24 Hours In Harrogate: What To See & Do

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This post will show you how to spend 24 hours in Harrogate.

For my second trip in September, I visited the lovely spa town of Harrogate.

I was looking for a quick trip to squeeze in before my schedule got tight, and I’m so glad I took it.

After visiting York in June, I made a mental note to return to Harrogate before the end of the year.

I’ve heard so much good about the town, and I was hoping it won’t disappoint.

Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire with nearby cities like York and Kingston Upon Hull.

It is also bordered to the West by Wakefield and Bradford and to the South by Sheffield.

I’ve visited three cities in Yorkshire, with three more to go.

Harrogate is a Victorian spa town known for its highly beneficial spa water containing iron, sulphur and salt.

The beneficial properties of the spa water immediately drew the attention of the wealthy people who were sick.

It also became a popular tourist destination in the process.

So, wealthy people from nearby cities came to Harrogate to get premium spa treatments for all their health and skin concerns.

Getting to Harrogate From Manchester

Day Out In Harrogate: 9 Things To Do On A Day Trip

I had to take a connecting train to Harrogate for the first time ever.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a direct train from Manchester to Harrogate.

But I wasn’t too upset because the journey took 1hr 30mins+ for under £30.

So, I booked my ticket the day before and prepared for my trip.

On the day of my trip, I found my way to the Manchester Victoria train station, where I took a train to Leeds Railway Station.

This took about an hour, but I had about 20 minutes to find the train connecting to Harrogate.

Thankfully, I found it shortly before it arrived.

Then, I took a 30-minute train to Harrogate Railway Station.

On my way back, I repeated the same process.

But I took an earlier train this time because my ticket was flexible enough for different routes.

With this, I could get back to Manchester earlier than I planned.

As always, I usually walk around any city I visit rather than take the bus or any other type of transportation.

For Harrogate, being a town, walking around was a no-brainer.

To help you navigate the town centre, here’s a walking tour map for you;

Here’s How To Spend 24 Hours In Harrogate

As I mentioned earlier, Harrogate is a town, so I wasn’t looking forward to doing so much.

This is why I pushed my departure time to noon.

That way, I could cover the entire town in a short time.

This turned out to be a brilliant plan in the end.

On previous day trips where I had extra time to spare at the end of the day, I didn’t in Harrogate.

Instead, when I was done, I took the next train back to Leeds.

As always, armed with my backpack, camera and tripod, I explored Harrogate.

PS: All attractions are mostly free unless otherwise stated.

Stop by the Victoria Shopping Centre

Depending on the direction of your itinerary, you can decide to shop at the beginning, the end, or both.

Either way, the Victoria Shopping Centre is the first thing you would see when you get out of the Harrogate Railway station.

So, instead of going into the shopping centre, I explored and chose that route as a starting point.

Just like every other shopping centre, they have a few of your high street brands.

I look out for unique brands that I don’t typically see anywhere else.

Grab Brunch at the Betty’s Cafe Tea Room (Paid)

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a queue to enter a tea room before.

It wasn’t until I saw how highly rated it was on Google that I understood how popular this franchise is.

Yes, it is a tearoom franchise with six locations.

So, if you decide to visit any Betty’s Tea Room location, research ahead because you might need to book ahead.

Learn more about the history of Bettys.

Enjoy a much-needed spa time at Turkish Baths (Paid)

Imagine using the same spa as the wealthy did in 1897!

This is what you would call the ultimate luxury spa experience that I would reserve for special occasions like my birthday.

The Turkish Baths are supposed to be the highlight of this trip, but because I didn’t plan on some spa time, I found them underwhelming.

In other words, I’ll need to return when I’m ready to book a session or a few packages.

Grab some souvenirs at the Harrogate Tourist Information

Unlike other cities, Harrogate isn’t where you would find street vendors to buy cheap souvenirs.

Instead, you must go out of your way to find them.

I was so happy to find the Harrogate Tourist Information, where I could get a complimentary fridge magnet to add to my collection.

Learn some history at the Crescent Gardens.

Just opposite the Harrogate Tourist Information is the Crescent Gardens, which is supposed to be a park and garden where you will find a sculpture accompanied by brief details about Harrogate Spa’s History.

This is a lovely place to relax after a long walk before you continue your journey.

Spend some time at the Mercer Art Gallery.

The Mercer Art Gallery, which exhibits 19th—and 20th-century fine arts, is a five-minute walk from Crescent Gardens.

Unfortunately, when I visited, it was closed while they installed a new exhibition.

I don’t know if it’s my luck, but all the art galleries I’ve visited in the last couple of months are always closed when I visit, only to open when I leave.

Explore the history of Harrogate at the Royal Pump Room Museum (Paid)

I hardly ever pay for entry into attractions unless I really want to or they are really worth it, but I honestly didn’t mind paying the £3.50 entry fee to the Royal Pump Room Museum.

There’s something about this town that feels enchanting.

It was almost like I wished it was a city rather than a town with more offerings.

There was so little to do and see in such a historic town.

It didn’t help that the Royal Pump Room was super small compared to typical museum sizes.

So, while I enjoyed learning about the history of the spa town and the different types of mineral waters that can be found in Harrogate, it left me hungry for more.

Then again, maybe that is the essence of the town.

You have the Turkish Baths, which are still running today, and the Royal Pump Room, which details the history of the Baths, which is pretty much everything you need to know.

Don’t forget to grab some Harrogate Sulfur Soap.

FUN FACT: The Harrogate Sulphur Company formulates a skincare range that targets skin concerns such as Psoriasis, Eczema and Acne.

These products are made with authentic spa water from Harrogate’s natural springs, hand-drawn from Harrogate’s Old Stinking Well.

If you know anything about skincare ingredients, sulphur is a fantastic antibacterial ingredient that treats acne.

As someone with acne-prone skin, I had to get my signature original Harrogate Sulfur Soap.

I also regret not getting the Sulfur Shampoo, especially since I struggle with dandruff and itchy scalp. Thankfully, you can grab any of the products from their online store.

I’ll post a dedicated review when I eventually get around to using the soap.