The Autumn Cactus and Succulent Show is being held in the Bramall Learning Centre building at RHS Harlow Carr. This is a 2-storey building set into the side of the valley, so the upstairs floor is level with the carpark and the downstairs floor is level with the main path that runs along the top of the garden.
View an interactive map of the garden here.
Access for show entrants and volunteers
The 2 upstairs rooms will be used for the competitive show classes. Show entrants and volunteers will be able to enter the garden through the exit gate that leads from the main carpark to the back door of the building, with easy, step-free access.
The downstairs room is where the sales table and non-competitive plant displays will be. If you are also bringing plants for these, you can use the stairs or single-person lift, or there is a path from the exit gate which goes down the slope and to the front door of the building on the ground floor.
A show volunteer will be in the car park to greet exhibitors. The exit gate is positioned between the last disabled parking space and the rest of the parking spaces in the main car park. We will have some parking spaces reserved for us on the day of the show.
Access for show visitors
If you’re going to the show as a visitor, you’ll enter the garden through the main entrance, then head left. You’ll enter the Bramall Learning Centre through the front door on the ground floor. The sales table, non-competitive plant displays and the free plants for children are in the room on this floor. You can get to the top floor to see the show plants using either the stairs or the lift.
The library is also on the ground floor.
Toilets
There are men’s, women’s and disabled toilets on both floors of the Bramall Learning Centre building where the show is being held.
There are also toilets outside the garden (near the entrance and shop) and at the Harrogate Arms Cafe inside the garden.
An accessible Changing Places toilet is located just outside the garden, near the exit gate in the car park.
Food and drink
We have the use of a small kitchen area to serve free refreshments for show exhibitors and volunteers.
The new Harrogate Arms Cafe opened in 2024 inside the garden with indoor and outdoor seating.
Inside the garden there is also a small Betty’s Tea House, located at the bottom of the garden. The larger Betty’s Cafe is located outside the garden, next to the entrance. Be aware that there can be long queues!
If you’re planning to leave the garden for lunch, Horticap Nursery and Cafe is just a few minutes away and is also recommended by our volunteers. You may pass it on your way to Harlow Carr. It has a more limited menu for the autumn season. Tables can be reserved here.
Harrogate town centre is about 2 miles away for a larger selection of cafes and restaurants.
Picnic spots
If you are bringing a packed lunch, the garden has over 200 benches. Just next to the Bramall Learning Centre building is the Teaching Garden, which has covered picnic tables.
Visitor information
For more information see Harlow Carr’s Plan Your Visit page.
Accessibility
The Harlow Carr website has a detailed page about accessibility here.
Dogs
Only assistance dogs can be brought into RHS Harlow Carr.
From the car park, there is also a walk along the beck through the Pinewoods to Valley Gardens in the centre of Harrogate. A popular option for families with a dog is to split up outside the Harlow Carr entrance, so the group with the dog can do the walk to Valley Gardens and the group without the dog can go into Harlow Carr. There is a map of this walk available here on the Harlow Carr website as a pdf.
Quiet space
The other room in the Bramall Learning Centre is the library, which is on the ground floor. This is open to all garden visitors from 11am to 4pm and has comfortable seating, desks, a children’s colouring area and an art exhibition. A separate reading room is available for anyone needing a more quiet space.