Page 182 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Great Britain

180 BACK ROADS GREAT BRITAIN

1 Harrogate
North Yorks; HG1 1BS
This vibrant and elegant spa town, on the edge of the Dales, grew up
around a sulphur well, enclosed within the Royal Pump Room built in
1842. Modern visitors will find a wide choice of boutiques, antique
shops, restaurants and bars, and plenty of green spaces in Crescent
Garden and Valley Gardens. The vast open park, “The Stray”, was created
in 1778 so that the people of Harrogate could access the springs.

A two-hour walking tour 20th centuries. At the 19th-century
From the car park walk up Montpellier Royal Pump Room Museum 4 (open
Road to the tourist office, housed in daily) on Crown Place, built around
the Royal Baths 1 on Crescent Road. the Old Sulphur Well, try some of the
Dating from 1897, the baths were strongest sulphur water in Europe.
once a key destination for the health- Head into Valley Gardens 5 (open
conscious rich, who came for the daily) opposite and follow the stream
Above Pretty flowers of Crescent Gardens in sulphur water, peat baths and other to see the restored 1930s Colonnade,
front of the Royal Hall, Harrogate delights. Inside, the Turkish baths, Magnesia Pump Room and Sun
with original Victorian tiles, have been Pavilion. Return to the Royal Pump
VISITING HARROGATE
restored to their 19th-century glory. Room and head right up Royal Parade
Parking Facing away from Crescent Gardens, and right at the roundabout, past the
Follow signs for centre, for parking on and with the baths on the right, turn stately Crown Hotel, up Cold Bath
Montpellier Road or Union Street left into Ripon Road past the Royal Road, noting the fine Georgian houses.
Tourist Information Hall, built in 1903, and take Swan Road Turn left into Queens Road and left
Royal Baths, Crescent Road, HG1 2RR; on the left. It was at the Old Swan into Lancaster Road to West Park Stray.
01423 537 300; www.yorkshire.com
Hotel 2 that crime writer Agatha Turn right down Beech Grove and left
Christie was found after crashing her onto Otley Road towards the Prince
WHERE TO STAY
car and going missing in 1926. Booked of Wales roundabout. Turn right onto
HARROGATE in as Theresa Neele, her husband’s Trinity Road. Admire the Gothic-style,
April House moderate mistress, she claimed amnesia. Visit 19th-century Trinity Church 6, then
This small, friendly B&B in a Victorian the Mercer Art Gallery 3 (closed Mon cross Leeds Road and enter the
house in a quiet avenue offers rooms except Bank Hols; Sun, pm only) on Swan marvellous public amenity of The
run by friendly hosts. Road, with its fine art collection of Stray 7. The tree-shaded path across
3 Studley Road, HG1 5JU; 01423 561 2,000 works, mainly from the 19th and the park leads to the domed Tewit
879; www.aprilhouse.com
Well, England’s oldest
Ascot House moderate 0 metres 400 spa. Here, in 1571,
Centrally located, this small, relaxed William Slingsby
Victorian hotel has elegant and R 0 yards 400
spacious rooms, and a good restaurant. Old Swan came upon a spring,
Hotel
53 King’s Road, HG1 5HJ; 01423 531 KING’S RD and, tasting from it,
005; www.ascothouse.com was reminded of the
Crescent CHELTENHAM PA R
SWAN ROAD IPON ROAD Royal
Old Swan Hotel moderate Mercer Art Gallery CRESCENT RD Baths health-giving waters
Gdns
This Victorian hotel has contemporary Royal Pump of European spas.
rooms, a famous glass-ceilinged Room Museum Either follow Slingsby
restaurant and peaceful gardens. PARADE CAM BRIDGE RD Walk across the rail-
Swan Road, HG1 2SR; 01423 500 055; Bettys
ROYAL
www. classiclodges.co.uk JAMES STREET way to appreciate the
Valley size of the park – or
RIPLEY Gardens ALBERT STREET S T A T I O N P A R A D E head back to town
The Boar’s Head moderate along West Park
Friendly hotel owned by the Ingilbys CO L D B ATH ROAD VICTORIA AVE
has “olde worlde” but comfortable VALLEY DRIVE Street for refresh-
rooms that include access to the castle. W E S T P A R K S T R E E T ments at Yorkshire’s
Ripley Castle Estate, HG3 3AY; 01423 famous tea rooms,
771 888; www.boarsheadripley.co.uk V I C T O R I A R O A D B E E C H G R O V E Bettys 8, on the left,
RIPON Y O R K P L before heading back
The Old Deanery moderate West Park to the car park.
Stray
The
This small historic, central hotel offers LANCASTER RD Stray ª Head north along
individually designed en-suite rooms. Q U EE N S R O A D LEEDS Parliament Street (the
There’s also a decent restaurant. O T L E Y R O A D A61). Take the left fork
Minster Road, HG4 1QS; 01765 600 Trinity Church
003; www.theolddeanery.co.uk to enter Ripley. Free
T RIN IT Y RD ROAD
parking by the castle.
Where to Stay: inexpensive, under £80; moderate, £80–£150; expensive, over £150
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