Step Inside One of Harrogate’s Most Beautiful Buildings as Ambitious New Plans Take Shape

If you’ve ever admired the striking spire of West Park United Reformed Church while walking through Harrogate town centre, you could soon have a whole new reason to step inside.

One of Harrogate’s most recognisable landmarks has secured funding that will help transform the historic church into a vibrant community hub, visitor information centre and heritage attraction – creating a new place for residents and visitors to discover the town’s fascinating story.

Why This Matters

At a time when many historic buildings face an uncertain future, this project aims to give one of Harrogate’s architectural gems a new lease of life while preserving its role as a place of worship.

The funding, awarded through the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund, will support the development of the West Park Centre project, led by the Harrogate Heritage and Community Development Project (HHCDP).

The vision is simple: create a welcoming space where people can explore Harrogate’s past, connect with the local community and enjoy new experiences in the heart of town.

What Visitors Can Look Forward To

The plans include:

🔹 A dedicated Visitor Information Centre offering local knowledge and inspiration.

🔹 The Harrogate Story Exhibition, bringing the town’s rich spa heritage to life.

🔹 Interactive digital displays showcasing Harrogate’s history in new ways.

🔹 Community art projects and events throughout the year.

🔹 An upgraded event venue for exhibitions, talks and celebrations.

🔹 A refreshed café area where visitors can relax and meet.

🔹 An immersive viewing room inside the church spire – potentially offering one of the most unique visitor experiences in Harrogate.

Discover the Story Behind the Building

West Park United Reformed Church is much more than a town-centre landmark.

Designed by celebrated Yorkshire architects Lockwood & Mawson, whose work includes Salts Mill and Bradford City Hall, the Grade II-listed building has stood at the heart of Harrogate life for generations.

Now, its next chapter could become one of its most exciting.

A Project Built by Local People

What makes the project particularly special is that it has been driven almost entirely by volunteers.

Over the past 18 months, local residents have worked tirelessly to develop The Harrogate Story, an exhibition that explores how Harrogate grew from a spa town into the thriving destination it is today.

Their efforts are already paying off:

✔ Around 1,600 people have visited the exhibition.

✔ More than 1,000 people have attended events hosted at the venue.

✔ A dedicated team of volunteers continues to expand the project.

This latest funding award will help build on that momentum and bring even more people into the town centre.

A New Gateway to Harrogate

Project leaders believe the West Park Centre can become much more than a heritage attraction.

The ambition is to create a place where visitors begin their Harrogate journey, where local groups can meet, where history comes alive and where residents feel connected to their town.

For first-time visitors, it could become the perfect starting point for exploring Harrogate.

For locals, it offers an opportunity to see a familiar building in an entirely new light.

Planning a Visit?

The Harrogate Story is currently open:

📍 Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday

🕥 10.30am – 3pm

Entry is free, and visitors are encouraged to check opening times before travelling.

As the project develops, this historic church could become one of Harrogate’s most intriguing places to explore – blending heritage, culture, community and tourism under one remarkable roof.

West Park  is one of the town’s most iconic buildings and plays a crucial role in the life of the town as it has done for over 150 years. We are situated at the corner of Victoria Avenue and West Park Stray which is the main A61 running through the town. The spire and other features of our Grade ll listed building are important features of the architecture of Harrogate.

You will find West Park to be a welcoming fellowship committed to the care of its members and friends, whilst at the same time, conscious of its responsibilities in the town centre and in serving the wider community.

Our Sunday worship is at 10.30am and our style of  worship is of traditional music with our fine pipe organ with a relaxed, welcoming and open approach. If you are visting Harrogate we would be delighted to welcome you to our services, please make yourself known to one of our members.