Local news

The Box Tree restaurant in Ilkley is celebrating after being included in The Telegraph’s list of the 21 best restaurants in Leeds.

It’s full steam ahead for The Northern Swing Orchestra as they prepare for their forthcoming festive concert ‘Swing into Christmas’, on stage at The Kings Hall in Ilkley on Friday 19 December 2025.

Will Schaffer, Sam Prus, Martyn Stocker, Joe Smith, and Dan Chadwick - all from Ilkley - took on the 82-mile Dales Way walk with a goal to complete the challenge in under 36 hours.

The Ilkley & District Round Table is celebrating a hugely successful start to this year’s Santa Float with hundreds of families stepping outside to greet Santa and support local causes in Addingham, Valley Drive and Ilkley Town Centre.

Yorkshire Water has lifted its hosepipe ban today (Wednesday), bringing an end to restrictions that have affected more than five million people since July. 

​Financial mismanagement rather than a requirement to protect wildlife caused an £11.7m overspend on a major road building scheme, opposition councillors claim. 

Police are appealing for information to help locate Richard Thompson who is wanted on suspicion of theft offences.

The Ilkley Great Get Together team are once again supporting 100+ local families with Christmas Food Parcels and are appealing for donations.

Cold water enthusiasts and newbies alike made a splash this weekend at Sue Ryder’s brand new cold-water challenge – The Big Dip Dales - held at Draughton Heights Campsite.  

Quinta Restaurant, the cosy Portuguese-inspired eatery in Ilkley, has been named 'Best Restaurant in England' at England's Business Awards 2025 held in Birmingham last month.

The Principle Trust Children’s Charity says it is delighted to share the success of its festive Christmas celebration, generously hosted at Ilkley Rugby Club within the stunning Christmas Teepees space kindly gifted by BAR Events UK and supporters Dan and Laura Lakin.

Ilkley's unique craft studio, Clayful, based in the Moors Shopping Centre is celebrating its first birthday this month.

Ilkley Town Council currently has two vacancies for non-councillor members on its Planning Committee and is inviting local residents to get involved.

Outside the Box has announced its first Winter Festival will take place on Sunday 14th December between 2pm and 4:30pm.

The Ilkley Christmas Tree Festival at St. Margaret’s Church on 5th and 6th December was a huge success.

Northern is reminding Wharfedale Line commuters to check before they travel, with train timetables changing from Sunday 14 December 2025.

Tesco customers in Ilkley are being reminded they still have the opportunity to give new toys to local children who need it most this Christmas.

Guests at the recent Dine-In event at Outside the Box in Ilkley enjoyed a very special Christmas dining experience.

Burley-in-Wharfedale Co-op relaunches following a six-week programme of improvements to ‘transform’ the Main Street store.

He'll be talking The Inbetweeners and much more at this very special evening with actor and comedian Joe Thomas on Saturday 28th February 2026.

Churches Together in Ilkley and local reading groups are supporting 'Buy a Book for Bradford', a community drive asking Ilkley residents to donate new or nearly new children’s story books this December.

Plans to replace the phone box at the west end of The Grove with a 'street hub' featuring two large 75" screens has been refused by Bradford Council planners.

Santa's sleigh will be on the streets of Burley-in-Wharfedale from Friday 12th December with Girlguiding and Scouts.

The community came together for the 44th Burley-in-Wharfedale festive display despite wet weather.

Christmas is all about giving back and this Saturday The Ticket Office Bar will hold its annual Charity Food Bank Drive with Your Ilkley Radio.

As the final weekend Ilkley Manor House is open to the public in 2025 approaches it seems fitting to reflect on the past year.  The final opening day is Sunday 14 December from 11am – 4pm.

One of the area’s most treasured festive traditions returns this weekend as the Ilkley & District Round Table Santa Float begins its annual tour of Addingham, Ilkley and Ben Rhydding.

