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Pictures of Harrogate

in the county of North Yorkshire

Harrogate, North Yorkshire

About Harrogate

One of the chief town's in Yorkshire's old West Riding, Harrogate acheived early fame as a Spa resort. Its mineral springs were discovered in the 16th-century.

The name Harrogate derives from Har-low-Gata, meaning Grey Mill Road. The name Harlow is still remembered in the naming of Harlow Hill Gardens.

The fame of Harrogate as a Spa town can be attributed to William Slingsby who discovered Spring Waters in a well at Harrogate called the Tewitt Well, this discovery took place in 1571 and today a Dome marks the site in the centre of the town called the Stray. The Stray at Harrogate covers some 200 acres and was created by an act of parliament in 1770. Before this time Harrogate was merely a village near the historic town of Knaresborough.

The discovery of the Sulpher and Iron rich waters brought a wave of prosperity to Harrogate. A physician called Timothy Bight claimed the Spa waters had healing properties and could cure almost anything including nervous tension, gout, rheumatism and lumbago.

The Tewitt Well and a number of other wells can be found on the Stray and of the others the most notable is the 17th-century St. John's Well. This well was named after a church, later replaced by Christ's Church in Church Square, it was the discovery of Dr. Michael Stanhope and featured in his publication 'Cures without Care'. Other wells include a Magnesia well discovered in 1895, it is located in Harrogate's Valley Gardens, along with many other mineral wells. The most famous of all the sulpher wells is to be found in the Royal Pump Room, now a museum.

The Royal Pump Room was built as the country's first Public Baths in 1842 to house the old sulpher well. Today, this superb building is extremely popular with visitors who are interested in the history of this lovely town.

Harrogate is one of the most attractive town's in the country. The prosperity brought by the discovery of the now famous wells resulted in a wealth of dignified stone buildings and beautiful gardens that have earned Harrogate the nickname 'the floral resort of England'. The Valley Gardens are particularly notable, so to are the Prospect and Montpellier Gardens, and the Harlow Car Trial Gardens are highly respected for experimental horticulture.

Apart from noted wells, the Pump Room houses an interesting museum of local history, Victoriana, and costumes.

In recent times the building of the Harrogate International Centre, one of the first in it's kind in the country, has proved to be an outstanding success. So is the Royal Hall, which attracts thousands of visitors each year.

There is much to see and do in Harrogate, people flock here from all over the country to attend Garden and Flower Shows and for thousands of visitors the three day Great Yorkshire Show is a date in the diary not to be missed. Shopping here is pure delight and dining out is a most enjoyable experience, there is real choice in the town's wealth of noted inns and restaurants.

Few places can match Harrogate's splendour, nor the warmth of its people. The beauty of the Yorkshire countryside is matchless. And to the Yorkshireman, the cricket, the food, the ale, the scenery and the people of his beloved county are all finer than any of the smaller counties that make up the rest of England - once you have been to Harrogate, you will understand his claim and you will not disagree.


Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Harrogate

Knaresborough Castle(2.9 miles, 4.7 km, direction NE)Pictures
Ripley Castle(3.5 miles, 5.6 km, direction N)Pictures
Spofforth Castle(4.3 miles, 6.8 km, direction SE)Pictures
Harewood House(6.6 miles, 10.6 km, direction S)Pictures
Brimham Rocks Country Park(8.1 miles, 13.0 km, direction NW)Pictures
Fountains Abbey(8.3 miles, 13.4 km, direction N)Pictures
Chevin Forest Park(9.2 miles, 14.8 km, direction SW)Pictures
Ripon Cathedral(10.1 miles, 16.2 km, direction N)Pictures
Nidderdale Museum(11.1 miles, 17.8 km, direction NW)Pictures
Cow and Calf Rocks(11.9 miles, 19.2 km, direction SW)Pictures
Kirkstall Abbey(12.2 miles, 19.6 km, direction S)Pictures
Headingley Cricket Ground(12.3 miles, 19.8 km, direction S)Pictures
Lightwater Valley Park(12.9 miles, 20.8 km, direction N)Pictures
Armley Mills Industrial Museum(13.2 miles, 21.3 km, direction S)Pictures
Bolton Priory(13.7 miles, 22.1 km, direction W)Pictures

