Harrogate in Yorkshire is an elegant and genteel spa resort with a reputation for being England's floral town par excellence. Numerous visitors are attracted to this friendly floral town,with a rich spa heritage; very evident from the highly dignified architecture, and a cosmopolitan atmosphere emanating from a range of renowned hotels and homely guest houses. Then there is it's highly stylish and thoroughly pleasant shopping areas,theaters,cafes andgood mix of places for leisure and entertainment.

Harrogate is easily accessible through inter-city rail services from London with connections at Leeds and York,direct coach services from London, Newcastle,Liverpool and Edinburgh and Yeadon Airport is just12 miles away.

The Tourist Information Centre can provide you with a list of available accommodations which range from luxury hotels such as the Old Swan Hotel and the Majestic, mid priced smaller hotels and guest houses to economical but very homely bed and breakfast places.The Old Swann is forever associated with Agatha Christie who went there and hid upon
discovering that her hubby was a bit of a philanderer.

Broad tree -lined streets and stunningly beautiful parks combine with the sweeping 200 acres of town-centre grassland known as "The Stray", to bring a very spacious feel to the town. The Stray was once the
Forest of Knaresborough and today overlooks a sea of prosperity.

Tennis courts,miniature golf and play facilities for young children provide excellent opportunities for recreation in Harrogate. The Sun Pavillion hosts the Spring Flower Show whilst the Autumn or Fall Show
is held in the magnificent Harrogate International Centre The International Centre has a 2,009 seat auditorium interlinked with seven exhibition halls and a 1,276 seat ,Royal Hall,is in the heart of this
attractive town..

Just across the road from the Royal Pump Room Museum are the famous Valley Gardens which blooms with a variety of delights. These Gardens have a world wide reputation for their formal and informal
acres of displays and attractions. Flowers - there is a simply magnificent display of rhododendroms in season- provide a riotousblaze of colour as you find you way through tranquil walkways and pine
scented woods.

Harrogate is excellent for shopping. The classically-styled Victoria Gardens Shopping mall is an excellent one-stop shopping paradise.However, do not miss the arcades of elegant boutiques selling just about everything from chocolates to designer clothing. This "Rose of Yorkshire"-as Harrogate is sometimes called- also has a number of first-rate second hand book stores,antique and gift shops, and plenty of
specialized shops to browse in.

The great American-born travel writer Bill Bryson likes Harrogate very much. He remarks "... Harrogate is basically a very fine town,and far less scarred by careless developments than many other communites.
It has the Stray,a 215 acre sweep of park like common land overlooked by solid,prosperous homes,one of the most agreeable open spaces in the country." Bill goes on to sing the praises of ths fine spot ,"..
It has some nice old hotels,a pleasant shopping area and, withal,a genteel and well-ordered area. It is,in short, as nice a town as you will find anywhere. It reminds me, in a pleasantly English way,a little of Baden-Baden ,which is,of course,not surprising since it was likewise a spa town in its day-and a very successfull one,too. .." I must say I totally agree with Bill- I loved Harrogate the very first time I visited the town in 1970.

If you make Harrogate your base there are some wonderful out-of-town excursions that you can make. Pride of place perhaps used to go to
Harewood House,located on the main A61 road between Harrogate and Leeds. Harewood House has over 30 acres of woodlands and gardens,waterfalls,rock gardens,rose gardens and a fascinating collection of birds.Apparently it is now a bit run-down

Knaresborough is only 4 miles from Harrogate and is a charming small town and a great jump off point for the Dales. Check out the castle ruins,see the House in the Rock, and browse in the oldest chemist shop in England. Thoroughly pleasant walks,spectacular views and Mother Shipton's Caves are other great features of Knaresborough.

Thanks for reading !