In the Footsteps of Agatha Christie Part 2 – The Old Swan, Harrogate

Click here If you are interested in reading In the Footsteps of Agatha Christie: Part 1 – Greenway, Devon. This was the beautiful holiday home & estate of Agatha Christie.

I have visited the Victorian spa town of Harrogate several times over the years, often with my niece to enjoy a weekend of shopping, exploring new dining options, admiring the architecture or just wandering around the lovely gardens.

You can read more in my blog An Autumn Weekend in Harrogate here.

Our recent stay in this charming and picturesque town saw my niece & I spending a couple of days at The Old Swan hotel just a short walk from the centre of town.

As an avid reader of Agatha Christie books, this had been on my to do list for a while as it was here that the bestselling author sought refuge when she famously ‘disappeared’ for 11 days in December 1926 when it was known as the Swan Hydropathic Hotel.

An interesting snippet is that the hotel was the first building in Harrogate to have electric light.

Previously a fashionable spa town popular with visitors arriving to ‘take the waters’ by the
mid-20^th century such activities were less fashionable, and the town was eager to update its image. The hotel was renamed The Old Swan Hotel.

The hotel was a delight of contemporary décor rubbing shoulders with preserved Victorian features.

Entering the hotel through wooden revolving doors I stepped into a reception area largely unchanged since Agatha Christie herself checked in nearly 100 years previously with the polished wooden reception desks and the large wooden rimmed wall clock.

There were framed photos and copies of interesting articles hanging on the walls relating to the writers stay at the hotel.

Being claustrophobic, I can’t say I enjoyed taking the small lift, another original feature but I could appreciate the beauty of it. I only used the lift once preferring to take the stairs on subsequent occasions which gave me the chance to admire the impressive engineering of the open (caged) lift shaft.

We had booked a twin room which was large with all the facilities needed. The beds were very comfortable.

The public areas were all tastefully decorated, the bar lounge with its light décor, large chairs and sofas provided a relaxed setting to curl up with a book, enjoy some refreshment or take afternoon tea. We didn’t sample breakfast or dinner so I can’t comment on the food although what we saw being served looked good quality & very inviting.

The Old Swan exudes timeless elegance but with a casual vibe, the tasteful dark green fabric of the deck chairs that adorn the front lawn are testament to that.

To fellow Agatha Christie enthusiasts it will come as no surprise that the hotel hosts Murder Mystery events which I understand to be great fun! These can be booked on the hotel’s website https://www.classiclodges.co.uk/the-old-swan/

If you have never participated in a Murder Mystery I urge you to give it a go. I hosted such a weekend in a perfect setting in Dunkeld on the banks of the River Tay (Perth & Kinross) for my 50^th birthday with a group of female friends, it was one of the best girlie breaks I’ve ever had!

The Old Swan has much to offer for a relaxing break with all the amenities of the town close by,it ticked another box on my bucket list!

 silverglobetrotters.com