The Royal Pump Room Museum at a glance
The Royal Pump Room Museum stands on Crown Place in Harrogate. The museum tells the story of the sulphur springs and the spa years. It is run by the council through Culture North Yorkshire.
The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays, including Bank Holiday Mondays. The Pump Room is a good first stop in town, because it sets up the story behind the Turkish Baths and the parks.
Tickets in 2026
Prices in British pounds (£).
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £4.40 |
| Child, up to and including 16 years | £2.50 |
| Concession | £3.40 |
| Family, up to 5 people | £13 |
Season tickets are available. The same adult price of £4.40 applies at Knaresborough Castle, so a combined day in both towns costs little. A family of two adults and three children would pay £16.30 on single tickets, so the £13 family ticket saves money for a group that size. For one adult with two children, single tickets cost £9.40 and are cheaper.
Our pick: afternoon tea cruise
Afternoon tea on the water for after the museum; it starts in Skipton.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in British pounds (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Harrogate tours and day trips
Yorkshire Dales tours, Fountains Abbey, Knaresborough and York day trips, with live prices and availability.
Sulphur water and the spa story
The spa town began with the springs. William Slingsby found one in 1571. The Stray, 200 acres of open land south of the centre, dates from 1778 and was set up to connect the spring areas. In Valley Gardens, the Old Magnesia Well Pump Room was built in 1858 and the New Magnesia Well Pump Room in 1895. The Royal Baths followed in 1897.
The museum focuses on this history. Treat the visit as a museum visit, not as a spa treatment. If you want a bath session, the Turkish Baths are the working spa in town.
Getting there and getting in
Practical details for the visit.
Access
The museum is at street level and has automatic doors.
From the bus station
The bus station is about 15 minutes on foot from the museum.
Getting to Harrogate →Parking
Street parking in the town centre is charged Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 18:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00. In the Inner Zone, 1 hour costs £2.40.
Staying nearby
Low Harrogate, near the museum and Valley Gardens, is a convenient base for the museum and the walk to Harlow Carr.
Where to stay →What is open on a Monday
The Pump Room is closed on Mondays, so plan around it.
| Place | Monday | Other days |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Pump Room Museum | Closed, also on Bank Holiday Mondays | Tuesday to Sunday, 09:30 to 16:30 |
| Turkish Baths | Mixed session, starts 09:30 to 16:30 | See the session times on the Turkish Baths page |
| RHS Garden Harlow Carr | Open | Daily 09:30 to 16:00, last entry 15:00 (winter hours) |
| Knaresborough Castle | Closed on Bank Holiday Mondays | April to October Tuesday to Sunday 09:30 to 16:30; November to March Wednesday to Saturday 10:00 to 15:30 |
For most visitors, a Monday in Harrogate works best with a spa session or Harlow Carr, and the Pump Room moves to Tuesday or later in the week.
Royal Pump Room: frequently asked questions
When is the Royal Pump Room Museum open?
Tuesday to Sunday from 09:30 to 16:30. It is closed on Mondays, including Bank Holiday Mondays.
How much does it cost?
Adults pay £4.40 and children up to 16 pay £2.50 in 2026. The concession price is £3.40 and a family ticket for up to 5 people is £13.
Where is it?
On Crown Place in Harrogate. The bus station is about a 15 minute walk away.
Is it accessible?
Yes, the entrance is at street level with automatic doors.
What else is nearby?
Valley Gardens is close, and the path through the Pinewoods leads to RHS Garden Harlow Carr.