Get out and about and discover more of the Harrogate District.  Visit the World Heritage site of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, one of the National Trust’s most popular attractions. Sample some traditional Yorkshire beer at the Black Sheep and Theakston Breweries and Visitor Centres and go back in time at Ripley Castle and Newby Hall. Ripon is the cathedral city of the dales and the fascinating Yorkshire Law & Order Museums are based here and the nightly tradition of setting the watch‚ still continues every night in the market place.

One of the best views in Yorkshire is from the grounds of Knaresborough’s medieval castle and the town overlooking the river Nidd, viaduct and surrounding countryside. Enjoy idyllic riverside walks, go boating on the river and explore this picturesque medieval market town.

Get the adrenaline pumping by taking a white-knuckle ride at Lightwater Valley Theme Park and experience the lovely countryside of Nidderdale, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Five Fascinating Facts About Harrogate

1. Harrogate was once one of Europe’s foremost spa towns and is home to the Stinking Spaw‚ the famous rotten egg smelling sulphur water.  From European royalty to Charles Dickens, who described Harrogate as: “The queerest place with the strangest people in it leading the oddest lives,” Harrogate was the place to visit to take The Cure. The range of medicinal mineral springs in Harrogate includes magnesium, chalybeate and sulphur water.  The Royal Pump Room was built over the celebrated sulphur well in 1842 and is now a museum illustrating the history of Harrogate along with being the only place left to sample the sulphur water, if you dare!

2. When Agatha Christie disappeared for 10 days in 1926 she came to Harrogate and stayed in the Old Swan Hotel under a pseudonym.  The story was made into a film in 1977 starring Dustin Hoffman and Vanessa Redgrave with filming taking place at the Old Swan Hotel and around Harrogate.

3. A visit to Harrogate would not be complete without visiting one of its most famous assets Betty’s Café which started in the town in 1919 and is well known throughout the world with sister branches in Ilkley, Northallerton and York.  With 400 different lines of mouthwatering cakes, breads, scones and muffins from the famous Fat Rascal‚ to fresh cream cakes handmade at Betty’s Bakery, you will be spoiled for choice. And that’s before you’ve made a decision about which of the special blends of exotic and traditional teas and coffees, imported by their own tea and coffee importers, Taylors of Harrogate, to try!

4. Harrogate is also home to the Turkish Baths and Health Spa one of only three of its kind in the country. Housed in the Royal Baths building which dates from 1897 the sumptuous surroundings in the Turkish Baths are pure Victoriana. Indulge in pure relaxation in the hot rooms, steam rooms and plunge pool or try out one of the more modern treatments available from a Body Wraps to a Cleopatra Goat Milk Oil Bath or aromatherapy.

5. Harrogate Toffee has been made in Harrogate since 1840 and owes its existence to the nasty taste of the town’s spa water.  When visitors complained about the sour taste of the medicinal sulphur water, a local grocer called Swan began to produce the toffee.  Past customers have included queens, princesses, aristocrats and prime ministers with HM the Queen also known to be an admirer. Swan’s assistant Mrs Farrar passed the secret formula to her son John and Farrah’s toffee became part of Harrogate’s history.  The recipe for the hard toffee which has a distinctive lemon flavour remains a closely guarded secret.

Words and Images: Harrogate Borough Council

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