Forget its craggy good looks, this former spa town’s appeal is more than skin deep — Ilkley has a beating community heart, a business brain, culture and a good sense of humour. And because this is the 21st century, it is also mindful of its carbon footprint and all things eco: there’s a climate action group that has secured funding for a fleet of electric cargo bikes; and the Ilkley Clean River Campaign to help to keep the River Wharfe clean (the beautiful outdoor lido is always wonderfully fresh). What more could you want?
Ilkley is perched between Leeds and the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Its handsome stone houses tumble down to the river from the edge of the moor. The location could hardly be