Harrogate, Yorkshire and Leeds

Harrogate is the ideal location for an international conference, being centrally located in the UK halfway between London and Edinburgh and having good transport links. Both Leeds-Bradford International Airport and Manchester Airport are within easy driving distance, there are good train connections to Harrogate from Leeds or York and there are excellent motorway links from around the UK.

Harrogate is a picturesque, cosmopolitan spa town which is famous for its shopping, café culture, fine dining and colourful gardens. It has a rich cultural heritage, evident in the abundance of elegant architecture seen throughout the town. Harrogate became famous in 1571 when the natural springs turned the town into one of the leading spas in the UK. The Royal Baths still provide an excellent escape for relaxation, as do the Valley Gardens and the botanical gardens at Harlow Carr. Harrogate is also famous for the café tea rooms, Bettys of Harrogate.

Harrogate sits roughly in the centre of Yorkshire, a region divided into North, South, East and West. The beautiful Yorkshire Dales National Park lies to the west, the North York Moors National Park is to the North and the Peak District National Park to the South. The two major cities in Yorkshire are Leeds and York, the former playing a major role in the Industrial Revolution, and the latter littered with Roman and Medieval remains.

Leeds is Yorkshire’s commercial capital, and is famous in the UK for shopping (including the “the Knightsbridge of the North” – the Victorian Arcade and Harvey Nichols), culture (the Royal Armouries, the City Museum and the City Art Gallery), nightlife, and first class restaurants. York never fails to impress, with its Roman remains, Viking and Norman invasions, religious and political influences (York Minster, the Castle Museum, the Jorvik, and the National Rail Museum are all top destinations) (www.visityork.org).