A Georgian High Street on the River Tees
Yarm is a market town on the River Tees in the north-east of England, known for its broad High Street, Georgian architecture, independent shops and restaurants, and its position as a gateway to Teesdale, the North York Moors and the coast. The Tees curves around the town on three sides, and the ancient stone bridge, built in the medieval period, still carries traffic across the river. The Town Hall, an early eighteenth-century building, stands in the centre of the High Street, and the long, cobbled street still feels like a market place.
Yarm's heritage as a trading town runs deep. A market was established here in the early thirteenth century, and the great Yarm Fair, once a major event for horse and cattle dealers, drew visitors from far afield. The Yarm Viaduct, a mid-nineteenth-century railway structure of many arches, strides across the valley and offers a handsome backdrop to riverside walks. Visitors who like characterful small towns also enjoy Scotland and Ireland, and Yarm makes an elegant English complement.
Boutiques, Brasseries and Riverside Walks
Today, Yarm is known for the quality of its eating and shopping. Independent boutiques, delicatessens and gift shops line the High Street, and the town has gained a reputation for its restaurants, bistros and traditional inns, many set in converted Georgian buildings. Weekend visitors enjoy long lunches, afternoon tea and a stroll along the Tees. The riverside paths offer gentle walking and cycling, with views of the bridge, the viaduct and the water meadows along the river.
The surrounding area adds depth. Preston Park Museum, in nearby Stockton, offers Victorian street scenes and parkland, and the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum in Marton tells the story of the great navigator. Durham, with its UNESCO-listed cathedral and castle, lies within easy reach, and the coast at Saltburn and Whitby is a short drive away. A tourist board can use Yarm as a base for a heritage and food trail across the Tees Valley and beyond.
Read the full Yarm guide on Visit Travel Group, or see Yarm.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.