Friends of the Dales has launched a new initiative, Eyes on the Skies, aimed at raising awareness of raptor persecution in the Yorkshire Dales and encouraging efforts to protect vulnerable birds of prey.

National healthcare and bereavement charity Sue Ryder is calling on residents in the Ilkley area to ‘branch out’ and recycle their real Christmas tree this January.  

Ilkley & District u3a held its Annual General Meeting at the Clarke Foley Community Hub on Saturday 22nd November and it was reported that the average age of the membership is creeping up towards the upper 70s.

Don’t miss the sparkle of Ilkley’s much-loved Christmas Tree Festival which opens on Friday 5 December, at St Margaret’s Church, Queen’s Road, Ilkley. From 10am.

Caroline Mutton takes a look at what's on at Ilkley Playhouse - next is the festive favourite, It’s a Wonderful Life.

Ilkley Manor House is hosting Colour of Dreams, a new group exhibition curated by Andreea Chitan, bringing together a vibrant selection of painters, makers, and textile artists whose work celebrates the emotional and sensory language of colour.

Yorkshire Water says hosepipe restrictions could be lifted 'within weeks' as sustained rainfall continues to boost water supplies across the region.

Organisers of the annual Holly Ball are getting ready for the biggest and best yet next month, which is set to raise vital funds for two local charities.

Cash Access UK, the organisation set up to protect access to cash across the UK, has opened a temporary home for the banking hub in Ilkley at the Library on Station Road.

Ilkley estate agent, Dacre, Son & Hartley, believes Yorkshire’s housing market will be largely immune to the property tax changes announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in this week’s autumn budget.

Two Rivers Concert Band will unpack a treasure trove of Christmas delights at its Christmas Concert at Ilkley Baptist Church on Sunday 7 December.

A brand-new apartment development in Ilkley town centre which has seen the upper floors of a landmark building on The Grove converted into 10 magnificent apartments, has been presented with a conservation award in recognition of its high quality and sympathetic transformation.

Leeds Hospitals Charity joined Ilkley town centre this week with the opening of its biggest store yet.

Work to restore the roof of Ilkley’s 12 century manor house will start in the new year Bradford Council has confirmed.

Ilkley artists Helen Brayshaw and Lucia Smith are coming together for a second Art in the Kitchen event this weekend.

Nominations for Ilkley Town Council’s 2026 Citizen Awards Scheme are now open.

Ilkley came together for a magical Christmas lights switch on at the weekend.

The Principle Trust Children’s Charity has announced its delight after the success of the Big Ilkley Quiz last week at the Craiglands Hotel, a valued Patron of the Charity.

Addingham Scout Group held its annual Halloween fundraising event at Golden Acre Park, and raised a frightening £11,500! 

Organisers of The Yorkshire Invitational golfing event held in Ilkley have announced the legendary European golf figure, Colin Montgomerie OBE, will host next year.

As the festive season edges closer, Ilkley residents are being encouraged to think beyond traditional gifts this year and consider something a little more memorable.

Now the Christmas lights are on in Ilkley, the countdown in on this year’s Christmas Tree Festival at St Margaret’s, where trees will be beautifully adorned and festive music promises to fill the church.

Dan's Den at Christchurch in Ilkley has been nominated in a national campaign, The BIG Christmas Giveback, which aims to shine a light on the positive work happening in local communities.

Airedale Hospital and Community Charity invite you to swap out your Festive jumpers for socks this year to spread festive cheer throughout the community on Friday 12 December.

A new water-safety initiative has been launched with the installation of three throw-line stations along the River Wharfe in Ilkley.

The 20th annual Beef & Beer Dinner took place earlier this month at The Craiglands Hotel in Ilkley, raising an incredible £55,250 in support of Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice. 

Outside the Box Café in Ilkley has unveiled a new, bespoke piece of artwork created by 29-year-old autistic artist Emy Spinks, whose vibrant creative style has captured the hearts of people both locally and around the world.