3 / 94
3
JUNE 22–25
TH
2016, HARROGATE, UK
About Harrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire,
the town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters and RHS Harlow
Carr gardens. Nearby is the Yorkshire Dales national park and the Nidderdale AONB. Harrogate
grew out of two smaller settlements, High Harrogate and Low Harrogate, in the 17
th
century.
Since 2013, polls have consistently voted the town as "the happiest place to live" in Britain. In
2013 Harrogate was declared to be the third most romantic destination in the world, beating off
rivals including Paris, Rome and Vienna.
Harrogate spa water contains iron, sulphur and common salt. The town became known as
'The English Spa' in the Georgian Era, after its waters were discovered in the 16
th
century. In the
17
th
and 18
th
centuries its 'chalybeate' waters (containing iron) were a popular health treatment,
and the influx of wealthy but sickly visitors contributed significantly to the wealth of the town.
Harrogate railway station and Harrogate bus station in the town centre provide transport con-
nections. Leeds Bradford International Airport is 10 miles (16 km) south-west of Harrogate.
The main roads through the town are the A61, connecting Harrogate to Leeds and Ripon, and
the A59, connecting the town to York and Skipton. Harrogate is also connected to Wetherby
and the A1, by the A661. The town of Harrogate had a population of 71,594; the urban area
comprising Harrogate and nearby Knaresborough had a population of 85,128, while the figure
for the much wider Borough of Harrogate, comprising Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and
a large rural area, was 151,339.