The end of summer brings with it the season of food festivals. From small towns to big cities, we’ve selected some of the tastiest and most accessible food festivals in the North for you to stick your teeth into. Enjoy the small town vibes of Clitheroe, take in the seaside views of Filey or get a look at one of England’s largest food festivals in York. There’s an option for every foodie you know, so grab your friends and book early for up to 60% off your train travel to these delicious destinations.
Seaham Food Festival, Durham
When: 1st-2nd August
Nearest station: Seaham
Distance from train station: 13-minute walk
A food festival of famous faces, the Seaham Food Festival will be playing host to a BBC Masterchef winner, two-star bakers, and a whole host of TV chefs you know and love. Yet, that’s not all Seaham will be bringing to the table, with local musicians and talent acts coming to put on a show you won’t forget. This food festival brings together a delicious range of food paired with spectacular entertainment that’ll have your jaw dropping and chewing simultaneously.
Clitheroe Food Festival, Lancashire
When: 8th August
Nearest station: Clitheroe
Distance from train station: 4-minute walk
Attracting over 25,000 food lovers from across the UK each year, Clitheroe’s Food Festival has been acknowledged as one of the finest in Britain by Conde Nast Traveller. A festival focused on delivering the finest foods from across the Ribble Valley and Lancashire, where you’ll be able to get a sense of the real taste of the region. There’ll also be live music as well as plenty of food based events to try. Only an hour’s train from Manchester, you can enjoy the full breadth of what’s on offer at one of the Nation’s finest festivals whilst not worrying about travel. Grab an advanced ticket with Northern and enjoy the festival to its fullest.
Filey Food Festival, North Yorkshire
When: 6th-7th June, 8th-9th August and 10th-11th October
Nearest station: Filey
Distance from train station: 8-minute walk
With over 65 stalls, the Filey Food Festival will be showcasing the very best of Yorkshire food & drink with fantastic views over Filey Bay. Enjoy the local produce and bring home a taste of Yorkshire from one of the many stalls available on the weekend. Specialising in delicious seafood like lobster and caviar, the festival is also proud of its extensive cheese range that will undoubtedly be on show throughout weekends in Spring, Summer and Autumn. Make Filey one of your foodie stops this year and get there easily with Northern and a duo ticket, so you and a partner can gorge yourselves on the finest foods around.
Ilkley Food & Drink Festival
When: 13th-14th June
Nearest station: Ilkley
Distance from train station: 11-minute walk
Ilkley Food & Drink Festival is returning for another year, with an incredible line-up of chefs, exciting live entertainment and plenty of free activities for kids to enjoy. One of the standout highlights of the festival has to be the "Chef Demo" stage hosted by the Yorkshire Food Guide, with this year's line-up including some incredible talent. Alongside this, the festival has announced two exciting headliners for this year's entertainment - Planet ABBA and The Boss and The Beeston Street Band. Whether you want to indulge in some fresh local produce or enjoy the entertainment and activities along the way, Ilkley's Food & Drink Festival is definitely one to visit!
York Food Festival, North Yorkshire
When: 18th-27th September
Nearest station: York
Distance from train station: 11-minute walk
The largest of the food festivals on offer here, York Food Festival is sure to amaze and delight anyone who attends. With over 60,000 visitors heading there each year, only the best local and regional artisans will be there with their perfected recipes. On Parliament Street, there’ll be around 70 stalls for you to browse at your leisure. Check out St Sampson’s Square and St Crux Hall for more foodie fun this year at the festival.
Maryport Food Festival, Cumbria
When: 8th-9th August
Nearest station: Maryport
Distance from train station: 18-minute walk
Welcoming back Taste Cumbria for another year, Maryport will be capitalising on its recent £12-million regeneration to put on one of the best food festivals in North West England. The new Harbourside space, which was part of the regeneration work, will be on full display with part of the food festival using this brand new space. The festival will also have a Teenage Market, where kids aged 8 years and up can showcase their talents. A short train ride from Carlisle, Maryport promises delicious food and great vibes this festival season.
Sheffield Food Festival
When: 23rd-25th May
Nearest station: Sheffield
Distance from train station: 6-minute walk
Sheffield Food Festival is back to celebrate its 15th year of being one of the biggest free events the city has to offer! With over 50 acts and activities as well as over 60 food stalls, you'll find something for everyone here. For 2026, they plan to put homegrown talent centre-stage, with a variety of local flavours and rising music talent. Spend a day exploring the delicious street food and artisan market, while enjoying some activities for the whole family to get involved in. Decide when you travel with Northern and grab an anytime ticket.
Food festival season is almost upon us, so don’t waste time and grab an advanced ticket from Northern to save up to 60% on a Northern train. Whether you're visiting a food festival in York, Clitheroe, or beyond, Northern will get you there with ease. Enjoy the finest food festivals in the North for a day out that's full of flavour.
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Streamline your journey and get tickets straight to your phone. Making your journey contact-free.