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Our Guide of Great Things To Do In Harrogate In A Day

Located east of the Yorkshire Dales, this historic town is the perfect place to spend a day or a relaxing weekend.

Harrogate is surrounded by a number of unique and beautiful market towns such as Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Masham and Pateley Bridge. This makes Harrogate a great base from which to start a small North Yorkshire excursion.

If you are planning to visit this beautiful city, this tour guide will show you the amazing things to do in and around Harrogate.

Bettys Café Tea Room

Bettys cafe tea rooms

Bettys Café Tea Rooms is one of Yorkshire’s most popular teahouses, and no visit to Harrogate is complete without visiting Betty’s.

Bettys Tea Rooms have been open since 1919 when the Swiss baker and pastry chef left his homeland and moved to England to start his own business. He didn’t speak English very well, but he was very good at baking.

Since then, Betty’s cake, chocolate and tea have been hugely popular. Afternoon tea at Betty’s is an unforgettable experience. Friendly staff, quiet and elegant atmosphere, and of course the food.

Especially on weekends, this place is often crowded and you may see people lining up outside.

Montpellier Quarter

Just minutes from Betty’s Tea Room, the Montpellier district features more than 50 unique and independent shops, outdoor cafes and bars, and award-winning restaurants.

This is the perfect place to stroll, shop, or sit in a cafe and enjoy the beautiful surroundings with a cup of tea.

With cobbled streets, flower baskets and traditional shops (including the famous Farrah’s shop selling delicious toffees), this quaint neighborhood makes you feel like you are in a traditional English village.

Royal Pump Room Museum

Opposite Harrogate Valley Gardens is the Royal Pump Room Museum. The museum houses the most powerful sulfur wells in Europe.
Visit the Royal Pump Room Museum to learn more about Harrogate’s relationship with the Russian royal family and how it attracted visitors from all over the world.

The Museum now houses temporary as well as permanent exhibits on the history of Harrogate Resort.

Valley Gardens

Valley Gardens Harrogate is listed as a Grade 2 Garden located just minutes from the city center.

Mineral waters, sculptures, beautiful green spaces and tennis courts are just a few of the many things you can find in this garden. No matter when you visit , you will be amazed by the garden’s green spaces, trees, a variety of flowers and the beautiful Sun Pavilion.

All these features make it a great destination for nature photography lovers.

Gardens has a cafe open from April to September where you can enjoy a coffee, tea or a piece of cake while enjoying the relaxing atmosphere of the garden.

Park has a bit of everything for everyone, is open 24 hours a day and completely free, making it a must-see attraction in Harrogate.

Mercer Art Gallery

This art gallery is home to a large collection of 19th and 20th-century fine art from local artists. In addition to this, it also hosts temporary exhibitions of painting, photography, sculpture and crafts.

Mercer Art Gallery opens Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm, and Sundays from 12 pm to 4 pm.

Crescent Gardens

The Crescent Gardens is a great place to relax and contemplate the views of Harrogate Turkish Baths and its surroundings.

The gardens are brought to life in spring when all the colourful flowers blossom.

In Crescent Gardens, you’ll also find the statues of Cupid and Psyche under an impressive glass dome.

Harrogate Turkish Baths

If you want to pamper yourself and relax, Harrogate Turkish Baths is the best place to be. This hammam is the most completely refurbished Victorian hammam in England and is a great place to unwind as well as admire the beautiful and intricate décor. The architecture was influenced by Moorish styles, as seen in

Islamic arches and screens, painted arabesque ceilings and other historical elements.

A variety of body treatments are available here, including Turkish Spa Body Ritual, Himalayan Salt Massage, and Face Lifting Massage.

Baths are usually overcrowded, so it’s best to book in advance via their website to avoid disappointment. Also, if you want to save money, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are much cheaper than other days of the week.

Royal Hall

Another important building in Harrogate is the Royal Hall, a Grade II* listed Edwardian performance hall situated a few footsteps from Harrogate Town Centre.

Not only does the Royal Hall look beautiful outside, but inside too. It has incredible decor and it can welcome over 950 people.

The Royal Hall was reopened by Prince Charles in 2008 after an expensive restoration.

Before visiting Harrogate, I highly recommend checking the events happening in the Royal Hall.

RHS Garden Harlow Carr

At only 10 minute drive from Harrogate town centre, you’ll find RHS Garden Harlow Carr. This is a paradise for any nature lover – woodland, wildflower meadows, streams and much more.

The adult admission price is £13.50 which includes a gift aid to fund the garden charitable work.

Knaresborough Castle

Knaresborough is only 15 minutes drive from Harrogate, and this market town has a few things to do that you can`t miss.

One of Knaresborough`s main attractions is Knaresborough Castle. The castle is located on a clifftop with outstanding views of the River Nidd and the viaduct across the Nidd Gorge.

The vast majority of the castle was destroyed during the Civil War, however, you can still enjoy exploring the ruins, dungeon and secret tunnel.

It`s definitely a great place to visit if you love learning about medieval history.

Ripley Castle

Situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and at 5 kilometres from Harrogate, Ripley Castle is a must-see attraction in the area.

This 14th-century beautiful country house makes you feel like in a fairytale – its outstanding architecture, ivies and surroundings.

There is no visit to Ripley Castle without wandering the deer park where you can find a wide range of animals – squirrels, woodpeckers and wigeons among others.

You can usually book a castle tour where you see 6 of the castle rooms – including the library and tower room. Unfortunately, these tours aren’t always available, so make sure to have a look at their website before going to the castle.

The adult admission ticket for Ripley Castle is £5, children entry for free.

Brimham Rocks

Brimham Rocks are a collection of natural rock formations at Brimham Moor in the Nidderdale region of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

You are free to walk around Brimham Rocks, but guided walks are also available. On this guided walk, you can learn about the geology of these rocks and Brimham’s wildlife.

Brimham Rocks is free to visit, but if you are traveling by car you will have to pay a parking fee (£6 for 4 hours or £9 per day).

If you are going to Brimham Rocks by public transport, the best way is to take bus number 24 from Harrogate to Patel Bridge through Summerbridge which is 2 km from Brimham Rocks.