Explore elegant Harrogate's fascinating spa heritage, fabulous shopping, excellent restaurants, bars and cafes. Enjoy the unspoilt and breathtaking countryside in the Yorkshire Dales, follow in the footsteps of knights and royalty in Knaresborough and be enchanted by Ripon, one of Britain's oldest cities.
Enjoy amazing attractions ranging from a World Heritage Site, grand historic houses, glorious gardens and fascinating castles to steamy Turkish baths, underground caverns, mysterious natural attractions and a great range of outdoor activities.
The International Conference Steering Group recommend the following attractions:
Valley Gardens, between Valley Drive and Cornwall Road, Harrogate.
Valley Gardens were first laid out 1880-1900 and along with the Pinewoods covers 17 acres. It is English Heritage Grade II listed garden. Leisure features are tennis courts, Pitch & Putt golf course, crazy golf, boating pool, paddling pool, children's play area. Games Pavilion sells some refreshments Easter-September. Magnesia Tea Rooms also sells refreshments and snacks. Visit the area known as Bogs Field where 36 different mineral wells were discovered and walk along the Sun Colonnade to the Art Deco Sun Pavilion opened in 1933.
Harrogate Turkish Baths & Health Spa, Parliament Street, Harrogate.
Relax in the Victorian Steam room, hot rooms and plunge pool, or pamper yourself with a beauty treatment or a massage. All you need to bring are toiletries, fresh soft towels are provided. Please note that Turkish Baths & Health Spa are for adults only.
There are many delicious places to eat in Harrogate, you can relish the real taste of Yorkshire! Sample superb culinary delights in chic restaurants or enjoy traditional roast lunches with Yorkshire puddings at a cosy Dales pub.
The International Conference Steering Group recommend the following restaurants:
Betty's Cafe Tearooms, 1 Parliament Street, Harrogate.
World famous tearooms and bakery. Serving Regional specialities. The cuisine is a fusion of Swiss and the best of Yorkshire fayre. Enjoy a Yorkshire cream tea (£7.25) or traditional afternoon tea (£14.50). A pianist plays from 18.00 each evening. Highchairs available. Licenced. Tel: 01423 502746.
Bower’s Bistro, 13 Cheltenham Crescent, Harrogate.
AA rosette awarded restaurant that specialises in a mix of global and English dishes in the atmosphere of an intimate French bistro. Relatively small establishment. Early evening menu of three courses for £16.75 currently available. Tel: 01423 565806.
Chez la Vie, 92 Station Parade, Harrogate.
Classic French restaurant with an informal bistro style, located in the centre of Harrogate. Able to cater for groups of up to 30 people. Three courses available for £21.95 (with wine). 01423 568018.
Courtyard Restaurant, 1 Montpellier Mews, Montpellier Street, Harrogate.
AA rosette awarded restaurant serving contemporary British cuisine. Housed in former livery stables. Tel: 0871 8115675
Hedley’s Wine Bar, 5 Montpellier Parade.
Great food in a central location. Specials available on the blackboard.
Tel: 0871 8116944.
Joe Rigatoni, 3 Ripon Road, Harrogate.
Italian Pizzeria situated in the centre of Harrogate. Large restaurant with a lively atmosphere. Pizzas and pastas range from £7 - £10. Tel: 0871 4267967
La Tasca, 1 John Street, Harrogate.
Tapas restaurant with an authentic Spanish feel. Tel: 0871 8115110.
Lord’s Restaurant, 8 Montpellier Street, Harrogate.
Classic British food in traditional surroundings. Tel: 0871 8115092.
Old Bell Tavern, 6 Royal Parade, Harrogate.
Traditional Ale & Wine Bar with Dining Room. Traditional English/International cuisine. Does not admit children/under 18s. Tel: 01423 507930
Pizza Express, 2 Albert Street, Harrogate.
Delicious pizzas and pastas for a reasonable price. Tel: 0871 4261313.
York can be easily reached from Harrogate by car (45 minutes) or train. York is a beautiful historic city, with a well-preserved city wall, that you can easily enjoy in a day, http://www.visityork.org.
