I went to one of Britain’s ‘poshest’ towns with £20 | UK | Travel

It’s been named among the “best” and “happiest” places to live in all of Britain. But how far would £20 get you in the affluent Victorian spa town of Harrogate?

Calling it the “poshest” town in North Yorkshire, Samantha Teasdale visited the town, after being warned about its high prices by family and friends, advice she “regretted” ignoring. 

“My first mistake was choosing to park in a multi-storey car park instead of a public one, where I would only have needed to pay for a parking disc,” she wrote on Teesside Live. 

“Like many other towns, I assumed Harrogate would provide a park and ride service, but after extensive research, it seemed it did not. As a result, I chose the Victoria Road multi-storey car park, thinking it would be cheaper and offer plenty of spaces. With a packed schedule and limited hours, every minute counted. It wasn’t until I returned to my car that I discovered the cost for my 3-hour and 20-minute stay was £6.20.”

After parking, Samantha headed straight for a Wetherspoon pub, The Winter Gardens, “a place I’d heard a lot about, especially its unique look compared to other ‘Spoons across the country”.

“Upon entering, I immediately understood the hype and was struck by its impressive interior,” she said. 

“I found a seat and ordered a pint of Pepsi Max and an 8oz Sirloin steak via the app, which cost around £13. The meal was delicious and of excellent quality.”

Despite feeling full and realising that her £20 budget had already been used up, she decided to splurge a little on dessert, and  headed to Betty’s Tea Room.

“After a short wait to enter, it was like stepping into a bygone era with seating areas decorated with refined antiques and staff donning bow ties and aprons. A hot chocolate and eclair cost me around £12 – surprisingly less than I had expected,” she said. 

The rest of her day was spent leisurely strolling around Valley Park, where she could lament her expenditure while taking in the scenery free of charge.

“The park was brimming with plants, flowers, fountains and offered a host of activities including tennis courts, a skate park and a mini-golf area,” she said. “I mentally bookmarked what activities to try when I revisit with my partner.”

She added: “So, what’s the takeaway from this experience? Maybe it’s wise to plan a visit to Harrogate post-payday or when you’ve accumulated a bit more savings. However, I am convinced that this delightful North Yorkshire town is worth exploring. My £20 budget didn’t go far, but I have no regrets!”

Harrogate has repeatedly been named among the happiest places to live in Britain, taking the very top spot in 2015  in a Rightmove survey which asked 24,000 people how they feel about where they live.