Tuesday morning will see us on our long way back to Germany, and right now I find it hard to believe I will be sitting at my desk at the office on Wednesday morning again.
Today, we took the bus from Ripon to Harewood and revisited Harewood House.
We went there last year, but the day then had been so rainy that we focused on the house itself (which was impressive - see last year's blog posts; simply type "Harewood House" in the search box in the top left corner of my blog if you like) and ventured out in the gardens only very briefly.
It was very windy today, but sunny and dry, and so we were able to thoroughly explore the gardens. Many more pictures will be on my blog over the next weeks; for now, here are some my sister took with her mobile:
Admittedly, as much as I liked the gardens today (and the house last year), I think Harewood House and everything it entails is overpriced - especially if you compare it with places such as Fountains Abbey.
Admission to the grounds (and NOT the house!) is 12,50 pounds per person. If one should feel inclined to take a tour on the pleasure boat on the lake, that adds another 3 pounds. Go for some explanatory talk in the house or garden and they charge you again. Worst of all - try and have some tea and a sandwich, and you'll very easily not only be around 8 pounds poorer (5 quid for a bit of cheese between two slices of very ordinary bread...?) but also have wasted at least half an hour just waiting to be allowed to place your order.
Wasn't the original idea of self-service tea rooms that to speed up the process and not have people wait for waiters and waitresses? Well, at Harewood House, they seem to think it takes two inexperienced girls to make one cappuccino (not for me nor my sister, but for someone in front of us in the queue) while the rest of the customers in the queue wait... and wait... and wait.
On a fine Sunday in high season (school holidays!), places like that should have staff who know their business. And looking at the money they want for even the tiniest bit of food, they should be very well able to pay professionally trained people.
That apart, we did have a nice day out and enjoyed the beautiful gardens, but will definitely not return to Harewood any time soon.
That's really terrible. I haven't been a tourist in England for a very long time, but I know those prices didn't exist. And little tearooms were always a wonderful 'deal.' Those prices make things impossible for the average person to go to.
ReplyDeleteAnd I suppose that's what they want to achieve there, Nan - keep the "riffraff" out, as they probably see them. Imagine an average family, two adults, two children. If they don't bring their own picnic, they'll spend a fortune on just the one day! And you can't go places like that with kids and not buy them an ice cream.
DeleteIt sounds vary much as if the management of Harewood House leaves a lot to be desired. Certainly looking at the comments on Trip Advisor your comments are echoed by quite a few people. After your post last year I was quite enthusiastic but there are so many places to see in Britain that one can pick and choose and having other people's experiences to help that choice is very useful. I'm sorry, though, that you found it a rather uninspiring experience.
ReplyDeleteI've not yet looked at the comments on Tripadvisor for Harewood, but will certainly add my own!
DeleteLooking back at the day when I'll have my own photos to sort through, I am sure the beauty of the gardens will override the disappointment, but I won't forget and can not in good conscience recommend the place to others.
I am sure you already realise that Harewood House was built on the back of the slave trade - with funds largely derived from plantations in The West Indies. There's something quite disgusting about that... even more disgusting than being ripped off in their cafeteria.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, YP. To think of the poor souls robbed of their lives in all respects puts my complaint about expensive sandwiches rather in perspective, doesn't it.
DeleteBy the way, my grandfather did not visit Ludwigsburg palace for a similar reason - he said the whole thing was built on the back of our ancestors but they never enjoyed it. I think that now we live not under the rule of dukes and kings anymore, and their palaces are open to the public, we can finally enjoy them, sort of "making up" a little bit for what our ancestors were not able to do.
I understand a fee but it should not be so high and come on, FIVE POUNDS for a lousy cheese sandwich? They should be ashamed!
ReplyDeleteOh, how timely it is that I am reading this. They just increased the price for the Moonlight Hike at Panola Mountain State Park to $15.00! And you have to pay already just to park! And reading about your grandfather above, I thought the same thing about Biltmore House in Asheville, how poor the mountain people would have been when it was being built, and they would not have been allowed to even see it.
They should indeed be ashamed, Kay, but I doubt they will be. Still haven't written my comment on Tripadvisor but will do so in a bit.
Delete15$ for the Moonlight Hike sounds rather steep, but if most of the money goes into caring for the state park then that's alright I suppose. People like your favourite ranger need to live, too :-)
On a different note, that third photo really draws the eye, doesn't it? Impressive. Ha!
ReplyDeleteMy sister (who took the picture) says she read on a plaque that the statue is supposed to represent Orpheus.
DeleteNow that I'm back from the Lake, and have internet again, I'm having the fun of reading all I've missed of your time in Yorkshire. These vacations you and your sister take seem full of interest and pleasure.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, Kristi!
DeleteThere will be LOADS more once I'll start transferring the pictures from my camera to the computer back home :-)