New facility will make Helmsley more accessible to all

Helmsley town centre has taken a major step forward in its bid to become a more accessible destination for visitors and residents.

Local partners have come together to officially launch a special Changing Places toilet in the main public car park on Cleveland Way as part of the UK-wide Changing Places initiative. This campaign advocates for larger, specially equipped public toilets to support over a quarter of a million people with profound and multiple learning disabilities or complex physical needs.

Lack of such a facility – which features more space, a height-adjustable changing bench, an accessible toilet and a ceiling hoist – can seriously compromise people's ability to get around.

Three people stand outside a small building that is clad in wood. The female in the middle holds a pair of scissors and is cutting a length of toilet roll that is held in front of her by two males on each side of the photo.

Image caption: Ellie Hook from the Howardian Hills officially opens the new Changing Places restroom in Helmsley. She is flanked by Joel Brookfield from the North York Moors National Park (left) and Steve Goddard, from North Yorkshire Council. Credit Tony Bartholomew/Howardian Hills.

As well as benefitting visitors to Helmsley town centre, its location at the start of the Cleveland Way will enable a wider range of people to access part of the UK's second oldest National Trail.

The project has been led by the Howardian Hills National Landscape. Other partners included the North York Moors National Park Authority, Visit North Yorkshire, Helmsley Town Council and the Locality Budgets scheme of North Yorkshire Council. The facility adds to a growing network of Changing Places toilets in and around the North York Moors National Park, including those at the National Park Authority's two visitor centres at Danby Lodge and Sutton Bank.

Image of bathroom interior with shiny white walls and dark floor. Pictured is a large sink along with a toilet with supports at both sides

Image of bathroom interior showing a large flat changing table along with a shower fitting

Ellie Hook, Manager of the Howardian Hills National Landscape, explained:

“This is such a great project and for many people it will make a huge difference in their ability to discover our beautiful part of the world. We are indebted to DEFRA’s Access for All fund which helped make it possible, along with all the partners. There’s now a network of such places, with another at Sutton Bank National Park Centre. As a key gateway town, Helmsley is the perfect location.”

The stone building has been designed to blend in with Helmsley's historic centre, which is designated as a Conservation Area. It can be accessed by registering with Changing Places, who provide an entry code.

Councillor George Jabbour added:

“We’re enormously grateful to everyone who contributed to the successful delivery of this much-needed facility. As a member of the National Park Authority and Chair of the Howardian Hills Partnership when the project was conceived, I know it would not have been possible without the collaboration of a number of organisations, along with several North Yorkshire councillors and members of the National Park Authority.”

The National Park Authority has continued to invest in making the North York Moors more inclusive and accessible to all. Over the past five years, this has included new accessible viewing platforms, parking bays, Changing Places toilets, more Miles without Stiles routes and the Tramper scheme, helping more people to enjoy the area's special landscapes.

ENDS

Notes to editor

About the Howardian Hills

The Howardian Hills covers 204 square km (79 square miles) of the North Yorkshire countryside, nestled between the North York Moors National Park, the Yorkshire Wolds and the Vale of York. It is a unique landscape of well-wooded rolling countryside, patchwork arable and pasture fields, scenic villages and historic country houses with classic parkland landscapes.
For more information go to www.howardianhills.org.uk.

Award-winning accessibility in the North York Moors

The North York Moors Accessibility Project, delivered by VisitEngland in partnership with the North York Moors National Park Authority and local tourism businesses, has helped establish the North York Moors as a leading accessible destination. The project supported businesses to improve accessibility information, customer service and facilities, created bookable accessible itineraries, and delivered an award-winning marketing campaign promoting inclusive travel. In 2026, the project was Highly Commended in the Marketing Campaign category at Selling Travel’s Travel For Every Body Awards, which celebrate organisations and initiatives driving accessible and inclusive travel forward. Find out more about the project at Visit Britain

Last updated: 06 Nov 2026