Top 15 Attractions in Haworth, Yorkshire: Must-See Experiences

The Brontës, among the most renowned literary families globally, resided in the village of Haworth in West Yorkshire during the early half of the 19th century.

Anne, Charlotte, and Emily spent nearly their entire, albeit brief, lives at the Haworth Parsonage, where they produced some masterpieces of English literature, including Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre.

Throughout Haworth and the sweeping, windswept moors that surround it, one can find natural landmarks and structures associated with the sisters.

The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, a heritage line, traverses this landscape known as Brontë Country, stopping at picturesque stations that have remained largely unchanged for decades.

Let us delve into the noteworthy attractions in Haworth:

1. Brontë Parsonage Museum

Your initial destination must be the residence where Charlotte, Anne, and Emily Brontë spent the majority of their lives and authored some of the most cherished literary works in the English language.

The family relocated to this Georgian structure on the periphery of the moors in 1820 when their father, Patrick Brontë, assumed the role of minister of the parish. Managed by the Brontë Society (established in 1893), one of the oldest literary societies in existence, the Haworth Parsonage is enriched with the Brontë sisters’ manuscripts, early editions of their novels, letters, clothing, and furniture.

Recently added is the mahogany desk where Charlotte composed her novels.

The collection is sufficiently extensive that the room displays are updated annually, ensuring there is always something new to discover.

2. Brontë Way

Dedicated Brontë enthusiasts may embark on this marked 43-mile trail traversing Brontë Country and the moorland that inspired the sisters.

The route initiates near Haworth at Oakwell Hall (depicted as Fieldhead in Charlotte Brontë’s novel, Shirley) in Kirklees and is designed to include numerous Brontë points of interest as it winds its way across the moors to Padiham outside Burnley.

The trail naturally passes through Haworth, allowing access to the Brontë Birthplace nearby in Thornton Village or Ponden Hall, which inspired Thrushcross Grange in Wuthering Heights, as well as the locations listed here, such as the Brontë Waterfall and Top Withens.

3. Brontë Waterfall

Situated nearly three miles from Haworth, there exists a picturesque waterfall within a small rocky dell, ideally visited after a period of heavy rainfall when, as Charlotte Brontë noted in 1854, there exists a “…perfect torrent racing over the rocks.”

The waterfall was favored by all three sisters, and at its base lies the Brontë Bridge, a historic stone crossing over South Dean Beck that was adversely affected by flooding in 1989 but was promptly reconstructed.

The valley floor is strewn with rocks, one of which is notably shaped like a chair and is believed to have been utilized by the Brontës for storytelling.

4. St Michael and All Angels’ Church

Adjacent to the Parsonage, the church where Patrick Brontë served for 41 years until 1861 was rebuilt at the close of the 1880s.

Some elements of the original structure remain, including the tower, which can be traced back to the 15th century.

While the Brontës may not recognize the edifice today, visitors can enter to pay their respects at the Brontë family tomb.

This resting place is marked with a modest plaque, installed in 1882. In 1963, a memorial chapel was erected for the Brontë sisters, partially funded by Sir Tristram Lever, son of the Liberal Party MP Arthur Lever.

It may seem macabre, yet over 40,000 individuals are interred in the church’s graveyard, and in 1849 Patrick Brontë himself requested enhancements due to the overcrowding which was compromising sanitation in the village.

5. Cliffe Castle Museum

For a respite from the Brontë trail, one could venture into Keighley to visit this exceptional history museum.

It is located within the opulent residence of Victorian millionaire, textile manufacturer Henry Isaac Butterfield.

Butterfield moved in during the 1870s and bestowed the 50-year-old Gothic Revival mansion with an extravagant redesign, incorporating a ballroom, towers, and conservatories.

He was well-connected and hosted lavish gatherings at this estate.

The museum combines the allure of artistic interiors with fascinating collections in archaeology, local geology, mineralogy, Egyptology, and more.

Noteworthy pieces include a two-meter fossil of a newt, Neolithic engravings from nearby Rombalds Moor, and an impressive collection of early stained glass by the Arts and Crafts pioneer William Morris.

6. Top Withens

Above Haworth, a short distance up the Brontë Way from the waterfall, lies the forlorn ruins of a former farmhouse.

Contemporary visitors often ponder whether this desolate ruin served as inspiration for the Earnshaw residence, Wuthering Heights, from Emily Brontë’s novel.

While this connection seems unlikely, given the house would have featured a vastly different appearance 170 years ago, the windswept moorland landscape certainly embodies the essence of Wuthering Heights.

To clarify misconceptions from visitors, a plaque was placed here by the Brontë Society in 1964, denying any direct associations with the novel, while suggesting that the moors might have influenced her choice of location for the Heights.

7. Main Street

Haworth’s vehicle-free main street is delightful, paved with setts and gracefully descending the hill from the church to Central Park.

Behind the street’s sandstone residences, the moors rise on the opposite side of the Worth Valley.

There are no national chains to be found in Haworth; instead, the street is lined with independent shops specializing in antiques, vintage apparel, musical instruments, art supplies, and specialty foods, as well as a few galleries, pubs, and tea rooms.

There are also notable curiosities to consider.

Below the church steps rest Haworth’s authentic stocks used for public punishments.

The shop adjacent to these stocks was once the post office frequented by the Brontës, while Branwell Brontë (Patrick’s only son) was a regular at the Black Bull pub and would have purchased laudanum to support his opium dependency from the Apothecary across the street.

