Harrogate ( ) is a
spa town
A spa town is a resort town based on a mineral spa (a developed mineral spring). Patrons visit spas to "take the waters" for their purported health benefits.
Thomas Guidott set up a medical practice in the English town of Bath in 1668. He ...
and the administrative centre of the
Borough of Harrogate
The Borough of Harrogate is a local government district with borough status in North Yorkshire, England. Its population at the census of 2011 was 157,869. Its council is based in the town of Harrogate, but it also includes surrounding towns and ...
in
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is the largest ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county (lieutenancy area) in England, covering an area of . Around 40% of the county is covered by National parks of the United Kingdom, national parks, including most of ...
, England.
Historically
History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...
in the
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county County of York, West Riding (the area under the control of West Riding County Council), abbreviated County ...
, the town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters and
RHS Harlow Carr gardens. away from the town centre is the
Yorkshire Dales National Park
The Yorkshire Dales National Park is a national park in England covering most of the Yorkshire Dales. Most of the park is in North Yorkshire, with a sizeable area in Westmorland (Cumbria) and a small part in Lancashire. The park was designa ...
and the
Nidderdale AONB
The Nidderdale AONB is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in North Yorkshire, England, bordering the Yorkshire Dales National Park to the east and south. It comprises most of Nidderdale itself, part of lower Wharfedale, the Washburn valley an ...
. Harrogate grew out of two smaller settlements, High Harrogate and Low Harrogate, in the 17th century. For three consecutive years (2013–2015), polls voted the town as "the happiest place to live" in Britain.
Harrogate spa water contains
iron
Iron () is a chemical element with Symbol (chemistry), symbol Fe (from la, Wikt:ferrum, ferrum) and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 element, group 8 of the periodic table. It is, Abundanc ...
,
sulphur and common
salt
Salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl), a chemical compound belonging to the larger class of salts; salt in the form of a natural crystalline mineral is known as rock salt or halite. Salt is present in vast quant ...
. The town became known as 'The English Spa' in the
Georgian era, after its waters were discovered in the 16th century. In the 17th and 18th centuries its '
chalybeate' waters (containing iron) were a popular health treatment, and the influx of wealthy but sickly visitors contributed significantly to the wealth of the town.
Harrogate railway station
Harrogate railway station serves the town of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England. Located on the Harrogate Line it is north of Leeds. Northern Trains operate the station and provide local passenger train services, with a London North Easte ...
and
Harrogate bus station
Harrogate ( ) is a spa town and the administrative centre of the Borough of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England. Historic counties of England, Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, the town is a tourist destination and its visitor at ...
in the town centre provide transport connections.
Leeds Bradford Airport is southwest of Harrogate. The main roads through the town are the
A61, connecting Harrogate to
Leeds
Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by popula ...
and
Ripon
Ripon () is a cathedral city in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. The city is located at the confluence of two tributaries of the River Ure, the Laver and Skell. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, the city ...
, and the
A59, connecting the town to
York
York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...
and
Skipton
Skipton (also known as Skipton-in-Craven) is a market town and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. Historically in the East Division of Staincliffe Wapentake in the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is on the River Air ...
. Harrogate is also connected to
Wetherby
Wetherby () is a market town and civil parish in the City of Leeds district, West Yorkshire, England, close to West Yorkshire county's border with North Yorkshire, and lies approximately from Leeds City Centre, from York and from Harrogat ...
and the
A1(M)
A1(M) is the designation given to a series of four separate motorway sections in England. Each section is an upgrade to a section of the A1, a major north–south road which connects London, the capital of England, with Edinburgh, the capit ...
by the
A661, while the
A658 from
Bradford
Bradford is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Bradford district in West Yorkshire, England. The city is in the Pennines' eastern foothills on the banks of the Bradford Beck. Bradford had a population of 349,561 at the 2011 ...
forms a bypass around the south of the town. Harrogate had a population of 73,576 at the
2011 UK census
A census of the population of the United Kingdom is taken every ten years. The 2011 census was held in all countries of the UK on 27 March 2011. It was the first UK census which could be completed online via the Internet. The Office for National ...
;
the built-up area comprising Harrogate and nearby
Knaresborough
Knaresborough ( ) is a market and spa town and civil parish in the Borough of Harrogate, in North Yorkshire, England, on the River Nidd. It is east of Harrogate.
History
Knaresborough is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as ''Chenares ...
had a population of 89,060,
while the figure for the much wider
Borough of Harrogate
The Borough of Harrogate is a local government district with borough status in North Yorkshire, England. Its population at the census of 2011 was 157,869. Its council is based in the town of Harrogate, but it also includes surrounding towns and v ...
, comprising Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon, as well as a number of smaller settlements and a large rural area, was 157,869.
The town motto is ''Arx celebris fontibus'', which means "a citadel famous for its springs".
Toponym
The name ''Harrogate'' is first attested in the 1330s as ''Harwegate'', ''Harougat'' and ''Harrowgate''. The origin of the name is uncertain. It may derive from Old Norse ''hǫrgr'' 'a heap of stones, cairn' + ''gata'' 'street', in which case the name presumably meant 'road to the cairn'. Another possibility is that the name means "the way to Harlow". The form ''Harlowgate'' is known from 1518, and apparently in the court rolls of
Edward II
Edward II (25 April 1284 – 21 September 1327), also called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. The fourth son of Edward I, Edward became the heir apparent to t ...
.
History
![Winter Gardens 1910a](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Winter_Gardens_1910a.jpg)
In medieval times Harrogate was a place on the borders of the
township
A township is a kind of human settlement or administrative subdivision, with its meaning varying in different countries.
Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, that tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, Ca ...
of
Bilton with Harrogate in the ancient Parish of
Knaresborough
Knaresborough ( ) is a market and spa town and civil parish in the Borough of Harrogate, in North Yorkshire, England, on the River Nidd. It is east of Harrogate.
History
Knaresborough is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as ''Chenares ...
, and the parish of
Pannal
Pannal is a village in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is situated to the immediate south of Harrogate. Since 2016 it has formed part of the new civil parish of Pannal ...
