Luxury and boutique hotels near Ripon

The diminutive Yorkshire city of Ripon is well worth a visit for its ancient architecture and adorably arcane traditions. Start with a visit to the 7th-century cathedral and look closely at the wooden wall carvings) to see surprising connections to Lewis Carroll characters – his father was canon in the 19th century. For a grim look at life in the stocks, visit the Victorian-era Prison & Police Museum. Much more cheering is the nightly sight of the hornblower ‘setting the watch’ at 9pm in the market square. It’s happened every night without fail since 886. Then, skip just four miles westwards to find the Unesco-protected Fountains Abbey, a romantic monastic ruin surrounded by water gardens, statues, follies and a deer park.