Harrogate Tourist Guide & Travel Information

Harrogate is primarily known for its spa waters. It is a spa town based in North Yorkshire that is recognised for the detection of sulphur rich iron and natural iron found within the area. Historically, Harrogate attracted the English elite and was often visited by aristocrats from Europe although saw a decline in popularity by the First World War. In present day, the town operates as a commercial business centre.

The most famous tourist destination in Harrogate is the RHS Garden Harlow Carr, a garden run by the general public. Traces of sulphur were found in the eighteenth century and by 1840 the garden became a sight for visitors with the addition of a hotel. It has won many awards and was recently crowned Winner of a BBC Gardeners 'World Readers' Choice Award. The garden has an array of beautiful landscapes, predominantly covered by water, woodland and stone.

For a historic guide to the spa town, you can visit the Royal Pump Room Museum where you can have a look at sulphur wells that are known to be the strongest in all of Europe. An estimated 15,000 visitors used to come to the area during the summer period and now you have the chance to taste the water yourself. The museum showcases old fashioned shops and well-known parks so that visitors can explore Harrogate's culture and heritage.

A brilliant historic building that is worth visiting is Knaresborough Castle which was once inhabited by medieval kings. Here, visitors are able to take tours to the King's Tower, the main fixture of the castle that also has a dungeon where the king would hold people at his mercy. Other features include The Courthouse Museum, illustrating the everyday lives of local people, The Tudor Courtroom, and the Secret Underground Tunnel which is an 80 ft pathway built directly underneath the castle, purposely put in place to exit the castle in times of military invasion.

For shopping, visitors can go to Victoria Shopping Centre located in the heart of Harrogate. It consists of four shopping levels and houses many top retailers including, H&M, Mothercare, New Look, The Body Shop, Game, Julian Graves, Sports Direct, Claire's, Tk Maxx and more exciting high street brands. You can also find restaurants and cafes such as Café Latino & Scoffs Pick n' Mix.

As Harrogate is one of the largest commercial centres in Europe, it has a selection of exhibition and conference halls. The most commonly recognised venue is the Harrogate International Centre which offers hotels, restaurants and guest houses. Harrogate is somewhat a commuter town for residents working in neighbouring cities such as Leeds and Bradford.

For a cultural experience of the town you can visit Harrogate Theatre. In the 1950's the theatre was run by a charity organisation and was owned by Harrogate Borough Council. In 2007 and 2008 it went through severe redevelopment which saw the opening of the new main auditorium. More recently, features within the building have been through a transformation such as the Stalls Bar, Stairwells and Box Office. Harrogate Theatre promises a diverse range of performances of dance, drama, opera, play adaptations, comedy and much more.

Naz Daud - CityLocal Harrogate
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