Welcome to the award winning Ilkley Chat!

photoILKLEY is back this year for its second edition and with it comes the return of its Young Photographer Competition. The event is possible thanks to funding from Ilkley Town Council. The Young Photographer Competition is open to everyone aged 19 and under, and invites children and young people to share their own way of seeing the world through photography and to be part of a grassroots festival that celebrates creativity, curiosity and visual storytelling. This year’s th

Wharfedale Fine Cheeses at Real Markets on The Grove Ilkley will gain another independent shop this weekend with the opening of Wharfedale Fine Cheeses on Church Street. A founder of and regular trader at Real Markets, Jeremy announced the plans at the start of March and just over six weeks later is ready to open the doors on Saturday, 18 April. Confirming the opening day on the business Facebook page , he said: "Our first official day will be this coming Saturday 18th April

Thousands of families across the Bradford district, including Ilkley, Addingham and Burley-in-Wharfedale, have received their school offers today on National Offer Day. Bradford Council say the vast majority of children who are due to start primary school in September have been offered a place at their first‑choice school. A total of 6,449 applications were received for primary school places this year. Of those, 5,961 children (92%) have been offered their first‑preference sc

The old sign which was removed last month Plans have been submitted to Bradford Council to install a new short advertising totem at Starbucks in Ben Rhydding after it was forced to removed the previous totem. In 2025, the company installed a nine metre totem without consent and was subject to many complains and objections from residents, with planners saying it was a 'disproportionate and discordant feature'. A retrospective application was refused and the sign was eventually

Ilkley Town AFC Women [Photo: broganphoto.uk] Ilkley Town AFC has appointed Rich Walker as its new Women’s First Team Manager.   The current Brighouse Town AFC Women’s U23s Manager and Bradford City Girls U15s Lead Coach will join the club ahead of pre-season.   Rich said: “I’m honoured to take up the role of Women’s First Team Manager at Ilkley Town, It’s a club of real stature with an outstanding reputation and a genuinely positive commitment to the growth of girls’ and wom

Explore Ilkley's health resort heritage on foot with this guided walk led by Ilkley Civic Society Local History Hub. Starting from Ilkley Manor House, this walk on Saturday 25 April will take you to see the historic spa hydro buildings that made Ilkley famous as a Victorian health destination. Learn about the architecture, the people, and the stories behind these buildings. Meet Ilkley Civic Society's Alex Cockshot outside the Manor House at 2pm. This is an outdoor walking ev

Cyclists are being offered a chance to protect their bikes from thieves. Local police are running a bike-marking session in Ilkley on Saturday, 18 April 2026. Taking place outside Wheelbase on Skipton Road between 11am and 1pm. Take your bike to get it added to the national, police-preferred database, BikeRegister, and increase your chances of it being recovered should it ever be stolen.  It will also be a chance to meet Ilkley's PCSO.

A long forgotten travelling circus is set to return to Yorkshire this summer, following an unusual discovery in a North Yorkshire barn. Local theatre producer Jamie Hudson, of Yeadon Town Hall Theatre, uncovered records of a historic “Yorkshire Circus” after finding references in an old book. Further investigation led to the discovery of original equipment, including wagons, costumes and props, which had been left untouched for years. Over the past two years, the collection h

Northern say planned engineering work on Sunday, 19 April, will impact services on the Wharfedale Line. Buses replace trains between Bradford and Guiseley, with no direct trains between Ilkley and Bradford Forster Square. Service changes include: Leeds and Skipton: Trains will run to a reduced timetable between Keighley and Skipton. Leeds and Bradford Forster Square: Trains will not run. Leeds and Ilkley: Trains will call additionally at Kirkstall Forge. Leeds and Carlisle: T

Val Jones A group of Ilkley friends are going on a three day 'Reiki Ramble' to help Val get the help she needs after being left paralysed below the neck. For 37 years, upper limb specialist physiotherapist Val Jones walked into her NHS physio department to care for her patients, but after a serious road traffic collision in June last year, now she can't. Among other injuries, she sustained damage to her upper spinal cord, leaving her paralysed below the neck, unable even to b

During the Easter holidays, over 400 people enjoyed a visit to Nell Bank Outdoor Education Centre in Ilkley. A group from Ilkley Soroptimists joined staff at Nell Bank and other volunteers from the district to give families a fun day out. The event was funded through the Government Holiday Activities & Food Programme, which aims to provide holiday activities for eligible children to benefit their health, wellbeing and learning. Transported to and from the centre by bus, each

L-R Simon and Joe are running London Marathon in support of The Principle Trust Children’s Charity Two dedicated fundraisers, Joe Gaughan and Simon Horsfall, are preparing to take on the iconic London Marathon this year in support of The Principle Trust Children’s Charity. The pair are aiming to raise thousands of pounds to help families enjoy much-needed respite breaks. For Joe Gaughan from Silsden, running the marathon has always been on his bucket list, watching in awe eac