Reviewed by Deborah Banasko
I live just an hour away from Harlow Carr in Harrogate but had never heard of these gardens before and had no idea just how vast they were going to be.
I took along my husband and three children (aged 7, 4 and 9 months) on what has possibly been the hottest day of the year so far!
I was a little put off by the packed car-parks initially but don’t let this worry you; the gardens are so big that it really does not feel busy even on Good Friday during an Easter event, and we parked very easily as there is ample space.
The entrance was quite relaxed and open (no “rabble” type queues) and the staff were very friendly, pointing us in the direction of the events board, rabbit clue sheets and maps.
For the Easter weekend there were a variety of activities. There was a clue sheet to mark off when you spotted a character from the Julia Donaldson book “The Rhyming Rabbit” and questions to answer for fun. There was an Easter Farm, and several craft activities including writing a rhyme to tie onto the tree in the learning centre and making a bunny mask. For the rest of the week the crafts vary.
There was also a competition to win an Easter Egg worth £500; you had to find the location of the golden carrot and mark it onto the map grid on your entry form.
The entrance to the gardens is simply beautiful and possibly a little overwhelming as, for a first time visitor, it’s difficult to know which direction to head in first. The children just ran onto the gardens squealing! There wasn’t a “keep off the grass” sign in sight; these gardens are to be enjoyed. The only banned zones were the odd area where new bulbs had been planted.
We were met almost right away by the Easter Bunny which was pretty lucky, and a lovely photo opportunity. Then we headed off to enjoy the gardens and look for the Rhyming Rabbit character boards.
They were easy for young children to spot and many had quotes from the book. The kids loved it!
Along the route there were two smaller and one larger play area, all made from wood and very much designed to complement the gardens. The Tree-house was a huge hit and we had to practically drag the children away. Again, nothing felt overcrowded even though it was a popular event.
The attention to detail was quite remarkable, as every single plant and tree was name-labelled, so it was an education. This was a great place for any keen gardener, as well as any parent trying to look smart in front of their 4-year-old who can’t read yet!
One key element for me was the availability of benches and picnic tables. Apparently there were over 200 throughout the gardens, and it was such a refreshing change to go somewhere and not have to hover until a place to have your picnic becomes available.
As well as the rabbit trail, there are wicker structures to spot throughout the gardens; an ant, dinosaur even a pterodactyl in the trees! A suggestion to add to this would perhaps be a map showing the location of these structures, for children to tick off as they find them. It may make it a little more interactive and fun.
The Easter farm had a small number of animals but plenty to keep children happy as there were a lot of babies! The chicks and baby cow were absolute favourites! This was all included in the price, and a lovely little extra.
We did want an ice cream but the queue was really long so we strolled over to Betty’s Tea Rooms instead. I think maybe a few more staff at the ice-cream and Betty’s Tea House huts would have been helpful as it would have been nice to sit on the grass with a treat, but this is just a minor point.
I have to say that we just lost track of time with the gorgeous weather and didn’t get chance to do any of the crafts. They looked amazing, as we saw many children with bunny masks and my daughter was really disappointed at my timekeeping. I strongly advise you get there early so that you have time to fit everything in!
An adult ticket costs £11.80-£12.98, a child over 5 costs around half of that price and parking is free. Given the activities available this price is fantastic value for money.
This is a lovely unique day out for the family at Easter, or at any time for that matter, but the extra activities made it that bit more special. They run until 29th April, and given the weather forecast as well I would strongly recommend a visit. There is so much to keep adults and children entertained, it is pram friendly and it’s just refreshing to have so much beautiful open space that you are allowed to explore!
Rating: 4.5/5
For more information visit www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr.
RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 1QB
