Escape the city this weekend to a gorgeous British spa town drenched in history.
Harrogate is your classic British spa town, with quaint cobbled streets, victorian buildings, lovely landscaped gardens and lots of great things to see and do.
Just 40 minutes from Leeds, it is the perfect place to relax in the great outdoors and revel in the beauty of the Yorkshire countryside. There is also a lively food and drink scene where you can get everything from fresh seafood platters to indulgent fondant fancies from the famous Betty's Tea Rooms.
With so much to see and do, here are our top picks to ensure you enjoy the best of what Harrogate has to offer.
Betty's Tea Rooms
Image: Betty's
After celebrating their 100 year anniversary, the famous Betty’s Tea Rooms are a Yorkshire institution and well worth a visit when in Harrogate. There are two locations to choose from, one in the centre on Parliament Street and the other nestled in the gorgeous Harlow Carr gardens.
Expect impeccable service, carefully curated seasonal menus and cakes that look just too good to eat. Their offerings celebrate their Yorkshire roots whilst paying homage to their Swiss heritage, a winning combination if you ask me. Grab a table by the window and treat yourself to the traditional afternoon tea whilst watching the world go by. Or order my favourite, a fat rascal scone lathered in warm butter served alongside a piping hot cup of Yorkshire tea, yum!
RHS Gardens Harlow Carr
Image: RHS
These beautiful gardens are filled with horticultural inspiration and are a must see when in Harrogate. Take a long, leisurely stroll around the gardens and basque in the incredible views. There are numerous different displays showcasing flowers from around the world including a light show at Christmas time.
There's also a Betty's Tea Room located inside the gardens for you to stop by. Enjoy an afternoon tea overlooking the garden or grab a takeaway hot chocolate to fuel your stroll around. Make sure to bring your camera as there are some stellar photo opportunities which you don't want to miss.
Turkish Baths
Image: Turkish Baths
After some much needed relaxation? Take the plunge at Harrogate's Turkish Baths followed by a steam and massage in one of Europe's leading spas. Relax to the max in gorgeously designed rooms lined with intricate mosaics and terrazzo flooring.
Book a group session which is the most cost efficient way to enjoy the baths, or treat yourself to a luxe facial and manicure, because we all deserve a bit of 'me' time. Having opened in the 1800s, these are now Britain's most fully restored, victorian Turkish baths and are not to be missed.
This Scandinavian inspired cafe is the place to go for fantastic service, a relaxed atmosphere and delicious food made with the best quality ingredients. Their breakfast menu consists of Scandinavian classics such as Pyttipane, a potato hash with onions, garlic and beetroot topped off with a crispy fried egg. If you fancy something sweet you can opt for the traditional Scandinavian waffles with Nutella and candied pecans.
The cafe is always buzzing with a friendly and warm atmosphere. If you're still after some more Baltzersens goodness after your visit, stop by the bakery and take home some croissants and cakes. You certainly won't be disappointed.
Built two hundred years ago as the Promenade Rooms, this lovely historical building was once a place for spa visitors to come and socialise. Later it became a theatre, then a town hall and was recently renewed into the marvellous Mercer Art Gallery in 1991.
Here you will find a range of ever-changing exhibitions including sculptures, photography, paintings and a mix of fine art as well as contemporary pieces from regional artists. There really is something for everyone to enjoy. The gallery is open Tuesday-Saturday, from 10-4pm and entry is free.
This pub has it all. Whether you're after a cosy nook to nestle into for a cracking Sunday roast or a table in the sunshine for a beer on a summer's day. Located smack bang in the centre of Harrogate, it couldn't be a more perfect pit stop to your busy day exploring the town.
Local cask ales, fantastic cocktails, fine wines and award winning, modern British food. What more could you want? The outdoor beer garden especially comes alive when the sun comes out, so I would recommend booking your trip to Harrogate when we enter into the summer months.
Feel like royalty and spend a night at this gorgeous, luxury hotel set over 300 acres of landscaped garden and woodland. If you can't stay over then you can book a spa day and enjoy the rooftop pool alongside a range of thermal and hydrotherapy treatments.
After you have been pampered, visit one of their numerous restaurants for a top class meal with expert service. I would recommend their famous, champagne afternoon tea which is served in their light and airy conservatory next to a 400 year old olive tree. You can even book a private cinema where you'll be escorted to after your dinner to watch a film of your choice.
The Drum and Monkey
Image: The Drum and Monkey
Located in the heart of the boutique Montpelier quarter, this independent, critically acclaimed restaurant have been serving fresh, seasonal and locally sourced seafood for over 50 years.
Share a cold seafood platter consisting of oysters, crab claws, langoustines, mussels and more alongside a crisps glass of white wine. Fancy something hot? Opt for their grilled dover sole with herb butter or their legendary Drum fish pie. One things for certain, you can expect impeccable service in a beautifully classic atmosphere.
