The Royal Pump Room Museum

About this activity

The Royal Pump Room Museum is a small family friendly museum where you can discover Harrogates spa history in the displays. You'll be able to visit the strongest sulphur wells in Europe, where over 15,000 people used to come every Summer. 

The museum was built in 1842 to provide shelter for the town's visitors and attracted thousands of visitors each year.

It has a changing exhibition programme and permanent displays for you to discover the history of Harrogate. 

On your way round you'll find the exhibition that focuses on Harrogate's workers, the people who built and maintained the town.

You can also learn about the science behind the sulphur water during talks from the staff and learn about the rolle of Harrogate's minerate waters in making in a thriving spa town. 

You'll also learn about Harrogate's connection to Russian royalty and what the famous politicians and famous writers of the 19th and 20th century thought of their visits to the spa town. 

Glance at the displays of old fashioned shops, parks and more as you imagine what life was like hundreds of years ago.