Harrogate Brewing Company

The Harrogate Brewing Company sits right in the heart of town, a proper working brewery where you can actually watch beer being made rather than just drink the stuff. It's the sort of place that's caught the craft beer wave, and they've done it well - the brewery tour lets you see the whole operation, from massive steel tanks to the packaging line, with explanations that make sense even if you've never brewed anything in your life.

What makes it worth a visit is that it feels genuinely local. The staff clearly know their product, and the tasting room has their full range on tap - lagers, IPAs, stouts, whatever's currently on rotation. You can spend an hour here proper invested in what you're drinking, or just pop in for a quick pint and a look around. Not the sort of place that'll bore you stiff with tedious corporate storytelling.

Families with older kids will get something out of it, though obviously the main appeal is for actual beer drinkers. If you're staying at Harrogate Caravan Park or Rudding Holiday Park - both just down the road - it's an easy walk into town and makes for a decent afternoon activity. Knaresborough, with its castle and riverside walks, is only a couple of miles further if you want to string together a proper day out.

Best visited mid-week if you can swing it. Weekends get rammed with the local crowd, and you'll actually get to chat with someone who works there rather than just join a queue. Check ahead for tour times and whether you need to book.