, also known as Beckwith with Rossett. The part within the township of Bilton developed into the community of High Harrogate, and the part within Pannal developed into the community of Low Harrogate. Both communities were within the
Royal Forest of Knaresborough. In 1372
King Edward III
Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377), also known as Edward of Windsor before his accession, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from January 1327 until his death in 1377. He is noted for his military success and for restoring ro ...
granted the Royal Forest to his son
John, Duke of Lancaster (also known as John of Gaunt), and the
Duchy of Lancaster
The Duchy of Lancaster is the private estate of the Monarchy of the United Kingdom, British sovereign as Duke of Lancaster. The principal purpose of the estate is to provide a source of independent income to the sovereign. The estate consists of ...
became the principal landowner in Harrogate.
Harrogate's development is owed to the discovery of its
chalybeate- and
sulphur
Sulfur (or sulphur in British English) is a chemical element with the symbol S and atomic number 16. It is abundant, multivalent and nonmetallic. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with a chemical formula ...
-rich spring water from the 16th century. The first
mineral spring
Mineral springs are naturally occurring springs that produces hard water, water that contains dissolved minerals. Salts, sulfur compounds, and gases are among the substances that can be dissolved in the spring water during its passage underg ...
was discovered in 1571 by William Slingsby who found that water from the
Tewit Well in High Harrogate possessed similar properties to that from springs in the Belgian town of
Spa
A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water (and sometimes seawater) is used to give medicinal baths. Spa towns or spa resorts (including hot springs resorts) typically offer various health treatments, which are also known as balneoth ...
, which gave its name to
spa town
A spa town is a resort town based on a mineral spa (a developed mineral spring). Patrons visit spas to "take the waters" for their purported health benefits.
Thomas Guidott set up a medical practice in the English town of Bath in 1668. He ...
s.
The medicinal properties of the waters were publicised by
Edmund Deane; his book, ''Spadacrene Anglica, or the English Spa Fountain'' was published in 1626.
![Royal Baths Harrogate - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Royal_Baths_Harrogate_-_geograph.org.uk_-_632591.jpg)
In the 17th and 18th centuries further chalybeate springs were discovered in High Harrogate, and both chalybeate and sulphur springs were found in Low Harrogate. The two communities attracted many visitors. A number of inns were opened for visitors in High Harrogate in the 17th century (the Queen's Head, the Granby, the Dragon and the
World's End). In Low Harrogate, the Crown was open by the mid-18th century, and possibly earlier.
In accordance with an
Enclosure Act
The Inclosure Acts, which use an archaic spelling of the word now usually spelt "enclosure", cover enclosure of open fields and common land in England and Wales, creating legal property rights to land previously held in common. Between 1604 and 1 ...
of 1770, promoted by the Duchy of Lancaster, the Royal Forest of Knaresborough was enclosed. The enclosure award of 1778 clarified ownership of land in the Harrogate area. Under the award, of land, which included the springs known at that time, were reserved as a public common,
The Stray, which has remained public open space. The Enclosure Award facilitated development around the Stray. During the 19th century, the area between High Harrogate and Low Harrogate, which until then had remained separate communities a mile apart, was developed, and what is now the central area of Harrogate was built on high ground overlooking Low Harrogate. An area to the north of the developing town was reserved to the Duchy of Lancaster, and was developed for residential building. To provide entertainment for the increasing numbers of visitors the Georgian Theatre was built in 1788. Bath Hospital (later the Royal Bath Hospital) was built in 1826. The
Royal Pump Room was built in 1842. The site of Tewit Well is marked by a dome on the Stray. Other wells can be found in the Valley Gardens and Royal Pump Room museum.
In 1870, engineering inventor
Samson Fox
Samson Fox (11 July 1838 – 24 October 1903) was an English engineer, industrialist and philanthropist. He was elected Mayor of Harrogate in Yorkshire and the building of the Royal College of Music in London was funded largely by Fox.
Life and ...
perfected the process of creating
water gas
Water gas is a kind of fuel gas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. It is produced by "alternately hot blowing a fuel layer okewith air and gasifying it with steam". The caloric yield of this is about 10% of a modern syngas plant. F ...
, in the basement laboratory of
Grove House. After constructing a trial plant at his home on Skipton Road, making it the first house in Yorkshire to have gas lighting and heating; he built a town-sized plant to supply Harrogate. After Parliament Street became the world's first route to be lit by water-gas, newspapers commented: "Samson Fox has captured the sunlight for Harrogate." After donating the town's first fire engine, and building the town's theatre, he was elected mayor for three years, an unbroken record.
In 1893 Harrogate doctor
George Oliver was the first to observe the effect of
adrenaline
Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is a hormone and medication which is involved in regulating visceral functions (e.g., respiration). It appears as a white microcrystalline granule. Adrenaline is normally produced by the adrenal glands and ...
on the circulation.
Harrogate's popularity declined after the
First World War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. During the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, Harrogate's large hotels accommodated government offices evacuated from London, paving the way for the town to become a commercial, conference, and exhibition centre.
Former employers in the town were the
Central Electricity Generating Board
The Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) was responsible for electricity generation, transmission and bulk sales in England and Wales from 1958 until privatisation of the electricity industry in the 1990s.
It was established on 1 Januar ...
(CEGB), the
Milk Marketing Board
The Milk Marketing Board was a producer-run product marketing board, established by the Agricultural Marketing Act 1933, to control milk production and distribution in the United Kingdom. It functioned as buyer of last resort in the milk market in ...
and
ICI who occupied offices and laboratories at Hornbeam Park where
Crimplene
Crimplene is a texturised continuous fibre launched in 1959, produced by modifying Terylene. The patent was taken out by Mario Nava of Chesline and Crepes Ltd of Macclesfield, and sold to ICI Fibres. ICI licensed the product to various throwsters ...
was invented in the 1950s and named after the nearby
Crimple Valley
Crimple Valley is an area south of Harrogate (North Yorkshire) surrounding the River Crimple (also known as Crimple Beck). It gave its name to the synthetic yarn Crimplene
Crimplene is a texturised continuous fibre launched in 1959, produced ...
and beck.
