The Boar's Head
By the Top3Hotels editorial team. Based on Booking.com guest scores and reviews, location data and reference prices. We did not stay at this hotel. Updated 2026-10-24.
The Boar's Head is worth booking if you want a quiet village base next to Ripley Castle with free parking and well-liked staff. Skip it if you want to walk to Harrogate's shops and restaurants, because it is outside the town and you will need a car, taxi or public transport.
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Sold out? See available alternatives →Who it suits and who should skip it
This is our Best Value pick for Harrogate. It suits drivers, couples looking for a quiet country stay and visitors who want a village setting rather than a town centre.
Pets and families appear in the listing tags, and the property lists family rooms and a garden. Guests do warn that pet charges are high, so check the fee before you bring a dog.
Skip it if you plan to spend your evenings in Harrogate itself or have no car. The hotel sits on the Ripley Castle Estate in Ripley, not in central Harrogate, and the main castles nearby beyond Ripley are a long way on foot.
Location and getting around
The address is given as Ripley Castle Estate, Ripley. Guests rate the location 9.6 out of 10 and describe a quiet, picturesque village next to a castle near Harrogate.
Ripley Castle is about 100 metres away, roughly a minute on foot. Knaresborough Castle is about 7.4 km, around 93 minutes walking, and Spofforth Castle about 12.5 km, around 156 minutes. Both are far, so plan on a car, taxi or public transport.
These are straight-line estimates, not checked routes. Free parking is listed, which helps, since a car is the easiest way to use this base. Check how you will reach Harrogate centre before booking.
What guests say
The Boar's Head scores 8.9 out of 10 across 2,178 reviews. Guests like the setting most: a quiet village beside a castle.
Staff come up often too, described as a friendly, helpful team with a warm welcome and efficient service.
The main complaint is about extras. Room rates are seen as reasonable, but bar prices and pet charges are called high.
Price compared with our other two Harrogate picks
The reference price was about €149 a night, close to €297 for two nights. That is a reference price seen for a 2-night stay in November 2026 for 2 adults, not a live quote. Check today's price for your dates.
Our budget pick, The Yorkshire, was about €115 a night with a score of 8.2 and four stars. Our Luxury pick, Crowne Plaza Harrogate by IHG, was about €192 with 8.6 and four stars.
Here you pay a little more than the budget option for the highest guest score of the three and a rural setting, but with three stars and a location outside town. The other two are in or near Harrogate, which matters if you do not drive.
Why it made our top 3
We compared 8 eligible hotels for Harrogate. The Boar's Head ranked joint first on guest score, from a solid number of reviews, at a price only slightly above the €144 sample median.
The Best Value slot weighs score, review count and price together. It is not meant to be the cheapest option, and here it is not.
Before you book
Room size, noise, renovation condition and cancellation terms have not been assessed. Read the room description and cancellation policy for your rate.
Breakfast options listed include full English or Irish, vegetarian, gluten-free and buffet. Whether breakfast is in your rate is not confirmed. Air conditioning is not listed, so do not assume it. If you are bringing a pet, ask for the exact charge first.
Check prices on Booking.com ↗We may earn a commission if you book. It never changes our pick.
Sold out? See available alternatives →Questions travellers ask
Is The Boar's Head in Harrogate town centre?
No. It is on the Ripley Castle Estate in the village of Ripley, near Harrogate. You will need a car, taxi or public transport to reach the town.
Does The Boar's Head have free parking?
Free parking is listed by the property. Space and any rules are not confirmed, so ask when you book.
Can I bring my dog to The Boar's Head?
Pets appear in the listing tags, but guests say pet charges are high. Check the policy and fee with the hotel before you go.
How far is The Boar's Head from Knaresborough Castle?
About 7.4 km, or around 93 minutes on foot as a straight-line estimate. That is far, so drive or use public transport.