10 Best Things to Do in Harrogate

The Stray, a massive city centre park, is one of Harrogate’s best-known landmarks. According to an act of parliament, the total area can never be less than 200 acres (81 hectares), so any land removed has to be added elsewhere. The large lawns are popular for flying a kite, kicking a football or enjoying a picnic, except on the spring and August bank holidays, when they host annual fairs.

The Stray is especially vibrant in the spring, when the crocuses blossom, followed by the daffodils and finally the many cherry trees, with their iconic pink bloom. The city centre park is surrounded by a variety of great cafés and restaurants, making it a pleasant place to enjoy your breakfast.

Harrogate's city centre is a giant shopping precinct, with the Montpellier Quarter being its standout area. Walk the narrow cobbled streets of the old part of Harrogate and you’ll find antique shops, art galleries and some high-end local boutiques in the charming historical buildings.

If you’re looking for more famous brands, the Victoria Shopping Centre and the surrounding streets will give you plenty of choice. Conveniently, they’re right across the road from the train station and main bus stop, about a 5-minute walk from Montpellier Quarter.

The Royal Pump Room Museum in Harrogate commemorates the city’s spa history. During the Victorian era, Harrogate became a very popular spa destination due to the water’s high sulphur content. It attracted the great and good of British society at the time, as well as visitors as famous as Charles Dickens and Tsarina Alexandra of Russia.

The museum showcases an impressive selection of Egyptian artefacts, as well as some of the weirder treatments which were popular when the spa was getting as many as 15,000 visitors each summer. This includes getting a whiff of the eggy-smelling water and wondering how people ever thought drinking or bathing in the stuff would cure gout or lumbago.

While the mineral-rich waters of Harrogate are no longer sought as a miracle cure, Turkish baths remain a popular attraction for those seeking relaxation. There are several spas and wellness centres around the city centre, offering massages, body scrubs and, of course, Turkish baths in the town’s iconic water.

At the century-old Turkish Baths, there’s a wide range of packages available, most lasting over an hour. Being such a well-established centre, the baths have a classical exotic look, providing the right relaxing atmosphere for your bit of 'me time'.

The centre of Harrogate is full of beautiful parks and green spaces, but the Valley Gardens are among the most striking. The 17-acre (7-hectare) woodland has the look and atmosphere of a country estate, despite being basically in the middle of the town.

Spreading out around the Sun Pavilion, you’ll find plenty of winding paths through tree-shaded greenery, as well as a couple of boating lakes, play areas, tennis courts and mini golf courses. For the real Victorian-era experience, be sure to visit the park on a Sunday during the summer. The ivy-strewn bandstand is home to a traditional brass band, playing classic oompah tunes.

Harrogate has no fewer than 5 high-quality golf courses within easy reach of the city centre. Most are found around the outskirts of the town or a short drive away, but one is found right by the city centre. Each has its own unique and attractive features, welcoming players of any skill or experience level.

The oldest course is Harrogate Golf Course, established in 1892. Only 3 miles (4.8 km) from the city centre, it has 18 holes across mostly flat terrain, a colonial-style clubhouse and a great reputation across the country. 

Proudly carrying the name of the Royal Horticultural Society, RHS Garden Harlow Carr is a stunning 68-acre (27.5-hectare) garden just to the southwest of Harrogate city centre. A showcase of gardening excellence, it’s designed to represent natural environments like wildflower meadows and woodlands, but at their most vibrant and colourful.

Be sure to check out the Scented Garden, designed to be as much a treat for your nose as it is for your eyes. If you’re not visiting Harrogate in the spring or summer, the Winter Walk offers some striking displays.

The Grade I listed church, located just west of the town centre, has a distinctly historical look but is actually relatively new, with construction beginning in 1904. It’s noted for being the finest work of architect Temple Moore, who specialised in impressive Gothic-style religious buildings around that time.

The inside is just as dramatic, with interesting features including the Stations of the Cross artworks, the stained glass windows and the so-called 'dove from above' sculpture over the font. The parish hall has an intricate lamella ceiling, though you’ll need to make an appointment to see it.

Harrogate's vibrant cultural scene boasts the Harrogate Theatre on Oxford Street, the majestic Royal Hall on Ripon Road and the nearby Harrogate Convention Centre on Kings Road. The Harrogate Theatre is the oldest, but the Royal Hall is, as you might guess from the name, the grandest.

A Grade II listed building with a capacity of nearly 1,000 seats, the schedule is packed with very regular shows, including musicals, dramas, ballet and concerts. If you’re in town in October, look out for the annual Harrogate Comedy Festival, featuring big names in stand-up comedy.

Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms are practically synonymous with Yorkshire. It’s almost impossible to say you’ve visited the county without having sipped the signature blends and enjoyed the delicate scones, sandwiches and cakes of this iconic café. With outlets both in the old part of the town centre and at RHS Garden Harlow Carr, there’s plenty of opportunity.

Being such a popular institution, Bettys is busy throughout the day, and doubly so around 4 pm for Afternoon Tea. It’s strongly recommended that you book online in advance to save having to queue for ages.