Being married to a Brit means that there are occasions when, luckily for us, it’s necessary to travel to the UK. Even before I met David, I had a certain affinity for England – London especially – and last week I was fortunate enough to be able to explore more of the regal country with a Harrogate spa weekend.
To celebrate their milestone birthdays and a silver anniversary, David’s brother and sister-in-law hosted everyone on a Harrogate spa weekend. Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England which is about two hours north of London by train.
David and I flew into London and spent a night in our favorite city. In London, we stayed at The Principal Hotel, a grand, newly-renovated property on Russell Square. We had just enough time to do a little shopping, catch a cocktail at the posh Connaught Hotel Bar and enjoy a stand-out dinner at Neptune Restaurant, the hotel’s modern seafood restaurant.
The next morning, we headed to St. Pancras station and jumped on the Great Northern Rail to Leeds, England. From Leeds, we got an Uber to Harrogate.
Harrogate is a quaint, charming town and when we arrived for our Harrogate spa weekend, I immediately felt transported to what is most certainly the quintessential British countryside. The Rudding Park Hotel was the perfect location for the weekend set on 300 acres of land and boasting a modern spa facility with an indoor pool, sauna and rooftop spa which includes a hydrotherapy infinity pool, luxury steam room and a garden sauna cabin among plenty of other relaxation experiences.
David and I both opted for a massage and it was bliss. After our massage, we spent hours using the facilities. It was a sunny, but chilly day making it perfect for sipping champagne in the outdoor spa.
Before our spa experience, we headed into the town of Harrogate to roam the centuries-old streets. There are both new and traditional shops and plenty of old pubs and coffee houses to explore along with a plethora of restaurants. Betty’s Tea Room, a traditional tea house with a rich history, is definitely worth a visit for High Tea, but be prepared to wait in line. You can skip the line and head straight into the gift store/bakery which is what we did. There you can browse gifts of pre-packaged teas, loaf cakes and biscuits or you can buy freshly-made pastries and breads. We got a Treacle Tart to share and also a Yorkshire Parkin to give as a gift.
Overall, it was a short stay, but we made the most of our Harrogate spa weekend and will definitely go back when we find ourselves with a few days to spare the next time we’re in the UK.
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