In 2007, two
metal detector
A metal detector is an instrument that detects the nearby presence of metal. Metal detectors are useful for finding metal objects on the surface, underground, and under water. The unit itself, consist of a control box, and an adjustable shaft, ...
ists found the
Harrogate hoard, a 10th-century
Viking
Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden),
who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and se ...
treasure
hoard
A hoard or "wealth deposit" is an archaeological term for a collection of valuable objects or artifacts, sometimes purposely buried in the ground, in which case it is sometimes also known as a cache. This would usually be with the intention of ...
, near Harrogate. The hoard contains almost 700 coins and other items from as far away as
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
. The hoard was described by the
British Museum
The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence. It docum ...
as the most important find of its type in Britain for 150 years.
Governance
![Harrogate Town Hall - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Harrogate_Town_Hall_-_geograph.org.uk_-_738842.jpg)
In 1884 the
Municipal Borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002. Broadly similar structures existed in S ...
of Harrogate was created, taking High Harrogate from the civil parish of Bilton with Harrogate and Low Harrogate from the civil parish of Pannal. The borough absorbed neighbouring areas in subsequent years, including the whole of the civil parishes of Bilton and Starbeck, and a large part of the civil parish of Pannal, including the village of Pannal, in 1938. The municipal borough was abolished in 1974, when Harrogate was transferred from the West Riding to North Yorkshire and became part of the wider Borough of Harrogate. Harrogate then became an
unparished area
In England, an unparished area is an area that is not covered by a civil parish (the lowest level of local government, not to be confused with an ecclesiastical parish). Most urbanised districts of England are either entirely or partly unparish ...
, with no local government of its own.
![Harrogate District Hospital - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Harrogate_District_Hospital_-_geograph.org.uk_-_647463.jpg)
The MP for the
Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency is
Andrew Jones, a
Conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...
. He was elected in 2010, ousting the
Liberal Democrats who had won the seat at the previous three general elections. He subsequently won re-election in the 2015, 2017 and 2019 (albeit with a reduced majority) general elections.
The town is governed by
Harrogate Borough Council
Harrogate ( ) is a spa town and the administrative centre of the Borough of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England. Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, the town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa wate ...
, which since the
2010 election has had a Conservative majority.
Twin Towns
The Borough of Harrogate is
twinned with:
*
Bagnères-de-Luchon
Bagnères-de-Luchon (; oc, Banhèras de Luishon), also referred to as just Luchon, is a commune and spa town in the Haute-Garonne department in the Occitanie region of south-western France.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Luchonn ...
,
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
(since 1953)
*
Barrie
Barrie is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada, about north of Toronto. The city is within Simcoe County and located along the shores of Kempenfelt Bay, the western arm of Lake Simcoe. Although physically in Simcoe County, Barrie is politically i ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
(since 2013)
*
Harrogate
Harrogate ( ) is a spa town and the administrative centre of the Borough of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England. Historic counties of England, Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, the town is a tourist destination and its visitor at ...
,
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
*
Montecatini Terme
Montecatini Terme is an Italian municipality (''comune'') of c. 20,000 inhabitants in the province of Pistoia, Tuscany, central Italy. It is the most important center in Valdinievole. The town is located at the eastern end of Piana di Lucca ...
,
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
(since 1962)
*
Wellington
Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...
,
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
Geography
![Harrogate Town Centre, UK](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Harrogate_Town_Centre%2C_UK.jpg)
The town has good commuter services for people who work in the
City of Leeds
The City of Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. The metropolitan borough includes the administrative centre of Leeds and the towns of Farsley, Garforth, Guiseley, Horsforth, Morley, Otley, Pudsey, Rothwell, W ...
,
City of Bradford
The City of Bradford () is a local government district of West Yorkshire, England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough. It is named after its largest settlement, Bradford, but covers a large area which includes the towns and v ...
,
York
York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...
,
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Riding or East Yorkshire, is a ceremonial county and unitary authority area in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and west, South Yorkshire to t ...
and
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is the largest ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county (lieutenancy area) in England, covering an area of . Around 40% of the county is covered by National parks of the United Kingdom, national parks, including most of ...
in general. Harrogate is prosperous and has some of the highest property prices in England, with many properties in the town and surrounding villages valued at
£1 million or more, it is generally considered the most expensive place to live in the North of England.
Fulwith Mill Lane in Harrogate is the most expensive street in Yorkshire.
Harrogate is situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, with the
Vale of York
The Vale of York is an area of flat land in the northeast of England. The vale is a major agricultural area and serves as the main north–south transport corridor for Northern England.
The Vale of York is often supposed to stretch from the R ...
to the east and the upland Yorkshire Dales to the west and north-west. It has a dry and mild climate, typical of places in the
rain shadow
A rain shadow is an area of significantly reduced rainfall behind a mountainous region, on the side facing away from prevailing winds, known as its leeward side.
Evaporated moisture from water bodies (such as oceans and large lakes) is carrie ...
of the
Pennines
The Pennines (), also known as the Pennine Chain or Pennine Hills, are a range of uplands running between three regions of Northern England: North West England on the west, North East England and Yorkshire and the Humber on the east. Commo ...
. It is on the A59 from Skipton to York. At an altitude of between , Harrogate is higher than many English settlements. It has an average minimum temperature in January of slightly below and an average maximum in July and August of .
Climate
Harrogate's climate is classified as warm and temperate. There is significant rainfall throughout the year in Harrogate. Even the driest month still has a lot of rainfall. The Köppen-Geiger climate classification is Cfb. The average annual temperature in Harrogate is 48 °F (8.9 °C). In a year, the average rainfall is 29 inches (742 mm).
