Thirsk is a traditionally styled market town in the Vale of Mowbray, in the North Yorkshire Moors, England. The town is situated at the 'gateway to the Yorkshire Dales', with the North York Moors National Park to the east and the Yorkshire Dales to the west and has a population of around 4,500. Thirsk has a Market Place dating back to medieval times and to this day still has a twice weekly market selling a variety of goods.

The town has a variety of sights for tourists to see. Thirsk has a famous racecourse, with over 150 years of racing under its belt and regular races including Ladies' Pimms and Champagne Days. There is also the 15th century church of St. Mary's, which was built on the site of an earlier Norman church. It is a beautiful building with unusual architectural features.

Thirsk is perhaps most famous, though, for James Herriot, who remained in the area from 1940 to his death in 1995. His famous books have led to the area being nicknamed 'Herriot Country'. His original vets' surgery has now been transformed into the 'World of James Herriot' centre, where you can travel back to the 1940s and become immersed in the world of the author.