Here are 8 super cool (sorry!) places in Harrogate to find ice creams. What’s your go to flavour? Strawberry? Mint choc chip? or are you a plain vanilla type like me? Whatever flavour you like to treat yourself to, we have the perfect guide to finding the best places for ice cream in Harrogate.
Grab the kids and head out to one of our tried and tested places for ice cream this summer and let us know which is your favourite.
World Famous Ripley Ice Cream
Lets start with the most famous. If you live in Harrogate and don’t know about Ripley ice cream, where have you been?! If your visiting, this is sure to be the place everyone suggests for ice cream in Harrogate.
After quite a bit of research I’m still not sure why they are ‘world famous’ but their ice cream is delicious that’s for sure. If you know the story behind it, I’d love to know!
You can now try their wares at the shop in the village of Ripley or from the Magnesia Well Café at the Valley Gardens, both of which will be busy at peak times but worth the wait.
They offer both scoop ice cream and their home made soft serve ice cream in a variety of flavours.
We recommend: Try having your soft serve ice cream dipped in melted chocolate!
Vanilli’s
Vanilli’s is a firm favourite for us. Situated just around the corner from the Valley Gardens on Cold Bath Road (HG2 0NU) they not only offer a huge selection of artisan ice cream but also hot drinks, milkshakes and slushies.
We recommend: If they are serving Jammy Dodger flavour make sure you try it, it’s my favourite by far or opt to have your favourite flavour turned into a milkshake.
Brymor
This Yorkshire ice cream is handmade at their farm near Masham (HG4 4PG) just a stones throw away from Jervaulx Abbey.
There is a cafe and gift shop on site as well as children’s play areas and recently they have started a maize maze during the summer months (July-Sept). They are open 7 days a week from 10am – 4pm and please note they only accept card payment.
Brymor offer all the classic flavours as well as more indulgent flavours like ‘Amarena Black Cherry Whim Wham’ and sorbets too. Over 25 flavours!
You don’t need to drive out to the parlour either, their ice creams are stocked in so many local places like The Himalayan Gardens, Ripon Walled Garden, Grantley Hall and our favourite little shop Cooking Fantastic which is featured in 6 of the Best Farm Shops blog.
We recommend: Treat yourselves to a take away tub of your favourite flavour so next time you fancy some of their ice cream you only have to travel as far as the freezer.
Birchfield Farm
With over 30 different flavour of ice creams there’s going to be something to suit everyone at Birchfield Farm. Plus their ice cream parlour is only the beginning!
Voted Mumblers’ Favourite Children’s Attraction, Birchfield boasts a huge play area, bouncy castles, maze*, farm animals, strawberry picking* and pumpkin picking*
*Depending on the time of year – please don’t turn up in June expecting to pick pumpkins!
We recommend: The ice cream parlour and café can get very busy at peak times. If you are planning on lunch maybe have it a bit earlier, head to the farm while everyone is stuck in the lunch rush then maybe grab a late afternoon ice cream.
Ice Scoop
Far from just ice cream; Ice Scoop Gelato offer waffles, crepes, cookie dough, freak shakes…pretty much anything that’s going to give the small ones a giant sugar rush. There are non-dairy and vegan options too.
They are located at 14 Kings Road (HG1 1BT) and are open every day from 2pm – 11pm (1pm on weekends). You can choose to eat in, take away or even have your treats delivered via Just Eat.
We Recommend: When we visited we underestimated the portion sizes and I don’t think we all finished our waffles. If you are eating in and have little ones consider letting them share…if that won’t cause tantrums!
C & M Ices of Harrogate
How could we have a blog about ice cream in Harrogate without an traditional ice cream van?! Is there anything better than a 99 with a flake and strawberry sauce? As well as the usual offerings they also offer sundaes in a huge variety of flavours.
C & M Ices can usually be found outside the Victoria Shopping Centre but it’s always best to check their socials to make sure.
We recommend: Grab your cones and take a seat in the gardens by the statue of Queen Victoria to watch the world go by.
Castle Creamery
Tucked away in the beautiful Castle Courtyard, Knaresborough you’ll find Castle Creamery. Offering load of flavours of ice cream. If you have your 4 legged friends in tow, they also sell ice cream for dogs!
I love that sauces and toppings are included in the price.
We recommend: Take your ice creams, cross over the road and head to Knaresborough Castle gardens for the best views in the area.
G & T’s Ice Cream
G&T’s is perfectly placed if you are heading to the dales, it’s not far from Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal.
Izzy and I are often in Ripon so this is a favourite little spot of ours. As well as ice cream they do light lunches, cakes and amazing cheese scones.
There’s plenty of indoor and outdoor seating as well as resident chickens and geese in the grounds. The views from the bottom of the car park are gorgeous.
We recommend: This is some of the nicest ice cream we’ve had, I especially liked the New York cheesecake flavour, as did everyone else by the look of what was left.
So that’s our top 8 best places for ice cream in Harrogate, where else have you discovered?
We don’t take much persuading to check out new ice cream! Just please don’t mention Billy Bobs…great ice cream, great play area, terrible customer service!
