Harrogate - to do?

[Ginandtonic4all]

Hi. Having a well earned kid free weekend in Harrogate in October.

Any suggestions of things to do and nice restaurants to eat in?

Ooh .... Harrogate Turkish baths and a massage!

Slightly out of town , RHS Harlow Carr , will be lovely in October, and they have a Bettys as well.
I really like the RHS shop there , coming up for Christmas you'd get some great little gifts in there.

Breakfast at NJ's just below the bus station. Lunch at Betty's although there's usually a queue. The Turkish Baths. Stroll round Valley Gardens. Train to Knaresborough, for the view over the river and the castle, with the ravens if they're there. Or train to York.
Shopping, although sadly some shops have closed with Covid.

Spa at rudding park is lovely

I've lived in Harrogate 37 years (born here) and genuinely cannot fathom why anyone would voluntarily visit this town! Temp traffic lights EVERYWHERE currently right up until mid November, 12 new developments causing eye watering traffic queues (6 mile journey twice a day currently takes 2 hours each time!!) and most of the shops are closing down. It's nothing but vape shops & barbers on every street in the Centre.

The cuban bar is amazing. Cocktail tree needed

Visit Knaresborough -walk along the river and have breakfast /coffee ....it is heaven x

I'd go to Harlow Carr. If with DC, then Valkey Gardens.

I'd do to Betty's shop rather than having lunch/afternoon tea there (because I hate queueing for long) and get unusual bread, Fat Rascals and nice coffee. Then I'd pop down the hill to Farrah's sweetie shop - Harrogate toffee and so much more!

If shopping, I'd call in to Duttons for Buttons - I only really dream of being crafty, but it's lovely!

(Hope none of these businesses have been covid casualties!)

Saranda - the Albanian restaurant is amazing. One of the best meals I have ever had.

Oh and I would second Knaresborough. It's beautiful and just up the road

Knaresborough is gorgeous.

Eating in Harrogate - I used to love the Drum and Monkey.

If you are really, really, really bored, you could call on my ex and have him bore you for 5 hours telling you about wine whilst he gets quietly sloshed on same.

I should say I only lasted 3 months.

Just for context.

@PumpkinsGalore

I've lived in Harrogate 37 years (born here) and genuinely cannot fathom why anyone would voluntarily visit this town! Temp traffic lights EVERYWHERE currently right up until mid November, 12 new developments causing eye watering traffic queues (6 mile journey twice a day currently takes 2 hours each time!!) and most of the shops are closing down. It's nothing but vape shops & barbers on every street in the Centre.

@PumpkinsGalore

Lived there for ten years, we were still the new people on our road.

The best road in Harrogate is the A661to Wetherby to pick up the A1.

The Betty’s at Harlow Carr is less busy than the one in town.

Turkish Baths.

I like Harrogate because it has a Toast shop.

If you go to Wetherby, there's a lovely cheese shop on Church Street

Is the cafe still there above the Farrah's shop? It's a proper old fashioned cafe with good cakes.

@SheldonesqueTheBstard best tip ever!!!! Will not be taking you up though!!!!

I live in Harrogate and unlike some others I love it here! I would do afternoon tea at Bettys- they take a very limited number of pre booking. The free walking tour was a great idea! My favourite restaurants are La Feria for Spanish, Stuzzi for Italian or Domo for Japanese- all three are excellent.

A visit to the Turkish baths is always great and don't miss a walk around Valley Gardens. Embarrassingly we lived in Harrogate for nearly two years before we discovered Valley Gardens!

Definitely go to Betty's I loved it there. And I went to a museum all about the Harrogate springs with sulfur soap and needle showers. Was interesting.

Mama Doreen's for afternoon tea. It's the best ever.

Wise Ginandtonic4all - very wise 😏😁

@PumpkinsGalore

I've lived in Harrogate 37 years (born here) and genuinely cannot fathom why anyone would voluntarily visit this town! Temp traffic lights EVERYWHERE currently right up until mid November, 12 new developments causing eye watering traffic queues (6 mile journey twice a day currently takes 2 hours each time!!) and most of the shops are closing down. It's nothing but vape shops & barbers on every street in the Centre.

I'm with you.

No shops worth shopping in
No decent restaurants

The best restaurants are
Stuzzi, Domo, Threes a Crowd, Drum and Monkey

Don't go to Catch- join the local boycott. What they have done to the lovely old Graveleys restaurant is a travesty. Just google before and after

There will probably be a conference on- flooring at the moment if that floats your boat.

Bettys! Breakfast, morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea...and are they now opening in the evenings again? Then visit their shop.
Obviously I'm not suggesting you do all the above in one day.

All the shops were definitely not closing last time I was there.
Had an enjoyable meal at Luigi's in Valley Drive.
There's also a Turkish restaurant Konak Meze in Mount Parade which is good.

I haven’t been there for a few years now.

I think it won’t be the same without Rudy