The Stray park

The Stray is a 200-acre swathe of protected common land that sweeps around the southern and eastern edges of Harrogate town centre. Laid out and safeguarded by an Act of Parliament in 1778, it was created to ensure free public access to the town's mineral springs, and to this day it must remain forever open and undeveloped, giving Harrogate one of the most generous urban green spaces in England.

Bordered by elegant Victorian villas, hotels and tree-lined avenues, the Stray is crisscrossed by footpaths and dotted with mature limes, oaks and cherries that put on a spectacular display of blossom each spring. Visitors can stroll between landmark sites including the Royal Pump Room Museum, the Valley Gardens and the town's famous tea rooms, while joggers, dog walkers and cricket and rugby clubs all make daily use of the open turf.

The Stray also serves as the natural venue for many of Harrogate's biggest events, from the Great Yorkshire Show parades to Christmas markets and the Tour de Yorkshire. Whether crossed on a short walk between attractions or enjoyed as a leisurely picnic spot, it remains the green heart of one of Yorkshire's most graceful spa towns.