Here at Selby College, we’re lucky to be located in a town full of things to do, and within a few miles of even more! Here’s our guide to making the most of Selby and its surroundings.

• Selby Abbey – Founded in 1069, the Abbey is one of the most notable churches in England. The 14th century Washington can be traced to the family tree of US President George Washington. There is also a war memorial chapel and visitor trail open daily (and admission is free!)

• Selby Town Hall – regarded as one of the best live venues in the area, having previously won the Yorkshire Post 'Nightlife Award'. Local band nights including the annual Battle of the Bands competition have been known to sell out in a matter of hours! People travel from all over the UK to attend the shows, and acts come from all over the world. Also based at the Town Hall is the Selby Globe Cinema, a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers with a love of film. The Town Hall is also the office base for the Town Council, monthly meetings of which are open to the public.

• Selby Superbowl – Classic Ten Pin bowling and so much more including pool tables, darts and an arcade! There's also a Lazer Zone combat tagging arena (over 2 separate floors), where you can sneak around a dark and futuristic layout, scoring points from zapping your friends and family. There’s even a Go Karting track, great for all ages as they even have mini Karts for 4-9 year olds.

• Selby Leisure Centre – The rebuilt leisure centre, opened in 2015 by Rebecca Adlington, delivers brand new fitness and swimming facilities for the district in a state-of-the-art building. The centre provides a large gym, health and fitness suite, multi-purpose activity hall, fitness studio, two swimming pools, a sauna and a steam room. The site also hosts an all-weather sports pitch. Whilst they recommend a membership, there are pay as you go options available too.

• Selby’s Walks – From Barlow Common to Skipwith Common, and Selby Horseshoe to Brayton Barff, the Selby district has a number of popular walks and trails. The Drax millenium walk starts at Drax Power Station; the 9-mile Selby Horseshoe walk begins at Selby Abbey; the Wolsey walk starts on the southern bank of the River Ouse in the quaint village of Cawood (a little over five miles from Selby); the Womersley walk is a circular walk in the pleasant countryside; Selby’s 'pathways to health' walks encourage regular exercise; and the Hidden Heritage walks celebrate Selby’s rich history. Take your pick!

• Cycle the Solar System – Along this route, from the nearby village of Riccall all the way to York, you can find scale models of all the planets in our solar system as well as models of famous spacecrafts. The track is also part nature reserve with great variations of trees and natural wildlife to be encountered. There are also several family friendly pubs not far from the track at differing points so you've got options if you don't want to picnic.

• Selby Markets – Selby, known as a ‘market town’, holds a market in the town centre every Monday, as well as a special Bank Holiday Monday market which attracts traders and visitors from across the region. The Selby farmers market is also held on the third Saturday of every month, where you’ll find a wide variety of products and stalls at the farmers market.

• Hit the Shops – From independent produce providers like Mollie Sharp’s Cheese & Deli, to Selby’s very own department store Wetherells, Selby has enough shops to make a full day of it. Once you’ve toured the town centre, visit Three Lakes Retail Park on the outskirts (hitting one of the biggest Home Bargains in the region en route!), or go even further out of town to the Designer Outlet (around 20 minutes’ drive away); home to 120 designer brands, plus high street favourites and a great selection of cafes and restaurants.

• Selby’s Food & Drink – You may not realise, but Selby College is home to one of the best restaurants in the region, solely run by our hospitality and catering staff and students. Other Selby delights include the famous Mr C’s fish and chips, Indian restaurant Jinnah, the Thai Sunshine restaurant, Italian restaurants Capri and Sapori, the Mediterranean-inspired Olive Branch restaurant, Selby’s own Wetherspoons and countless coffee shops. In the surrounding villages, you’ll find quaint country pubs and fabulous farm shops, such as Bert’s Barrow at Hillam and Brayton Farm Shop. Selby Food Festival, held in the marketplace in the summer, features over 40 street food stalls and professional chefs giving demonstrations throughout the day, with local buskers on hand to provide entertainment throughout.

Looking to venture further afield? Selby is right in the heart of Yorkshire, so we’re perfectly located to reach East, West or South Yorkshire within a few minutes.

Around 30 minutes’ drive away, the historic and cultural city of York (recently voted the best place to live in Britain by the Times) has something for everyone, from its rich heritage and stunning architecture to its student-friendly atmosphere. Head west to Leeds (20 minute train journey from Selby) where you’ll find countless leisure and entertainment facilities including shopping centres, theatres and cinemas boasting top names in the worlds of music, comedy and entertainment. Both York and Leeds are packed with bars, cafés, nightclubs and restaurants, as well as many specialist shops and boutiques.

Further west, you’ll find the peaceful rolling meadows of the Yorkshire Dales, which have provided inspiration for writers such as the Brontë sisters and James Herriot. Towards the north, you’ll discover the North Yorkshire Moors with their dramatic brooding landscape of rocks and purple heather. East Yorkshire boasts a rugged coastline with picturesque coastal retreats including Scarborough, Filey and Whitby, where Bram Stoker found some of his inspiration for ‘Dracula’. Moving down the county, South Yorkshire boasts a fascinating glimpse into the region’s industrial heritage.