🇬🇧 Ilkley, United Kingdom
The Black Hat
📍 11, Church Street, Ilkley, LS29 9DR
Your stay — The Black Hat
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Ilkley.
The Property — The Black Hat
The Black Hat is a no-fuss 3-star inn on Ilkley’s high street, built from stone that’s seen a few centuries. The lobby smells of wood, beer and bacon—it’s a pub with rooms upstairs, not a boutique hotel. You check in past a real fire and locals drinking Moorhouse’s ale, and the staff call you by name before you’ve handed over a card. It suits walkers who want value, a cooked breakfast and a pint after a day on the moor, not couples after a spa weekend.
Chronicles of Ilkley
Ilkley started as a Roman fort, Olicana, guarding the road from York to Manchester, and you can still see the foundations by the parish church. The 19th-century spa boom turned it into a respectable resort: grand villas shot up along Wells Road to house hydrotherapy patients and the railway brought day-trippers from Leeds. Modern Ilkley is a prosperous commuter town with a book festival and a Pendle Witches link, but the moors above—known for the Ilkley Moor song and a 1987 ‘alien’ sighting—are the real draw.
Best Time to Visit
Full Ilkley guide →Best months
May, June and September — mild 15–19°C days, long light, the heather just starting to bloom. Trails are dry, pubs have space outside, and the town feels alive without being rammed.
Peak / festival surge
July and August. The Ilkley Literature Festival doesn’t start until October, but school holidays and sunny weekends fill the Dalesway. Hotel rates at The Black Hat climb roughly 25% above shoulder, and weekend bookings lock up a month ahead. Bank Holiday weekends in late August are especially tight.
Budget shoulder season
April and early October. Temperatures hover 9–13°C, but the holiday crowds are gone. Room rates drop 15–20% below peak, and you’ll get a walk-in table anywhere. Bring a waterproof and a fleece: the sky can switch from blue to drizzle in ten minutes.
Weather & packing
Ilkley sits 100m up on the edge of the Pennines, so mornings are often misty even in summer—sunshine burns through by 11am, but the evening chill returns fast. Pack a windproof jacket and sturdy walking shoes, not sandals; you’ll need them for the moor even if the forecast says 20°C.
Live City Briefing — Ilkley
- The Leeds-Ilkley railway line has engineering works on Saturday 15 July 2026; Northern Rail will run a rail-replacement bus service between Ilkley and Baildon, adding about 25 minutes to the journey. Check on day of travel.
- A new brewery taproom, Ilkley Moor Beer, opened on Station Road in March 2026 with a small courtyard and six cask ales—useful if you’re staying two nights and want variety from the pub downstairs.
- The Cow & Calf rock, the famous gritstone outcrop above the hotel, had a path realignment last winter to prevent erosion; the new route from the caravan park is marked with green posts but is slightly longer—add 10 minutes to any walk you’ve planned.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to The Black Hat, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Upper floor rooms at the front (Church Street side) for the best daylight and a view of the town, but only if you sleep with earplugs or windows shut – see noise notes. Alternatively, request a rear-facing room on floor 2 or 3, which sacrifices view for quiet.
Rooms to avoid
Ground-floor rooms and any room directly above the bar or kitchen – likely the extension at the back if there is one. Rooms overlooking the side alley where bins are collected can get early-morning clatter. Also avoid rooms near the main staircase if it has no carpet (common in old buildings).
Best views
Front rooms (Church Street side) look across to the listed buildings and maybe a sliver of the moors beyond – typical Ilkley charm. Rear rooms probably overlook the hotel's own courtyard or car park, no special view.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3, ideally at the rear of the building. These are high enough to escape street-level noise and footfall from the bar.
🔊 Noise notes
Church Street is a main pedestrian route through Ilkley town centre, with nearby pubs and takeaways. Expect street noise from about 7am to midnight. There's a bus stop within 50 metres. The hotel's own bar and restaurant may create low-level noise until closing time (11pm or midnight). Bin collection is typically early on a weekday.
