Things to do around Harrogate

grimsalve

Blitz01 wrote: »

I have actually.
I was on business there a few weeks ago, and stayed in The Bridge Hotel between Harrogate and York.

Although not as grotty as most other cities in Yorkshire, it certainly isn't the 'pink champagne & a la carte dining' you make it out to be.

(nothing posh about sushi btw)

Maybe you just have really refined tastes, Harrogate isn't the 'pies and whippets' that you make it out to be.

grimsalve

Myrtle0204 wrote: »

As far as I know there are no Sushi places in Harrogate................

http://www.teppanyakijapaneserestaurant.co.uk/

http://www.wagamama.com/locations/showlocation/582

silkstrut

We have lots to do both in and around Harrogate,
If you have transport, Harlow Carr, Brimham Rocks (NT) Fountains Abbey (NT) Bolton Abbey, Ripley Castle, Mother Shiptons Cave, Pately Bridge, Bolton Abbey & The Steam Railway, Skipton Castle. No to mention all the lovely walks and village pubs
York, Knaresborough, Leeds all easy to get to on the train. All make for a good day out.

As for eating out hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm lots of choice, not all good.
The Bell Taven Bistro, (pubs FAB to) Brio & Sukhothai are ones we like.
As for Betty's I couldn't say, never been.

Enjoy

whatmichaelsays

I don't live far from Harrogate (just down the road in Leeds actually) and I really don't see the appeal of the place. It just seems to be a place that exiled Southerner's flock to because it isn't one of those uncouth "cities" and it has a Betty's Tea Room. Needless to say, the area's estate agents have taken the mick and given the area a faux sense of exclusivity and grandeur.

In reality, its a dump. An expensive dump but a dump nonetheless.

If you are visiting the area, go to York for the day.

Thriftybynature

Take the road from Harrogate to Bolton Abbey / Skipton direction and along the way gawp at Menwith Hill - massive golf ball like structures - is an RAF early warning place or something. Then onto Pately Bridge - fantastic pies from a butchers halfway up the main hill on the right hand side (sorry don't know the name!).

But Harrogate in itself is lovely and not at all grotty or a dump.

I went to The Restaurant a couple of weeks ago with my mum and cannot recommend them highly enough.
http://www.therestaurantbarandgrill.co.uk/harrogate.html
Had a 2 course lunch for about £13 and the food was fantastic - we were already intending to return but then got chatting with the manager who gave us vouchers to return in March! (Vouchers should only have been given out in Dec lol). Very glamorous surroundings but not intimidatingly so. I think that that is what (some places in) Yorkshire can offer - glamour but with a hefty dose of common sense and self-deprecation thrown in.

v5076

Thanks for all the responses, I have been to Harrogate before but it was a long time ago and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm going to print off all the responses and if I don't manage to do them all in one weekend it's a good excuse to go back :beer:

As for the comment about it appealing to southerners, we're actually only in Bolton, Lancs so we're not travelling far. Harrogate was the only place us and our friends could get into together.

Thanks again

Vanessa

Blitz01

fantastic pies from a butchers halfway up the main hill on the right hand side

No more evidence m'lud!

Thriftybynature wrote: »

Take the road from Harrogate to Bolton Abbey / Skipton direction and along the way gawp at Menwith Hill - massive golf ball like structures - is an RAF early warning place or something. Then onto Pately Bridge - fantastic pies from a butchers halfway up the main hill on the right hand side (sorry don't know the name!).

But Harrogate in itself is lovely and not at all grotty or a dump.

I went to The Restaurant a couple of weeks ago with my mum and cannot recommend them highly enough.
http://www.therestaurantbarandgrill.co.uk/harrogate.html
Had a 2 course lunch for about £13 and the food was fantastic - we were already intending to return but then got chatting with the manager who gave us vouchers to return in March! (Vouchers should only have been given out in Dec lol). Very glamorous surroundings but not intimidatingly so. I think that that is what (some places in) Yorkshire can offer - glamour but with a hefty dose of common sense and self-deprecation thrown in.

Glamour?
It's a pub that serves food....and cheap food at that.
If you compare it to an inner city chip shop, then i suppose it would seem glamorous, but it certainly isn't a restaurant that inspires anything more than than cheap pub food.

Moomum

Bettys tea-rooms, we went recently and was lovely :-)

gingerdad

For a whole selection of days out in and around Harrogate click here.
i think you just miss the spring flower show but thats a good visit if your up that weekend.

One that surprised me was the National Trust property in Keighley East Ribbleston Hall a very nice house right in the middle of Keighley.

Skipton Castle and Bolton & Embsay steam railway are two of my families favourites.

GD

KarrieBee

Just a warning about the Turkish baths - you often need to book in advance, particularly on a weekend but they are lovely.
I think Betty's is over rated and there are much nicer tea shops in Harrogate including Palm Court cafe - went there with OH and it was cute and cosy and the cakes were lush. We also went for a pint in the Old Bell tavern and it had a really nice atmosphere and good food.
Bolton Abbey is well worth a visit and if you are outdoorsy there are some lovely walks in the area. try this site for details.
If you have time, York is great for a daytrip but I think nice enough to save for a weekend itself!
Hope you have a great trip.