Harrogate - Outings and Attractions!

Things to do and places you might like to visit whilst staying in Harrogate

World Famous Turkish Baths - https://www.turkishbathsharrogate.co.uk/

 – beautiful building lined with mosaics - offers spa treatments as well as Turkish baths

The Winter Garden- now a restaurant and pub- worth seeing for its architecture 

Royal Hall- and Harrogate Theatre - events and theatre

 https://www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/our-venues/royal-hall/

Cinemas:

Everyman - 5 screens - at seat service

Odeon - iconic 1930s - art deco - 5 screens

Harrogate Conference Centre Events 

Harrogate International Centre events, shows and performances, 

https://www.harrogateconventioncentre.co.uk

Betty's Famous tea rooms – great for breakfast and lunch – need to book always popular

Bettys Café Tea Rooms, 1 Parliament St

https://www.bettys.co.uk/cafe-tea-rooms/our-locations/bettys-harrogate?                                                             Telephone: 01423 814070 

RHS at Harlow Carr- excellent car parking facilities – you can walk from Artists’ Loft but it’s along busy roads and takes around 45 minutes up hill.

The Valley Gardens in town Centre- grade 2 gardens – nice walk up through gardens and Pine Woods to RHS.  Park in town centre for free or park at RHS (free parking ) and walk down into town through pine woods and Valley Gardens. – a pleasant stroll. There is a café in the Valley Gardens.

Pump Room Museum- near main entrance to the Valley Gardens- history of the Spa and geological 3D  map of the area explaining the various springs.

Mercer Art Gallery is close bye in Swan Road

Town has lots of independent galleries and antique shops some with cafes. 

Westminster Arcade off Parliament Street has pretty café upstairs-  staff are friendly 

Hoxton North Café near Crown Hotel Entrance is considered cool! Dog friendly 

Lots of our Guests like Fat Badger

At other side of the traffic island is Farrah's- downstairs sells biscuits, toffee and tourist items - has coffee shop upstairs- used by locals because it’s hidden! They are known for toffee and biscuits- they do decent coffee and cake.

Near to Artists’ Loft is The Wild Plum - excellent for morning coffee, breakfast and lunch- honestly one of the best if not the best. Full of yummy mums and men waiting for wives and girlfriends to finish shopping downstairs at Snooty Fox- great place for wedding outfits and lovely casuals.

Turn left from Grey Street or Russell Street onto Hookstone and it’s a couple of minutes walk on opposite side of the road

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=plum+tree+harrogate&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#

https://www.snootyfrox.co.uk/the-wild-plum/

shopping for clothes at independent stores:

In town centre Hoopers department store

https://hoopersstores.com/pages/hoopers-harrogate

 and Julie Fitzmaurice

https://www.juliefitzmaurice.com

There are also all the usual high street names including Primark and M&S

Beyond Harrogate in immediate vicinity:

Knaresborough - ancient market town with the ruins of a castle dating from King John - great views over the River Nidd and surrounding countryside - market day is Wednesday.  - Harrogate is built on what was part of the Manor of Knaresborough.  Today Knaresborough is in the Borough of Harrogate.

National Trust Properties 

Fountains Abbey- ruins of Cistercian monastery - picturesque, tranquil place for picnics.  Has tea rooms and a coffee shop. 

Studley Royal Gardens 

Bolton Abbey much smaller than Fountains Abbey- Devonshire Arms is near- good place to have lunch then visit the Abbey. Nice walks through sheep fields and by the river.  Abbey is now parish church.

Other places:

Harewood House and Estate- House. gardens, adventure playground and Bird Garden are open to the public- lots of events – just up A61 towards Leeds- about 10 minutes drive from Harrogate.  https://www.harewood.org

Plumpton Rocks - privately owned - on the way to Wetherby - has a lake.

Ripley Castle and Estate- in opposite direction up A61 on the way to Ripon and Fountains Abbey- ancient castle and deer park. Open to public. Boars Head does lunch and dinner. Family are in residence – you can do tours of the house- James 1st stayed here on his way south to claim the crown. There is a cafe in the Castle grounds, Boars Head does lunch and dinner, separate bistro.  See: www.ripleycastle.co.uk

Ripon- ancient walled town with cathedral – all very small and intimate- good example of medieval city. 

A61 heading south takes you Leeds (20 minutes by car)- thriving city – founded on wool trade . 36 bus goes every 10 minutes and trains hourly.

On A59 on the way to York is the small ancient village of Nun Monkton- just opposite down a 2.5 mile lane. Turning is shortly after sign for Kirk Hammerton.  Has a pub serving food- Alice Hawthorn- ancient church – was part of a Benedictine monastery. Horseshoe shape is typical of Norman and Anglo Saxon foundation. Was originally a Ford used by the Romans. Good example of an unspoiled Yorkshire Village. The village is situated at the confluence of the River Nidd and River Ouse - do not attempt to swim - there are dangerous undercurrents.

York- 16 miles east of Harrogate-historic small city dates from the Romans. The famous gothic Minster has wonderful choirs. People go to see famous clock and stained glass windows. There is just one statue remaining from Cromwell's visit - can you find it - his soldiers didn't! Nearby is St Mary's Abbey/Museum Gardens- it originally dwarfed the Minster. Lovely gardens down to the river, great spot for picnics. Yorkshire Museum and Hospitium museum are in the grounds as are the remains of the Roman Walls.  Every 4 years there are productions of the Mystery Plays - originated with the various guilds who performed them on wagons drawn through the streets on Trinity Sunday commencing at dawn from Trinity Church near Micklegate Bar and finishing in front of the Minster.   

Also worth visiting are: The Treasurers House, Williams College, The Castle Museum, Shambles- an original mediaeval street and the Viking Centre. 

Or take a cruise up river to the Arch Bishop's residence. 

The coast is about 1.5 hours away.  Scarborough is best known, Filey and Bridlington are smaller resorts- beautiful Sandy beaches. Whitby is a bit further north and Sandsend and Robin Hoods Bay are beautiful- parking is limited at both.  Robin Hoods Bay is a cove with small sandy beach at low tide. Very picturesque. Village of Staithes is also pretty.

You can head to The Dales

Brimham Rocks just north of Harrogate (National Trust estate) is a natural park- café at top – nice walks – great views across country from the top. Lots of car parking.  Be careful - professional climbers come here to practice their skills!  If you stick to the marked paths you will be safe!

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brimham-rocks

The White Horse at Kilburn is a famous landmark- visible from Harrogate on clear days- marked walks and great views- used by hang gliders and there is a gliding school at the top.

Castle Howard - great county estate and magnificent house, with walks, gardens, tours of the house and more see https://www.castlehoward.co.uk 

Heading north along A59 takes you to Skipton. today a market town with markets most days.  Has a castle which you can visit.

Continuing north takes you to Cumbria and to the famous Lake District - 1.5 hours from Harrogate. A great day out.

There’s just so much to see and do! I am sure to have missed out 50% be sure to tell us what you discover!