Knaresborough is an historic market town and spa town in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, located four miles east of Harrogate town.

Sights in the town include remains of Knaresborough Castle, Mother Shipton's petrifying well and several cave dwellings, one a chapel, dating from the Middle Ages. This is known locally as the 'House in the Rock'. Knaresborough is also reputed to be the site of the oldest chemist shop in England, opened in 1720.

Knaresborough Castle is a group of ruins in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, England. It was built around 1100 by a Norman baron on a cliff above the River Nidd. In the 1170s Hugh de Moreville and his followers took refuge there after assassinating Thomas Beckett.

The castle was later rebuilt between 1301-1307 by Edward I and later completed by Edward II. The castle was destroyed by Parliamentarian troops in 1646 during the Civil War. The remains are open to the public and there is a charge for entry to the interior remains. The Castle has a secret underground tunnel, stretching some 80 feet through solid rock to allow access during a siege!

Situated above the River Nidd, crossed on a magnificent stone viaduct, Knaresborough Railway station is unusual in that its platforms and goods yard were separated by a tunnel. The Knaresbrough to Boroughbridge branch (1875-1964) diverged from the main line to York adjacent to this goods yard. This branch line continued in a north-easterly direction until it met the East Coast Main Line between York and Northallerton. During Monday to Saturday daytime, there generally is a half-hourly service from Knaresborough to Leeds (westbound) and hourly to York (eastbound).