Yorkshire is blessed with some of the most grand hotels and, perhaps, few catch the eye as well as the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel and Spa. The historic building, which opened in 1900, stands proudly overlooking the town. A short walk to Harrogate town centre, the hotel and spa sits in eight acres of landscaped gardens.
The hotel, which has a storied past, was designed by the architect George Dennis Martin and built by the Frederick Hotels Limited. Down the years, it has welcomed royalty and glamorous celebrities. Read more: North Yorkshire's must-visit hot tub glamping spot that's featured on TV It is fair to say, I might not quite reach those levels of influence but, when I visited, the hotel team rolled out the red carpet nonetheless.
Back in 2019, the hotel reopened following a £15m refurbishment project which took 18 months to complete. Part of the work at the destination, based near Harrogate Convention Centre, saw major improvements made to the Majestic’s 184 guestrooms and leisure areas. The modernisation was evidently carried out with care.
The hotel still has the sheen from the major investment with its Frederick's bar and piano lounge being many levels above those generic awkward drinks spots you find in some hotels. Across the Majestic, which has a sheer scale it is hard not to be fascinated by, there’s many artefacts and original fixtures and fittings harking back to its early years. Its modern amenities come in the shape of The Harrogate S.
