HARROGATE - STAY FOR LESS "££"

HARROGATE is a “Gentle & Stylish” Yorkshire Town in the North of England. It came to prominence in 1571 when the therapeutic qualities of the mineral water springs were discovered & by the 1900's Harrogate' Baths made it one of the most popular Spa Towns of Europe . Many splendid Hotels were built to serve the titled & wealthy visitors who came to take the treatments & also to enjoy the famous entertainment at the Royal Hall. Today the heart of the Spa remains but the Wells have all been sealed up, bar one, & now its Delegates who attend the many Conferences & Exhibition events, as Harrogate has now become a Major Conference Centre. Many Tourists also visit here to experience the Spa Life of times past on Tours of Yorkshire. The source of the Waters come from deep underground, where vapours from the earth's magna condense & take up minerals on the way to the surface - truly a Natural Wonder of the World

A mile away is old KNARESBOROUGH from around 1200when King John built a strategic Castle high on a rock promontory above the River Nidd, with hunting grounds all around. It has an “Olde Worlde” character with a delightful Market Place, 23 Public Houses (Pubs) & is GB 1's home area.

ACCOMMODATION

NO1 - ARGYLL HOUSE B&B, at 80 Kings Road, HG1 5JX (in Spa District, next to the New Conference Centre) tele 01423 567 166 – Email. argyll.harrogate@btopenworld.com - £30 pn with 4 single en-suite, TV, tea & coffee in rooms incl breakfast. Non smoke Lounge with Bar. Good location for all Town Centre activities & night life

SPECIAL – GB MOBILE PARK HOSTEL on Knaresborough Road , Harrogate . (a mile from the Town Centre/ Rail & Bus Stations, across the open Stray Parkland) – www.goldenbackpacker.com – for Special GB * (Stars) invitations only, when passing through - 2x single beds with full kitchen/ dining room, separate comfy lounge & TV room, laundry on site. It's a great retreat for a GB traveller back home.

FOOD, this Tourist/ Conference Town has many posh restaurants & trendy cafes to suit all tastes. For general provisions the Town has large – ASDA - ( 24 Hour) Superstore in the Town Centre (No1) with a Waitrose & Marks & Spencer & a Sainsburys & Morrisons out of Town.

TRAVELLING AROUND – Getting to/ from Harrogate is by Rail or Bus but you have to get to York or Leeds first then change to a local commuter services. Busses are best & cheapest with Local Bus Services from Leeds #36 & from York # X54. Getting around locally is no problem as all sights are within walking distance of the Centre & there's a quick Bus to Knaresborough.

FREE SIGHTS TO SEE

1. H –STRAY REIN – 200 acres of parkland surround the Town, containing original Spa wells
2. VALLEY GARDENS – an ideal place to sit & relax & enjoy the flowers, trees & Spa water
3. MERCER ART GALLERY – first Spa Room now with Art Exhibitions & Egyptian Mummy
4. MONTPELLIER PARADE – delightful walk from Betty's Tea Rooms to Farrah's toffee shop
5. CLASSIC HOTELS – Old Swan, where Agatha Christie was lost - Majestic, Crown &George
6. PUBLIC LIBRARY- 1906 treasure & GB's favourite stop off / reading place, with Internet
7. K -CASTLE MOAT– 14 C Royal Castle Keep, bowling green & steep steps to River Nidd
8. MARKET SQUARE – Cross, Olde Chemists Shop 1720, Blind Jacks Pub & Stalls on Weds.
9. LADY CHAPEL - 1408, UK oldest wayside shrine carved from rock, below House in Rock
10, RAILWAY VIADUCT – 1851 Rail link over River Nidd Gorge with colourful Victorian Stn.

CHARGE SIGHTS NOT TO MISS

1. H – ROYAL PUMP ROOM – 1852 to enclose Old Sulphur Well now M shows Hgte's Spa history
2. ROYAL SPA BATHS – shower, steam room, cold plunge, 3x hot chambers, 2 ½ hrs for £10
3. ROYAL OPERA HOUSE– a night at the Theatre is a must in this sumptuous 1900 Play House
4. HARLOW CAR GARDENS – RHS's trial grounds, wide range of plants, herbs, woods & cafe
5. K –MOTHER SHIPTONS WELL – K's famous 15C Witch & Prophetess with Petrifying Well
6. CASTLE KEEP – visit the dungeons then the ramparts before looking in the old Court
7. RIVER NIDD – row a boat below the Castle, & see the viaduct from a unique river view point

*Bert & Madge, Clive & Pam, Claire & Charlotte - Julian, Mathew – Mr. Stuart – Bernard & Paddy