8. Central Park

At the base of Main Street, you can proceed to explore this nine-acre park established in 1929. Situated on a steep slope with a magnificent view of the valley, Central Park is an annual Green Flag winner, featuring footpaths that meander past well-maintained lawns, shrubberies, and formal flowerbeds.

The original bandstand was lost during the 1970s, but it has since been replaced in the 2010s, while the bowling green and tennis courts date back to the 1930s.

9. Keighley and Worth Valley Railway

Haworth features a stop on this five-mile heritage line, which was previously part of the Midland Railway, serving the communities and mills of the Worth Valley since the 1880s.

Interestingly, the line was extended to Haworth after a civil engineer paid a visit to the village to honor Charlotte Brontë but discovered the absence of a railway.

There is surely no more romantic means to traverse the moorland of Brontë Country than in a steam-powered carriage.

The railway also has cultural ties, as the charming Oakworth Station was featured in the 1970 children’s classic, The Railway Children.

Further along the line at Ingrow, visitors can explore the Loco Museum and Workshop, set within a former Midland Railway goods warehouse.

10. Oxenhope Railway Station

A brief five-minute journey on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway brings you to Oxenhope Station, the line’s southern terminus, which appears just as it did prior to the cessation of mainline services in the 1960s.

Take the opportunity to disembark during your round trip and spend time exploring the station and its ticket office, which still features a fireplace for warmth.

During the railway’s restoration, the goods shed was expanded, accommodating the line’s collection of historic carriages.

Between the goods shed and the station structure, there is an old British Rail buffet car that hosts a small café.

Oxenhope is also known for its annual beer festival in mid-October, which showcases around 160 beers from various parts of the country.

11. Vintage Carriages Trust Museum of Rail Travel

Located in Ingrow, this railway museum is operated by a distinct organization and preserves a collection of vintage train carriages from the Midland Railway, Great Northern Railway, and London’s Metropolitan Railway.

The oldest carriage dates back to 1876 and was constructed for the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway, while the most recent addition is a BR carriage from 1950. These rolling stock pieces have made appearances in over 70 television shows and films.

The museum is open every day of the year, allowing visitors to step inside the carriages, admire their craftsmanship and upholstery, and view short films depicting rail travel during the steam era.

Additionally, guests can visit the workshop to observe carriage restoration and contemplate the museum’s collection of railway signs, photographs, and advertisements.

12. Bingley St Ives

This estate, situated five miles east of Haworth, has been transformed into a country park under the stewardship of Bingley Urban District Council.

The mature trees adorning these 550 acres were planted by the Ferrands, who resided here from the 17th to the 20th century.

At the southern perimeter lies the Druid’s Altar, a rocky outcrop located high above the Aire Valley.

The artificial Coppice Pond has its origins in the Medieval era and was modified by Walker Ferrand in the 19th century.

Visitors can feed the ducks, ideally using oats rather than bread! Another significant Ferrand, Lady Blantyre, would often relax at an overhanging rock on the estate, now named in her honor with a memorial stone established by her son-in-law.

Take some time to wander through the venerable ash, oak, pine, and larch woodlands, and for those inclined, the 18-hole Bingley St Ives golf course is also located on the estate.

13. Hardcastle Crags

An excursion not to be missed, Hardcastle Crags is a narrow wooded valley located eight miles south of Haworth.

This area is under the care of the National Trust and features upland meadows that smoothly descend to a ravine where the River Hebden cascades over moss-covered rocks.

The prominent manmade feature in the valley is Gibson Mill, constructed in the early 1800s.

This cotton mill, powered by the river, has been converted into a working museum focusing on renewable energy technology.

The National Trust has established a network of marked trails through this picturesque terrain, frequently grazed by deer and showcasing seasonal highlights such as bluebells in spring and stunning autumn foliage.

Pause at the Weaving Shed Café for a slice of homemade cake alongside a comforting cup of tea.

14. East Riddlesden Hall

Perched on a plateau curving above the Aire River is East Riddlesden Hall, a manor house surrounded by parkland meadows that descend to the river.

The structure as it stands today dates to 1642, when it was expanded by an affluent clothier.

Internally, the hall showcases Tudor-style rooms, with some foundations dating as far back as the 10th century, and there exists a Medieval tithe barn on the premises.

The mullioned and rose windows reflect the wealth of the manor, while the 400-year-old studded oak door retains its original locking mechanism.

Visitors can experience the lifestyle of the North of England’s merchant class by observing the wooden paneling, plaster ceilings, fireplaces, and quaint artifacts such as 17th-century Royalist graffiti and antique apothecary jars.

15. SMJ Falconry

Located in Oxenhope, the SMJ Falconry is home to over 60 birds of prey, including falcons, kites, hawks, owls, a vulture, and an eagle.

The center does not function as a walk-around attraction; instead, it offers various interactive experiences with birds of prey.

The shortest and most economical option is the hour-long Hawk Walk, in which you will venture into the countryside accompanied by one or more of the center’s hawks.

Equipped with a glove, you will have the chance to handle this intelligent bird, learn about its behaviors, and observe it in flight.

For an in-depth experience, consider the full-day Birds of Prey Experience where you will be introduced to 30 different species and will have the opportunity to hold and “fly” them under the guidance of an instructor.

The Owl Experience features 20 different species, providing further expert insights alongside the chance to hold or fly snowy owls, barn owls, and Canadian great horned owls, among others.