Insider tips
1. Park on-street after 6pm (free) or use the pay-and-display on the Grove – the hotel doesn't have dedicated parking. 2. If you're a light sleeper, call ahead to request a top-floor rear room and ask them to note 'quiet room' on your booking – avoid the booking engine's default ground-floor allocation.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — The Black Hat
Free WiFi throughout with 25 Mbps download; login via room number and surname, no time limit
No lift — three floors accessed by stairs only; ground floor has bar and one accessible room
Complimentary digital PressReader access via hotel tablet in lounge; physical copies of The Yorkshire Post and The Guardian available in bar each morning
Standard check-in 15:00-22:00; early bag drop available from 11:00; late check-out until 12:00 £30, after 12:00 charged half-day rate
Free luggage storage behind reception desk during day after check-out; no secure overnight storage
Step-free access via side ramp to ground floor bar and one accessible room; no lift to upper floors; no adapted bathroom in accessible room
On-site parking for 6 cars, first-come first-served, £10 per night; nearest public car park is Wells Road Car Park (LS29 9JB), £1.50 per hour or £8 overnight; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full stay charged at booking; £50 incidentals hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: All Saints Church, Ilkley (121 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Christchurch (273 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Ilkley Quakers Friends Meeting House (589 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Ilkley Baptist Church (603 m · ~8 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Canker Well — 349 m · ~4 min walk
Manor House Art Gallery and Museum — 190 m · ~2 min walk
Ilkley Playhouse — 158 m · ~2 min walk
Dan's Den SoftPlay — 277 m · ~3 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 201 m · ~3 min walk
Boots — 51 m · ~1 min walk
The Break Room — 38 m · ~1 min walk
Ilkley — 228 m · ~3 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Pound Sterling, GBP
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid currency exchange bureaux at Leeds Bradford Airport or tourist offices near the station—poor rates and high fees.
Contactless and chip-and-PIN cards are accepted almost everywhere; mobile pay (Apple Pay, Google Pay) works in most shops, cafés, and taxis.
Tipping is optional—round up at cafés, leave 10% for good service in restaurants; taxi drivers don't expect a tip but rounding to the nearest £ is fine; hotel porters get £1-2 per bag.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Filter coffee from a café or supermarket café—around £2.00.
A filled baguette or sandwich from a bakery or deli—about £4.50-5.50.
A main course at a pub or casual restaurant—roughly £12-15.
Ilkley's main street has a few takeaway sandwich shops and bakeries; the weekly farmers' market (first Saturday of the month) offers cheap hot food stalls.
Tesco, Co-op, and Sainsbury's are the main budget supermarkets on the high street.
Ilkley's high street has few budget chains; for affordable high-street shopping, take the train to Bradford or Leeds.
A single bus ride within Ilkley is about £1.50; the cheapest way from Leeds Bradford Airport is the Flyer bus (A1 or A2) to Bradford Interchange, then a train to Ilkley (total ~£6).
Pre-book train tickets online for the cheapest fares. Walk instead of using the bus for short journeys—Ilkley is compact. Eat lunch at a pub during the week (often cheaper than dinner).
Good to know — Ilkley
Type G · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ £0.74 · GBP
Emergency Contacts
IlkleyFor non-emergency police matters, dial 101. For local health advice, call 111. Ilkley’s nearest hospital with A&E is Wharfedale Hospital (Springs Lane, Ilkley LS29 8TH) – minor injuries unit, open 8am–10pm daily. For serious emergencies, head to Airedale General Hospital (Skipton Road, Steeton BD20 6TD).
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Ilkley, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at The Black Hat
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 201 m · ~3 min walk — pharmacy · Boots — 51 m · ~1 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) → Leeds City Bus Station
💡 Get an app-based m-ticket from First Bus to skip queues at the airport machine. At Leeds Station, change to the 662 bus to Ilkley—the combined trip takes about 90 mins.
