Leeds is a huge city and the possibilities of things to do here is endless. But sometimes it can be overwhelming, especially if home to you is a small town. A reason that makes Leeds so wonderful is the fact that itâs so easy to escape its hectic-ness. Forget the saying, âitâs grim up northâ, because whoever came up with that phrase has obviously never been to the beautiful spa-town of Harrogate. For anybody interested in the history of Harrogate, it was founded in the 17th Century as a spa-town that was a popular tourist destination. Itâs still incredibly popular as itâs got the quaint âYorkshireâ feel, with a sense of being unique and special. Thereâs heaps to do there and I recommend it to anybody wanting to escape the city for the day; hereâs why…
1. Food and Drink
One of my favourite places in the whole of England is Bettys tea-rooms in Harrogate. True, itâs not one of your cheap student pubs like The Library, but sometimes itâs okay to splash out! Bettys is famous for its âfat rascalâ fruit biscuits and its vast range of coffee. You are served throughout your stay there by sweet ladies in pinafores and men in ties and waste-coats. With coffee costing around ÂŁ3.20 and cakes being around ÂŁ6.00, just think of it as a more extravagant costa coffee and go all out! Â
If Bettys is not your âcup of teaâ, then Harrogate is definitely not lacking in other nice places to go. Le Jardin CafĂ© and Bistro is just as lovely with a nice chilled atmosphere and nice prices to go with it. To be honest, all you need to do is wander around the town centre and youâll be sure to find something that will suit your appetite!
2. Shops
Harrogate is much smaller than Leeds but the shopping experience is just as good. They have the same high street shops with a couple of extra added gems that are well worth the visit. One of the reasons I tend to go to Harrogate a lot is for the charity shops. Harrogate does have a bit of a reputation as being known as a town full of rich old ladies. However, I personally only think this because of the lovely items I have managed to get my hands on in charity shops! The Oxfam just off the stray always has a great collection of second-hand things as well as a huge variety of their fair-trade goods.
The weekend market that goes down Cambridge Street is always quirky and interesting, so if youâre ever there on a Saturday be sure to have a look around. They sell items from hand-made bracelets, to hand dyed throws, to crazy hats and wooden sculptures. There are always tasty-looking food stalls there too, which sell different kinds of cuisines from all over the world.
3. Sight-seeing
Harrogate is a beautiful town so itâs definitely not lacking in sights. Obviously the spa and baths are what makes Harrogate the town that it is, so if you do have a couple of spare hours then go and check it out! Theyâre beautifully decorated in such extravagance that you canât help but get lost in the moment. Again, itâs not overly cheap at around ÂŁ15.00 entry, but as a student you deserve that relaxation after a stressful week of lectures and seminars!
The Stray is another lovely place to relax, with the bonus of NOT SPENDING A PENNY. I think the reason I appreciate it so much is because itâs just the kind of greenery that you never see in Leeds: luscious grass and full of flowers! The Stray is an open parkland of 200 acres; just perfect for a picnic or having a lazy wander about. Itâs totally free so you have no excuse not to go!