Divisions
![Apartment block overlooking The Stray - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Apartment_block_overlooking_The_Stray_-_geograph.org.uk_-_657874.jpg)
*''Central Harrogate'' is bounded by 'the Stray' or 'Two Hundred acres' to the south and west, and borders High Harrogate and the Duchy estate to the east and north respectively. It is a district centre for retail and the Victoria Shopping Centre houses a number of major chains. Pedestrianised Cambridge Street and Oxford Street are the main high streets, and Harrogate Theatre is on Oxford Street. Parliament Street, Montpellier and James Street offer designer shopping and upmarket department stores. An Odeon cinema is located on the edge of central Harrogate, as are Asda and Waitrose supermarkets. Marks and Spencer has a large food hall in its store on Oxford Street. A number of bars and restaurants can be found on Cheltenham Crescent and John Street, while the Royal Baths and Parliament Street are at the centre of the town's nightlife. The southern end of central Harrogate consists largely of detached houses that have been converted to offices, although Harrogate Magistrates' Court and Harrogate Central Library can be found on Victoria Avenue. Some upmarket boutiques are situated along the Stray in central southern Harrogate.
*''Oatlands'' is a wealthy area in the south of Harrogate. It includes two schools, Oatlands Primary School and Oatlands Infant School, and some allotments.
*''Woodlands'' is a large area in south-east Harrogate which adjoins Starbeck/Knareborough Road. It is home to
Harrogate Town F.C.
Harrogate Town A.F.C. is a professional association football club in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, which competes in League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system.
The club is nicknamed the Sulphurites, due to th ...
, Willow Tree Primary School, Morrisons and Sainsbury's supermarkets as well as the ''Woodlands'' pub.
*''
Bilton'' is a large area of Harrogate with many churches, stores and schools. It has several schools, Richard Taylor School, Woodfield and Bilton Grange. Poets' Corner is known for its 'poetic' street names and expensive housing. On the first May bank holiday each year the
Bilton Gala
{{Use British English, date=June 2023
The Bilton Gala is a community event that takes place in Bilton, Harrogate, North Yorkshire on the first Bank Holiday in May each year.
The first Bilton Gala took place in 1977 to mark the Queen’s Silver J ...
takes place. The first gala was held in 1977 and the event raises money for local groups and organisations.
*''Jennyfields'' is a large, modern area in the north west of Harrogate, it has two schools, Saltergate Infant School and Saltergate Primary School. The town's main public swimming pool is located on the edge of Jennyfield.
*The ''Duchy estate'' is an affluent area close to central Harrogate where most houses are large detached homes or large detached homes converted into flats. There are several private schools, notably
Harrogate Ladies' College
Harrogate Ladies' College is an independent boarding and day school located in the town of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. Founded as a girls' senior school in 1893, the college includes Highfield Prep School and educates girls from ages 2 ...
. There is a golf club and open countryside for walking.
![Former Star Inn, High Street, Starbeck (10th July 2020)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Former_Star_Inn%2C_High_Street%2C_Starbeck_%2810th_July_2020%29.jpg)
*''
Starbeck
Starbeck is an area of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England. The population of Starbeck Ward taken at the 2011 census was 6,226. It has many facilities, including Starbeck railway station, which serves the Harrogate Line. Frequent services d ...
'' is a large area to the east of Harrogate with a railway station with trains to elsewhere in Harrogate on to Leeds, Knaresborough and
York
York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...
. A frequent bus service links Starbeck to Harrogate and Knaresborough. A number of schools, churches and shops are situated in Starbeck.
*''Pannal'' is to the south of Harrogate, off the
A61 road A61 or A-61 may refer to:
* A61 road (England), a road connecting Derby and Thirsk
* A61 motorway (France), a road connecting Narbonne and Bordeaux
* A61 motorway (Germany), a road connecting Venlo and Hockenheim
* Benoni Defense
The Benoni Defense ...
. It retains much of its village character. A commuter station links it to Harrogate and on to York, Knaresborough and Leeds.
*''High Harrogate'' is an inner section to the east of the town centre. It is focused on Westmoreland Street and the A59 Skipton Road, where a number of shops and cafés are located. Expensive terraced houses line the Stray, which stops in High Harrogate.
*''Low Harrogate'' is an inner section to the west of the town centre. It is the focus of most tourist activity in the town, with the Royal Pump Room, Mercer Art Gallery and the Valley Gardens.
*''Harlow Hill'' is a district to the west of the town, accessed by Otley Road. It has a number of new developments and an office park. It is known for RHS Harlow Carr Gardens. Harrogate Spa bottling plant is on Harlow Hill, as is a water treatment centre.
![Maisonettes, Chatsworth Grove, Harrogate (10th July 2020)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Maisonettes%2C_Chatsworth_Grove%2C_Harrogate_%2810th_July_2020%29.jpg)
*''New Park'' is a small area to the north of Harrogate with a primary school. There are a number of terraced houses and some light industrial and commercial premises.
*''Wheatlands'' is a wealthy district south of the Stray. It is residential and has two high schools, St Aidan's and St John Fisher's.
*''Knox'', north of the town, is separated from Bilton by greenbelt. It straddles
Oak Beck, which vehicles used to be able to cross via a ford. This route was blocked in the 1980s and the beck can now be crossed only by pedestrians and cyclists using the adjacent Spruisty packhorse bridge. Cars must go via the A61 (Ripon) road.
*''Hornbeam Park'' is a small, recently developed area accessed only by Hookstone Road. It was developed as an office park and retains many offices, and is also home to
Harrogate College
Harrogate College is a further education college in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. It traces its origins to the University Extension movement, which began in 1873 under the auspices of Cambridge University. It offers several levels of qual ...
(formerly part of
Hull College Group, but part of
Luminate Education Group
Luminate Education Group (formerly Leeds City College Group) brings together a number of secondary, further and higher education institutions in Yorkshire, England. It was renamed from Leeds City College Group in December 2018 to better reflect i ...
, previously known as
Leeds City College
Leeds City College is the largest further education establishment in the City of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England with around 26,000 students, 2,300 staff, with an annual turnover of £78 million. , since 1 August 2019), a
Nuffield fitness and wellbeing centre, Travel Inn and restaurant, hospice and some small warehouses. It is served by
Hornbeam Park railway station with trains to Harrogate and Leeds.
