Last Updated on April 8, 2022
Set in the heart of Yorkshire, Harrogate is a blend of old charm and urban chic. From manicured gardens and majestic castles to ice cream teas and Turkish baths. Get your fix of retail therapy in its bustling high streets, then retreat to a scenic Victorian garden for an afternoon cuppa.
Harrogate is the gateway to the Dales and the perfect base for exploring nearby must-see attractions. Whether you’re visiting the town itself or planning a day trip to its surrounding areas, here is our guide to help you discover the treasures of Harrogate.
Aside from the places mentioned in this post, there are many nearby attractions and destinations for a day trip or a weekend away. Travel up to Scotland or travel down the UK to the Midlands.
Best Things to do in Harrogate near the Menwith Hill Military Base
1. Explore the Valley Gardens
Distance 7.5 miles from Menwith Hill Military Base in Harrogate
Covering 17 acres of woodland, mineral springs, historical structures, and spectacular flower beds, the Valley Gardens take you back to the Victorian era.
Among its most iconic buildings are the stone colonnades and the glass-domed Sun Pavilion, which stands on lush grounds fringed by a cluster of shrubs and ancient trees.
There is a seasonal paddling pool in the children’s play area and a pond for sailing model boats. Sports lovers can enjoy tennis, crazy golf, table tennis, and skateboarding.
If you visit the park in the afternoon during summer, you get the chance to hear traditional bands play classic tunes at the bandstand.
2. Visit Harlow Carr Gardens
Distance 8.1 miles from Menwith Hill Military Base in Harrogate
The Harlow Carr Gardens is a 58-acre horticultural paradise of wildflower meadows, tranquil woodlands, and innovative plantings.
Smell the roses, lilies, and jasmine at the Scented Garden, discover growing techniques at the Kitchen Garden, marvel at the eye-popping colors of Streamside, and meander through the footpaths of the Main Borders.
If you have a passion for gardening, you will love the Teaching Garden, which provides learning experiences and workshops for novice and seasoned gardeners of all ages.
Don’t forget to shop for great-quality plants, unique souvenirs, tasty treats, and home and kitchenware at the Garden Centre.
3. Experience Betty’s Tea Room
Distance 8.4 miles from Menwith Hill Military Base in Harrogate
The first Betty’s Cafe Tea Rooms opened in Harrogate in 1919. A century later, the cafe still lives by its tradition of “good food, good cooking, and courteous personal service.”
Quintessentially English, Betty’s is the place to go for your dose of signature blends, delightful sweets, mouth-watering fare, and the iconic Fat Rascal.
Experience luxury and superb service with an afternoon tea at the Imperial Room at Betty’s Harrogate. You will get to choose from a selection of the rarest and finest teas and indulge in a carefully prepared menu to suit your preference, from vegetarian to vegan to child-friendly options.
The café could get doubly busy around 4 pm, so be sure to book online in advance.
4. Explore Harrogate’s History at the Royal Pump Museum
Distance 7.3 miles from Menwith Hill Military Base in Harrogate
During its spa heyday, thousands of people arrive in Harrogate to drink from its sulfur wells. In 1842, architect Isaac Shutt built the Royal Pump Room to accommodate the town’s affluent visitors, who included Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, and Tsarina Alexandra of Russia.
The Royal Pump Room closed as a spa after World War II but later re-opened as a museum in 1953. While the museum primarily displays exhibits from Harrogate’s glory days as a health resort, it also houses an impressive collection of Egyptian artifacts, costumes, ceramics, jewelry, and toys.
If you dare, you can descend to the wells in one of the tours and get a whiff of the sulfurous water.
5. Experience the Turkish Baths
Distance 7.7 miles from Menwith Hill Military Base in Harrogate
Who does not love a little pampering? Harrogate’s Turkish Baths allow you to experience the latest spa treatments and therapies in an exotic and tranquil setting. Picture elaborate frills of Islamic arches, colorful brickwork, Moorish mosaics, arabesque ceilings, and terrazzo floors.
A Turkish bath follows the ritual of heating, cooling, and cleansing. You move from one chamber to another with varying degrees of temperature (warm, hot, hottest) before plunging into a large cold pool to cool down.
Afterward, you can go to the spa room for a massage, body scrub, or manicure. You will not only have a relaxing time but also leave the baths fully rejuvenated.
