Royal Pump Room Museum
With a National Art Pass you get
Discover Harrogate’s spa-history through historical exhibits and photographs of the Royal Pump Room in its Victorian heyday and beyond.
The ornate Grade II listed building originally opened in 1842 and has been a museum since 1953, hosting permanent displays of Harrogate’s spa-history. Modernisation in 2023 focussed on re-creating the interior to be more in keeping with how the spa looked when the medicinal waters were still being dispensed.
Octagonal counter
Recently returned to its rightful place, the octagonal wooden counter from which customers were served, echoes the eight sided structure of the original building. In the middle of the counter stands lavish ceramic fountain, once the centrepiece of the entrance hall to the Royal Baths.
Smell of success
Harrogate's sulphur wells, the strongest in Europe, would attract over 15,000 every summer in its glory years. Discover more about the science behind the pungent sulphur water, which was regarded for its health benefits, through talks and exhibitions at the museum.
Although there was admission fee to take the waters within the Royal Pump Room, it was the law that Harrogate's waters must be freely available to everyone, and the free tap still exists today to the rear of the building.
Visitor information
Address
Crown Place, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 2RY
01423 556188
Opening times
Daily, 10am - 4pm
Visitor information
Museums nearby
The more you see, the more we do.
The National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, while raising money to support them.