Where to get the best fish and chips in Yorkshire

Tucking into tasty fish and chips is a treat for many families, especially when it has been freshly battered and fried at a takeaway shop or restaurant.

There are lots of places in Yorkshire where you can get expertly fried cod and haddock, ranging from traditional fish and chip shops to fancier sit-in restaurants. Many of these eateries offer gluten-free fish options for special dietary requirements and are MSC certified to show that they support sustainable fishing. 

If you’re looking for some places to eat during your next getaway to Yorkshire, here is our guide to where to get the best fish and chips in Yorkshire. 

Skip to:

• Best fish and chips at the Yorkshire Coast
• Best fish and chips in the North York Moors
• Best fish and chips in the Yorkshire Dales
• Other top Yorkshire fish and chip shops

Best fish and chips at the Yorkshire Coast

With fresh sea air and lots of local fishermen bringing in their catch of the day, there’s no better place to get fish and chips than at the Yorkshire Coast. You’ll find an assortment of cafes in popular coastal places such as Whitby, Scarborough and Robin Hood’s Bay so you can tuck into fish and chips after a bracing Yorkshire beach walk.

The Magpie Café, Whitby

The Magpie Café in Whitby has a well-deserved reputation for fantastically fresh fish and seafood. Their fish and chips are some of the best around and there are lots of variations to try on the menu if you fancy straying away from the usual cod and haddock. The restaurant has stunning views of Whitby Harbour and is well worth a visit (even if you do sometimes have to queue for a table). 

There’s a separate takeaway shop if you’re in a hurry for your fish and chips and you’ll find lots of benches along the seafront where you can sit and enjoy your tasty treat. It’s well worth visiting The Magpie Cafe the next time you are in Whitby and, after tucking into your fish and chips, we highly recommend tackling the 199 steps up to Whitby Abbey to burn off some of those excess calories.

Eskdale Fisheries, Sleights

A couple of miles from Whitby is the pretty village of Sleights in the Esk Valley. It’s a great location for a peaceful stroll and some tasty fish and chips from Eskdale Fisheries. It’s up to you whether you eat inside the restaurant or pick a spot outside and eat straight from the paper to make the most of the North York Moors scenery.

Sleights is also home to the Botham’s of Whitby bakery if you fancy getting something sweet to eat after your fish and chips. We also recommend taking a scenic walk along the River Esk, which runs right through Sleights, to the nearby village of Ruswarp where you’ll find traditional rowing boats and a miniature railway for an idyllic day out with the family.   

Fish Box, Robin Hood’s Bay

You’ll get panoramic views from The Fish Box as it’s located on the cliff tops in picturesque Robin Hood's Bay. There are picnic tables outside so you can make the most of your position as you enjoy some tasty fish and chips!  

The Fish Box is handily located near the car park at the top of Robin Hood’s Bay so makes a good first calling point before tackling the steep descent through the maze of streets to the beautiful beach below.

Robin Hood’s Bay is known as one of the prettiest villages in Yorkshire with traditional fishing cottages that seem to cling to the edge of the cliff, and the walk back up to your car after wandering around its various shops and pubs will help to work off those fish and chips.  

Winking Willy’s Famous Fish & Chips, Scarborough

This Scarborough fish and chip shop is located close to the pier at South Bay Beach and gets all of its fresh seafood from the seaside town’s nearby fish market. As well as classic cod, you can also get lemon sole, Scarborough plaice and chunky monkey - a local delicacy of monkfish and chips - to take out and eat as you walk along the seafront.

Scarborough is one of the UK’s oldest seaside resorts and we recommend starting your visit at Scarborough Spa. You can still catch the original Victorian cliff lift from here to South Bay Beach before heading to Winking Willy’s for your fish and chips. 

Star Inn the Harbour, Whitby

If you’re looking to sit down to some fancy fish and chips at the Yorkshire Coast, the Star Inn the Harbour is a stylish Whitby restaurant that’s just right for a special occasion. The restaurant is located in a spectacular octagonal building on the harbourside with large windows and nautical-themed interiors to match the seaside setting.

Cod and haddock are both available on the menu and served in a special gluten-free batter as standard. It’s up to you though whether you have them fried in vegetable oil or beef dripping and served with traditional chips or a healthier green salad. 

