Harrogate Day Trip Itinerary – 10 Best Things To Do In Harrogate

Last Updated on 17th April 2024

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Are you planning a trip to North Yorkshire and wondering what to do in Harrogate? This Harrogate day trip itinerary includes some of the best places to visit in Harrogate, things to do near Harrogate, as well as some of the most quirky things to do in Harrogate, North Yorkshire!

Harrogate is a place that I’ve been to numerous times over the years to see friends who live there, but I never felt like I’d properly seen it (I’d only really visited to go out for food and get drunk with friends!). So when we were writing our AtoZ UK road trip list, I knew I wanted to add Harrogate for the letter ‘H’.

As part of our day trip to Knaresborough, we popped over to Harrogate in the afternoon as it’s just a 10-minute drive away.

While I think Harrogate is a really lovely place, with stunning houses, adorable cafes and fab restaurants, there isn’t really an awful lot to do there, so you can easily see Harrogate in a day!

Having said that, there are still a few things that I think you should see and do there, and I’ve listed some of the best fun things to do in Harrogate below!

10 best things to do in Harrogate – summary

How to get to Harrogate

Harrogate is an adorable little town nestled in the heart of North Yorkshire, situated in close proximity to nearby towns and cities such as York, Knaresborough, Leeds and Ripon.

It has great transport links when it comes to both driving and rail, with it being just a 45-minute drive from York, 35 minutes from Leeds and 12 minutes from Knaresborough.

If you’re driving to Harrogate, there are plenty of car parks available, some free and some still pretty cheap. We were originally going to park in Hornbeam Park which actually doubles up as Hornbeam train station’s car park, but it’s a little too far out of the main town. We ended up parking at the West Park car park which was only 70p an hour (most car parks charge this).

By train, Harrogate is just 17 minutes from Knaresborough, 35 minutes from York and 40 minutes from Leeds.

Where to stay in Harrogate

Harrogate is renowned for being home to some of the most beautiful and luxurious hotels and spas in North Yorkshire.

As it’s primarily a spa town itself, it’s no wonder that there’s such a huge focus on making the accommodation options as lush as possible in order to keep the tradition of the town alive.

Below, I’ve listed some of the top places to stay in Harrogate that will make your stay truly remarkable and memorable.

• Rudding Park Hotel & Spa – this hotel is actually a 15-minute drive out of the town centre but it’s still one of the top hotels in the area.
• Crowne Plaza – a very beautiful hotel right in the centre of town.
• White Hart Hotel – another lovely place to stay that’s conveniently located in the town centre.

Find somewhere to stay in Harrogate!

Booking.com

Map of Harrogate town centre

Get a copy of my Harrogate city centre map here!

1. Have a picnic on The Stray – Harrogate day trip itinerary

The Stray is a vast 200 acres of public parkland right in the centre of town and if you imagine hard enough, you can almost pretend you’re in Central Park in Manhattan (I said almost!).

You’ll often see local workers jogging through here on their lunch break or after work during the week, or families gathered for an afternoon picnic in the sunshine on a summer’s day. It’s a lovely place to have a wander through and while there isn’t really much to do there (it really is just a huge expanse of grass area), it’s still a very pretty place in town.

If you’re looking for free things to do in Harrogate, especially during the summer months, The Stray is well worth visiting!

2. Enjoy afternoon tea at Betty’s Harrogate

It might be cliché, but no visit to Harrogate would be complete without at least seeing the world-famous Betty’s Cafe Tea Rooms.

I’ve spoken an awful lot on my blog about my adoration for the York branch of Betty’s and Harrogate’s offering is no different.

Serving up a wealthy concoction of worldly teas, delectable cakes and sweet treats, plus their beloved afternoon tea, Betty’s is a treasured establishment in town and it’s the perfect place for a spot of brunch.

Find it: 1 Parliament St, Harrogate HG1 2QU.

Read more: Betty’s Tea Rooms York

3. Stroll through Valley Gardens – best things to do in Harrogate this weekend

Another fab outdoor space in Harrogate is the incredibly photogenic Valley Gardens, which also happens to be one of the best things to do in Harrogate for families.

These gardens are open 24 hours a day, all year round, so come rain, shine or snow, you’ll be able to enjoy a wander through them.

