Guideline for people who have started work in Harrogate

I am working as a core medical trainee - year 1 in Harrogate. I am based here from August 2017 to August 2018 after which I move to York.

Harrogate is a very beautiful town - a lot of tourists visit it. It is in Yorkshire and if you know a bit about this county, you will realize that this place is extremely beautiful and peaceful.
So this are my tips about this place:

1. Get registered with a GP here.
https://www.nhs.uk/Services/Trusts/GPs/DefaultView.aspx?id=89718
This county is quite rich therefore the GP surgeries are top notch - the surgeries are clean, referrals are faster and the social services are very good (as they are well funded) -
I am comparing this to my previous workplace - Slough.
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/guideline-for-people-who-have-started.html

2. If you are renting, you will need to pay council tax.
Unfortunately the council taxes in this area are quite high (not as high as London though).
https://www.gov.uk/council-tax

3. The rents here are a bit high compared to the rest of Yorkshire but they are still affordable.
Finding an accommodation can be a bit tricky but there are plenty of nice places which come up between June and August as a lot of people change jobs in August.
Please read this guideline on accommodation:
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/my-guideline-on-accommodation-in-uk.html

4. There are plenty of nice places to visit nearby - This is Yorkshire! The whole county is very beautiful. There are beautiful dales, abbeys, parks, heritage sites within a 10 minutes drive from here.

5. Harrogate town center has all the major stores and fast food restaurants.
There are a few Halal restaurants:
- Jinnahs - Pakistani
- Shalimar- Pakistani
- Konak Meze- Turkish
- Istanbul- Turkish
- Akash Balti - Pakistani
- Curry counter- Pakistani.
Like all British people, the people of Harrogate love curries and these places are very nice ( and are fully packed on weekends).

6. Places to visit in Harrogate:
- The Royal Baths
- Valley Gardens
- Harrogate Theater
- Odeon cinema
A few more things mentioned here:
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g187046-Activities-Harrogate_North_Yorkshire_England.html
Overall the whole town is beautiful and even walking from home to work is very refreshing as there are loads of parks in the city.

7. Leeds is a 30 min drive and Bradford is a 20 min drive from Harrogate. York is a 10-20 min drive. These cities have a lot of Asian restaurants and grocery stores.

8. The public transport system is very good. There are regular buses going to Leeds, Knaresborough, Wetherby, etc
The bus and train station are a 20 minute walk from Harrogate Hospital.

9. It is still a good idea to own a car if you plan to work and live in Harrogate. Even though the public transport is very good, it is better to have your own car as there are amazing places nearby which are not always accessible by public transport. It will be cheaper too. Kindly read the relevant sections of this blog to see how to get a car and what is required:
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.co.uk

10. Harrogate is a very safe place to live in. Everyone is very friendly here.

11. Shopping:
Harrogate town center
Leeds city center
The Broadway, Bradford
Retail parks in Leeds
Outlet mall for designer brands:
York Designer Outlet
https://www.mcarthurglen.com/uk/york-designer-outlet/en/

12. The nearest airport is Leeds-Bradford airport which is a 15 min drive from here. Please note that the flights from here usually fly to other cities in the UK and Europe.
Manchester airport is 1.5 hours drive from here.

13. Harrogate has a train station with trains going everywhere in the UK.
https://www.thetrainline.com

14. The taxi service is very good and reasonably priced.
http://www.bluelinetaxis.co.uk

15. Halal poultry is not available in Harrogate. However Leeds and Bradford are a 20 min drive from here and you can always buy in bulk. Personally, I have never had an issue as I visit these cities every second week.

16. Harrogate Hospital is great! It is a district hospital but the staff is very friendly and is highly rated. The ED is excellent and patients are very well managed here. The Hospital is a 10 minute walk from town center.I have mentioned my experience of working in this trust here:
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/my-second-job-in-uk-core-medical.html

17. If you plan to work in Harrogate Hospital, it is best to live in Harrogate during your rotation as the morning traffic into Harrogate is very heavy and people have to leave early to get here on time. 

18. The local Facebook groups are great to get information on the road conditions and any local events. 

19. Spring and summer are just amazing here! There is always some sort of festival going on in Valley Gardens - Food festivals, gigs and other events. 

20. It is quite chilly in winter but if you are well covered, you will be fine. I have walked in all sorts of storms to and from hospital (it is a one mile walk each way).

Overall, this town is amazing. I would recommend it to everyone. Even if you do not plan to work here, do visit it while you are in the UK.

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