Best fish and chips in the North York Moors

The North York Moors is one of Yorkshire’s national parks and this special landscape is filled with peaceful heather-clad moorland. Scenic walking routes such as The Cleveland Way will help you explore the North York Moors, and you’ll find fish and chip shops where you can call for refreshments in market towns such as Helmsley and Pickering.

Deep Blue, Helmsley

Whether you choose to eat in the light and bright restaurant or go for the takeaway option, you’re guaranteed tasty fish and chips at Deep Blue in Helmsley. You can call ahead to get your meal ready and waiting for when you arrive, and the crispy batter is also available gluten free.  

If the weather is sunny, we recommend getting your cod and chips to take away and eating them alfresco by the nearby stream that runs through Helmsley. After your meal, you can also take a scenic stroll from Helmsley to Easby Abbey which marks the start of Yorkshire’s Cleveland Way walking route. 

Cappleman’s Fish & Chips Restaurant, Pickering

Cappleman’s Fish & Chips Restaurant is located on the charming market square in Pickering and has a characterful on-site cafe where you can relax and enjoy your food. If you fancy a takeaway, there’s also an online ordering service where you can click and collect your fish and chips at a specified time.  

The extensive menu includes gluten-free options and a range of vegan choices including fishless fish fingers and battered vegan sausage. If you’re trying to be a little healthier, you can also choose grilled fish instead of the standard deep-fried version.

Ayton's Traditional Fish & Chips, Great Ayton

This classic British chippie is strictly takeaway only but luckily you’ll be spoilt for choice of places where you can tuck into your fish and chips. Great Ayton has two separate village greens and a river running alongside the high street so there are plenty of options for eating outside. 

You’ll find hearty portions of all the classics at Ayton’s Traditional Fish & Chips so it’s best to go with a good appetite. If you do happen to have room for dessert, though, we recommend going to Suggitt's Ices, a Great Ayton sweet shop that’s famous locally for its creamy homemade ice cream.    

Osmotherley Fish & Chip Shop 

Osmotherley is one of the prettiest villages in North Yorkshire and, if you fancy tucking into fish and chips here while sitting on the green, this is a fantastic local chippie to get them from. Osmotherley Fish & Chip Shop use proper beef dripping to fry their tasty food and the fish and chips come served with optional scraps - for the uninitiated, these are little bits of fried batter.

There are benches near the market cross which stands in the centre of the village green and a great walk to try from Osmotherley is the circular 3-mile route to the nearby Mount Grace Priory, which is one of Yorkshire’s National Trust sites.

The Lemon Tree, Kirkbymoorside

Located within a handsome whitewashed stone building in the heart of Kirkbymoorside, The Lemon Tree is a cafe and takeaway serving top-notch fish and chips. You can choose between small, medium or large cod and haddock or, if you fancy a challenge, try the Kirkby Whale which comes in at a whopping 12oz.

Kirkbymoorside is an ideal calling point while exploring the North York Moors. It’s around halfway between Helmsley and Pickering with a great selection of pubs and shops dotted around the market square. 

Best fish and chips in the Yorkshire Dales

There are lots of places to get tasty fish and chips in the Yorkshire Dales and, best of all, you can enjoy them surrounded by some of the UK’s most dramatic scenery. Alongside market towns like Hawes and Ilkley, you’ll find small villages dotted all around the Yorkshire Dales with a special van providing fish and chips to many of them on their weekly round.  

The Chippie, Hawes

Hawes is one of the highest market towns in England so you can look out over spectacular Yorkshire Dales scenery while tucking into your fish and chips here. The Chippie is a family-run cafe and takeaway located in a characterful stone building in Hawes. 

As well as the standard cod or haddock and chips, the menu also features battered Wensleydale cheese which is made in the nearby Wensleydale Creamery if you fancy trying a local speciality. 

Ilkley Plaice, Ilkley

Ilkley Plaice is part seafood restaurant and part fish and chip shop so, whether you’re in the mood for old classics or something a little fancier, you should find something to your liking here. It’s located in the heart of the popular spa town which is famous for its surrounding moors.

Gluten and dairy-free options are available for most of the meals on the takeaway menu which includes cod, haddock, king prawns and plaice. Dine inside the Ilkley restaurant and you can get pan-fried sea trout, seafood linguine or a seafood sharing platter for two. 

