Why Harrogate?
Harrogate
is a charming and vibrant Victorian spa town surrounded
by the beautiful countryside of the Yorkshire
Dales, and offers its residents an excellent quality
of life. The town was recently voted the 3rd best
place to live in Britain by the Channel 4 “Location,
Location” programme based on figures relating
to crime, education, employment and environment.
The town has many claims to fame including the
Stray with its 200 acres of park land in the centre
of the town, Betty’s Tea Rooms, the Turkish
Baths, the Harrogate Flower Show, and the International
Conference Centre.
Leeds,
Bradford and York are in easy commuting distance
and there are very good rail links to London and
other major U.K cities. Leeds Bradford Airport
is less than thirty minutes away and offers both
domestic and continental flights.
The
town offers excellent schools at junior and senior
level in both the state and private sectors. Higher
Education and Adult and Community Learning are
provided at Harrogate College which is a campus
of Leeds Metropolitan University.
The
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust has
a three star rating and within the town there
is also a local well respected private hospital.
Leeds can offer additional hospitals and specialist
departments if required.
Harrogate
boasts a nationally renowned local theatre, summer
music and drama festivals and an excellent large
concert venue at the town’s Conference Centre.
Numerous other theatres and music venues can also
be found in Leeds, York and Bradford.
Sporting
facilities in the town are extensive and include:
National
League Rugby Club
Semi-Professional Football Club
Men and Ladies Hockey Club
Championship Sized Swimming and Diving Pool
Sports Centre
Several Golf Clubs
Two Squash Clubs
Four Tennis Clubs including one with indoor facilities
Numerous Gyms and Health Clubs
Martial Arts Clubs
Numerous Amateur Football Clubs
The younger members of the community are also
very well catered for on the sporting front with
junior league sides at all the clubs and an abundance
of holiday coaching. Harrogate also has a strong
tradition of music and in addition to the large
selection of private tutors and classes the Saturday
Music Centre is very well attended by a host of
young musicians.
There
is a large and impressive range of restaurants
and bars within the area and a variety of nightclubs.
Smart streets of stores and boutiques and small
mews filled with antique and gift shops make it
an enviable and sophisticated shopping centre.
The attractiveness of the town itself is matched
by the stunning countryside surrounding it. To
the north are the rolling Yorkshire Dales, to
the east the gentler countryside of the Vale of
York and beyond to the coast, and to the south
and west the heather moors of the Bronte Country.
There
are many attractive villages surrounding the town
and these offer an alternative to town living.
Many retain strong communities with their primary
school, village hall, shop and post office. Village
living offers residents the opportunity to be
a country dweller whilst still being able to enjoy
the many facilities of Harrogate.
