A weekend in Leeds and Harrogate by train

Getting there by train

London to Leeds with LNER

LNER runs direct trains from London King's Cross to Leeds. In the National Rail Timetable for 17 May to 12 December 2026, weekday LNER trains from King's Cross arrive in Leeds roughly every half hour through the morning and early afternoon.

Can you go direct to Harrogate?

Yes. When we checked (30 October 2026), Network Rail's National Rail Timetable showed LNER through trains from London King's Cross to Harrogate every day: six on Mondays to Saturdays and five on Sundays, calling at Leeds and Horsforth and taking just under three hours. Heading home, it showed seven direct trains a day to King's Cross on Mondays to Saturdays and five on Sundays. At other times, change at Leeds.

Network Rail says this timetable runs until Sunday 12 December 2026, so check your exact train with LNER or National Rail Enquiries before you book, especially if you're travelling in December. Our sister site the LNER guide is an independent guide to LNER's routes.

Leeds to Harrogate with Northern

Northern runs the local line from Leeds to Harrogate, with most trains carrying on to Knaresborough and York. The same timetable shows trains roughly every 30 minutes for most of the day, taking about 35 minutes from Leeds to Harrogate. National Rail Enquiries says Harrogate station is managed by Northern and has step-free access to all platforms.

Leeds: a few ideas

• Victorian arcades and Kirkgate Market. Visit Leeds suggests a walk through the Queen's, County, Thornton's, Victoria Leeds and Grand arcades, then on to Kirkgate Market, which it calls one of the largest covered markets in Europe, dating back to 1875.
• Leeds Art Gallery. It's on The Headrow, about 0.4 mile from Leeds station, and is a "Give What You Can" gallery. When we checked, the gallery's visit page said it is closed on Mondays.
• Kirkstall Abbey. Visit Leeds describes it as one of the best-preserved Cistercian monasteries in the country, founded over 800 years ago. It's just over an hour's walk along the Leeds Liverpool Canal from Granary Wharf, or under 20 minutes by bus from the city centre.

When we checked, Visit Leeds said Leeds Town Hall was under renovation, so check before planning a visit there.

For shopping along The Headrow, our sister site The Headrow shops guide is an independent directory of the shops on that street.

Harrogate: a few ideas

• Valley Gardens. North Yorkshire Council describes a 17-acre, Grade II listed garden in Low Harrogate, next to the Pinewoods, with the Sun Pavilion and colonnades. It's open all year, with band concerts on Sunday afternoons from the end of May to early September; the main entrance is where Cornwall Road, Valley Drive and Royal Parade meet.
• Royal Pump Room Museum. A North Yorkshire Council venue in the restored 1842 Pump Room, which the council says is home to "the strongest sulphur wells in Europe". It's about 15 minutes' walk from Harrogate station.
• Mercer Art Gallery. Free to enter, in Harrogate's original Promenade Rooms of 1806, close to the Valley Gardens.

Where our two stays are

• Leeds Marriott Hotel. Marriott gives the address as 4 Trevelyan Square, Boar Lane, and describes the hotel as across from the Trinity Leeds shopping centre and a short walk from Leeds station.
• The Yorkshire Hotel, BW Premier Collection. On Prospect Place in Harrogate. Best Western says it overlooks The Stray and puts Harrogate station about 0.2 miles away.

A simple two-night plan

1. Friday: take LNER from King's Cross to Leeds and check in on Boar Lane.
2. Saturday: the arcades, Kirkgate Market and Leeds Art Gallery in the morning, then Kirkstall Abbey in the afternoon.
3. Sunday: the train to Harrogate for the Valley Gardens and the Royal Pump Room Museum, then a night by The Stray – or straight home on a direct LNER train.

You can add the whole weekend to your trip planner and keep your train times in one place.

Questions people ask

Is there a direct train from London to Harrogate?

Yes. When we checked (30 October 2026), the National Rail Timetable showed LNER through trains from London King's Cross to Harrogate every day, calling at Leeds and Horsforth. Check your date with LNER or National Rail Enquiries before you book.

How long is the train from Leeds to Harrogate?

About 35 minutes on Northern's trains, which run roughly every half hour for most of the day (National Rail Timetable).

Is Harrogate station step-free?

National Rail Enquiries says there is step-free access to all platforms.

Sources

We wrote this guide from these pages, checked on 30 October 2026. Rules, timetables and hotel details change — please check with the operator before you travel.

1. Electronic national rail timetable — Network Rail , checked 30 October 2026
2. National Rail Timetable, Table 033: Leeds to Harrogate, Knaresborough and York (17 May to 12 December 2026) — Network Rail , checked 30 October 2026
3. National Rail Timetable, Table 020: London to … Leeds, West Yorkshire, York … (17 May to 12 December 2026) — Network Rail , checked 30 October 2026
4. Harrogate Station — National Rail Enquiries , checked 30 October 2026
5. 48 hour itinerary — Visit Leeds , checked 30 October 2026
6. Plan your visit – Leeds Art Gallery — Leeds Museums and Galleries (Leeds City Council) , checked 30 October 2026
7. Valley Gardens, Harrogate — North Yorkshire Council , checked 30 October 2026
8. Royal Pump Room Museum, Harrogate — Culture North Yorkshire (North Yorkshire Council) , checked 30 October 2026
9. Our culture venues, museums and galleries — North Yorkshire Council , checked 30 October 2026
10. Leeds Marriott Hotel – overview — Marriott , checked 30 October 2026
11. The Yorkshire Hotel, BW Premier Collection — Best Western GB , checked 30 October 2026