Best Hotels in Knaresborough
Knaresborough Introduction
A bustling market and spa town, crammed with ancient wonders and modern delights, Knaresborough offers a picture-perfect base for holidays in North Yorkshire. This pretty town is the home of Mother Shipton's Cave, the birthplace of the legendary Tudor prophetess, site of a famous petrifying well and arguably the country's oldest attraction. Outdoor time comes easy here too, sunny days providing an ideal opportunity to row a boat under the looming arches of the town's Victorian viaduct.Hotels in Knaresborough
Knaresborough hotels come in a medley of styles but by far the most common are old school taverns, historic pubs and homely B&Bs, housed within 17th and 18th-century cottages, each one boasting cosy rooms, a friendly vibe and heaps of character. If Olde World isn't your thing, you might prefer to stay in one of the area's upmarket picks, with some offering amenities like sleek spas and exquisite on-site dining. Out-of-town options include plenty of relaxed picks for budget travellers, these no-frills properties known for their value rooms and free perks.Where to stay
Knaresborough town centre is the most obvious place to stay. This busy central hub features all manner of shops and restaurants, as well as serving up easy access to some of the town's must-visit attractions. Quieter options sit on the outskirts of town, most often offering bed and breakfast accommodation in historic cottages and refined mansions. Budget travellers might consider heading a little further out again, the discount hotels peppering the area near the Harrogate Convention Centre to the west are mostly within a 15-minute drive of Knaresborough.Things to see
Floral-patterned tea rooms, colourful public art trails and oodles of independent shops and open-air cafes give Knaresborough town centre a charming atmosphere. You can stroll along the banks of the River Nidd or climb to the cliff top to soak up the views of the viaduct and the wooded landscapes of the Nidd Gorge, from beside the ruins of Knaresborough Royal Castle. Below the castle, the sloping, meandering paths, mature trees and manicured topiary sculptures of Bebra Gardens provide an attractive change of scenery. Complementing the town's older attractions are plenty of modern must-dos, not least Henshaw's Arts and Crafts Centre and a whimsical line-up of boutique galleries, but also the town's lively annual events. The summer months play host to the Knaresborough Festival and the whimsical Bed Race, the latter a rollicking parade of jumbled beds carried through the town's alleyways and cobbled streets.How to get to Knaresborough
Knaresborough's setting along the A59 makes it pretty simple to hit town if you're making a road trip of your journey. The driving time from Leeds is around 40 minutes and, from Manchester, around an hour and a half National Express coaches and East Coast train services to Harrogate are both alternative options, should you not have your own transport, with local buses taking care of the last leg of the journey to your chosen Knaresborough hotel. Once you've settled in and are ready to explore, you'll find much of the town begs to be discovered on foot. 