The Wensleydale Heifer

Located in the pretty Wensleydale village of West Witton, The Wensleydale Heifer is a Yorkshire dining pub that is renowned for its top-notch fish and seafood dishes, including lobster if you’re feeling particularly extravagant. 

You can’t go far wrong though with their delicious fish and chips which are made using a Black Sheep batter and served with posh peas and triple-cooked fat chips. 

The Shambles Fish & Chip Shop, Settle

Located just off the market square in Settle, The Shambles is a historic 18th-century building with six distinctive archways housing a collection of shops and cafes including this popular chippie.

The fish at The Shambles Fish & Chip Shop is freshly cooked while you wait and is served with homemade tartare sauce with other specialities including chips and gravy and locally made steak pies. 

Ramseys Fish & Chip Van, Various

Ramseys Fish & Chip Van has run weekly rounds supplying fish and chips to a variety of Yorkshire Dales villages for more than 40 years. 

The van operates between Tuesday and Friday with a variety of stopping points each evening that includes Bainbridge, Aysgarth, Askrigg, Low Row and Reeth. The menu is fairly limited but has everything you could want from a chippie, with a couple of local specials such as Wensleydale cheese thrown in for good measure.   

Other Yorkshire fish and chip shops

Wetherby Whaler, Guiseley

The Wetherby Whaler restaurant in Guiseley is located on the site of the original iconic Harry Ramsden’s restaurant in White Cross Guiseley. The beautiful building features high ceilings, oak panelling, stained glass windows and crystal chandeliers. 

There’s even a baby grand piano with a resident pianist playing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, so you can dine on your fish and chips in style. This site is one of seven Wetherby Whaler fish and chip restaurants throughout Yorkshire with other locations including York, Wakefield and Wetherby.  

Miller’s Fish and Chips, Haxby

This family-run fish and chip shop has been around for more than 80 years and is located in the small town of Haxby near York. Miller’s was named the UK’s best fish and chip shop in the 2018 National Fish and Chip Awards so is a top choice for fresh and tasty food.  

Along with classics such as cod and Whitby scampi, the menu also features Belgian waffles for dessert. The takeaway shop and restaurant is also licensed to sell alcohol so you can get some prosecco or local Brew York beer to wash your meal down.

Murgatroyds

Murgatroyds is a large fish and chip restaurant with handsome green frontage and interiors, located on the site of a former mill in Yeadon. The restaurant is named after Billy Murgatroyd who was the owner of the town’s original Moorfield Mill and is a great choice for families with a special children’s menu and an extensive selection of hot and cold desserts.

There’s plenty of fish on offer at Murgatroyds with traditional cod and chips, a selection of fish cakes and the Surf & Sea special which is haddock served with scampi and chips if you are feeling particularly hungry.  

Drake’s Fish & Chips

Nestled in the heart of York with both the iconic York Minster and famous Shambles shopping street close by, Drake’s is the best place to stop for fish and chips while exploring this historic city. 

The restaurant serves battered haddock and the local catch of the day along with sausage and pie sourced from the nearby butchers on The Shambles. There’s also spicy fish tacos and a posh fish sandwich if you fancy something a little different.  

Takeaway fish and chips are also available with plenty of places around York where you can sit and enjoy them, including Dean’s Park which is a free green space next to York Minster.

Land & Sea, Thirsk

Land & Sea is a popular fish and chip shop in the market town of Thirsk, which is located right between the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales and best known for The World of James Herriot Museum. It has been named one of the 50 Best Fish & Chip Shops in 2021 by Fry Magazine and also scored highly at the 2020 National Fish & Chips Awards.  

Gluten-free fish and chips are available on the first and third Saturday of every month at Land & Sea and weekly specials feature items such as battered halloumi and battered black pudding in addition to the usual cod and haddock.   

Plan your getaway to Yorkshire

If you fancy trying out some of these tasty fish and chips, you’ll find lots of things to do in Yorkshire to build up your appetite such as scenic walks and fun outdoor activities. There are also lots of lovely holiday cottages if you’re planning a short break or longer getaway to Yorkshire where you can rest your head after days of exploring.