Local Attractions

The elegant spa town of Harrogate is perfect for relaxation. Spend a few hours in the perfectly preserved Turkish Baths before browsing the many boutiques and antique shops. Finish off your afternoon with a cream tea in Betty’s – a Yorkshire institution!

Valley Gardens & Sun Pavillion

Valley Gardens

Located in the centre of Harrogate, the 17-acre Valley Gardens lives up to its international reputation with a staggering variety of seasonally planted formal and informal displays, shady rhododendron dell and pine woods leading to Harlow Carr RHS gardens.

Family facilities include a traditional model boating lake, paddling pool, tennis courts, pitch and putt, mini golf and summer concerts. The elevated sun pavilion and colonnade provides shaded walkways through a collection of specimen botanical climbing plants donated by Christchurch Botanical Gardens, New Zealand in 1957.

Harlow Carr Gardens

Harlow Carr is the newest and most northerly of the four RHS gardens. This, along with its challenging growing conditions, offers an ideal place to view what can be grown successfully in the region.

The garden is seeing exciting new developments while retaining its uniquely tranquil and welcoming atmosphere. Probably the most spectacular are the dramatic new Rose Revolution borders that edge the path to Gardens through Time . Their use of mixed perennials, grasses and roses beautifully combines sustainable practice, inspirational horticulture and a contemporary twist! Also not to be missed are the superb new Main Borders - a gorgeous mix of herbaceous perennials, grasses and shrubs, starting with hot vibrant colours, and gradually moving to cooler shades towards the streamside. Gardens through Time takes you through 200 years of living gardening history up to a contemporary garden designed by Diarmuid Gavin.

The garden offers interest for all seasons - from vegetables to wildflowers and alpines to woodland - and now the fabulous Bettys Café Tea Rooms and Shop offering delicious food and the best teas and coffees.

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Royal Pump Room Museum

The Royal Pump Room Museum is a distinctive octagonal building with copper dome, built in 1842 by Isaac Shutt to shelter visitors ’taking the waters’ from the four sulphur wells at the site. A unique cast iron annexe was added in 1913. The building became a museum in 1953 and now offers displays of 19th century life in Harrogate along with examples of the bizarre spa treatments which made the town a favourite destination for elite Victorian’s. Harrogate water was purported to have healing properties that could cure anything including gout, rheumatism and lumbago - visitors with a strong constitution can still taste the waters at the museum.

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The Stray

Since August 19 1778, under the Enclosures Act of 1770, Harrogate town centre has been surrounded by two hundred acres of unenclosed grassland and trees known as The Stray. As protected common land, it is open for the enjoyment of all throughout the year. The Stray is a focal point for visitors to the town who enjoy walking, picnicking and discovering the many spa well heads that remain. The Stray Defence League continues to protect the rights of all to enjoy the beauty of the Stray into the future, their motto being: ’We have not inherited The Stray from our parents; we have borrowed it from our children.’

Victoria Gardens

The Victoria Gardens, including bandstand and Victoria Monument erected in 1887, are located in the centre of Harrogate opposite the railway station and provide visitors to the town with a small oasis in which to relax and enjoy seasonal floral displays (and the occasional brass band concert). The four storey Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre was opened in November 1992 on the grounds of the old covered market hall and was inspired by Palladio’s Basilica at Vicenza. A new market hall is now located on the lower floor. The remaining floors offer a wide and varied range of shops and boutiques.

Betty's Tea Room

There are six Bettys Café Tea Rooms to explore: the spa town of Harrogate has two branches (one in the town centre and a second at the RHS garden at Harlow Carr) as does York (Little Bettys is just around the corner in Stonegate), and you’ll also find Bettys in the market towns of Northallerton and Ilkley. All our cakes, breads and chocolates – more than 600 lines – are made by hand at our Craft Bakery, and our extensive range of teas and coffees are selected by our sister company, Taylors of Harrogate.

Montpelier Street & Gardens

Montpelier Street & Gardens Reflecting the Victorian elegance of Harrogate Spa, the stylish Montpelier Quarter offers a treat to visitors who enjoy browsing for unusual and unique gifts, designer clothes, works of art and antiques. Those with time to spare may choose to watch the world go by from one of the excellent cafes, bars and restaurants in the Montpelier quarter including Betty’s Tea Rooms. The gardens provide a shady place to stop and admire the floral displays that are a distinctive part of Harrogate’s attraction.