Economy
![Moat house Hotel - Harrogate](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Moat_house_Hotel_-_Harrogate.jpg)
Harrogate has a strong and varied economy. The conference and exhibition industry is the focus of the town's business, with
Harrogate International Centre
Harrogate Convention Centre is a convention and exhibition centre in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.
History
Previously named Harrogate International Centre it was renamed Harrogate Convention Centre in April 2017. The centre has been d ...
the third largest fully integrated conference and exhibition centre in the UK, and one of the largest in Europe. Harrogate draws numerous visitors because of its conference facilities. In 2016 such events alone attracted 300,000 visitors to Harrogate. The convention centre was developed in 2020 to be used as a
Nightingale Hospital. However, whilst it has been used in an NHS capacity, it has not treated any Coronavirus patients (as of late January 2021) because the conventional hospitals had not run out of capacity.
It brings in over £150 million to the local economy every year and attracts in excess of 350,000 business visitors annually. The town is home to the Great Yorkshire
Showground and Pavilions of Harrogate, which are major conference destinations.
Harrogate is the home of
Yorkshire Tea
Yorkshire Tea is a black tea Tea blending and additives, blend produced by the Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate, Bettys & Taylors Group since 1977. It is the most popular traditional black tea brand sold in the UK. In 1886 Charles Edward Taylor F ...
, exported by
Taylors of Harrogate, as well as internationally exported
Harrogate Spring Water
Harrogate Spring Water is a private limited company incorporated on 16 August 2000 which manufactures plastic and glass bottled spring water, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England and distributes its bottles all over the world. Spa waters ...
. The town also exports
Farrah's Toffee,
Harrogate Blue cheese and
Debbie & Andrews Harrogate sausages.
The Great Yorkshire Showground is the hub of the regional agricultural industry, hosted by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society. The
Great Yorkshire Show
The Great Yorkshire Show (GYS) is an agricultural show which takes place on the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate, North Yorkshire in the North of England annually from the second Tuesday of July until the following Thursday. It is organis ...
,
Countryside Live
Countryside Live is the sister event of the annual farming and rural showcase, the Great Yorkshire Show. Held each October at the Great Yorkshire Showground in the town of Harrogate, England, the two-day event is designed to act as a shop window ...
and the twice yearly Harrogate Flower Shows take place there annually. The many business visitors to Harrogate sustain a number of large hotels, some originally built for visitors to the Spa.
Harrogate's main shopping district is focused on Cambridge Street, Oxford Street, Beulah Street and James Street where most of the high street shops can be found. There is a wide range of boutique and designer shopping on Parliament Street and in the Montpellier Quarter, as well as independent shopping around Commercial Street.
Eating out is popular in Harrogate, and the town is well served by restaurants. Parliament Street and Cheltenham Parade are lined with many independent and chain restaurants, while there is a concentration of chain restaurants on John Street and Albert Street.
Companies headquartered in Harrogate
The following companies are either headquartered or have significant bases in Harrogate.
*
Adler and Allan – environmental services to the oil industry
*
Association for Perioperative Practice
The Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) is a British professional body for healthcare workers. Its stated aims include "the promotion of high standards of perioperative care, the exchange of professional information between members and ...
– medical training charity
*
Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate
Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate, also known as Bettys and Taylors Group Limited, is a family company based in Yorkshire, England. The company's brands are Bettys (with no apostrophe), Taylors of Harrogate (also with no possessive apostrophe), a ...
– tea rooms, bakers, tea and coffee merchants and blenders
*
Messers Fattorini and Sons
Fattorini & Sons was a jewellery business established by a family of Italian immigrants who arrived in the British city of Leeds, in Yorkshire, England in the early 19th century. Antonio Fattorini opened a shop in Harrogate to take advantage of s ...
– jeweller
*
Harrogate Convention Centre
Harrogate Convention Centre is a convention and exhibition centre in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.
History
Previously named Harrogate International Centre it was renamed Harrogate Convention Centre in April 2017. The centre has been ...
– conference centre
*
Harrogate Spring Water
Harrogate Spring Water is a private limited company incorporated on 16 August 2000 which manufactures plastic and glass bottled spring water, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England and distributes its bottles all over the world. Spa waters ...
– Bottled water suppliers
*
Old Swan Hotel
The Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, is part of the Classic Lodges group.
History
Hospitality has been available on the site since at least 1777, originally it was the 'Swan Inn" in Low Harrogate separate from the sett ...
– hotel, part of the Classic Lodges group
*
Transdev Blazefield
Transdev Blazefield is a bus group, which operates local and regional bus services across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, England. Formed in August 1991, the group has been a subsidiary of French-based operato ...
– bus holding company; parent company of
Harrogate Bus Company
The Harrogate Bus Company operates both local and regional bus services in North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, England. It is a subsidiary of Transdev Blazefield, which operates bus services across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, North Yorkshire ...
. Until 1987, Harrogate was also the headquarters of the precursor
West Yorkshire Road Car Company
The West Yorkshire Road Car Company was a major bus operator operating in North Yorkshire, North and West Yorkshire between 1906 and 1987.
History West Yorkshire
The Harrogate Road Car Company was formed in 1906, running at first steam buses in ...
.
*
White Stone – The Ski Store – ski wear and equipment online store, with retail premises in Harrogate
Landmarks
![Harrogate Theatre boxes and house](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Harrogate_Theatre_boxes_and_house.jpg)
There are many fine examples of architecture about the town. The only
Grade I listed
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
building in Harrogate is
St Wilfrid, Duchy Road, which was designed by the architect
Temple Lushington Moore
Temple Lushington Moore (7 June 1856 – 30 June 1920) was an English architect who practised in London. He is famed for a series of fine Gothic Revival churches built between about 1890 and 1917 and also restored many churches and designed c ...
and is often considered to be his masterpiece. Another main landmark is the
Royal Hall theatre, a Grade II
listed building
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
designed by
Frank Matcham
Francis Matcham (22 November 1854 – 17 May 1920)Mackintosh, Iain"Matcham, Frank" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, accessed 7 July 2019 was an English architect who specialised in the design o ...