Feature image: The Fat Badger
News
Bradford man, 20, jailed after admitting to 36 child sex offences
A 20-year-old man from Bradford has been sentenced to time in prison this week after admitting to numerous child sex offences.
Following an investigation initially by West Mercia and Lancashire Police, Kasey Fitton, aged 20 of Amundsen Avenue in Bradford, was arrested in February 2025 on suspicion of engaging in sexual communication with four children residing outside of West Yorkshire Police force area.
An investigation was then launched by Bradford Safeguarding Unit, who went on to uncover large-scale sexual offending against children.
In February 2026, Fitton was charged with 16 counts of sexual communication with a child and 20 counts of making/possession of indecent images of children - with police confirming that five child victims have been identified.
At Bradford Crown Court, Fitton admitted to all 36 counts, and then earlier this week (7 September), he was jailed for seven and a half years, plus a five year extension on licence. He will also be required to sign the sex offenders register for life, and he has been given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years.
Speaking following the sentencing this week, Detective Superintendent Alan Weekes of Bradford District Police, described Fitton as a 'very dangerous individual to children'.
"There are further investigations ongoing and we would appeal to anyone who may have been a victim to come forward to us," DSI Weekes said.
"We are keen to speak to anyone who interacted with the Snapchat accounts Kaseyfitton23, Kaseyfitton24 and MyCroft110.
"We take all reports of this nature extremely seriously and they are treated with sensitivity. We have specially trained officers who will guide you through the process and do everything we can to get justice."
Featured Image - West Yorkshire Police
News
History has never been this fun – Operation Mincemeat at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House | Review
Declan Kelly
Don’t judge a book by its cover... or in this case, a musical by its posters.
Going in completely blind, I really didn’t know what to expect from Operation Mincemeat. In fact, after the first number, I found myself thinking, I’m not sure this is quite my cup of tea.
How wrong I was.
Watching Tuesday night’s performance at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House, I was quickly proven wrong about what I thought a musical needed to be. There are no huge sets, endless costume changes, or hundreds of performers filling the stage. Instead, Operation Mincemeat delivers a genuinely funny, surprisingly heart-warming story with just five performers, while somehow teaching you a bit of history along the way.
If I had to sum this show up in two words? Belly laughter.
Based on the real-life British intelligence operation during the Second World War, the musical follows the unlikely group tasked with convincing Hitler that the Allies were planning to invade Greece rather than Sicily.
And honestly, if you didn’t already know it actually happened, you’d probably think someone had made it up. That ridiculousness is exactly what makes the show work. The comedy comes thick and fast, with characters, accents, and personalities constantly changing as the five-strong cast jump between roles.
And this is where the production really impressed me.The multi-roling is incredibly slick. A pair of glasses, a change in voice or a small shift in posture can completely transform a character, and somehow it never feels like a gimmick. Instead, it becomes part of the magic of the production. It’s a brilliant example of how much can be achieved on stage without throwing money at elaborate sets or costumes.
Credit: Matt CrockettCredit: Matt Crockett
But underneath all the comedy is where Operation Mincemeat really surprised me.
One of the standout performances for me came from Christian Andrews as Hester Leggatt. During ‘Roses’, Andrews completely captivates the audience while portraying an older woman writing about the experience of wives waiting for their loved ones away at war.
What makes the moment so effective is its simplicity. With little more than a pair of glasses, Andrews transforms into Hester, but there is never any sense that the character is being played for laughs. Instead, there is real care and respect in the performance.
Andrews captures the loneliness, vulnerability, and uncertainty of a woman whose life has been put on hold while her partner is away fighting. After so much laughter, the sudden change in tone really lands. For me, it was one of the clearest examples of the craftsmanship behind the show. Both the writing and performance manage to find genuine emotion without losing the production’s personality.
The music follows the same balance, moving between big, energetic numbers and quieter moments that give the characters room to breathe. It never feels like songs have been added simply because this happens to be a musical; they actually help tell the story.
And despite being based on a historical event, it never feels like a history lesson.
Operation Mincemeat at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House / Credit: Matt Crockett
In fact, I left the theatre wanting to find out more about the real Operation Mincemeat, which is probably the biggest compliment I can give it and definitely will be watching the film very soon.
If you’re heading to the theatre expecting huge dance numbers, powerhouse ballads and elaborate sets, then this might not be the show for you. But if you want something different, something that will have you laughing at one of the strangest stories in British history while leaving you amazed at just how slick a production can be with only five cast members, then this is absolutely worth seeing.
What I initially thought wasn’t my cup of tea ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the evening.
Funny, clever, completely bonkers at times and unexpectedly moving, Operation Mincemeat proves you don’t need a massive production to make a big impression. I have seen a lot of theatre productions in my life, but I have never seen anything as slick as this production, and that is pure talent at its finest.
Sometimes, all you need is a ridiculous true story, five brilliant performers and a whole lot of belly laughs.
Clementine Hall -
25th March 2022 
