Boston Spa

The scenic pathways along the River Wharfe are perfect for walking. The Riverside area is one of the crown jewels of Boston Spa and offers incomparable views of the river, wildlife sightings and trails through lush woodland. The village hosts several annual festivities and celebrations including a gala, a beer festival and an arts festival. There are also weekly jazz concerts in the village hall. Wetherby, a bustling market town, is just minutes away and provides endless shopping and entertainment opportunities. Additionally, there are several sports clubs such as bowling, badminton, tennis and cricket.

Boston Spa provides a wide range of restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs from which to choose. The French restaurant, Le Box Bistro, serves exquisite cuisine utilising fresh and local ingredients and offers monthly wine tasting events. Traditional Spanish tapas can be found at the La Casita Tapas Bar and Restaurant. The Fifty50 Bar and Restaurant is fairly new, but is proving to be a big hit with locals and visitors. Favourite bars include the Admiral Hawke and the Fox and Hounds.

Although Boston Spa neighbours the bustling town of Wetherby, it does boast its own unique shops and amenities as well as a large village centre. In addition to several banks, there is a post office, a library, two public houses, a beauty salon, a supermarket, a butcher and wide range of shops that include the Douglas Yeadon Hardware store. There is a farmers’ market that takes place the second Friday of every month. The Royal Hotel, which was built in 1753 and is the oldest building in Boston Spa, has since been converted into flats and shops.

There are several excellent schools surrounding the Boston Spa area that include:

• Clifford Pre School
• Primrose Lane Primary School
• St. Edward’s Catholic Primary School
• St. Mary's Church of England Controlled Primary School
• West Oaks SEN Specialist School and College
• Boston Spa Secondary School
• St. John’s Catholic School for the Deaf
• Leeds City College

Bus service runs regularly through the village. Bus 770 connects Boston Spa to Leeds and Harrogate, while 923 services Tadcaster and Wakefield, and bus 173/14 services Wetherby and Wakefield. The nearest train stations with service throughout the country are located in York and Leeds. The roads are well maintained and provide easy access to the A1. The Leeds Bradford Airport is approximately 15 minutes away by car.

The village, currently known as Boston Spa, was originally established in 1974 as a spa town called Boston or Thorparch Spaw – a name that was derived from the town across the river called Thorp Arch. John Shires is credited with taking advantage of the areas rich natural resources which included magnesium limestone and sulphur springs and turning it into a spa destination. Over time, the development of neighbouring areas gave way to more prominent spa resorts like that of Harrogate. However, Boston Spa continued to see an increase in residents and, today, charms with its stunning natural beauty, quiet ambience and vibrant community.

In 1753, the construction of the Royal Hotel, in conjunction with the development of the turnpike on the Otley to Tadcaster road, helped ease travel through the area and catapulted it into a mainstream village and a prime destination for travellers .