Places to visit on a romantic break in Harrogate

Begin as you mean to go on, by orienting yourself in Harrogate with a spot of shopping. Visit the Montpellier Quarter, home to around 50 shops and eateries – from antiques to boutiques and bars. Pop into Farrah’s Olde Sweet Shop, with its hand-made chocolate counter, for a sweet treat to start your gourmet getaway.

Gourmets will love the Harrogate Food Tour, a walking adventure through the historic heart of the town. A guide will take you through the vibrant local food scene and introduce you to local eateries, delis, restaurants and more. It’s a great way of learning about Yorkshire’s home-grown food and drink, while supporting independent producers.

No, we’re not suggesting you need a wash, but anyone on a spa break to Harrogate should visit its famous, beautifully-restored Turkish Baths. This uber-pampering experience starts and ends in the Frigidarium, and ventures through a series of steam rooms and a plunge pool – leaving you invigorated for your next stop.

Learn how Harrogate’s spa history began, with a visit to the Royal Pump Room Museum. Its first spring was discovered in the 16th century, and by Victorian times visitors were flocking to enjoy the waters in what was one of Britain’s most popular spa break destinations.

You’re spoilt for choice it comes to where to stay on a weekend away in Harrogate. Rudding Park Hotel is a privately- when owned boutique hotel, spa and golf course, popular with gourmets who come for its three restaurants. Stay overnight and relax in the rooftop spa.

Start the day at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, around 10 miles north of Harrogate. This romantic UNESCO World Heritage Site consists of the ruins of a vast medieval monastery, the largest site of its kind in Britain today. Now a National Trust treasure, it encompasses the vast Studley Royal Water Garden and deer park, where you can happily spend hours wandering.

If you’ve worked up a thirst, it’s a short hop to Masham – the “home of Yorkshire beer”. The town’s beer story began 200 years ago with the Theakston Brewery, and food and drink lovers will enjoy a tipple at one of its pubs, or a Black Sheep Brewery tour where you learn how to make – and taste – the perfect pint.

On your way back to Harrogate, call in for lunch at Paradise at Daleside, a sustainable garden centre restaurant. This café – run by a former Michelin-starred team – takes the concept of plant-to-plate to perfection. It’s a must for gourmets wanting to devour simple food done well.

Back in Harrogate, it’s time for a quick spruce up before heading out for cocktails at one of the town’s bars. The boutique White Hart Hotel is perfect for a weekend away, located right in the heart of the Montpellier Quarter. Grab a pre-theatre bite at Fat Badger Grill, and perhaps a G&T made with local Slingsby Gin, of course.

If you’re looking for things to do in Harrogate after dark, then catch a show at the Victorian Harrogate Theatre in the centre of town. This thriving venue has been entertaining locals and visitors for over 100 years, and you can watch everything from talks to plays, live music to comedy and musical theatre.

After all of that food and wine, clear your head and work up an appetite this morning with a walk around the spectacular gardens at RHS Harlow Carr. It’s lovely at any time of the year, and you can take in the winter walks, sub-tropical planting, lakeside and woodlands.

Spa breaks have to include spa treatments, after all – so why not squeeze in an extra one? Take your pick from one of Harrogate’s many day spas. Harrogate Spa is in the landmark Harrogate Majestic Hotel and has an indoor swimming pool and thermal rooms including a Himalayan salt sauna.

Take a break by or on the river, at Marigold boat hire in nearby Knaresborough. Grab a snack at its café on the banks of the River Nidd, and rent a rowing boat for a paddle. While you’re here, try another local speciality: Yummy Yorkshire ice-cream, whose fabulously fun flavours include liquorice and marmalade cheesecake.

If you ask a local what to do in Harrogate, they’ll all say: afternoon tea at Betty’s Tea Rooms! This is the original Betty’s, which opened in 1919 – and over 100 years later this Yorkshire family business is as popular as ever. Its Yorkshire Cream Tea includes two scones, strawberry preserve and clotted cream – and why not buy some Yorkshire Fat Rascal scones to take home too?

Finally, walk off the scones with an amble around Harrogate’s art galleries. The Mercer Art Gallery has a romantic past – it started life 200 years ago as the Promenade Rooms, where spa visitors socialised. Today you can see some great artworks here, from touring exhibitions to modern pieces by local artists.