The World of James Herriot
Visiting The World of James Herriot in Thirsk is truly like stepping into the pages of All Creatures Great and Small, minus the dogs jumping all over you at the door. On my first visit in 2011 I was struck by how familiar the house seemed, which can only be attributed to James Herriot’s gifts of description. The ivy draping the front of the house; the long hallway, bitterly cold during the winter nights when a vet was called to the phone; the cozy sitting room with overflowing cash mug; the French doors leading out to the garden—all have been preserved or recreated for the visitor’s pleasure. You don’t need the wax figure of Mrs. Pumphrey and Tricki-Woo to tell you where you are.
Sitting Room at “Skeldale House”
On your visit you will explore the downstairs area of the house with an audio guide. I loved the big kitchen at the back and all of the bottles of mysterious old-fashioned remedies in the dispensary. The garden is home to the famed Austin 7 used in the TV series, and the outbuildings contain sets from the popular television series that are fun to explore for children and adults. Especially fun for visiting children are the games and activities at the end of the tour where they can test their mettle helping a cow give birth. I’m surprised I was able to convince my then 9-year-old to try this.
If you love the James Herriot books, I heartily recommend a visit to Thirsk. Afterwards, you can drive up Sutton Bank and take a short walk to see what Herriot referred to as “The Finest View in England.”