Discover a true hidden gem of Harrogate when you step inside the Mercer Art Gallery, which was once the Promenade Rooms for wealthy spa visitors and has since been transformed into a stunning exhibition and event space.

Take in exciting exhibitions featuring artworks from regional artists, Harrogate’s Art Collection and touring national displays, as you wander around this cultural delight in the heart of Harrogate. (Open from Tuesday to Sunday and on Bank Holiday Mondays.)

Visit the Royal Pump Room Museum and step back in time to the original Harrogate health and wellbeing experience. Find out what the early visitors to Harrogate could expect as they arrived to “take the waters”, and learn about the lives of those who worked within the pump room – home to Europe’s strongest sulphur well, which you’ll smell before you see – and which used to welcome 15,000 visitors each summer.

Continue your cultural journey around Harrogate at St Wilfrid’s Church, a Grade I listed church just a stone’s throw from the centre of Harrogate with breathtaking attributes and a number of unique historical features. The church was envisioned in the early twentieth century by Temple Lushington Moore, whose characteristic Gothic designs led to his becoming a leading Victorian architect. Built as the parish church for the Duchy estate, St Wilfrid’s remains a working parish church today.

Nidderdale, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) within the Harrogate district boasts some of the most spectacular landscapes of the north of England. Head to The Coldstones Cut and breathe in the incredible vistas of the North Yorkshire countryside whilst exploring Yorkshire’s biggest and highest public artwork. Overlooking Coldstones Quarry, a series of walkways and platforms invites you to experience the magic of Nidderdale’s panoramic views from a new perspective.

Head to Stump Cross Caverns and see Nidderdale in a new light – underground! This fascinating series of underground caverns and passageways were discovered, accidentally, in the late nineteenth century by lead miners and were shortly afterwards opened to the public. Guests have been welcomed ever since, to explore the show caves, learn about the prehistoric creatures that once inhabited them and discover more about the unique natural geography of the North Yorkshire Dales moors.

Get closer to the story of Nidderdale and step into the past at Nidderdale Museum. Established by a group of enthusiasts who were keen to preserve a way of life that was evolving rapidly in the second half of the twentieth century, the museum chronicles 150 years of Nidderdale’s history, with exhibits ranging from agricultural and industrial items to transport and traditional costume. Open daily (afternoons) from 1^st April, Saturday and Sunday during the winter months.

Take a journey out across the moors and head into pretty Skipton, a traditional North Yorkshire market town at the southern gateway to the Dales. Enjoy browsing the bespoke shops and pausing for refreshments at the independent coffee shops and eateries. Then head up from the high street and visit Skipton Castle, one of England’s most well-preserved medieval castles. Find out how the impressive 900 year old stronghold managed to survive a three-year siege during the seventeenth century

Discover the fabulous gardens of Beningbrough, currently undergoing an exciting re-design from RHS Gold Award winner Andy Sturgeon. Stroll along the ha-ha walk with its sweet spring blooms and relax by the fruit trees, a joy to behold when they blossom in spring. After exploring the formal gardens, take a bite to eat at the restaurant or stop for a picnic. And if you have time before heading home, take a longer walk amongst the woodland and wilder areas of the 370-acre estate.