Kilburn White Horse

The Basics

The best way to see the Kilburn White Horse is during a visit to the North York Moors National Park, although the vast figure can also be just as easily admired from as far away as Leeds. As such, most visitors prefer to combine a visit to the Kilburn White Horse with a wider exploration of the surroundings, including Whitby, Helmsley, Goathland, and more. Both shared and private day trips departing from either York or Harrogate typically stop at all the above.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Kilburn White Horse is free to visit although the attraction is probably best admired from a distance.

• On a clear day, the Kilburn White Horse can be seen from as far away as Leeds.

• Visitors can walk around the Kilburn White Horse but walking atop the chalky surface is strongly discouraged.

• Kilburn White Horse is not easily wheelchair accessible, given its hillside location.

How to Get There

The Kilburn White Horse is situated near Kilburn in the North York Moors National Park. You can see the horse up close by walking from the Sutton Bank car park or following one of the many hiking paths which pass by the Kilburn White Horse. Alternatively, admire the horse’s grandeur from a distance in the village of Kilburn itself.

When to Get There

There’s no bad time to hike through the North York Moors National Park and see the Kilburn White Horse up close, although spring and summer offer the best weather conditions. Alternatively, look out for the chalky figure on a clear North Yorkshire day and avoid stopping by during the region’s frequent downpours.

Chalk Geoglyphs in Britain

There are numerous horses and stick figures—also known as geoglyphs—carved into hilltops across Britain, including the 17th-century Westbury White Horse in Wiltshire, the 3,000-year-old Uffington White Horse in Oxfordshire, and the Long Man of Wilmington in East Sussex. Unlike most British geoglyphs, the Kilburn White Horse is carved into limestone and artificially whitened with chalk.