Home
Top Things to Do at The Old Swan, Harrogate
We’re only a few minutes walk from Harrogate International Centre and Harrogate Theatre
Harrogate itself is famous for its Pump Room and elegant Spa buildings, wide open green spaces and, of course, Betty’s famous tea rooms. For further information about events and activities in and around Harrogate click here.
Harrogate’s most famous spa building, the Royal Pump Room, is built over the site of the strongest sulphur spring in England and the water can still be sampled today. The museum features some original Royal Bath treatments, as well as fine examples of ceramics, jewellery and costume. Nearby is The Mercer Art Gallery, originally opened in 1806 as The Promenade Room. This houses the Permanent Fine Art Collection, plus two lively exhibition spaces.
In July the town and the Hotel hosts the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival as well as a series of festivals throughout the year.
For racing click here, and for golf at Oakdale Golf Club near Harrogate click here.
Close by is the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales with walks, places of interest to visit and activities for all ages.
Things to do throughout Yorkshire
Events
Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival
17 – 20 Jul 2025 | Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate | home of crime
The world-class, award-winning Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival returns to the magnificent Old Swan Hotel this summer in July!
Celebrating the very best in crime fiction, the Festival is a firm date in the literary calendar and has achieved international acclaim for its programming, organisation and atmosphere.
Award-winning crime novelist Ruth Ware was acting as this year’s Festival Chair, following in the footsteps of Ian Rankin, Elly Griffiths, Denise Mina, Lee Child, Val McDermid and Vaseem Khan.
Special guests on this year’s incredible line-up, curated by Mina, include crime fiction titans such as: Lynda La Plante, Paula Hawkins, Tess Gerritsen, Michael Connelly, Lucy Foley, Charlie Higson, John Connolly, CL Taylor and Kathy Reichs. This year’s programme is looking to be one of the best yet.
Pateley Bridge Walks – The Dales
The Old Swan is just a short trip from the historic little town of Pateley Bridge.
This is the starting point for stunning walks in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The most popular route is known as ‘Nidderdale Way’ which is a 53 mile circular route which loops around the stunning scenery of the Nidd Valley.
We’d be delighted to suggest a sightseeing itinerary.
City of York
41 miles, York is the jewel of the North – a flourishing city packed full of museums and attractions including the famous Jorvik Viking Centre, The Shambles, and the Minster which towers over the rooftops. Just outside the city bar walls you will also find the National Railway Museum where you can discover 300 years of history and 1,000,000 objects that changed the world in the UK’s largest railway museum. It’s a must for any visit to this part of Yorkshire.
Visit York
RHS Harlow Carr
RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate has a beautiful array of growing landscapes making it one of the RHS’s most exciting gardens.
Set in a valley and covering 68 acres, the garden’s acidic soil makes it a fabulous environment for growing rhododendrons and Himalayan blue poppies. Explore running and still water features, woodland and wildflower meadows.
If you prefer to walk to RHS Harlow Carr leaving you’re car the Old Swan Hotel the walk is 1.6 miles through the Valley Gardens which will take approximately 33 minutes each way.
Curtain Up
Combine a stay at The Old Swan with a performance at Harrogate Theatre.
A visit to this lovely Victorian theatre will whisk you back to the days of music hall.
Today the recently renovated theatre has a wide range of shows and we are delighted to offer a pre-theatre dinner for you.