Ilkley

Ilkley or famously known as the spa town of the City of Bradford is a civil parish located in the Wharfe Valley towards the southern end of Yorkshire Dales. The town became increasingly popular among tourists in the nineteenth century. Its claim to fame was its fresh air, beautiful countryside, moorlands, and luxurious accommodation. Consequently, a large part of the town’s economy was dependent on countryside tourism. This makes it evident that the town is home to some of the best Victorian architecture. This includes floral displays, wide streets, and vintage first-class hotels.

The landscape of the town is admirable as such that the Moors of Ilkley is even described in a folk song, an unofficial anthem of Yorkshire. In addition to tourism, Ilkley has one of the largest cycling clubs in the country. It has been a venue for multiple mega cycling events such as Tour de France, Tour of Britain, and Tour de Yorkshire. Alike cycling other sports are also given great if not equal importance in Ilkley. It is home to the third oldest golf club in Yorkshire and has its football club which provides training to over 650 members.

Similar to its neighboring towns, Ilkley’s history dates back to the bronze era. Coherently, the town has an amazing heritage and cultural history. Ilkley’s Roman Fort is arguably the oldest architecture of the town that dates back to 79 AD. Moreover, artifacts from the Anglo-Saxon era were also discovered from the city. As it is a tourist location, several local shops are scattered throughout the town. Apart from this, it has two museums The Manor House and Ilkley Toy Museum. These contain prehistoric items and toys that even date back to 350 Bc.

With many festivals such as the Ilkley Literature Festival and multiple avenues for countryside adventures, it is a town worth a visit.

Covering Ilkley and surrounding areas such as:

Otley

Situated in-between the West borders of North and West Yorkshire, Otley is a fast-growing market town. As per the census of 2011, the total population of Otley was 13,668. Apart from being a marketplace, it is also a civil parish and acts as a bridging point between the City of Leeds and Yorkshire Dales. Henceforth, it has strategic importance of its own. It is believed that Otley has been a part of the English civilization since prehistoric times. Archeologists were able to find remains of civilizations on both sides of River Wharfe that even date back to the Bronze Age. Thus, it can safely be said that Otley has been a breeding ground for our ancestors at some point.

As a result, it is to no surprise that Otley has a rich cultural and historical background. Not only was the town a place of residence for The Archbishops of York but also played a vital role in the industrial revolution. The Wharfedale Printing Machine was developed and produced in Otley and by the 1900s printing was a major industry of the town with over 2000 employees. The town also played its due role in the World Wars when it housed the Northern Command Gas and Grenade School.

The medieval designs and architecture of this imperial town such as the seven arched bridge would simply leave you enthralled. This bridge was initially constructed in 1228 and the most recent renovation took place in 1957, which is still quite old. The community in Otley is based upon a diverse culture where multiple organizations actively take part to bring out the best version of society. The town is home to five Morris dance sides namely, The Wharfedale Wayzgoose, The Buttercross Belles, Flash Company, Hellz Bellz, and Kitchen Taps. Moreover, it also has two drama groups and a poetry society. An annual Folk Festive is also held in September alongside Victorian Fayre in December, June, and May.

Imagine walking down cobbled streets filled with local stores selling exquisite and unique items. And once you are tired of walking you sit down in one of the alluring gardens of the city having a cute little picnic with your loved one. This is Otley for you!

Covering Otley and surrounding areas such as:

Harrogate

Sited in North Yorkshire, Harrogate is a tourist destination famous for its spa waters and alluring gardens. Alike many other spa towns of the country, Harrogate’s claim to fame was its chalybeate and Sulphur rich water springs which were first discovered in 1571 by William Slingsby. These spa towns are given the name as such because the water has similar properties when compared to the springs of the Belgian town of Spa. After the discovery of multiple mineral springs, the town became known as “The English Spa” during the Georgian Era. The first well of Harrogate that had chalybeate-rich water is known as the Tewit Well and is still present there.

The Discovery of mineral-rich water played a vital role in the development of the town. Sick visitors from all over the country would come to the town as chalybeate water was a popular treatment for multiple diseases. This allowed the town to grow from two small settlements, high Harrogate and low Harrogate to what we call now Harrogate. From the years 2013-2005, Harrogate was also voted as “the happiest place to live” in the whole of Britain. The town also won Britain in Bloom twice, in 2003 and 2016 respectively, under the large town category.

The town also has multiple historical architectures which include The Winter Garden Baths opened in 1897, The Royal Pump Room, and The Royal Bath House to name a few. Apart from its heritage and horticulture, Harrogate is also a business town. It is home to one of the largest conference and exhibition centers in Europe. Hence, it is no surprise that Harrogate International Centre draws a large number of visitors every year. In 2016 alone, 300,000 visitors stopped by the town for conferences.

If you want to relax on a weekend away from home with all the urban facilities yet being close to nature “The Jewel of North” is the place to be in. Not only does the town have charming gardens and heritage sites but also has a culturally rich environment. So, what are you waiting for?

Covering Harrogate and surrounding areas such as:

Knaresborough

North Leeds

Covering North Leeds and surrounding areas such as:

North Leeds

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