6. Shop till You Drop at the Montpellier Quarter
Distance 7.5 miles from Menwith Hill Military Base in Harrogate
Montpellier Quarter isn’t your typical shopping center of glassy buildings, dazzling neon lights, and colossal billboards. Quite the opposite. Montpellier Quarter is all about flower-decked shops, cobblestone streets, lovely lampposts, and ageless elegance.
Its host of boutiques, shops, and galleries offer anything from antiques to avant-garde knickknacks. So, whether you are looking for something highly fashionable or fashionably quirky, you ought to find it here.
If shopping is not your cup of tea, you can walk around the quarter and relish the sights of its beautiful architecture and manicured gardens. Try spotting the famous Caryatids, stone sculptures modeled on the Acropolis in Athens. There are 32 of them.
7. Explore the Pinewoods
Distance 8.2 miles from Menwith Hill Military Base in Harrogate
Adjacent to the Valley Gardens, Pinewoods received its name from the Scots pines planted there in 1796. Besides pines, the 96-acre woodland includes birch, holly, oak, alder, rowan, beech, yew, sycamore, and spruce. The park is perfect for idyllic walks and leisure cycling.
Pinewoods is also home to various bird species such as chiffchaff, nuthatch, woodpecker, goldcrest, and jay. If you are lucky, you might spot the occasional roe deer or fox.
In autumn, the trees turn into brilliant hues of orange and gold, while in early spring, parts of the woods bloom with azaleas and rhododendrons.
8. Walk on the Stray
Distance 8.2 miles from Menwith Hill Military Base in Harrogate
One of Harrogate’s most-loved landmarks, the Stray is 200 acres of open grasslands that provide a public space for scenic walks, kite flying, family picnics, seasonal circuses, country fairs, and football matches. The parkland also hosts food and drink festivals and flower festivals.
In early March, the parkland burst into vibrant colors, with cozy when over seven million crocuses bloom in the grassy meadows. A month later, hundreds of yellow daffodils take the crocus place. When the daffodils wither, the long lines of numerous cherry blossoms trees take center stage.
Best Day Trips from the Menwith Hill Military Base, Harrogate
9. Visit Ripley
Distance 7.5 miles from Menwith Hill Military Base in Harrogate
In the picturesque village of Ripley, you will find the impressive 14th-century Ripley Castle, one of the most prominent historical structures in England, and has been the home of the Ingilby family since 1308.
The 700-hundred-year-old castle stands on a vast parkland that comes with a lake, a deer park, a children’s play area, and a four-acre walled garden. Near the entrance to the castle is the All Saints Church, constructed by Sir Thomas de Ingilby in 1395.
Be sure to explore the picturesque village, with its florist shop, art gallery, post office, traditional pub, and cobbled square where a war memorial stands. Don’t forget to sample Ripley’s famous locally-made fresh ice cream.
10. Visit Knaresborough
Distance 12.1 miles from Menwith Hill Military Base in Harrogate
Knaresborough is as medieval as medieval villages could get. Its caves served as homes to a 13th-century hermit and a Tudor prophetess, Mother Shipton. Its renowned market Wednesdays date back to 1310. The views are as fascinating as the history.
Stone stairways and cobbled alleys twist their way up a limestone cliff where the town center sits overlooking River Nidd. At the foot of the towering gorge, you can laze at a café by the river or row a wooden boat past quaint cottages and under the magnificent railway viaduct.
Don’t forget to visit the ruins of Knaresborough Castle, have a picnic at the Bebra Gardens, pedal along Beryl Burton Cycleway, spot wildlife at the Nidd Gorge.
11. Take a Day Trip to York
Distance 28.3 miles from Menwith Hill Military Base in Harrogate
With its Roman roots and Viking past, York’s history is deep and rich. It has cobblestone streets and ancient city walls, Victorian tea rooms and haunted pubs, art galleries and chocolate factories, over 30 top-notch museums, and the unrivaled York Minster.
Wander down the Shambles, the iconic medieval street lined with half-timbered houses, old cafés, antique stores, and traditional pubs. Join a spinetingling ghost walk around the most haunted spots in the city, revisit 10th-century Britain through an interactive ride-through at the JORVIK Viking Centre, ascend the 275-step spiral stairs of York Minster.
12. Visit Leeds
Distance 19.3 miles from Menwith Hill Military Base in Harrogate
Are you looking for fascinating boutiques, vibrant nightlife, historic landmarks, vast green spaces, and a fantastic food scene? Leeds has it all.
