New to Harrogate!

[pennytee]

Having just left all the boxes stacked up in my new house, I am now sat in Starbucks as internet doesn't come till Saturday.
DD is in her new nursery and even though it is killing me when she screams when I leave, I know it's for the best.
So I'm here, in Harrogate, relocated from the big smoke to this lovely town and I don't have 1 friend here .
I welcome all responses from mums (or dads) that would like to offer me words of advice on where to go and what to do with 22month year old in and around Harrogate.

Hopefully someone will come soon that is really local to Harrogate as I'm just close and like Harrogate occasionally. Have you got any memberships of anything? (Nt, RHS etc) - we love going to Fountains Abby and if you've already got NT membership you can go in free - similarly Harlow Carr gardens (RHS). Harewood House is fantastic, particularly if you've got some time to go round during the week - it can get a bit crowded at the weekend - really good adventure playground and lovely bird garden - ds likes both.

I haven't got any memberships but that is a good point
haven't been to Fountains Abbey since I was a Girl Guide!! Can not wait to explore with DH and DD. I have really missed North Yorkshire after living away for 12 years.
I would love to see Harewood House, never been there.

Many thanks, mistlethrush.

As you're close, you might want to consider membership - Fountains is a great place for picnics in the summer, great on a frosty morning, easy to get buggy around, lots of lawn for running round (and, we've just found), good paths to learn to cycle on. I think that you can pay to go in and spend some time there, but get your entry fee back if you decide to join that day.

There is a good restaurant and shop, although it is normal NT prices (ie good food, prices to match surroundings and quality) so either plan to go only for tea or take a picnic if you're on a budget.

Oooh - and have you done any swimming with dd - Water Babies strong in Yorkshire - soon to relocate class to Harrogate, so might even be able to meet up afterwards sometime.

Which nursery? Ds's nursery has some of the same group in Harrogate...

Yes, I will be on a budget having just bought our house!
She has started at Sunbeams in Harrogate and is just settling in, once I've disappeared she is loving it.

We used to swim every weekend but never have taken her to lessons but would love to. Do you know what days they are on?

If money is tight then there is swimming at Harrogate High school pool one afternoon a week. It's £2.50 a session and it's pay as you go.

The time machine is just off Leeds Road and it's brilliant for letting off steam.

I need to try and remember some of the other stuff - we moved from Harrogate in july last year and my DD2 is a similar age to yours. In fact one of my dear friends that I was so sad to leave behind has a 23 month old daughter.

I could ask her to get in touch if you'd like to have a coffee and get some info.

Hi pennytee! Welcom eto Harrogate!!! I live in Harrogate and it is a lovley place to bring up kids.

I have 1 ds who is 5 and at school.

Where do you live?

There are lots of Mum and toddler groups in the town, valley gardens is a regular haunt of most mums with kids, as is Harewood house in the summer.

The time machine is a local soft play centre for kids and the squiting cat pub has a wacky warehouse.

Kids swimming lessons take place at the hydro but there is a waiting list, or the Academy if you want a private health club.

Do you work?

I am 31 too btw

We are just off the Skipton Road near Bilton Lane.

The Time Machine sounds like fun. I'll have to check that one out

mrspnut- pls let your friend know. I'd love to find friends with little ones the same age as mine as she's missed her little buddies that we had in London.

DrNortherner, thanks for the advice on Valley Gardens, I have heard it's got a great play area and once the weather stops blowing a gale I'll be there.

DD is at Nursery Mon, Tues and Wed, while I work.

smallwhitecat - Hopefully by the time you arrive I'll be up to speed on places to go.

I'll email her tonight, can you send me your email address to mrspnutisnuts at googlemail dot com and I'll pass it along to her.

She doesn't live far from you either - we used to live further down skipton road on the Regents.

On Friday afternoons in term time there is a play group at grove road pre school which is very near you which my ds used to like. Or you could join us at first praise which is a lovely church group at christ church on the stray 1.30 - 3 on Friday afternoons (only one regular church goer in the group so it is not hardcore or brainwashing just play dough and sandpits). The squinting cat wacky warehouse has toddler hour on monday mornings for some very reasonable soft play. Or there is winkies in starbeck.

We are very well provided for with toddler entertainment in this town.

Thanks pigleto Friday afternoons suit us down to the ground. Not too scared of play dough and sandpits.

Feeling more at home by the minute

There is also a stay and play session at St Johns church hall in bilton, but I can't remember on what day. The library in Bilton is worth a visit too.

I am in Bilton - not far from you at all

There's an NCT sale on Saturday morning at the Sikh Centre just down from Chapel Allerton Hospital just in case you need some new things for ds to play with without spending the earth - I get puzzles, books and the odd jumper etc there. It starts at 10am but there is always a queue and its worth getting there a little early.

Sorry - its in Leeds, I didn't make that clear!

There's a toddler group on wednesday afternoon at Woodfield School and that's where the new children's centre will be (or it might be open already). They were starting it when I left.

Childrens centre at Woodfield School?

I didn't know about that.

They had drawn up the plans and were about to start work when school broke up at the end of july (I was a governor at the school until then) but as we've moved I don't know how much further along they are. They were talking about moving HV and other children's services to there when it's completed.

Ooh I'll have to investigate. Where did you move to?

My ds is at another school in Bilton.

We moved to Lincoln this time but we move regularly, so I don't know how long we'll be here.

Hi - I too am in Harrogate, with 3 year old DTs and a 15month old DD.

WE have had a few meet ups in the past, the most recent one that I went to was during the day at Valley Gardens but it was blowing a gale so was a bit of a wash out.

CAT me if you would like to meet up - have you lived here before and moved back? Which school did you go to if so?

Haven't lived in Harrogate before. Am originally from Yarm, Cleveland. But needed to be back up north so DD had her grandparents and a garden to run around in.
Harrogate seemed liked the perfect settling ground. Not too close to Parents but close enough, with fantastic shops and beautiful surroundings.
Where abouts is Woodfield. The Children's Centre sounds good. Also whereabouts is St Johns? There is a church at the bottom of our road and I am yet to investigate if it does mother and toddler groups.

Woodfield school is on woodfield road, near the junction of skipton road and kings road.

St Johns church is on bilton lane, next to bilton library.

pennytea I am originally from Redcar in Cleveland - small world!!

St Johns is the C of E church in Bilton - it has a tower but no spire as they didn't finish it! You can't miss it.

You must come to the next meet up we do.

Great, I think it must be the church at the bottom of my road (I am on Church Av)

It is a small world DrNortherner
Many a summer's day(or even winter) spent in Redcar getting a lemon top.

I would love to come along to the next meet up.
Tell me when and I'll be there with the little un'. Or without .