The Balmoral Hotel

Harrogate, United Kingdom [view map]

Style: Opulent Victorian manor
Setting: Leafy spa-town backstreets

With Victorian architecture, Edwardian antiques and strikingly contemporary furnishings all clamouring for the attention, this boutique hotel in Harrogate mixes past and present with boldness and flair.

Need to know

Rooms: 23, including three suites.
Rates: £140–£220, including breakfast and tax.
Check-out: 11am. Later check-out may be possible, but there’s a small charge after midday.
Facilities: Free WiFi throughout. Guests also have use of the pool and gym at the Academy Spa five minutes’ drive away. In rooms: flatscreen HDTV, Etro toiletries.
Children: The Balmoral is more suited to grown-up guests.
Also: Pets are welcome for a £5 charge and a promise not to leave dogs alone in rooms.

In the know

Our favourite rooms: Dripping with decadence, the Windsor Suite is the most spacious of the hotel's rooms, boasting an imperious, draped bed and a sultry combination of bold blood reds and blacks in its furnishings. The two mini suites and the superior rooms generally have four-poster beds – ask when booking.
Packing tips: If you plan to immerse yourself in Harrogate's soothing spa waters, bring along some scented soaps to neutralise any lingering sulphurous whiffs.
Also: The hotel’s car park is on the small side, but guests can collect permits to park on the street.

Food & drink

Harrogate hotels: The Balmoral Hotel, food and drink

Hotel restaurant: Sister restaurant to its Hoxton namesake, the Harrogate Grille is a suave eaterie in the ‘modern bistro mould’ offering open brickwork, yellow leather banquettes, and a cunning blend of classic French and English dishes.
Dress code: Dapper and dandyish.
Top table: The corner table for two in the bay window is made for a romantic rendezvous. In summer, take to the terrace and dine alongside the tree-lined street.
Last orders: The Grille cools down at 11pm, but cocktails are shaken until midnight.
Room service: The restaurant will happily cater to in-room diners during its opening hours. Drinks are available 24 hours a day.
Hotel bar: The Harrogate Grille comes complete with a cocktail lounge, where hotel guests can sample zingy Rhubarbellinis and zesty cherry-tomato Grille Marys, or enjoy the welcome renaissance of the 50cl wine carafe.

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Smith concierge

If you’d prefer to talk to someone, or you’re having trouble booking online, ring our travel team on 0845 034 0700 (+44 20 8987 4312 from outside the UK). We guarantee you’ll get the best available rates, and we don’t charge a booking fee.