Harrogate has always attracted the discerning shopper and this is never truer than at present. When so much of our shopping for essentials takes place online, it is refreshing to re-discover the experience of taking a little time to find something unique and perfect. Take pleasure in browsing independent shops whose collections have been curated to provide something a little bit different.

Several of the main shopping streets radiate from the town’s open floral space around them and provide a thriving home to numerous boutiques, jewellers, booksellers, shoe shops, bakeries, chocolatiers and a department store – all whilst overlooking the 200 acre Stray.

A stroll down from the Cenotaph, through the immaculately kept Montpellier Hill Gardens, reaches the town’s Montpellier Quarter where the cobbled streets and iron street furniture are more reminiscent of continental Europe. The area has long been notable for its antique shops and art galleries with a restaurant and café culture to match.

Just a stone’s throw away, across the gardens bordered by the elegant Esplanade (home to the town’s popular Christmas Market) is the delightfully named Cold Bath Road, reminding us of the town’s spa town heritage. A stroll up Cold Bath Road reveals a rich choice of cafes, restaurants and shops serving this vibrant residential area.

Many of the streets of Harrogate have their own unique personality and culture – Commercial Street, Beulah Street and Parliament Street, just to name a few well worth a visit. Of course no prestigious shopping destination should be without its shopping centre – the Victoria Shopping Centre is conveniently located opposite the railway station on the site of the town’s previous market hall and is hugely popular with visitors to the town.