Travel for the Over 30s

Harrogate is a picturesque spa town in North Yorkshire, famed for its beautiful award-winning gardens and mineral spring. England in places is one of the most over-touristed countries in Europe - which is saying a lot - but check out somewhere like Harrogate if you want to get off the tourist trail

The town is one of the North of England’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting tens of thousands of families, pensioners and foreign visitors each year.  Harrogate itself is quite small and offers little in the way of entertainment for younger people, however it sits right at the very heart of the Yorkshire Dales which makes it an ideal stop over for extreme sports enthusiasts. The Dales boasts an abundance of mountain bike tracks, climbing centres, kayaking destinations, potholing caves and much more.

Harrogate’s nightlife is surprisingly lively for a town of its size. There are a number of bars in the town centre, all within easy walking distance of each other. Pitcher and Piano, Banyan Bar, Edwards and Restaurant Bar and Grill all serve as restaurants during daylight hours but turn into bars at night. They are all busy without being overcrowded and the atmosphere in each is pleasant, safe and welcoming.  In fact, the same can be said for Harrogate in general.

If eating out is your thing then you’ll be spoilt for choice. Harrogate town centre is littered with fantastic boutique restaurants catering for traditional and more contemporary tastes. The famous William and Victoria restaurant and the imaginatively titled Harrogate Brasserie serve beautifully prepared traditional food that leaves you wanting more every time. The award-winning Orchid specialises in fine oriental cuisine and Harrogate’s latest addition, the Royal Baths Chinese Restaurant, is perhaps the most spectacular. Set inside the old Royal Baths building, it truly is one of the most beautiful restaurants we’ve ever seen. The only problem is you’re likely to spend more time looking around the £1.5m interior than you will eating your magnificently presented meal.

Accommodation in Harrogate varies from quaint friendly B&b’s (of which there are plenty) to stunning boutique hotels like The Hotel du Vin and The Old Swan. If you prefer somewhere a bit more private then perhaps one of the stylish luxury serviced apartments in Harrogate town centre would suit your tastes. These sumptuous contemporary hideaways can be booked through local agent Nightspace. Prices start from £90 per night, per apartment.  

Harrogate sits just 15 miles from Leeds, ons of the UK’s best shopping destinations.  Transport links are excellent, with regular trains and buses getting you to and from in around half an hour. The drive is also very easy between Harrogate and Leeds and takes 25 minutes. It’s the same road all the way so even the worst navigators should have no trouble finding their way.

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