Tourist
city guide to Harrogate by Ms Leisha Greenfield
Harrogate
is a North Yorkshire town, with a population of 85,000 people. The town
became a fashionable spa town in the sixteenth century, attracting masses
of tourism and industry, and many still visit today for the spa baths and
historical sights. Other than monuments and museums set up to explore and
educate about the town's industrial history, there are numerous castles
and historical battlegrounds that make interesting historical visits.
 Harrogate is
home to 33 restaurants recommended by The Good Restaurant Guide, and an
array of bistros, wine bars and upmarket pubs. There are also a variety
of nightclubs and club nights, making for a busy nightlife in the town
centre. Shopping facilities are plentiful, with much of them inside the
town and not located in out-of-the-way shopping malls. Much of the town
centre is old and elegant, with much to see and do.
History
The
history of Harrogate dates back to the Roman period, when farming hamlets
were located on the site. A farming and textile industry was flourishing
by the twelfth century, but the spring that was discovered in the
sixteenth century triggered the area's development into a fashionable,
thriving spa town. More wells were discovered later, and the original
still stands in the town centre.
The
Royal Pump Room Museum contains exhibits exploring the area's history as
a spa town, and comprises a reproduced sixteenth century town for
visitors to wander around. Knaresborough is home to a medieval castle
museum, and the cave once lived in by a twelfth century hermit and 'holy
man'.
 Art Galleries
Mercer
Art Gallery is home to more than 2000 nineteenth and twentieth century
pieces of fine art, photography, sculpture and craft works, and comprises
two separate galleries. The gallery regularly hosts temporary exhibitions
and art events.
The
Gasgoine Gallery is an impressive private collection, including works by
Picasso and Salvador Dali, and a large selection of glass works. New
exhibitions are displayed every three works and all items are for sale.
The
SMART Gallery exhibits and sells original art, sculptures and ceramics;
and McTague Gallery trades in watercolours, oil paintings,
twentieth-century prints, and genre and decorative prints.
Theatres
Harrogate
is home to a civic theatre, numerous performance spaces and the most
successful youth theatre in the country.
The
Harrogate Theatre is a Grade II listed building, opened in 1900, and
comprising two auditoria. Performances include large-scale touring
productions, one-night entertainments and 5 of its own in-house
productions; and there are films shown on Monday evenings.
Harrogate
International Centre is an office complex, conferencing facility, hotel,
exhibition hall and theatre, hosting a range of events and entertainment,
including concerts, drama and festivals, with seating for more than 2000
people.
Restaurants
The
Courtyard Restaurant serves contemporary British cuisine, and holds an AA
rosette. The restaurant is located in former livery stables, and offers a
choice of indoor and outdoor seating. Sasso is a fine dining Italian
restaurant, and another of the 33 restaurants currently recommended by
Good Restaurant Guide.
Loch
Fyne Oyster Bar and Restaurant serves classic and unique seafood dishes
in lavish surroundings, with a wine list comprising wines and champagnes
hand picked from French vineyards.
Harrogate’s
branch of Wing Wah, serving traditional Far Eastern cuisine, has two
themed levels; the bright and contemporary 'Modern Tranquil Room' on the
ground, and the oriental-influenced 'Traditional Blossom Room' upstairs.
Pubs/Bars
The
Lounge is the bar in the Carringtons bar, restaurant and nightclub
complex, and is stylish and upmarket, but relaxed and comfortable. There
is a wide drinks selection and live evening entertainment.
The
William and Victoria Restaurant and Wine Bar has a bar downstairs,
serving drinks from an extensive wine list, in traditional, wood fixtured
surroundings.
Montpellier
Parade is home to Blues Bar, a pub and live blues music venue, Hedley's
Wine and Food Bar, Montpellier and The Slug and Lettuce.
Harrogate
and Ripon CAMRA recommend numerous pubs in the area, and voted The Spite
Inn 'Pub of the Season' in Winter 2006.
Nightclubs
The
nightclub in Carringtons bar, restaurant and nightclub complex presents
70s and 80s chart music four nights a week, and attracts a young
professional clientele. The club hosts the popular 'Heaven and Hell' on
Wednesdays, and has a capacity of 600 people.
Club
XS is an indie/alternative club, open three nights a week and offering
indie rock, 'cheese', metal, punk and emo. The club has a capacity of 300
people.
Ministry
of Sound Minibar is separated into four themed zones, with unusual and
stylish décor and state of the art sound and lighting equipment. The club
is open from Thursday to Saturday, and licensed until 4am.
Shopping
Harrogate
town centre is home to more than 20 antiques retailers, and all the major
high street and department stores located within a short walk of each
other on Cambridge Street and Parliament Street.
Close
by is The Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre, comprising 4 levels and more
than 30 stores. Retailers currently based in the units include Bay
Trading, La Senza and WHSmith; there are also a number of cafes and
coffee bars.
Lightwater
Valley Theme Park and Shopping Village is located in Ripon, and is home
to eight stores and a restaurant.
Sports
The
Hydro is one of four leisure centres, and comprises 3 pools, a fitness
centre, a crèche and a café. There is also a gym with state of the art
fitness equipment. Knaresborough Pool is a popular choice for families,
with its hot water bubble pool, water flume and large shallow section.
The
National Centre for Combat Martial Arts is a training gym and teaching
centre, offering a choice of group and individual tuition. Martial arts
range from Kung Fu, Kickboxing, Tai Chi, Chi Kung and Yoga.
Ripon
Sailing Club offers racing, tuition and relaxing breaks on its 20-acre
lake, and boats are available for private hire on weekends.
The
Harrogate golf Club was established in the nineteenth century and offers
a challenging game of golf on its 6250-yard course. Oakdale is slightly
larger, at 6456-yards.
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