Brimham Rocks

Brimham Rocks The bizarre shapes and balancing boulders have made this curious landscape a popular place for walkers, climbers and tourists. They were created through the effects of erosion by ice and water on layers of sedimentary rocks. Today these have names such as Dancing Bear, Balancing Stones, Idol Rock, Turtle and Druids Desk. Open every day, with a National Trust shop, the 50 or so acres have plenty of spots for a picnic.

Plumpton Rocks

Situated between Harrogate and Wetherby, Plumpton Rocks is one of the most important sites in the north of England (English Heritage Grade II site of outstanding & special historic interest). The 30 acre park provides seemingly endless opportunities to explore with tranquil lakeside walks, dramatic millstone grit rocks, and mature native woodland. Plumpton Rocks and natural landscaped gardens are open to the public for a small admission fee at weekends and on public holidays between 11.00am and 6.00pm, March to October inclusive.

Spofforth Castle

William de Percy came to England in 1067 and was granted 86 Lordships in Yorkshire by William the Conqueror, including Spofforth. The current castle was built by the Percy family in the early 13th Century, with alterations made in the 14th / 15th centuries. The Percy estates were confiscated after the rebellion against Henry IV in 1408, restored and then lost again in 1461 when the Percys supported the losing side in the War of the Roses. Spofforth was eventually returned to the family and inhabited until 1604. The castle was reduced to ruins during the Civil War (1642 – 1646). Access free of charge, all year round.

Ripley Castle & Gardens

The setting, in a thousand acres of majestic Yorkshire countryside 10 minutes from the charming spa town of Harrogate and 45 minutes from York and Leeds, could hardly be more beautiful. The castle and gardens are open to the public twelve months of the year, and ample free parking, shops and tearooms help make the visit even more enjoyable.
In recent years the castle has also become one of Britain's premier venues for wedding ceremonies and receptions, special dinners and banquets, meetings, concerts and training and team-building days. First-class accommodation and food is available at the castle's adjacent Boar's Head Hotel, the 2001 winner of the Johansens Traditional Inn of the Year Award.

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Turskish Baths

Unique traditional Turkish Baths built 1897, plus steam rooms, various beauty treatments and types of massage. Also available - facial, manicure, pedicure, eyelash/brow tint, leg waxing and reflexology. Germaine de Capuccini face and body treatments, Jessica manicures, pedicures and spray tanning now available. Turkish Baths restored in July 2004 to match their original intention.

York

York is one of the most intriguing cities in England; no other English city offers the history, beauty and sheer diversity of York. The superbly preserved walled city has witnessed more than 2000 years of vibrant history.

Leeds

Excellent nightlife, great shopping, fascinating architecture, world renowned sports venues and close proximity toHarrogate are just a few of the many attractions that bring over 11 million visitors to Leeds every year.

Whether it's for business or leisure, the Leeds lifestyle has a lot to offer. With over 100 bars, 25 night clubs and 75 restaurants in the city centre alone, Leeds is famous for its vibrant night life and cultural scene. The city is also home to the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition and top international performing companies such as Opera North, Northern Ballet and Phoenix Dance Theatre.

Yorkshire Dales & North York Moors

The beauty of the Yorkshire Dales is renowned. It is an area of many moods. It is expansive, tranquil and charming and, at times, even awesome. Pretty market towns dotted throughout the Dales are filled with pubs, quaint shops and fantastic accommodation.

In contrast, a sense of space and solitude marks the North York Moors, where ridge upon ridge of heather moor land roll into the purple distance. Take a steam railway journey through ‘Heartbeat’ country or admire the view from the top of Sutton Bank – don’t forget your camera! It is little wonder that North Yorkshire was recently crowned the ‘Garden of England’

Seaside Trips

The coastline of North Yorkshire holds some favourite spots. Whitby was recently voted the UK’s favourite seaside resort. Its maritime heritage together with its atmospheric Abbey, setting for Dracula, adds to its traditional seaside charm. Scarborough and Filey provide ample opportunity to enjoy traditional Victorian seaside resorts.