. As the only surviving wikt:Kursaal, Kursaal in Britain, the Royal Hall is an important national heritage building. Restoration work was completed in 2007, and the hall was reopened on 22 January 2008, by the Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince of Wales. In Station Parade stands the Jubilee Memorial, Harrogate, Jubilee Memorial, commemorating Queen Victoria's golden jubilee of 1887.
The
Royal Pump Room houses Europe's strongest sulphur well, but is now a museum showcasing the town's spa history.
An imposing cenotaph is an important landmark in the centre of the town.
![Harrogate War Memorial - Cenotaph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Harrogate_War_Memorial_-_Cenotaph.jpg)
Two military installations are located to the west of Harrogate, the Army Foundation College and RAF Menwith Hill, an electronic monitoring station. There used to be a Royal Air Force supply depot and logistics centre on St George's Road in the south-west of the town, but this closed down in 1994. During the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, RAF Harrogate was also used as a training establishment for medical staff and recruit training for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force.
Montpellier Quarter
![Betty's Tea Rooms, Harrogate DCP 1971](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Betty%27s_Tea_Rooms%2C_Harrogate_DCP_1971.jpg)
Bettys are Tea Rooms established in 1919 owned by
Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate
Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate, also known as Bettys and Taylors Group Limited, is a family company based in Yorkshire, England. The company's brands are Bettys (with no apostrophe), Taylors of Harrogate (also with no possessive apostrophe), a ...
– the same company that market
Yorkshire Tea
Yorkshire Tea is a black tea Tea blending and additives, blend produced by the Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate, Bettys & Taylors Group since 1977. It is the most popular traditional black tea brand sold in the UK. In 1886 Charles Edward Taylor F ...
. Bettys has a second tea room at the RHS Harlow Carr Gardens.
The Mercer Art Gallery
is home to Harrogate district's art collection which consists of some 2,000 works of art, mainly from the 19th and 20th centuries. The collection includes works by William Powell Frith, Atkinson Grimshaw, Sir Edward Burne-Jones, Dame Laura Knight and Alan Davie.
The Montpellier Quarter is the centre of the town's nightlife, which is mainly centred on the renovated Royal Baths development.
Parks and gardens
![Interior, Sun Pavilion, Valley Gardens - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Interior%2C_Sun_Pavilion%2C_Valley_Gardens_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1444846.jpg)
The Valley Gardens, in Low Harrogate, is the town's main park and covers much of the area originally known as 'Bogs Field', where a number of springs were discovered. The Valley Gardens (locals use the definite article) has an ice-cream parlour, children's play area with outdoor paddling pool, a skate park, frisbee golf, crazy golf and mini golf. The Sun Pavilion at the northern edge of the park can be privately hired for weddings. Tennis courts and a bowling green are in the west of the park. The Friends Of Valley Gardens group was formed in 2009 to support the park. It works in partnership with Harrogate Borough Council to guide the park's development.
The Stray is an area of open parkland in the centre of the town. It was created in 1778 to link most of Harrogate's springs in one protected area by an act of Parliament which fixed its area as , and even now when part is removed, e.g. due to road widening, it must be replaced elsewhere. During the Victorian period, there was a racecourse for horses there.
RHS Harlow Carr gardens, on the western edge of Harrogate, are award-winning themed gardens and are the Royal Horticultural Society's main presence and representative in the North of England.
Crescent Gardens is a small open area in central Harrogate surrounded by some of the town's main tourist attractions including the Royal Pump Room, Royal Baths and Royal Hall, as well as the Harrogate Council Offices. Hall M of the Harrogate International Centre fronts onto Crescent Gardens.
The town has several smaller parks and gardens, including The Softpot Garden at Grove House, the Jubilee Gardens and Victoria Gardens on the eastern side of central Harrogate.
Culture
On 11 January 1900, Harrogate Grand Opera House, now Harrogate Theatre opened with a charity gala in aid of British soldiers fighting the Boer War in South Africa followed on 13 January 1900 by J Tully's pantomime ''Dick Whittington'.
In 1966, the Harrogate Festival of Arts & Science was established, now known as the Harrogate International Festivals and the North of England's leading arts festival, incorporating a number of festivals within the portfolio including the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival & Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award, Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival, Harrogate Music Festival and a number of year-round events within the portfolio.
The town hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 1982 in the
Harrogate International Centre
Harrogate Convention Centre is a convention and exhibition centre in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.
History
Previously named Harrogate International Centre it was renamed Harrogate Convention Centre in April 2017. The centre has been d ...
.
Harrogate won the 2003 and 2016 Britain in Bloom in the category of 'Large Town' and the European Entente Florale in 2004 reprising its win in the first Entente Florale in 1977. Harrogate was a gold medal winner of Europe in Bloom in 2004. In 2005, a Channel 4 TV show listed Harrogate as the UK's third best place to live. In 2006 it came fourth in the same league; the programme claimed that it placed lower due to "a slight dip in exam results", although presenter Phil Spencer (television personality), Phil Spencer noted that it was his personal favourite.
Harrogate has two orchestras; Harrogate Symphony Orchestra and Harrogate Philharmonic Orchestra.
The town is also home to an underground music scene that has produced heavy metal music, heavy metal and punk rock groups including Workshed, Acid Reign and Blood Youth. It is also home to Bombed Out records, an independent record label, who has signed groups such as Fig 4.0.
Sport
Cycling
On 5 July 2014, Harrogate served as the finish line of the first stage of the 2014 Tour de France, Tour de France. The event attracted record crowds to the town centre and was televised to a global audience. British cyclist Mark Cavendish was forced to exit the race when he crashed a few metres from the finish line and suffered a dislocated shoulder. The town has since been the focal point for finishing stages of the Tour de Yorkshire in 2017. Each event of the 2019 UCI Road World Championships finished in the town, although the entire historic county of Yorkshire was the official host.
