Continental Yorkshire

Hubby and I had a day off work yesterday. We needed to go to Leeds to put a curtain rail and curtains up for the DQ as her student accommodation didn't have any. She decided to accompany us on our day out. She is much happier on her course in Leeds and with her new classmates, and new housemates - so fingers crossed that this continues. We feel like we have gotten the old DQ back. When she is upset or angry, she tends to take it out on us and treats us a bit like the enemy, but when she is happy, she is a delight to spend time with. We had originally devised a rainy day plan, but had to switch to Plan B when the skies appeared so blue!

We drove to Harrogate, a very pretty Yorkshire town and well worth a visit if you have never been. The DQ remarked how "Parisian" it felt - and she was right.

The houses in Harrogate are enormous, and often split into apartments selling for over £500,000 each. It is a very wealthy town and up until recently was noted for its "older" welathy citizens, but recently the population has become much younger and very trendy. It is full of "Yummy Mummy's" and "Ladies that Lunch".
It has a great selection of shops. You get the normal high street shops, department stores and also some exclusive (and out of my price range) boutiques and specialist shops. I wish I had dared take photographs in James Brindley's - If you need inspiration for Christmas decorating, head straight there!
It's wonderful to wander around the town - listening to the fantastic buskers and looking at the varied architecture.
It was once a Victorian Spa town and I believe that you can still visit the baths, but they are more like a modern day spa these days.
Agatha Christie once famously disappeared for 11 days and was found here in Harrogate. They claimed she was suffering depression and came here to get away from it all - wise choice I say.
We once had an opportunity to taste the famous waters in the pump house. If ever you get the chance - AVOID IT! Imagine bad eggs x 100 ! I can't imagine why the Victorians thought it would do them good!
We continued to wander around the town - the day was so perfect.


Harrogate has a skirt of lovely parks all the way around it. The flowers are still blooming here and everything is kept lovely.



There are many gorgeous places to eat or have refreshments.
The most famous (and possibly the most expensive) is the famous Betty's.

The window displays are always amazing - whatever the season.


Whenever we wander around towns and cities in France, we always take home a box of "patisserie", however here in Yorkshire, we brought home a lovely box of buns!!!
If you have never been to Harrogate - put it on your list.