ Limited transport options
🎓
Students
❌ Limited student life
👴
Retirees
✅ Peaceful & well-served
🧑‍💻
Young Professionals
⚡ Good but limited scene
🏗️
First-Time Buyers
✅ Affordable area
🌿
Outdoor Lovers
✅ Excellent green space
🌃
Nightlife Seekers
❌ Better options elsewhere
🎡

Things to Do & Local Attractions

VisitBritain
  • 🏰
    Skipton Castle
    One of the most complete and best-preserved medieval castles in England, built in 1090. A fascinating self-guided tour takes you through dungeons, towers, banquet halls and the remarkable Tudor courtyard.
  • 🛒
    Skipton Market
    One of the most famous markets in the North of England, held Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday on the wide High Street. Fresh produce, local crafts and a wonderful community atmosphere.
  • 🚢
    Skipton Canal Basin
    The picturesque Leeds-Liverpool Canal basin in the heart of town is the starting point for towpath walks and narrowboat trips through beautiful Dales countryside. Café and boat hire available.
  • 🌿
    Yorkshire Dales National Park
    Skipton is the gateway to one of England's most spectacular national parks — Malham Cove, Gordale Scar, Pen-y-ghent and Whernside are all within 30 minutes' drive.
  • ⛪
    Bolton Abbey
    A magnificent 12th-century Augustinian priory on the banks of the Wharfe, just 5 miles from Skipton. The ruins, riverside walks and stepping stones make it one of Yorkshire's most beautiful spots.
  • 🏛️
    Craven Museum & Gallery
    Skipton's local museum, housed in the Town Hall, with fascinating exhibits on the prehistoric, Roman, Viking and industrial history of the Craven area. Free entry.
  • 🚂
    Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway
    A delightful heritage steam railway running between Embsay station (2 miles from Skipton) and Bolton Abbey station through beautiful Dales countryside. Operates weekends and holidays.
  • 🌊
    Malham Cove & Gordale Scar
    Just 12 miles from Skipton, Malham Cove is a stunning natural limestone amphitheatre 260 feet high; nearby Gordale Scar is a dramatic limestone ravine that has inspired painters and poets for centuries.
📍

Nearby Towns & Villages

ONS / Ordnance Survey
Grassington
8.4 miles north
Embsay
2.1 miles north-east
Bolton Abbey
5.2 miles east
Ilkley
10.8 miles south-east
Settle
14.2 miles north
Burnley
16.8 miles west
🌤️

Weather & Climate

Met Office
Jan
5°C
Feb
5°C
Mar
8°C
Apr
10°C
May
13°C
Jun
16°C
Jul
18°C
Aug
18°C
Sep
15°C
Oct
11°C
Nov
7°C
Dec
5°C
Annual Rainfall
890mm
mm per year
Sunshine Hours
1360 hrs
per year
Warmest Month
July/Aug
avg high 18°C
Coldest Month
January
avg low 0°C
❓

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Skipton a nice place to live?
Skipton is a settlement in North Yorkshire. It has 92% of schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, average house prices of £285,000, and crime that is well below average the national average. Use the sections above to explore the full data profile.
What is the average house price in Skipton?
The average house price in Skipton is £285,000 according to HM Land Registry. This covers all property types. See the housing section above for a full breakdown by property type and annual price change.
Is Skipton safe to live in?
Skipton's crime rate is well below average the national average. See the crime section above for a full breakdown by category.
What are the schools like in Skipton?
92% of schools in Skipton are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. See the schools section above for a full list with individual Ofsted ratings.
How fast is broadband in Skipton?
Average broadband download speeds in Skipton are 64 Mbps according to Ofcom. See the broadband section above for superfast and full-fibre coverage figures.

Data sourced from official UK government datasets. All figures are for informational purposes only. TownData.co.uk is an independent website and is not affiliated with any government body.