Football
Harrogate Town A.F.C., Harrogate Town AFC play at Wetherby Road. The club competes in EFL League Two, League Two, the fourth tier of English football, following promotion to the English Football League, which came via victory in the 2019–20 National League Play-offs. They have a historical rivalry with Harrogate Railway Athletic F.C., of the Northern Counties East Football League, located at Station View.
Harrogate RUFC is a North Premier team and formerly based at The County Ground, Claro Road but relocated to Rudding Lane to the South side of the town.
Cricket
Harrogate Cricket Club is to be the home of Yorkshire Women cricket team. Until 1995 the town hosted one Yorkshire county game per year at the St George's Road cricket ground. Since 2022, the ground has been sponsored by Kirbys Solicitors. In 2008, a fire destroyed the historic old pavilion at the ground but it has since been re-built with a modern pavilion, bar, function room and changing rooms.
Harrogate Cricket Club has 4 Saturday teams:
* 1st XI play in the Yorkshire Premier League North, it was the league's inaugural champions in 2016 and it is one of the legible to play in the Yorkshire championship whenever the team wins the league. The team former played in the Yorkshire ECB County Premier League until 2016.
* 2nd XI play in York Senior League – Division 2
* 3rd XI (also known as "Harrogate Strays") play in Nidderdale League Division 1
* 4th XI (also known as "Harrogate Devs") play in Nidderdale League Division 5
Bilton Cricket Club, off Bilton Lane provides opportunities for players of all ages to play in Local League Cricket, Bilton Cricket Club have a good natured rivalry with Harrogate Cricket Club with Bilton defeating Harrogate at St Georges Road in the Black Sheep Trophy of 2006.
Other
Accord to designer Thomas Heatherwick, the Olympic cauldron, Olympic Cauldron for the 2012 London Olympics was built in a ‘Bond Gadget Workshop’ in Harrogate.
Harrogate Harriers run from Harrogate Squash & Fitness Centre on Hookstone Drive and Nidd Valley Road Runners share the premises of Harrogate Hockey Club. Harrogate District Swimming Club is an amateur level swimming club that has had teams compete at National level. Rock climbing is a sport in and around Harrogate, indoors at the Harrogate Climbing Centre and at Almscliffe Crag and Brimham Rocks.
Transport
Rail
The town is served by four railway stations on the Harrogate Line; , , and . All are served by Northern Trains services from to , while London North Eastern Railway operates a two-hourly service to London King's Cross railway station, London King's Cross.
The former railway lines to and Wetherby (Linton Road) railway station, Wetherby, were dismantled in the 1960s.
Line to Ripon
The Ripon line was closed to passengers on 6 March 1967 and to freight on 5 September 1969 as part of the wider Beeching Axe, despite a vigorous campaign by local campaigners, including the city's MP.
Today much of the route of the line through the city is now a relief road and although the former station still stands, it is now surrounded by a new housing development. The issue remains a significant one in local politics and there are movements wanting to restore the line.
Reports suggest the reopening of a line between and would be economically viable, costing £40 million and could initially attract 1,200 passengers a day, rising to 2,700.
Campaigners call on Members of Parliament, MPs to restore Ripon railway link.
Buses
Buses are every 15 minutes between Harrogate,
Ripon
Ripon () is a cathedral city in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. The city is located at the confluence of two tributaries of the River Ure, the Laver and Skell. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, the city ...
and Leeds City bus station, Leeds (via Harewood, West Yorkshire, Harewood, Moortown, Leeds, Moortown and Chapel Allerton) on Harrogate bus route 36, route 36, which run more frequently at peak time and overnight on Fridays and Saturdays between Leeds and Harrogate. The 7 route runs to Leeds via
Wetherby
Wetherby () is a market town and civil parish in the City of Leeds district, West Yorkshire, England, close to West Yorkshire county's border with North Yorkshire, and lies approximately from Leeds City Centre, from York and from Harrogat ...
, Boston Spa and Seacroft as well as other parts of semi-rural Leeds. There are services to Otley,
Bradford
Bradford is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Bradford district in West Yorkshire, England. The city is in the Pennines' eastern foothills on the banks of the Bradford Beck. Bradford had a population of 349,561 at the 2011 ...
,
Knaresborough
Knaresborough ( ) is a market and spa town and civil parish in the Borough of Harrogate, in North Yorkshire, England, on the River Nidd. It is east of Harrogate.
History
Knaresborough is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as ''Chenares ...
and Pateley Bridge.
Road transport to Leeds is via the
A61 (north and central Leeds),
A658 (north-west Leeds/
Leeds Bradford Airport) and
A661 (for north-east Leeds). The A61 continues northwards to Ripon, while the A658 connects to Bradford after passing through north-west Leeds. The A658 also forms the Harrogate Bypass that skirts the south and east of the town, joining the A59 linking
York
York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...
and the A1(M) to the east and
Skipton
Skipton (also known as Skipton-in-Craven) is a market town and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. Historically in the East Division of Staincliffe Wapentake in the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is on the River Air ...
to the west with Harrogate.
Harrogate bus station
Harrogate ( ) is a spa town and the administrative centre of the Borough of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England. Historic counties of England, Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, the town is a tourist destination and its visitor at ...
is in the town centre. It is managed by
Harrogate Bus Company
The Harrogate Bus Company operates both local and regional bus services in North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, England. It is a subsidiary of Transdev Blazefield, which operates bus services across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, North Yorkshire ...
, the main operator.
The 13 stands are also used by Connexionsbuses, Transdev York & Country
and National Express Coaches, National Express.
In 2018, all bus routes which operated within Harrogate and did not venture to other towns became served by electric buses. These buses charge on stands 1–3 at Harrogate bus station. The scheme is part funded by the government's Low Emission Bus Scheme.
Airports
The nearest airport is Leeds Bradford Airport, Leeds Bradford, 10 miles (16 km) to the south-west, to which there are bus services on route A2,
and train services on the Harrogate Line to , one of the closest stations. Teesside International Airport, Teesside and Doncaster Sheffield Airport, Doncaster Sheffield are next nearest to the town while Manchester Airport is accessible by rail via .
