Hey there,

Although Bank holiday weekend is looming, some of us have to work all weekend. Bloody retail. So I thought I’d make the most of the sun today before I spend the rest of it selling dresses!

I’ve been to Harrogate a few times as a child and remembered it’s beautiful grand buildings and lush parks, so I thought I’d revisit seen as though I live so close now. Burley Park (the station I live nearest to in Leeds) is only a 30min train journey into Harrogate and it costs just £5.55 return with my railcard.

For those of you unacquainted with the area, Harrogate is a once fashionable spa resort in North Yorkshire. It just so happened that our visit today coincided with the StrEat Food and Family Fun festival, which is running in Valley Gardens from 26th to 29th August. It’s the UK’s first national street food and family fun festival, the atmosphere there was buzzing with a range of ages coming together for a laugh and some tasty food in the sun.

 

The choice of street food was incredibly varied from Moroccan to Caribbean to Greek. Something for everybody, all set up in very aesthetically pleasing campervans and converted vehicles, each one as kitsch and creative as the next.

They also had a tepee craft beer village and many stalls just for kids, like arts and crafts as well as performers.

 

So if you’re in the Yorkshire area this weekend and stuck on something to do, this is a perfect day out regardless of age and gender! It’s also free, so you can’t complain. Harrogate in general appeared to have a vast array of different cuisines on offer, with gorgeous looking Egyptian and Chinese Restaurants that I’ll definitely have to come back and check out.

I love any excuse to have some cracking food in the sun with a bevvy in hand, so bank holidays (especially a warm one) are always fun. I hope you all have a fab weekend, whether you’re at Leeds/Reading, out having fun, or stuck in work like me!

Thanks again!

Em

x