help with places to visit between London and Harrowgate

[UKholidayhelp]

We're a couple in our 70s, relevant as we're not looking for an active type break.

We Need to be in the Harrowgate area for a few days, travelling from London by car, and would like to break the trip up with an overnight stops in both directions.

Can you recommend places of interest between London and Harrogate please. Prefer not to travel north of Harrogate due to time constraints and added distance involved.

We do have a shortish list for a stop on the way up, Yorkshire sculpture park, Hepworth gallery, nostell priory, all around the Wakefield area.

Any suggestions for an overnight stop on the way back to London?

Many thanks in advance.

Sherwood Forest?

Stamford in Lincolnshire is lovely, I've stopped of there quite often when driving from York to London, it's about halfway and is just off the A1.

You could try Belton Woods Hotel or the Old Barn Hotel in Belton (and could take in Belton House, NT). Just north of Grantham.

Stamford is lovely

Or in that area, Oakham is 9m off the A1, and you could try Barnsdale Lodge, Rutland Hall (spa and hotel) -

Stay in Stamford and visit Burghley House and Gardens

Cambridge? There are some nice hotels, pretty buildings, punting on the river, etc.

thank you all for your suggestions, they are really helpful.

If you have kids and a NT membership the play area at Belton House is amazing, best I've seen in the Midlands.

In/around Oakham, there's Rutland Water (watersports, walking, bike hire - pedal/electric/tandem - on a largely car free route round the reservoir, birdwatching inc ospreys). Lots of good country pubs. Barnsdale Gardens (Geoff Hamilton's Gardeners World gardens), Rutland Museum, Oakham Castle (which is more like a barn than a castle but has collection of ceremonial horseshoes)