Yorkshire with teenage girls

[janeite]

We've booked a couple of nights in a lovely looking boutique hotel in Harrogate for myself, dp and the girls aged 12 and 14. The hotel allows guests to use the Academy Spa - has anybody been? Is it a long way from the centre of town?

Also - any recs for nice places to eat in the evenings in Harrogate? Or any recs of things to do in the day in either Harrogate, York, Leeds or somewhere else? We will be reliant on trains though - no car.

Many thanks.

Hopeful bump?

dont know the hotel or spa but the turkish baths are a must !!

Really? Would the girls be allowed in too?

yes i am pretty sure...

just asked ds what to do for a teen in harrogate and his response was 'go to Leeds'

dd says 'go to Jack Wills '

They don't like Jack Wills

What's good about Leeds, then? I have only been once - over 20 years ago and just remember grey buildings and sleet!

Harvey Nichols - isn't that in Leeds? We have one in Brum though, so not that exciting to them. Good suggestion though.

it is fab!!

Leeds not the city it was 20 years ago oh no!

Ilkley great too for a bit of walking and culture although literature festival will be over

Okay - so what would they like in Leeds? Is it fabber than York? I love York!

Does Ilkley have a train station?

Harvey Nichols is in Leeds. There are some fab shops, particularly around the victoria quarter area.

Vivienne Westwood, Jo Malone, Kurt Geiger shoes (sp?), Rose and Co are all lovely girly shops. Yo Sushi upstairs in Harvey Nichols for a fab and inexpensive lunch. Drool over the shoes and handbags, makeover on the ground floor (pretend that you are interested in buying products and they will lavish you with attention). Perfume section to die for.

What is Bed? We love curry. Three of us are veggie.

We love Vivienne Westwood too but can't afford it! We normally only stay in travelodge type places, so a 'nice' hotel will be a treat for us.

Does Harrogate have any nice shops?

lots of lovely shops in harrogate

I would say both Leeds and York are woth a visit. I prefer York personally.

What are your children into?

ooh justaboutamum

Dd1 is into fashion and art and cake!

DD2 is into eating, art and archaeology!

Both of them will be happy to visit art galleries and museums. DD1 sounds like she will be in shopping heaven but dd2 hates shops. They will both enjoy swimming at the spa I think and are also happy to chill in a coffee house, especially if they've got books.

They don't mind walking and like travelling on trains. They also like outdoorsy things like nature centres etc.

I can't afford Vivienne Westwood either, but I do love a look around, stroke a few garments and annoy the salespeople

Yes - you just HAVE to stroke them, don't you?!

Are there any costume museums? I'd love to go to Hawarth but not sure we'd be able to get there without a car.

i live in leeds and work in york, and I think shopping in leeds is better. york is more beautiful with the Minster and everything, but because it is historic, a lot of hte shops are small and have limited ranges. you can get trains from harrogate into leeds centre. there is a nails inc nailbar in Debenhams. I think there may be one in Harvey Nicols as well. have a great time!

henry moore and leeds art galley fab for tartand right by the shops

nip down victorian quarter for shops then.....hmm stumped at the cake bit... back to harrogate for tea room blend pikelets and fat rascal in bettys!

fab for tart ?? probably but of course i meant art!

Yes Nails Inc are in Harvey Nicks too.

Can't recommend Betty's enough but pricey!

Brilliant! Thank you. Any more?