Your Great Yorkshire Visit
So you’ve booked your tickets to the Great Yorkshire Show, you’ve found your place to stay in the Harrogate district and now you’re wondering about other amazing things to do in Harrogate and the wider area while you’re here? Here are some suggestions for chilled out and relaxing things to do while you’re spending time in the Harrogate district this summer.
Ten relaxing things to do while you’re in Harrogate for the Great Yorkshire Show
Get up close and personal with a llama
Head to Nidderdale Llamas in the beautiful Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and enjoy a unique and personalised experience, as you walk with a llama or alpaca around miles of stunning countryside in North Yorkshire. These friendly and gentle animals make the perfect walking companion while you explore the wonderful outdoor spaces of the Harrogate district on foot. A fun, quirky and relaxing activity for your staycation this summer!
Relax and unwind at the Turkish Baths in Harrogate
A visit to the Harrogate district isn’t complete until you’ve made a visit to the Turkish Baths. Step back in time as you step inside the spectacular Turkish Baths building of the late nineteenth century and soak up some of the spa heritage of Harrogate. Book a signature treatment and feel the wellbeing benefits of this uniquely Harrogate spa experience.
Explore Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, World Heritage Site
Near Ripon is the breathtaking World Heritage Site of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden. Here you can explore the largest monastic ruins in the UK together with the exquisite 18th century water garden, which combines artistic excellence with visionary design to work with the natural landscape along with the historical and cultural significance of the environment. Experience the peaceful surroundings, perfect for long walks and picnics, while you uncover the story of this very special place in the Harrogate district.
Discover the cultural highlights of Harrogate
Wander around the town centre of Harrogate and drop into the Mercer Art Gallery, an incredibly beautiful building of the 19th century which was used as a spa promenade room and town hall before becoming an art gallery in 1991. View the current exhibition, Celebration, an explosion of colour and creativity showcasing British abstract art. Visit the Royal Pump Room Museum to discover the story of Harrogate’s famous waters and how the town known as “the English spa” has evolved throughout time.
Indulge in pure luxury at the spa hotels of the Harrogate district
Enjoy pure luxury and outstanding spa experiences at these resort hotels in the Harrogate district…
Grantley Hall is a luxurious 5 star hotel set in rolling countryside. Treat yourself to a delicious dining experience at one of the hotel’s four restaurants, which are open to non-residents as well as overnight guests and which include Michelin-starred Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall, as well as Bar & Restaurant EightyEight, where Yorkshire resident Samira Effa of the Great British Menu has just joined as head chef.
At Swinton Estate, home of Swinton Park, choose from a range of exclusive experiences to book, including “Beer with the Deer” where you can dine al fresco on woodfired pizza, hog roast and local beer whilst overlooking the deer park and listening to live music. Or book a lesson at the cookery school with its excellent chef tutors – courses include artisan bread-making, show-stopping canapes, tapas and more. Find out more.
Rudding Park’s rooftop spa includes a hydrotherapy indoor-outdoor infinity edge pool offering guests magnificent views of the gardens – as well as the Escape Zone, a peaceful, serene space that features a range of visual and audio therapeutic experiences where guests can relax and absorb scenes of lapping waves, wildflower meadows and breath-taking mountain landscapes on the video mood wall.
Go with the flow in Knaresborough
Is Knaresborough the most instagrammable spot in the UK? Head to Knaresborough and enjoy a sensation of days gone by as you row along the River Nidd in a rowing boat before stopping for an ice cream, a drink or a bite to eat at Marigold Boats and Café. Admire the views of the famous viaduct and see it from a different perspective as you explore the grounds of Knaresborough Castle.
Adventure outdoors at How Stean Gorge
Feeling adventurous? Enjoy action and excitement at How Stean Gorge in Nidderdale AONB. Explore the natural environment of the gorge through a range of adrenalin-filled activities from caving, rock climbing, abseiling and a high wire adventure course to canoeing on Scar House Reservoir. Book an experience or a package and enjoy quality time in the great outdoors whilst pushing your own limits in this beautiful part of the Harrogate district.
Visit the exquisite gardens of the Harrogate district
Come to the Harrogate district and see how our gardens grow! Blessed with a huge variety of wonderful gardens and outdoor spaces, it’s easy to get your floral fix whatever time of the year you’re in the Harrogate district, but summer mixes a great cocktail of colour and fragrance in the gardens that shouldn’t be missed. We’ve put together new garden itineraries with suggestions for how to explore many of our gorgeous gardens in one visit.
Take time to wander
While you’re in Harrogate for the Great Yorkshire Show, don’t miss the opportunity to spend time in the wider area as well. Head to Masham, the home of Yorkshire brewing and explore the town’s traditional market square and independent retailers, before enjoying a walk here on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.
Browse the high street shops in Boroughbridge and visit the Butter Market Museum to discover the story of the town through its historical collection.
Head to Ripon and visit the Cathedral, which celebrates its 1350th anniversary of consecration in 2022 and find rest and refreshment at the city’s many bars and restaurants.
Make sure to stop in Pateley Bridge, a pretty market town in Nidderdale where an award-winning high street of bespoke shops and independent eateries houses the oldest sweet shop in England.
Book to come back again
There are so many fun and exciting things to do in the Harrogate district that you won’t squeeze them all into one trip – so make sure you book to come back!
We have a fantastic variety of accommodation options so you’ll find plenty of wonderful and unique places to stay.
Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find accommodation to suit all tastes in the Harrogate district. Time to start planning your next trip?
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