Harrogate has a non-civilian airport of its own at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, which carries the IATA code HRT for Harrogate.
Education
Harrogate High School was rebuilt under a governmental scheme in mid-2017. It is also home to many private schools in the town centre and others in the surrounding areas, such as Queen Ethelbuga's.
* Ashville College
*
Harrogate College
Harrogate College is a further education college in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. It traces its origins to the University Extension movement, which began in 1873 under the auspices of Cambridge University. It offers several levels of qual ...
, (was part of Leeds Metropolitan University until 1 August 2008, when it transferred to Hull College), and now part of the Leeds-based Luminate Education Group.
* Harrogate Grammar School, (An academy, part of the Red Kite Learning Trust) Specialist in Language and Technology
* Harrogate High School, a specialist Sports College
*
Harrogate Ladies' College
Harrogate Ladies' College is an independent boarding and day school located in the town of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. Founded as a girls' senior school in 1893, the college includes Highfield Prep School and educates girls from ages 2 ...
* Harrogate Tutorial College
* Rossett School a specialist computing and mathematics college.
* St. Aidan's C of E High School, a specialist Language and Science School.
* St John Fisher Catholic High School, Harrogate, St John Fisher Catholic High School, a specialist arts and humanities school.
* Army Foundation College
Media
*The town's main printed news source is the ''Harrogate Advertiser'', part of Ackrill Media Group. The newspaper was first printed in 1836.
*The Stray Ferret is an online news service for the Harrogate district.
*The Harrogate Informer publishes news online throughout the district.
*The local radio stations are BBC Radio York on 104.3 & 103.7 FM and Greatest Hits Radio Harrogate & The Yorkshire Dales on 97.2 FM.
*Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC Yorkshire and BBC North East & Cumbria on BBC One and ITV Yorkshire & ITV Tyne Tees on ITV.
Notable statistics
In 2012, Harrogate had the highest concentration of drink-drivers in the UK. A March 2013 survey from the British property website Rightmove ranked Harrogate as the "happiest place" to live in the United Kingdom; the same result was seen in 2014 and 2015. In 2014, Harrogate District Hospital had the best cancer care of any hospital in England.
Notable people
*Olly Alexander (born 1990), singer and musician
*Donald Simpson Bell, (1890–1916),
First World War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
Victoria Cross recipient
*Sir Dhunjibhoy Bomanji (1862–1937), shipping magnate, philanthropist.
*Dewey Bunnell (born 1952), singer and songwriter with the band America (band), America
*Jim Carter (actor), Jim Carter (born 1948) actor
*Edward Chapman (actor), Edward Chapman (1901–1977), actor
*Ben Coad, (1994), English cricketer
*Rachel Daly (1991), English Footballer
*Oliver Dingley (born 1992), Olympic diver
*Ian Douglas-Wilson (1912–2013), physician and editor of ''The Lancet''
*Jenny Duncalf (born 1982), squash player
*Bernard Walter Evans (1843–1922), Landscape painting, landscape painter and Watercolor painting, watercolourist. Harrogate resident 1890s to 1911.
*John Farrah (1849–1907) grocer, confectioner, biologist, born in Harrogate.
*Gerald Finzi (1901–1956), composer
*Courtenay Foote (1879–1925), silent film actor
*
Samson Fox
Samson Fox (11 July 1838 – 24 October 1903) was an English engineer, industrialist and philanthropist. He was elected Mayor of Harrogate in Yorkshire and the building of the Royal College of Music in London was funded largely by Fox.
Life and ...
(1838–1903), engineer, industrialist, and philanthropist
*Luke Garbutt (born 1993), footballer for Blackpool F.C., Blackpool, attended Harrogate Grammar School.
*Thom Sonny Green (born 1985), drummer for indie rock band Alt-J.
*H. L. A. Hart (1907–1992), legal philosopher
*Thomas Holroyd (1821–1904), portrait and landscape painter, co-owner of photographic studio T & J. Holroyd.
*Charles Hull Victoria Cross, VC (1890–1953), soldier
*Garry Jennings, musician born in Harrogate.
*Jack Laugher (born 1995), Olympic Diver.
*Christina Le Moignan (born 1942) Minister and academic, who served as President of the British Methodist Conference
*Peter McCormick (born 1952), solicitor, Chairman of the Premier League, Vice Chairman of The Football Association
*Sarah Moore (racing driver), Sarah Moore (born 1993), a racing driver who competes in the 2021 W Series, W Series
*David Nobbs (1935–2015) author and screenwriter, creator of The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, Reginald Perrin
*Andy O'Brien (footballer), Andy O'Brien (born 1979), footballer for the Vancouver Whitecaps.
*Jack Ogden (jewellery historian), Jack Ogden, jewellery historian, grew up in Harrogate.
*Gord Pettinger (born 11 November 1911 in Harrogate, England – d. 12 April 1986) was a British professional ice hockey centre
*Richard Ridgeway (1848–1924), Victoria Cross recipient, lived his later life and died in Harrogate
*Ilona Rodgers (born 1942), actress
*Arnold Shaw (cricketer), Arnold Shaw (1896–1972), British Army officer and cricketer
*Hugo Speer (born 1969), actor
*Jonathan Tattersall (born 1994), cricketer
*William John Seward Webber (1842–1919), sculptor
*Mark Wharton, musician born in Harrogate
See also
* Association of Harrogate Apprentices
* Churches in Harrogate
*Harrogate power station
* Harrogate (Stonefall) Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery
* Harrogate District Hospital
* List of public art in Harrogate
* List of spa towns in the United Kingdom
References
Sources
*
*
External links
Harrogate Borough Council* Project Gutenberg etext of Edmund Deane'
Spadacrene Anglica*
English Heritage, Aerial Photo Explorer(Enter "Harrogate" in search box)
{{Authority control
Harrogate,
Towns in North Yorkshire
Spa towns in England
Unparished areas in North Yorkshire
Borough of Harrogate