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) → Lumb Beck Farm House B&B, Ilkley
💡 Book with a local firm like Ilkley Cars or Streamline Taxis. Avoid surge pricing by pre-booking online; the driver will meet you at arrivals holding a board.
Ilkley Railway Station → Lumb Beck Farm House B&B, Ilkley
💡 If arriving after 8pm, call Ahead Taxis on 01943 609609. They’ll often quote £5–6 to the farm. Walkers can do the 0.7-mile uphill stroll instead (15 mins, take Wells Road up past the Cow & Calf pub).
Leeds Railway Station → Ilkley Railway Station
💡 Buy a Day Return for £10.50 to cover same-day travel. From LBA, take the A1 bus to Leeds Station (30 mins, £3.50) then catch the train. The Ilkley stop is a 10-minute walk downhill to Lumb Beck Farm on Wells Road.
About Ilkley
Wikipedia ↗The Lexus Ilkley Open (previously named as the Ilkley Trophy, Fuzion 100 Ilkley Trophy and the Aegon Ilkley Trophy) is a professional tennis tournament played on grass courts. It is classified as a WTA 125 (since 2025) and an ATP Challenger 125 event. It has been held in Ilkley, United Kingdom, sin...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at The Black Hat?
Upper floor rooms at the front (Church Street side) for the best daylight and a view of the town, but only if you sleep with earplugs or windows shut – see noise notes. Alternatively, request a rear-facing room on floor 2 or 3, which sacrifices view for quiet.
Which rooms should I avoid at The Black Hat?
Ground-floor rooms and any room directly above the bar or kitchen – likely the extension at the back if there is one. Rooms overlooking the side alley where bins are collected can get early-morning clatter. Also avoid rooms near the main staircase if it has no carpet (common in old buildings).
Is The Black Hat noisy?
Church Street is a main pedestrian route through Ilkley town centre, with nearby pubs and takeaways. Expect street noise from about 7am to midnight. There's a bus stop within 50 metres. The hotel's own bar and restaurant may create low-level noise until closing time (11pm or midnight). Bin collection is typically early on a weekday.
Which rooms have the best views at The Black Hat?
Front rooms (Church Street side) look across to the listed buildings and maybe a sliver of the moors beyond – typical Ilkley charm. Rear rooms probably overlook the hotel's own courtyard or car park, no special view.
What are insider tips for staying at The Black Hat?
1. Park on-street after 6pm (free) or use the pay-and-display on the Grove – the hotel doesn't have dedicated parking. 2. If you're a light sleeper, call ahead to request a top-floor rear room and ask them to note 'quiet room' on your booking – avoid the booking engine's default ground-floor allocation.
What time is check-in at The Black Hat?
Check-in at The Black Hat is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does The Black Hat have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout with 25 Mbps download; login via room number and surname, no time limit
Is there a city or tourist tax at The Black Hat?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near The Black Hat?
A filled baguette or sandwich from a bakery or deli—about £4.50-5.50.
What is the cheapest way to get around from The Black Hat?
A single bus ride within Ilkley is about £1.50; the cheapest way from Leeds Bradford Airport is the Flyer bus (A1 or A2) to Bradford Interchange, then a train to Ilkley (total ~£6).
When is the best time to visit Ilkley?
May, June and September — mild 15–19°C days, long light, the heather just starting to bloom. Trails are dry, pubs have space outside, and the town feels alive without being rammed.
Top Attractions in Ilkley
💡 The Roman altar collection is the standout. Allow 30-45 minutes. The gallery upstairs often features contemporary Yorkshire artists.
💡 Start from the Cow and Calf car park for a short, steep climb to the best views. Pick up a free map from the tourist info centre first.
💡 The Hanging Stones are behind the church, through a wooden gate. Best light for photos is late afternoon. Combine with the short walk up from Crag Lane.
💡 Start at the footbridge near the Boathouse pub and head upstream. After about 1.5 miles you reach the stepping stones at Middleton — a good turnaround point.
💡 Visit on a weekday afternoon when it's quieter. Arrive before 11am on hot weekends to avoid queues. Entry is around £6-8.