Visiting Harrogate? Take a peek at our go-to-guide for visiting the northern town this festive season... read more
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! During the festive period, we love to see what other towns and cities have on offer. Making our way to Harrogate for the country living show, we decided to see what else makes the northern town so special. Nestled a short train ride away from York, Harrogate is another beautiful northern town full of quirky cafes and boutique shops. Perfect as a getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life, we round up the best things to see and do in Harrogate this season…
The Country Living Fair
Our first stop was of course the Country Living Fair. Having already made our way to the London version earlier this month, it was time to see what our northern counterpart had to offer!
Our Lori Cranberry fabric making it’s way onto the Country Living Stand!
Making our way around the huge hall, we stopped off at the Christmassy of stands. Our particular favourites include the craft stands of course, from the likes of cool crafting and the crafty kit company, the perfect one stop for getting your craft on this season. We also loved being transformed into a winter wonderland with the help of some magical lighting stands…
Unfortunately the fair is finished for another year, but you can still view most of the stands websites online. With such a short walk from Harrogate town centre, it’s definitely a must do for next year if visiting!
Betty’s Afternoon Tea
A trip to Harrogate wouldn’t be complete without a stopping off at the famous Betty’s! Harrogate is where Betty’s originated, which has now made its way to York. The windows have been transformed for the festive season, now including mince pies and Christmas puddings! The beautiful setting, right in the heart of Harrogate, is the perfect quintessentially English spot for this tea shop.
Betty’s offers up a delicious array of hot and cold food, from finger sandwiches, to full meals, to of course sweet treats! We treated ourselves to a scrumptious macaroon and lovely lemon tea, ideal as a quick refreshment before making our way around the rest of the town…
Harrogate Christmas Market
There really is no better time to visit the town than at Christmas. Currently in full swing is the Harrogate Christmas Market, a free market with plenty of festive stalls from food to gift. Of course any Christmas market wouldn’t be complete without roasted chestnuts and a visit from Rudolph himself! Make sure you go there on a Thursday if you want to spot Santa and pals. A great place to take the little one’s over the holidays.
Laura Ashley Harrogate
Of course, there was one final stop in Harrogate for us; our Laura Ashley store! Now full of festive gifts and occassionwear, it’s the perfect time to pop in store for everything you need for a stylish Christmas. Our friendly staff are on hand to help you with any decorating or style dilemmas, and we’re offering a huge array of home and fashion over two floors. Plus, with it looking so festive, what better excuse is there than to start Christmas shopping?
There we have it, your guide to Harrogate this festive season. Always a beautiful place to visit, Harrogate is worth a look even if you don’t get up to much. We’re quite happy walking around and taking in the beautiful surroundings! Have you been to Harrogate? Tweet us your thoughts @LauraAshleyUK