Yorkshire Dales National Park and the Nidderdale AONB are 13 mi away from the town centre.

In the 17th century, Harrogate grew out of two smaller settlements, High Harrogate and Low Harrogate. For three consecutive years (2013-2015), polls voted the town as "the happiest place to live" in Britain. Harrogate spa water contains iron, sulphur, and common salt