Knaresborough is a picturesque market town in North Yorkshire, England, four miles east of Harrogate. The town is bounded to the west by the deep gorge of the River Nidd, with a railway viaduct vaulting over.
The Tourist Information Centre is on Market Place HG5 8AG, near the castle. In summer it's open M-W F 10AM-5PM, Th Sa 10AM-1PM.
See also Harrogate, as many transport routes come that way.
Knaresborough railway station 📍 is on a loop of line connecting Leeds (45 minutes, two per hour) and York (30 minutes, hourly); Northern Rail run this service. Anywhere else will involve a change at Leeds or York. York is the better connection for London Kings Cross, journey time under 2 hours.
Note that at York station, the loop train via Knaresborough is shown as going to Burley Park, in the Headingley/University area of Leeds, to avoid sending travellers to Leeds a long way round. Conversely at Leeds station, the loop train may be shown as going to Poppleton, a small halt just outside York.
On trains arriving in Knaresborough from Leeds or Harrogate, keep your eyes open when you pass over the viaduct for picturesque views of the town and the River Nidd before you pull into the station.
Between Harrogate and Knaresborough use frequent Bus 1, see "Get around" below.
Bus 780 runs between Knaresborough and Wetherby, M-Sa every two hours, taking 30 min. It runs along B6164 via Little Ribston, and doesn't take the main road through Spofforth.
Bus 22 runs from Harrogate via Knaresborough to Ripon, M-Sa every two hours, taking an hour. Taking Bus 1 into Harrogate then going north to Ripon on Bus 36 takes about the same time. From Ripon, Bus 22 continues east to York, but you'd only take that route to reach intermediate small places such as Kirk Hammerton and Boroughbridge.
Neither National Express nor Megabus call at Knaresborough.
By road, Knaresborough is on the A59 between Harrogate and York.
Knaresborough is compact and easily explored on foot. Cycling is a good option for out-of-town, e.g. Ripley Castle. It's only four miles to Harrogate but this is along the main road A59, which is often busy.
Harrogate Bus 1 runs from Harrogate bus station through Knaresborough (20 min) to St James Retail Park on the eastern edge of town. Buses run every 8 min or so, from 6AM to midnight.
Harrogate is worth a day to explore, and has better eating & drinking options.
Walk along the river and take in the scenic views.
Rent a rowing boat for £6-7 per person (per hour) and go up and down the river.
Castle Vaults (Castle Inn), 23 Castlegate, HG5 8AR, 54.00781°, -1.46778°, +44 1423 860 423. 2021-01-30
The Crown Inn, 71-75 High St, HG5 0HB, 54.00915°, -1.46885°, +44 1423 867 376. 8AM-Midnight. run by JD Wetherspoon 2021-01-30
George & Dragon Inn, 9 Briggate, HG5 8BQ, 54.00613°, -1.46664°, +44 1423 864 645. 2021-01-30
The Groves Inn (The Orange Grove), 30 Market Pl, HG5 8AG, 54.008420°, -1.46727°, +44 1423 863 022. 2021-01-30
The Hart, 4 Silver St, HG5 8AJ, 54.00789°, -1.46611°, +44 1423 864 913. 2021-01-30
Mother Shipton Inn, Low Bridge, HG5 8HZ, 54.00874°, -1.47561°. 2021-01-30
Wellington Inn, 23 Briggate, HG5 8BQ, 54.00595°, -1.46693°, +44 1423 862 582. 2021-01-30
Best Western Dower House Hotel & Spa, Bond End HG5 9AL (Off A59 at main crossroads), 54.01130°, -1.47270°, +44 844 387 6045. 3-star hotel in 15th-century red-brick manor. B&B double from £130 2018-08-03
Newton House, 5 York Place HG5 0AD, +44 1423 863539. Good value B&B in an 18th C town house. B&B double £100 2020-08-09
As of Jan 2021, Knaresborough has 4G from EE, O2 and Vodafone, but only a poor patchy signal from Three. 5G has not reached this area.
2011's UK loo of the year is a handy, clean (and free!) place to spend a penny, in Fisher Street car park behind Sainsbury's.
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