Our lovely home town of Harrogate is a hotspot for a weekend to get away from it all – a place to relax, indulge and socialise with friends and loved ones. There’s something incredibly charming about our wonderful town. Since William Slingsby discovered the unique properties of the natural spring water from the Tewit Well 1571, Harrogate has been a haven for healing and holidays. Here are our top things to look at when booking a weekend break in Harrogate!
Relax
Rudding Park Hotel
Set in the picturesque countryside of North Yorkshire, Rudding Park is a stone’s throw away from the town centre. Not only is it award-winning, it’s actually the botanical birthplace of most of our flavours! Walk over to the kitchen gardens and meet Adrian – Rudding Park’s resident gardener. He’ll be able to point you in the direction of our signature botanicals.
In need of some down time? Make sure you visit Rudding Park’s serene spa, which recently won Best New Spa in the UK at the Good Spa Guide Awards!
Turkish Baths
Visit the wonderfully ornate Turkish baths for a truly relaxing experience – using their traditional methods of massage, you’ll leave feeling rejuvenated and lighter than air.
History spots
The perfect place to spend time wondering, Harrogate has some very special sights to see, make sure you don’t miss our history hotspots. The Tewit Well where William Slingsby first discovered Harrogate Spring water and the famous pump rooms home to one of the strongest sulphur wells in Europe, which used to serve 1500 glasses of spa water every morning. Also, not to be missed are the tranquil Valley Gardens and probably the most famous of all The Stray perfect for a winter walk or summer picnic.
Indulge
It’s not a true trip to Harrogate without stopping by Betty’s tea rooms. Betty’s is a piece of Harrogate heritage and boasts some of the best food in the country. We recommend visiting them for breakfast as their Rosti is divine, and it’s excellent when accompanied by Yorkshire’s finest Taylor’s Tea!
Don’t miss: The iconic window displays at Betty’s has won awards recent years – make sure to look at them for yourself! You can also book onto one of their fantastic courses at award-winning Bettys Cookery School. https://bettyscookeryschool.co.uk
Enjoy the experience of Afternoon Tea at Hotel Du Vin. You’re in for a treat with their colourful and creative tower of delectable delights. It’s quite the show stopper featuring a gin & tonic sundae and is topped with giant clouds of candy floss.
Treat yourself: Upgrade your afternoon tea to include a Slingsby G&T
Iconic London restaurant, The Ivy, recently opened a new branch, right on our doorstep (lucky us!) It has something for everyone, with an all-day café-style menu, dedicated weekend brunch and an A la carte menu, there’s plenty to choose from. The best part? It stocks us! We recommend the Slingsby Sling cocktail!
Head over to the Montpellier Quarter for a spot of retail therapy. Home to the towns finest independent fashion boutiques, antique shops, art galleries. It has a real cosmopolitan atmosphere and is also home to our store and experience! Pop in and say hi to Lucy and the team.
Socialise
Spirit of Harrogate Gin Experience
Not to blow our own trumpet but our gin experiences are the perfect way to enjoy a tipple (or four) and learn a little bit more about Harrogate. Travel through the history of gin and learn about our story, all whilst sipping on one of the 150 + gins we have on offer.
Hint: Book well ahead to guarantee your space – they fill up quick!
There a real café culture in Harrogate, so be sure to visit one (or two) for a tea and cake stop! Head over to our favourites Weetons, Hoxton North, Filmore and Union and The Wild Plum.
Harrogate Frame
Got five minutes to spare? Stop by the famous life-size Harrogate photo frame opposite the Spirit of Harrogate shop. Pull out your best poses and take your wonderful Harrogate memories home with you.