
East Riding of Yorkshire
Hornsea is 12 miles east-north-east of Beverley , 12 miles south of Bridlington , 13 miles south-east of Driffield and 13 miles north-east of Hull .
Hornsea has a long promenade on which there are facilities including a children's paddling pool and a few small shops selling ice creams, fish and chips, beach equipment and souvenirs. An indoor leisure centre with swimming pool, children's pool, sports hall and squash courts is also near to the beach. Lines of groynes along the beach and a sea wall have helped to protect it from the erosion which has over many years eaten away whole villages along the Holderness Coast.
Hornsea was recorded as a manor in the Domesday book and there is evidence of settlements in the area going back to prehistoric times, but the growth of the town came from its promotion as a seaside resort from the start of the 19th century, which was boosted by the arrival of a railway line from Hull in 1864. The station was closed 100 years later in 1964, leading to some decline in the accessibility of Hornsea, which is now reached only by buses, B-roads and its cycle trail.
Hornsea was named Best Dressed Town for the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire cycle race.
At the southern end of the promenade is the Hornsea Boat Launch facility which caters for day visitors and those keeping their boats at the secure compound. To ensure people stay safe while enjoying the sea, the town has its own independent Hornsea Inshore Rescue service, formed in the 1990s with the support of local fundraisers when a Coastguard boat was withdrawn.
Hornsea has small hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation in which to stay, but as with much of this section of the Yorkshire coast, holiday homes and caravans are the most used holiday accommodation and there are plenty of these to the north and south of the town.
Town features
Hornsea has a sandy beach.
The town has traditional shops and galleries mingling with cafes and restaurants along the main street Newbegin to Market Place. On the south-western outskirts of the town, with a bus connection, is Hornsea Freeport, a designer outlet in a leafly garden landscape.
Hornsea has Post Office branches at Cliff Road and The Greenway.
Following closure of bank branches in Hornsea, a mobile bank has visited, however frequency of visits has been reduced and is now for as little as one hour on just two days a month.
The town has a selection of pharmacies.
From pubs with a sea view to town centre inns, Hornsea has a selection of places to pause for a drink.
A variety of cafes, restaurants and takeaways can be found around Hornsea.
Takeaway food outlets in the town include fish and chips, pizzas, curries, chinese, sandwiches.
The town has a library at the Hornsea Hub at Broadway.
Hornsea's East Riding Leisure Centre, including a swimming pool, gym and sports hall, is at the Hornsea Hub at Broadway.
Hall Garth Park is an attractive central park in the town just behind its main shopping street.
Tourist information can be found at the Hornsea Museum (see below).
The town has inn and guest house accommodation, holiday homes and caravan parks.
Hornsea has public toilets with differing and seasonal opening hours at Hall Garth Park at Cinema Street, Marine Drive, Sands Lane and South Promenade Boat Compound. Check times before you need to go at the
East Riding public convenience finder
Places of worship: Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, United Reformed.
Entertainment
Floral Hall
Esplanade
The Floral Hall was opened in 1911 and remains Hornsea's venue for live events. It has been rescued by volunteers since 2012 after being acquired from East Riding of Yorkshire Council. It offers a cafe and a host of entertainment from drama to rock and roll, summer pantomimes to Ibiza club nights, antique fairs and auctions to film nights.
Floral Hall website.
Floral Hall
Museums
Hornsea Museum
Newbegin, Hornsea
Based in the buildings of an 18th century farm in the main street of Hornsea, the museum has a wealth of information about the area, including childhood toys, militaria, the history of Hornsea's railway, fishing and a large collection of the famous Hornsea Pottery, which was made between 1949 and 2000. The museum holds regular craft and music activities and also hosts group and school visits. Check the website for seasonal opening times, but to have time to see round the museum the last entry time tends to be about 3pm each day. More information at the
Hornsea Museum website.
Hornsea Museum
Places to visit
Skipsea Castle
off Beeford Road, Skipsea, East Riding of YorkshireVery little but earthworks remain of Skipsea Castle and its adjacent fortified borough Skipsea Brough, but it was one of the earliest Norman fortifications in Yorkshire, built around 1086 for the Lord of Holderness, a title granted by William the Conquerer with land stretching along the coast from the Humber to Bridlington. The site is in the attractive village of Skipsea, about 5 miles north-north-west of Hornsea . The motte and bailey castle was destroyed in the early 13th century, but its large earth mound is still clearly visible. There is free entry to the castle site, which is managed by English Heritage.
More information at these
English Heritage - Skipsea Castle Find on map:
Skipsea Castle
Burton Constable
Burton Constable, Skirlaugh For more information see the
Burton Constable website.
Burton Constable Locate on map:
Burton Constable
Burton Constable
Travel
Bus travel
Buses link Hornsea to Hull , to Skipsea, Ulrome and Bridlington , to Aldbrough and Withernsea and to Hornsea Freeport. Services run to the East Yorkshire depot just outside the town centre and near to the caravan parks at Cliff Road, but also conveniently stop at Marine Drive, New Road, Newbegin and Market Place. Services in Hornsea are operated by East Yorkshire Motor Services
Road travel
Hornsea can be reached from the direction of Beverley and Hull via the B1244, from the direction of Bridlington , Ulrome and Skipsea via the B1242, and from the direction of Withernsea and Aldbrough also via the B1242. Car parking is available around the town with a car park close to the beach.
Emergency services
Humberside Police
Humberside Police Humberside Fire and Rescue Service
Humberside Fire and Rescue Service Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust HM Coastguard
Coastguard - Coastal safety
Local government
Town council (civil parish)Hornsea Town Council
The town council is formed of 14 members, elected in two wards and has a limited range of responsibilities including maintaining parks and gardens in the town, its floral displays and weddings and burials. The council appoints a Mayor of Hornsea and a deputy mayor. The Town Hall is in Newbegin.
Hornsea Town Council Unitary authority
The East Riding of Yorkshire Council is now a unitary district rather than a county authority but the least changed of any of the historic Ridings of Yorkshire.
It does now cover a small part of the former West Riding, while it has lost portions of the historic East Riding to North Yorkshire and York.
Other towns in the East Riding include Bridlington Driffield Goole
The authority covers a near full range of council services, except the limited services handled by the various civil parish/town councils which exist throughout its area.
The 26 wards in the authority each elect one, two or three councillors to make up a 67 member council. An election for the entire council is held every four years with the most recent election in 2019.
Link to
East Riding of Yorkshire Council website .
East Riding of Yorkshire Council Political composition after May 2023 election:
67 members
County strategic authority
Hull and East Yorkshire Combined AuthorityLaunched in 2025, the mayoral combined authority covers combined services including public transport and decisions about house-building and economic development across
Hull and
East Riding Elected mayor: ❚ Luke Campbell
Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority Police and Crime Commissioner
The Police and Crime Commissioner for HumbersideOversees Humberside Police covering an area made up of the unitary authority councils of East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Hull and, south of The Humber, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.
Elected P&CC:
Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside Fire Authority
Humberside Fire AuthorityThe fire authority is made up of elected members of each of the four unitary authorities served by the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service - East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull, North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire.
Humberside Fire Authority Parliamentary constituency
Bridlington and The WoldsElected MP:
National government region
Yorkshire and the HumberCeremonial county
East Riding of YorkshireHistoric
-1889 East Riding of Yorkshire (historic admistrative division)1889-1974 East Riding of Yorkshire (county authority)
1974-1996 Holderness Borough Council (district within the artificially-created county of Humberside)