Rudding Park Hotel and Spa is the most luxurious hotel in Harrogate with 90 beautiful bedrooms, a roof-top spa, two restaurants and a private cinema. Set in a 300 acre estate, it has two golf courses and even its own wedding chapel making it a destination resort in its own right!
I booked Rudding Park Hotel for a 2-night stay at the end my Great British Road Trip. The hotel promised a relaxing stay in first-class surroundings and I can say that the hotel delivered on all fronts. Superb accommodation, friendly and efficient staff, fine dining choices and incredible spa facilities.
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The Hotel and Staff at Rudding Park Hotel
Location: Rudding Park Hotel, Follifoot, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG3 1JH
On arrival we weren’t expecting to see a 19th-century Gothic revival chapel in the car park – it turns out that Rudding Park is an extremely popular wedding venue and this is one of the reasons why. What a wonderful location for your nuptials to take place!
Stepping into the hotel lobby was like entering the drawing room of a country manor. An open fire, comfy, shabby-chic sofas and stunning paintings made us feel very welcome. The reception staff took our details and a porter showed us to our room – everything felt effortless.
Communal Spaces
Rudding Park is a large property and wandering around its corridors is like a tour of a funky art gallery. When I found the library and 1970s bubble swing I was in my element.
Outdoor Spaces
Rudding Park Hotel’s outdoor spaces are delightful. Seating areas are planted with beautiful flowers, statues and of course, acres of parkland to explore. If you love the delicate pastel colours of azaleas and rhododendrons you are in for a treat. Rudding Park has an extensive collection of them which are in full bloom in the Spring.
For golf enthusiasts, Rudding Park’s two golf courses offer the chance for a few rounds during your stay.
The Bedroom
My boudoir was in the Follifoot wing (you understand the scale of a hotel when you are in a “wing”). My super king-size bedroom was bright and contemporary with vibrant red and chartreuse green colours working together in harmony. Quirky bespoke furniture, contemporary art and luxe fabrics gave the room a vibrant and luxurious feel. A 40″ tv, free wifi, and air-conditioning finished the room off perfectly.
Decadence continued in the bathroom. A roll-top bath, walk-in shower, underfloor heating and Molton Brown products made this a personal mini spa area.
The Spa
The highlight of my stay at Rudding Park was the spa. With a stunning indoor pool and steam room and a roof-top spa area, this is why I booked this hotel. The roof-top spa terrace has a real WOW factor and even though we experienced it in the rain it was amazing. We flitted between the hydrotherapy infinity pool, herbal steam room, jacuzzi and sauna and felt completely relaxed. On a sunny day, the roof-top seating areas would be a great place to chill out and sunbathe!
There is an additional charge to use the roof-top spa and pre-booking of a time slot is required. Pay the extra – it is worth it!
Gastronomy at Rudding Park Hotel
After a relaxing day of “doing nothing at the spa”, and a long soak in the bath it was time to glam up and head to Clockhouse Restaurant, one of the finest restaurants in Harrogate.
The centrepiece of the restaurant is the striking pink glass chandelier which hangs decadently above diners. It is, however, the mouth-watering menu featuring modern British food with a twist, that steals the show. Food lovers will relish the original presentation of classic dishes.
Horto is Rudding Park’s 3 AA rosette fine dining restaurant. The concept is that there are no set starters, mains or puddings as each diner can simply choose a selection of dishes from the menu to eat individually or to share with a partner. I had booked a table here for the second evening but I didn’t like the food choices as much as the selection in Clockhouse and so I ended up going back there instead.
I love fine dining but on this occasion, it just wasn’t right for us.
Things to do in Harrogate
Harrogate is one of Yorkshire’s best towns and is worth seeing if you fancy leaving Rudding Park Hotel for a few hours. If you want to go further, a short drive will take you to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Gardens – one of the great places to visit in Yorkshire.
My Conclusion on Rudding Park Hotel
I absolutely loved this hotel and would recommend it to anyone looking for a luxurious stay in beautiful surroundings – the only thing wrong with my stay was that it wasn’t for long enough!!
This hotel stay was paid for by me and was not gifted – all opinions are my own.