Inside Valley Gardens, you’ll find a plethora of spectacular flower displays, a kids’ playground and skate park, as well as an Art Deco pavilion.

Throughout the summer months, there are plenty of outdoor events and live music shows to enjoy, plus tonnes of outdoor games that the whole family can take part in such as crazy golf, pitch and putt, paddling pools, a boating pool and more.

Find it: Valley Dr, Harrogate HG1 2SZ.

4. Pay a visit to the Royal Pump Room Museum

The Royal Pump Room was originally built in 1842 and in order to provide shelter for the town’s most affluent visitors as they took to the famous waters. Today, it is a museum that serves to showcase the some of the strongest sulphur wells in Europe, which welcomed more than 15,000 people every summer!

The museum costs just £3.80 for adults and £2.20 for children aged 5-16.

Find it: Crown Place, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 2RY.

5. Visit West Park URC Church – Harrogate day trip itinerary

Pretty much just opposite The Stray is West Park URC Church which is a lovely little church in the middle of town.

Even if you’re not particularly religious and don’t feel compelled to go inside and have a look around, the outside of the church itself is very beautiful and a great little place to stop off at as you wander into town.

Find it: W Park, Harrogate HG1 1BL.

6. People watch from The Cenotaph

The Cenotaph, or Obelisk as it’s often referred to, is a beautiful war memorial that resides on Parliament Street, directly opposite Betty’s.

Not only is it a great place to pay your respects, but it’s also in a lovely little square that makes for the perfect place to people-watch.

There are lots of cafes and eateries in and around the square, so you can grab a bite to eat and then set up camp for half an hour or so while you enjoy your lunch and take in the views of the locals going about their daily business.

Find it: Prospect Square, Parliament Street, Harrogate, HG1.

Visit the Turkish Baths – best things to do in Harrogate for adults

The Turkish Baths are arguably one of the best and most popular things to do in Harrogate. Boasting a vast array of different services and treatments, including bespoke facials, hot stone massages, candle massages, pregnancy massages and much more, the Turkish Baths are undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Harrogate town centre.

As well as the many spa treatments on offer, the Harrogate Turkish Baths are also renowned for being the most fully restored Victorian Turkish Baths in Britain and you can enjoy a unique and relaxing atmosphere in the establishment’s charming Health Spa.

Find it: Turkish Baths Harrogate, Parliament Street, Harrogate, HG1 2WH.

Visit RHS Harlow Carr – Harrogate day trip itinerary

The RHS Garden Harlow Carr is very similar to Valley Gardens in that it’s essentially a vast expanse of stunning gardens, tea rooms and flowers.

However, it’s a tad too far out of the town centre and while we could have easily walked there, we were running out of time in our car park and as we’d already been through the Valley Gardens, we felt like we’d had our fill of greenery for the day.

I have heard lovely things about RHS Garden Harlow Carr though, so if you do have some time to pop by, I’d definitely recommend it.

Find it: Crag Ln, Beckwithshaw, Harrogate HG3 1QB.

Take a trip to Ripley Castle – best things to do in Harrogate with kids

When conducting research on the best things to do in Harrogate before our trip, I saw Ripley Castle mentioned in nearly every single guide.

I usually begrudge things that are listed to do in a certain place, but in fact, aren’t really in the place at all. However, when I looked up Ripley Castle, I could see why people were recommending it and even though we didn’t quite have time to visit the Castle on our day trip to Harrogate, I’d definitely love to go back and make a stop at Ripley Castle next time.

Find it: Ripley, Harrogate HG3 3AY.

Take a day trip to Ripon, York, Leeds or Knaresborough

As it’s located in the heart of North Yorkshire, Harrogate is the perfect place to base yourself for a nearby day trip to cities such as York and Leeds.

You can also get to smaller North Yorkshire towns such as Knaresborough and Ripon from Harrogate.

Read more: The Best Things To Do In Knaresborough

Related posts:

• 13 Fun & Unique Places To Go On A Date In Yorkshire
• 14 Things You’ll Know If You’re From Yorkshire
• 14+ Best Things To Do In Knaresborough – Viaduct, Castle, Boats & More
• 26+ Best Things To Do In York, England
• 18+ Best Things To Do In Scarborough, North Yorkshire

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Have you ever been to Harrogate? Do you have anything else to add to this Harrogate day trip itinerary? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram at @imjustagirl_16.