Recommendations by Maggie Snowling, Conference Chair
Begin with a walk around the historic medieval walls of the city. Start at Micklegate (near the station) http://www.jnmedia.net/micklegatebar/ and walk clockwise with distant views of the Minster in front of you. To the left is the York Eye – if it’s a good day you may want to visit for long distance views over the Yorkshire countryside, and train enthusiasts will definitely want to visit the adjacent Railway Museum www.nrm.org.uk.
You leave the Wall at the river and cross over the road bridge. To your left is Museum Gardens with the remains of St Mary’s Abbey. Walk through the gardens and then either stop off at the Yorkshire museum (if you want to see Roman remains) http://www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk/Page/Index.aspx. Alternatively, proceed to the exit on the other side (Marygate) and head up back to Bootham (one of York’s main Georgian Streets) – via a visit to St Olaf’s church if you wish http://www.stolave.org.uk/; turn right to head back to the Wall at Petergate.
The next section of the Wall takes you behind the Minster. Leave Wall at next exit (Monkgate) and take the road inside the wall towards the City Centre. Just by the National Trust shop, turn right and visit the Minster (the largest Medieval Gothic cathedral north of the Alps) www.yorkminster.org. There is an entry charge – however if you attend a service, you can enter free – sung evensong is highly recommended.
Come out of the Minster and head down Stonegate with some very interesting shops http://www.york360.co.uk/stonegate/stonegate-york.htm. On the right is Little Betty’s tea shop, which is much easier to get in for your ‘Yorkshire Fat Rascal’ than the main Betty’s cafe at the end of Stonegate where queues are likely, especially at weekends.
Now you have your choice nearby of – retail therapy; a visit to the Art Gallery http://www.yorkartgallery.org.uk or a Film at City Screen http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema_home_date.aspx?venueId=york
Kids love: The Jorvic Centre (Vikings), The York Dungeon (Scary); The Castle Museum (History); The Railway Museum (a little train can take you there) or a river trip.
Enjoy your day!
Recommendations for affordable places to eat and drink:
Plunkets, High Petergate, York.
This atmospheric restaurant serves food with a Mexican/American influence, including tasty fajitas, steaks and fish dishes. Reasonable vegetarian choice, no booking required.
Ask, Assembly Rooms , Blake Street. 01904 637254
www.askcentral.co.uk/askmenu.html
Pizzas, pastas and salads are served in the beautiful setting of the assembly rooms.
Cafe Concerto, High Petergate, York, 01904 610478.
Bisto-style homemade food is served in the shadow of York Minster. Great for coffee and cake as well as main meals.
Little Italy, 12 Goodramgate, York, 01904 623539.
A family-run Italian restaurant that serves homemade pizzas, pastas and meat dishes. Good value for money, especially at lunchtime.
The Viceroy of India, Monkgate, York, 01904 622370.
www.jinnah-restaurants.com/viceroyofindia.html
Good value Indian food, situated close to the River Ouse.
Meltons Too, 25, Walmgate, York, 01904-629222.
Sister to the nationally renowned Meltons restaurant (see below). Café-Bar and Bistro. Open all day. Popular but not usually necessary need to book.
Pizza Express, River House, 17 Museum St, 01904 672904.
Usual high standard; lovely surroundings.
http://www.york360.co.uk/restaurants/pizza-express.htm
Oscar’s Wine Bar, Little Stonegate. 01904 652002.
Popular bar and bistro serving good value food – very generous portions! Outside heated patio area usually available.
Ha Ha, New Street, 01904 655868.
Café-bar serving tasty food (and cocktails!).
More pricey but well worth it!
Melton’s Restaurant, 6 Scarcroft Rd, 01904 634341.
Top class food – one of the best restaurants in York (and much cheaper than London equivalents). Booking essential.
http://www.meltonsrestaurant.co.uk
Vanilla Black, 26 Swinegate, 01904 676750.
Innovative vegetarian cooking to a very high standard. Booking essential.
http://www.vanillablack.co.uk
Baker’s Bistro Moderne. 7 Fossgate, 01904 622688.
A contemporary modern bistro. Michelin Star chef.
Middlethorpe Hall, Bishopthorpe Road, 01904 641241.
Fine dining in panelled rooms. AA 3 Rosettes.
William III country house, close to the city, set in 20 acres of its own gardens and parkland. Luxury hotel for the weekend.
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