RHS Garden Harlow Carr

About RHS Garden Harlow Carr

Harlow Carr was created by the Northern Horticultural Society, which leased land from Harrogate Corporation on the western edge of the town and opened the garden in 1950. The aim was to trial plants in the tougher conditions of the north of England, much as the RHS did at Wisley. The site was once part of the Forest of Knaresborough, and in the 19th century a bath house and hotel, later the Harrogate Arms, were built here to serve visitors taking the spa waters.

The Northern Horticultural Society merged with the RHS in 2001, and the garden has grown steadily since. It sits in a valley about 155m above sea level, on heavy acidic clay, with cold winds and frosts that shape what grows well. Dry stone walls tie it firmly into the Yorkshire landscape.

What to see

• Streamside: lush planting along the stream, developed by superintendent Geoffrey Smith from the 1950s.
• Main Borders: broad, prairie-style herbaceous planting.
• Alpine House and Sandstone Rock Garden, with heather beds nearby.
• Kitchen Garden and Teaching Garden, showing what can be grown in northern conditions.
• Woodland, Arboretum and Winter Walk, plus Queen Mother's Lake and the Lakeside Gardens.
• Subtropical Garden, a contrast to the woodland and meadows.

Planning your visit

The garden is on Crag Lane, off the Otley Road, about a mile and a half from the centre of Harrogate. Parking is free, with accessible bays in both car parks. There is a recommended walking route from the town through the Valley Gardens and Pinewoods, and car-free visitors get a reduced entry price.

Food is available at Bettys Café and Shop, the Harrogate Arms Café and seasonal pop-up kiosks, and there is a free-to-enter garden centre. The garden map marks wheelchair-accessible routes, and a detailed access guide is published on the RHS website. One carer per disabled visitor is admitted free.