Leave the car behind
Exploring Knaresborough and Boroughbridge by bus
- Stories & Inspiration
- Leave Car Behind
A morning in Knaresborough
As many of us choose to leave our cars at home and use public transport during our getaways, the Harrogate area is the perfect place to head for. With direct trains from London Kings Cross and from the North and South via Leeds and York plus an excellent local bus network, sustainable travel could not be easier. Make Harrogate your base and take advantage of the great connections to the surrounding towns and further afield and you will see so much more, and we promise you won’t miss your car.
Knaresborough and Boroughbridge are great places to explore using public transport, so you can settle into a comfy seat and take in the fantastic views. Many buses are electric and have free WiFi and USB charging points too, so you can keep your phone charged and ready to take photos of your visit!
Mother Shipton's Cave and Petrifying Well
From Harrogate bus station situated in the centre of the shopping area and conveniently located next to the main train station, you can hop on a bus to the historic market town of Knaresborough (service number: 1a/1b/1c/1d). You can alight at the bus stop opposite the oldest visitor attraction in England, Mother Shipton’s Cave.
After purchasing a ticket from the ticket booth, wander through the woodland that runs along the edge of the picturesque River Nidd and make your way down the steps to the mysterious Petrifying Well and the Cave where the prophetess, Mother Shipton was born. Little teddy bears hang down below the well face and as the water runs over them, they gradually turn to stone. At the end of the estate, the little museum is full of artefacts telling the story of Knaresborough and there is also a great gift shop, café, and adventure playground for the little ones.
Knaresborough Castle & Museum
A short walk away, across the River Nidd, perched high on the crag is Knaresborough Castle. The Courthouse Museum in the castle grounds tells the history of the town and its connection to the English Civil War. The museum is also home to the original Tudor courtroom where prisoners were tried after being brought over from the Castle dungeon.
On a warm day, why not explore Kings Tower before buying an ice cream and taking a seat to enjoy the stunning view across the river with the magnificent viaduct an impressive focal point. You can also enjoy pitch and putt golf and bowls in the grounds which are also home to a monthly artisan market and outdoor performances in the summer.
An Afternoon in Boroughbridge
After grabbing some lunch, walk to the small bus station where you can catch the bus to Boroughbridge (service number: 21), a small market town full of little shops and cafés. This bus serves many of the pretty little villages between Knaresborough and Boroughbridge and you can choose to hop off the bus in one of these villages for a pub lunch or countryside walk. The bus journey finishes in the pretty St James Square which is surrounded by old buildings with the ornate Market Well at its centre.
Spend the afternoon exploring, starting at the quaint Butter Market Museum and its display of local artefacts. You can meander along the streets with their mix of Regency, Georgian and Victorian buildings – a reminder of Boroughbridge’s past as an important staging post along the Great North Road, offering hospitality to the coach drivers and bargemen who transported goods and people. The pubs and cafés in the town still offer hospitality to travellers and visitors alike.
A taste of Yorkshire
Discover independent food and drink retailers, with shops brimming full of fresh local produce, continental fine foods and mouth-watering counters with treats ready for you to take home (plus something for the bus journey back!).
Before you finish exploring, why not visit the mysterious Neolithic standing stones known as the Devil’s Arrows before catching the bus back to Knaresborough and then on to Harrogate.
The Harrogate area is served by a network of regular buses running from and to the main Harrogate bus station, so it is very easy to visit the beautiful towns in our area sustainably and not worry about your carbon footprint.
Search all Stories & Inspiration
You May Also Like
