Getting around Harrogate

Leeds Bradford Airport is just 12 miles away and is connected to Harrogate via a 30-minute journey on the dedicated 747 bus.

The airport is serviced by Jet2, BMI, KLM, Ryanair and more, and offers direct flights across Europe, Africa and Asia. A taxi to Harrogate from the airport will cost £20–£30. If you’d rather not travel far to the airport on the day you fly out, check out our hotels near Leeds Bradford Airport.

With direct links to York, Leeds and London Kings Cross, it’s easy to get into and out of Harrogate via Harrogate train station, just a five-minute walk from our Harrogate Town Centre hotel.

There are four trains an hour to Leeds, with daily services via Virgin East Coast Trains to London. There’s an on-site car park and bike parking facilities, as well as 10 Bike and Go bicycles you can use to explore Harrogate.

The 36 and 770 buses connect Harrogate with nearby Leeds, while Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon, Pateley Bridge and Boroughbridge are all linked by a comprehensive bus service.

The number 24 service is recommended for sightseeing, as it follows the River Nidd and the old railway line en route to Pateley Bridge. The Harrogate Bus Company operates the popular Leeds, Harrogate and Ripon number 36 service, which runs every 10 minutes at peak times.

With narrow streets and a compact town centre, it’s best to explore Harrogate on foot. The town is easily accessed via the A1, with the Wetherby exit often quicker than taking the South East Leeds Orbital route from the south, while the Knaresborough exit serves the north of the town. Criss-crossed by two major roads – the A61 and A59 – the town can suffer from rush hour congestion. There are 33 car parks throughout the district, including three multi-storey car parks in the town centre.

Get the most out of Harrogate with the inclusive YorTours. Not only will the Blue Badge Tourist Guides show you the varied delights of Yorkshire, they’ll also arrange airport transfers from across the UK. Take a pew in their six-seater Mercedes and design a custom-made Harrogate and Yorkshire tour using the guides’ in-depth knowledge.

Jump on a bike and explore some of the country’s best scenery. Vern Overton offers professional guides, bike hire – including carbon fibre road bikes, hybrid machines and rough-and-ready mountain bikes – and servicing and repairs. Located in between Harrogate and Pateley Bridge, they’re a short distance from the Way of the Roses cycle way, near to the newly built Fewston mountain bike trail and close to the roads that were used by the 2014 Tour de France riders.

Head into the hills and take in their outstanding natural beauty with Nidderdale Cycle Hire. As well as bike hire, they offer guides, pick-up and drop-off services, maps and carrier racks so you can get the most out of the region, including the Nidderdale Greenway which runs from Ripley to Harrogate.