Great Ayton
North Yorkshire
The North York Moors National Park begins at the other side of the railway serving the village's station on the line between Middlesbrough, the Esk Valley and Whitby.
Just inside the National Park the 322 metre (1,056ft) peak of Roseberry Topping is a dominant feature above the village and a point on the Cleveland Way long-distance walking trail, a 109-mile route between Helmsley and Filey.
The village has fame as the place where James Cook, the explorer sea captain, grew up in the early 18th century and his former schoolroom is now a museum in his honour.
Great Ayton is a popular stop for tourists with its attractive village greens, one of them alongside the River Leven which flows through the village.
Village features
The village is at a bridge over the River Leven.
Great Ayton has a choice of pubs. 
The village has shops. 
The village has a Post Office.
The village has a pharmacy.
Inn and restaurant dining can be found in Great Ayton.
The village has cafes and tea-rooms.
Takeaway food outlets in the village include fish and chips, curries, pizzas, sandwiches.
Places to stay in Great Ayton include hotel, guest house, inn accommodation.
Great Ayton has a village hall. 
There are public toilets in the village. Locations of toilets and opening times can be found at this North Yorkshire Council - Public toilets web page.
Great Ayton has a museum - The James Cook Schoolroom Museum (see below).
Great Ayton has a school.
Places of worship: Anglican, Catholic, Methodist.
Travel
Bus travel
The village has buses to neighbouring towns and villages. 
Great Ayton station
Station managed by: NORTHERN. Operator/s: NORTHERN. 
NATIONAL RAIL - Departure and station infoExternal link to National Rail live departure board for services at this station (opens in new tab).
Road travel
Great Ayton can be reached via the A173 B1292 Places to visit
Mount Grace Priory
Staddlebridge, near Osmotherley, North YorkshireMount Grace Priory, situated around 6 miles north-east of Northallerton (7.5 miles by road), is the best preserved Carthusian priory in Britain. The priory gives an insight into how the small group of monks who lived there spent their lives 600 years ago with a reconstruction of a cell, or small house, of one of the hermit monks, with its herb garden and work spaces. Founded in the mid-14th century it was the last monastery to be founded in Yorkshire in medieval times and it was also one of the last in Yorkshire to be supressed, in December 1539. The priory guest house was redesigned in the 17th century as a mansion and now houses an exhibition of the life of the former priory while outside are attractive formal gardens. The Priory can be accessed by car from a minor road leading from the busy 70mph A19 dual carriageway requiring particular care when entering or leaving the site. The priory is also accessible by footpaths. Mount Grace Priory is managed by English Heritage but is owned by the National Trust.
More information at the
English Heritage - Mount Grace Priory National Trust - Mount Grace Priory
Find Mount Grace Priory on map The James Cook Schoolroom Museum
High Street, Great AytonOne of a number of museums devoted to the famous Yorkshire navigator and explorer James Cook, the Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum is situated in the small and picturesque village of Great Ayton where he was educated at the Postgate School. The small volunteer-run museum recreates an 18th century schoolroom, interactive displays of Cook's achievements and also has sections on the history of Great Ayton. The museum has seasonal opening times and also offers school visits.
More details at the
The James Cook Schoolroom Museum
The Wensleydale Railway
A heritage railway service into Wensleydale running from Scruton and Leeming Bar, near the
Further information at the Wensleydale Railway website.
Wensleydale Railway
North York Moors National Park
At the eastern edge of the Hambleton district is the beautiful scenery of the North York Moors National Park, which covers 554 square miles (1,435 square kilometres). Within its area are moorland and coast, historic stateley homes, remains of castles and abbeys, attractive villages and market towns and a historic railway. For more information see our page dedicated to the 
Emergency services
North Yorkshire Police North Yorkshire PoliceNorth Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue ServiceYorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Local government
Civil parish council
Great Ayton Parish CouncilProvides some local services in the area.
Link to council website:
Great Ayton Parish CouncilUnitary authority
The North Yorkshire Council is a new unitary authority formed from the previous County Council from April 1, 2023. It covers the existing county duties including highways, schools, libraries and transport planning over an area of 3,109 square miles while also taking over the responsibilities of the seven huge district authorities also created in 1974 — Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough and Selby — these including local planning, waste collection, street cleaning, parks and car parks, housing and markets serving a population of around 615,500*.
Councillors were elected to the County Council in 2022 and continue as councillors of the new North Yorkshire Council unitary authority. There have been a few by-elections to fill councillor vacancies since then.
Places in 
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire Link to council website: North Yorkshire Council
North Yorkshire Council Open Government Licence v3.0Political composition:
CI = Conservative & Independent NY Ind = North Yorkshire Independents group LC = Labour & Cooperative
Composition and groupings - source North Yorkshire Council (February 2024)
Strategic authority
York and North Yorkshire Combined AuthorityThe York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority was created in December 2023 combining the unitary authority of York and the unitary authority of North Yorkshire — that created in April 2023 after the abolition of the county authority and its seven district authorities. The combined authority will run some functions under the new mayor elected in May 2024 as part of the government's so-called "Devolution deal" which ties the availablity of funding to the new governance arrangements. As well as having powers over housing development, transport and boosting skills and education across the 3,214 square miles of York and North Yorkshire, the elected mayor also takes on the role and functions of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner across the area.
Elected mayor:
York and North Yorkshire Combined AuthorityPolice, Fire and Crime Commissioner
Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner North YorkshireCovers the county of
City of York Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner North YorkshireParliamentary constituency
Richmond and NorthallertonElected MP: