Of all the English spa towns, Harrogate can be seen historically as the least insular, carefully monitoring developments beyond the English Channel.  From the mid-18th century onwards and increasingly in the course of the 19th century, spa towns across the continent developed a recognizably European spa culture, with facilities such as the Kurparks, gardens and promenades, grand hotels, Kursaals, casinos and pump rooms – all following a similar, and similarly eclectic, architectural style – emulated across borders from one place to another. The same applies to spa treatments and spa entertainments.  ...READ MORE.