Visit the Royal Pump Room Museum to learn about the development of Harrogate from a small village to a world-renowned Georgian and Victorian-era spa town. Discover the sulphuric springs that at one time attracted up to 15,000 visitors every summer for their medicinal properties. See impressions of Harrogate from its spa town heyday and hear stories of famous visitors.
Find the museum located inside the Royal Pump House, built in 1842 over the spring with the highest sulphur content. Hundreds of glasses of water were served daily to affluent visitors while an exterior tap was available for the poor. Among the most illustrious visitors was Tsarina Alexandra of Russia. Visit the building’s basement to smell the wells and understand why the water was so desirable and its role in the town’s growth.
Re-creations of shops and a hotel give an idea of how the town looked in the 1800s and 1900s. Discover The Stray, a large park that connects the town’s springs and wells. There are photos of traditional spa treatments and displays of antique bicycles such as a penny-farthing. Read about other illustrious visitors, including Charles Dickens, who described the town as “the queerest place with the strangest people in it.”
Museum-goers of all ages will enjoy exploring ancient Egypt at the permanent Egyptology exhibition. Draw hieroglyphics on papyrus paper and make beaded jewelry. Try on typical Egyptian clothing and headdresses.
Located in the Montepellier Quarter of Harrogate City Centre, the museum is a 10-minute walk from Harrogate train station. Drivers can use a nearby metered parking lot. The Mercer Art Gallery and Royal Hall theater are other attractions in the area.
The Royal Pump Room Museum is open daily from February to December. There’s an admission fee, with discounts are available for children. Purchase a combined ticket for admission to the museum and Knaresborough Castle, which is about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) away to the east.
