Reasons to visit The Jewel of the North
Harrogate, dubbed “The Jewel of the North,” is known for its urban attractions, beautiful gardens, and location as a gateway to the Dales. It is close to Nidderdale, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, as well as Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, all of which are UNESCO world heritage sites. Castles, stately mansions, abbeys, cathedrals, and ancient market towns are all within easy driving distance of Harrogate.
The Spa
Something in the water – some hoped for epilepsy and scurvy cures – was the catalyst for Harrogate’s growth, with its 85 wells and springs. The Royal Baths’ place as one of the world’s best hydrotherapy centres was affirmed when it opened in 1897. Oscar Wilde, Tsarina Alexandra of Russia, and Winston Churchill were among the notable visitors.
The Royal Pump Rooms are now a museum dedicated to the town’s illustrious spa past. Although a strong sulfuric pong to the water is unlikely to convince you to drink it, consumption peaked at 1,500 cups per day in 1926.
The Turkish Baths were restored to its full Victorian splendour in 2004, thanks to a £1 million makeover that included a variety of contemporary treatments to entice visitors to Harrogate for some pampering.
Beautiful gardens
Harrogate’s civic gardeners appear to have greener fingers than their opponents, as they are regular winners of Britain in Bloom. This lovely village is pierced through by swaths of formally maintained gardens. There are a multitude of hanging baskets falling down onto the Valley Gardens’ 17 acres. They have a bandstand and
Waitresses wear black and white outfits, as if it were still 1919 and the suffragettes had just gained the vote from Prime Minister David Lloyd George. Many visitors take home a fourth or more of loose tea as a souvenir, choosing from a diverse selection that includes Assam, Lapsang Souchong, and whatever the Z of tea is.
A cultural hotspot
The Harrogate Convention hosts a variety of cultural events throughout the year. From the Czech Symphony National Orchestra to the Knitting and Stitching Show, there’s something for everyone. Children’s, Comedy, Crime-writing, Gilbert and Sullivan, and the renowned Literary Festival are among Harrogate’s festivals.
The Mercer Art Gallery attracts a large number of cultural visitors who come to see the current shows.
St George Country Living Hotel
This hotel, located across the street from Harrogate’s Theatre and a two-minute walk from the Turkish Baths, brings the beautiful pages of Country Living Magazine to life in a city setting. The hotel, which is housed in a rambling Grade 2 listed Edwardian estate, promises “an getaway from ordinary life.” The hotel produces an eclectic rustic atmosphere in the centre of Harrogate, evoking a Country Living legacy.
The two AA Rosette Swaledale restaurant, with its tall Palladian symmetrical columns, exemplifies Harrogate’s superb cuisine produced from local produce: fish from the waters off Whitby, Dales-bred lamb, with local beef and duck, fresh asparagus and rhubarb in season.
Shopping
Montpellier, Kings, West Park, and the Victoria Quarter are the four distinct shopping districts in Harrogate. Then there are the Beulah Street charity shops.
The Victoria Shopping Centre, in the heart of the Victoria Quarter, is where you’ll find big-name stores. Many people, however, come for the flower-filled elegance of the Montpelier Quarter, which has roughly 50 independent stores, restaurants, and sidewalk cafes. There are some avant-garde and unusual offerings among the stores, delis, and galleries.
Cycling’s birthplace in the United Kingdom
Harrogate made cycling history by hosting the first stage of the 2014 Tour de France, which drew enormous crowds to the town.
Harrogate is an ideal destination for many cycling road races, as it offers a diverse choice of tough and stunning routes, many with breathtaking views of the local scenery and landmarks.