Harrogate is part of the “golden triangle” formed by the three points of Leeds, Harrogate and York. 20 miles north of Leeds and 20 miles west of York, Harrogate is a spa and floral resort, a flourishing, if still genteel town, where the gentry and their commercial and industrial counterparts visited to “take the waters” in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Pump Room still exists close to College, but only the strongest constitution would drink the sulphurous water today! There grew up large and impressive hotels to cater for these visitors and they now form the backbone of the town’s main industries – tourism, exhibitions and conferences. 19th century Bradford mill owners built splendid houses in Harrogate and these remain, giving the town a similar ambience to other spa towns like Cheltenham and Bath. Some of these very handsome properties are now the boarding houses in which the College boarders reside.
Harrogate is the ideal location for a school. We have magnificent open country within ten minutes walk, There is a thriving town centre with a whole range of (predominantly upmarket) shopping and a tremendous variety of restaurants also within ten minutes walking distance of the School. A lively and enterprising theatre and a very good local cinema, both of which the girls make use, are situated in the heart of the town. The recently and magnificently restored Royal Hall, originally built in 1903 and the last surviving Kursaal in mainland Britain, is also a venue for important cultural events, not least Harrogate’s annual International Arts Festival.
The university and cathedral cities of York and Durham are close at hand and provide excellent cultural opportunities for our girls, as do the newer cities of Leeds and Bradford, both with their cosmopolitan communities and their universities. Leeds, as the home of the West Yorkshire Playhouse and Opera North, and as a commercial and sporting centre, has much to offer those at school in Harrogate.
Harrogate is favoured too by its wider transport links. Leeds/Bradford International Airport is 8 miles away and Manchester Airport, the UK’s busiest airport outside of London, is just ninety minutes away by road or train. Trains take about two hours from King’s Cross to York or Leeds, from both of which there are frequent connections to Harrogate. Access to the M1/A1 can be gained at Wetherby, just 8 miles from Harrogate, and these roads, of course, link to the country’s wider motorway system.
As a vibrant Conference and Spa town, Harrogate has a number of Hotels and Guest Houses. The Old Swan Hotel is located next door to Harrogate Ladies’ College.
Harrogate is central in the UK – view a larger map.