All attractions in Harrogate
All attractions in North Yorkshire
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Harrogate

Knaresborough, a Historic Market Town in the county of North Yorkshire (3.2 miles, 5.1 km, direction NE)
This attractive market town lies in the high reaches of Yorkshire above Harrogate. It is overlooked by the peaceful waters of...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Ripley, in the county of North Yorkshire (3.4 miles, 5.5 km, direction N)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Otley, in the county of West Yorkshire (8.5 miles, 13.8 km, direction SW)
Otley is a beautiful old town with attractive buildings in medieval courts and alleyways and a lovely parish church that dates back to Norman times.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Ripon, in the county of North Yorkshire (9.9 miles, 16.0 km, direction N)
Every night Ripons market square is the scene of a 1,000 year old custom when the city Wakeman blows his horn.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Pateley Bridge, in the county of North Yorkshire (10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction NW)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Ilkley, in the county of West Yorkshire (12.4 miles, 19.9 km, direction W)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Leeds, in the county of West Yorkshire (13.2 miles, 21.2 km, direction S)
In the middle ages Leeds was a wool centre and it flourished. The sheep on the Yorkshire moors providing the wool for the cottage...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Tadcaster, in the county of North Yorkshire (13.7 miles, 22.0 km, direction SE)
Tadcaster has been at the centre of the Brewing industry since the 18th century, and today breweries remain conspicuous on its landscape.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Bolton Abbey, in the county of North Yorkshire (14.1 miles, 22.7 km, direction W)
The Bolton Abbey Estate covers 30,000 acres of beautiful countryside in the Yorkshire Dales.There are medieval buildings to explore and 80 miles of moorland, woodland and riverside footpaths.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Saltaire, in the county of West Yorkshire (14.7 miles, 23.6 km, direction SW)
This perfectly preserved village originated as an answer to Bradford's 'dark satanic mills', it was the brain-child of...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Harden, in the county of West Yorkshire (16.9 miles, 27.2 km, direction SW)
Harden lies in the famous countryside area between Cullingworth and Bingley surrounded by rivers and meadows. It is a favoured commuter base for those working in nearby Bradford.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Burnsall, in the county of North Yorkshire (17.4 miles, 27.9 km, direction W)
Viewed from the surrounding grassy fells, this gorgeous stone village with its striking walls softened by rich green foliage, presents a picture of timeless charm.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Keighley, in the county of West Yorkshire (17.4 miles, 28.0 km, direction SW)
This is an industrial town in West Yorkshire. It lies in a fold between the fine countryside of Airdale and Keighley Moors.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Husthwaite, in the county of North Yorkshire (18.3 miles, 29.5 km, direction NE)
Set in the spacious countryside between the Hambleton and Howardian Hills, the attractive village of Husthwaite stands on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

York, a Historic City in the county of North Yorkshire (18.9 miles, 30.4 km, direction E)
One of the most historic cities in Britain with overs 2000 years of history...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

All towns in North Yorkshire
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Harrogate Station(0.4 miles, 0.6 km)
Hornbeam Park Station(1.1 miles, 1.8 km)
A1(M) Junction 47(6.6 miles, 10.6 km, direction E)
A1(M) Junction 48(8.5 miles, 13.7 km, direction NE)
Leeds Bradford International Airport(10.2 miles, 16.4 km, direction SW)
Teesside International Airport(36.1 miles, 58.1 km, direction N)
Harrogate to London(181.7 miles, 292.3 km, direction S)

Hotels & Accommodation in Harrogate

Hotel NameApproximate distance from Harrogate center
The Studley Hotel(0.2 miles, 0.3 km)
Swallow St George Hotel And Leisure Club(0.3 miles, 0.4 km)
Grants Hotel(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
Old Swan Hotel - Macdonald Hotels(0.3 miles, 0.6 km)
Cairn Hotel(0.4 miles, 0.7 km)
Alvera Court(0.4 miles, 0.7 km)
Kimberley Hotel(0.5 miles, 0.7 km)
The Bijou(0.5 miles, 0.8 km)
Sherwood Hotel(0.5 miles, 0.8 km)
Fountains Guest Accommodation(0.5 miles, 0.8 km)
All hotels in Harrogate

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