Start your day with coffee or tea at a café near Millennial Square before heading to the Royal Armouries Museum to watch a live-action re-enactment of famous duels and battles.
Hunt for good buys at the Kirkgate Market, window-shop at the luxurious Victoria Quarter, stroll along the formal gardens at Harewood House. In the evening, explore the diverse culinary offerings in Leeds City Centre, then nurse a generous pint of local craft ale at a beer garden.
13. Explore the Yorkshire Dales
Distance 6.2 miles from Menwith Hill Military Base in Harrogate
Undoubtedly one of the most stunning places in the UK, the Yorkshire Dales is home to two spectacular protected areas – the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
The dales encompass stretches of wild heather moorlands, glacial valleys, craggy skylines, windswept trails, historical landmarks, postcard-perfect villages, and cozy country pubs. Climb to the top of Malham Cave, marvel at the Ribblehead Viaduct, follow the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail.
For a glimpse of history, visit the 900-year-old Skipton Castle and the 11th century Richmond Castle.
14. Visit Scarborough
Distance 68.5 miles from Menwith Hill Military Base in Harrogate
Scarborough is Britain’s oldest seaside resort. But it has reinvented itself into a modern beach destination complete with waterparks, amusement arcades, state-of-the-art theatres, and sky trail adventures — all of this without sacrificing its historical charm.
Today, you can still get a glimpse of the town’s ancient past at the Scarborough Castle. Look for the grave of Anne Bronte at St Mary’s Church, watch a seaside symphony concert at the Spa, or get on a Victorian-age donkey ride by the beach.
For something contemporary, go rowing on Peasholm Park, learn about natural history at the Rotunda Museum, enjoy a play at Stephen Joseph Theatre, buy a souvenir or fresh produce at Market Hall & Vaults.
15. Visit Ripon
Distance 16.4 miles from Menwith Hill Military Base in Harrogate
The cathedral city of Ripon is home to some of the most impressive historical wonders in Britain. The UNESCO-listed Studley Royal Park and the ruins of the Fountains Abbey are undisputedly Ripon’s most famous landmarks.
The 70-acre Fountains Abbey was founded in 1132 but was later abandoned in the 16th-century after Henry VIII ordered its dissolution. In 1767, what remained of the abbey was combined with the Studley Royal Park.
The park itself covers 800 acres of canals, ornamental lakes, rustic bridges, classical temples, and a deer park. The gothic revival Church of St Mary stands on the park grounds.
Other attractions worth seeing are the 1300-year-old Ripton Cathedral and the Police and Prison Museum, a former Victorian penitentiary.
16. A Day trip to Bolton Abbey
Distance 11.3 miles from Menwith Hill Military Base in Harrogate
Whether you are a history buff or a staunch nature lover, Bolton Abbey has something to suit your fancy. Spanning 33,000 acres, the Bolton Abbey estate includes ancient woodlands, grouse moors, homesteads, buildings of architectural interest, and establishments such as tearooms and bookshops. The area is ideal for scenic and adventure walks.
You can wander around the ruins of the Bolton Priory and cross the iconic stepping stones on River Wharfe. If you feel a little adventurous, explore the shaded paths of Strid Wood, then trek to Barden Fell, a gorgeous waterfall, before ascending Simon’s Seat, a rocky outcrop overlooking the Valley of Desolation.
17. Brimham Rocks
Distance 5.4 miles from Menwith Hill Military Base in Harrogate
Formed millions of years ago by water and weather erosion, the fantastically shaped Brimham rocks are nature’s masterpieces.
Scattered across Brimham Moor, the large boulders come in various formations that appear like a dancing bear, a monkey’s face, a rhino’s head, sphinx, and oyster shell. The largest ones, eagle and castle rocks, are popular spots for picnics.
A kiosk that sells refreshments and light snacks are open daily from 10 am to 4 pm.
The Brimham Rocks and the surrounding moorlands are listed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, which makes them protected areas.
Final thoughts on things to do in and around Harrogate:
From lavish tea rooms and gorgeous gardens to enchanting castles and quaint villages to windswept meadows and chic boutiques, you will find something (and more!) to suit your whims and fancies in Harrogate and its surrounding areas. So, doesn’t it deserve a spot on your travel bucket list?
Author’s Bio:
Sylvie blogs about planning the perfect trip away with kids. Originally born in Harrogate, Sylvie now lives with her daughter in Cornwall.
You can find more about Sylvie on her blog: Travels With Eden
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