The Weekenders - Search for weekend getaways around the UK.

Rudding Park - Harrogate

5|4|3|2|1

A-list luxury in the heart of Yorkshire

Chic, stylish, luxurious – for Rudding Park, think Hotel Babylon in the depths of North Yorkshire. This gorgeous hotel is the perfect place to spend a luxurious weekend, and while the lovely town of Harrogate is on your doorstep, it’s tempting not to set foot outside the hotel gates for the whole of your stay.

Set inside a beautiful Regency house amidst acres of grounds, Rudding Park has become one of the North of England’s premier places to stay. The fifty bedrooms are classically modern, but sumptuous, with huge beds, fantastic en-suite bathrooms and the latest in DVD and stereo technology. Sash windows give great views over the surrounding parkland, keeping that country hotel feeling in all the rooms. But if you really want to splash the cash, the hotel’s three corner suites, with double-aspect windows, sitting rooms with fireplaces and enormous bathrooms are to die for.

The public areas at Rudding Park are just as special, with roaring fires and traditional Regency elements, mixing with chic and modern styling. The Clocktower Restaurant and Bar looks great, and is highly acclaimed for its menus (but more about that later…)

Outside, amid the Park’s stunning estate, which would take at least half a day to explore fully, are some of Yorkshire’s best golf facilities, with eighteen-hole and six- hole courses, plus a driving range and high-tech training equipment. The young and enthusiastic pro’s at Rudding Park make for a non-fuddy duddy golf club that is perfect for beginners and obsessives alike.

In fact, one of the best things about Rudding Park is its staff. Friendly, without being cloying and professional, without being oily, they’ll make you feel really welcome.

Where is it?

Rudding Park is ten minutes’ drive from the centre of Harrogate, the famous North Yorkshire spa town. The town centre offers great shopping, some fantastic places to eat and a whole heap of history, thanks to its reputation as one of the places to visit in Victorian England. Remnants of its past as a spa resort still draw the crowds, including the pump rooms and Harrogate’s famous Turkish Baths (www.harrogate.gov.uk/turkishbaths Tel: 01423 556746), where you can still enjoy top-of-the-range treatments and day spa packages in an authentically-restored piece of history.

If you fancy getting out and about, the beautiful scenery of North Yorkshire is never far away. The market town of Knaresborough is only ten minutes’ drive from Rudding Park, where you can visit its famous gorge and Mother Shipton’s Cave (www.mothershiptonscave.com Tel: 01423 864600) – at over 400 years old, officially England’s oldest tourist attraction.

The gorgeous medieval city of York is only 20 miles from Harrogate, and a lovely place to spend a day. For all the best things to see and places to eat in the city, check out The Weekender's Guide to York.

Where can I eat?

Rudding Park’s Clocktower restaurant is one of the most popular restaurants in North Yorkshire. Spread over several stylish rooms – a dining room with hand-painted Brazilian wallpaper and a huge pink crystal chandelier, a conservatory encompassing a beautiful olive tree and a cosy and lively bar area – it’s a great place to spend an evening. Award-winning chef, Stephanie Moon, creates delicious seasonal lunch and dinner menus, using local ingredients, which can be enjoyed in any of Clocktower’s dining spaces.

Harrogate is an obvious place to head for if you need an alternative, the town’s most famous foodie institution being Betty’s café and tea rooms (www.bettys.co.uk Tel: 01423 502746). This Yorkshire mecca offers the best range of cakes, pastries, loaves and teas in the country, and has also expanded its menu to include delicious lunch and early dinner options.

Top of page

This gorgeous hotel is the perfect place to spend a luxurious weekend, and while the lovely town of Harrogate is on your doorstep, it’s tempting not to set foot outside the hotel gates for the whole of your stay.