Villages in West Yorkshire have a look like no other. Simon Armitage noted on his walk along the Pennine Way the noticeable difference when you cross over from North Yorkshire into West Yorkshire. West Yorkshire doesn’t get as much love as its neighbour, North Yorkshire, but we think it has some beautiful and fantastic villages to visit. You know a good village by its pubs and community spirit, and these definitely have a few decent watering holes to frequent.
West Yorkshire is definitely more of a metropolitan county compared to its other Yorkshire counterparts with the likes of Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield being located there. The county was vital in the Industrial Revolution and has a mixture of historic market towns and quaint villages that add to its makeup. It also has the wonderful Pennines with its rolling hills and moorlands and Bronte Country. All of it together makes the area such a distinct and unique place to visit. It’s full of great little spots and we’ve put together a list of some of the prettiest West Yorkshire villages for you to visit.
And, also if you’re a fan of real ale, make sure you give the Transpennine Ale Trail a go where you’ll get to visit some of these fantastic West Yorkshire villages along the way and enjoy a pint in some of their finest establishments.
So, what are the best villages in West Yorkshire to visit?
1. Marsden
Where poet Simon Armitage grew up, this village is as picturesque as they come. Quaint, traditional pubs with a bubbling river and beautiful Yorkshire countryside – as far as villages in West Yorkshire go, it’s the perfect place to visit for a lovely family day out. You can walk out into the countryside, and enjoy nearby reservoirs before returning to enjoy a nice pint in a warm pub by the fire.
The West Yorkshire villages are home to some fantastic places to eat and drink, especially for their size such as our favourite little brunch spot Peel Street Social and across the road the popular pub The Riverhead Brewery Tap an Ossett Brewery pub home to great real ale and craft beers – they also serve up amazing street food.
The Leeds Liverpool canal runs through the village and you can also head up into the hills and walk around the beautiful reservoirs. This place is truly a hipster’s paradise.
2. Saltaire
A model village in Shipley, Saltaire was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001. You can enjoy a walk along the idyllic Leeds and Liverpool canals while taking in the beautiful architecture of the Salts Mill. The village sits on the River Aire and is surrounded by glorious Yorkshire countryside. It was originally built to house workers but is now a vision of historic beauty that will not disappoint anyone who visits.
It’s also got some really great eateries on its doorstep including the fantastic pizzeria
Il Pirata Pizzata, and also the amazing SALT Beer factory serving up the best craft ales. Home to David Hockney why not wander around the beautiful Salt Mills and enjoy the Bradford-born artist’s work?
3. Haworth
Situated on the Eastern slope of the Pennines, Haworth is West Yorkshire’s most famous village. It was home to the Brontë sisters, making it the literary mecca of Yorkshire. It also has beautiful cobbled streets, rolling moors and a vintage charm that pulls in tons of visitors every single year. There are plenty of places to eat and enjoy a pint after you’ve finished exploring this historic Yorkshire village, making for a truly wholesome day out.
Heading to the Bronte’s home spot, which just so happens to be one of the prettiest West Yorkshire villages? Make sure you check out the brilliant spot The Hawthorn will off its old worldly charm and a menu that will blow your socks off. It wouldn’t be a trip to Haworth without visiting the old-fashioned sweatshop for a few sweeties either.
4. Ripponden
Near Halifax, this is another village that is proving popular with younger people, seeing a number of brand-new bars and restaurants open in recent years. But if one thing’s for sure, it hasn’t lost its old charm, with an elegant village feel that has plenty to offer anyone who fancies trying somewhere a little different. Surrounding West Yorkshire is a picturesque landscape with an amazing blend of lush rolling hills and lush greenery. The village is made of traditional stone buildings and has a great community.
Suppose you’re looking for a spot with a great history, quaint streets and lovely pubs and eateries, such as the 14th century Old Bridge Inn, one of Yorkshire’s oldest pubs – and a real piece of authentic Yorkshire life. In that case, Ripponden, located in the beautiful Ryburn Valley, is a must for your next trip around West Yorkshire.
5. Mytholmroyd
The birthplace of poet Ted Hughes, tucked between Halifax and Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd is a small scenic village that offers amazing views and walking experiences. It sits at the confluence of Elphin Brook and River Calder and also has the Rochdale Canal passing through. The charming village is surrounded by lush countryside and blends history and heritage with its natural beauty perfectly.
As well as being home to Ted Hughes, it also has a dark history, as it was once the lair of the 18th-century counterfeiting gang the Cragg Coiners, which became the biggest fraud in British history, damaging the national economy. This incident was immortalised in a recent BBC drama by Shane Meadows.
6. Slaithwaite
Just down the road from Marsden, Slaithwaite is more than just a pub on the ale trail, becoming a pretty trendy place to both live and visit in recent years. It’s a personal favourite of ours for a pizza pit stop at Anello, and also has great traditional pubs and artisan bread shops to pop in on a weekend day out. Once you’ve had a wander in the surrounding Pennines, you can come and enjoy the quaint limestone cottages and neighbourhood feel Slaithwaite has to offer, which makes it one of the best West Yorkshire villages to visit.
Villages in West Yorkshire have a look like no other and you’re truly in for a treat when you visit. From its groundbreaking involvement in the Industrial Revolution, and its famous faces to its rolling hills there’s something just a little different about it. It’s a harsher landscape, but with that comes a real beauty and resilience that shows in not only the people it produces but the landscape itself.
7. Heptonstall
A hidden gem, the West Yorkshire village of Heptonstall in the Calderdale region sits on a steep hill on the north side of the valley overlooking Hebden Bridge. The weaver’s village and its cobbled lanes remain relatively unchanged for around 200 years. It’s home to two fantastic pubs and is a popular spot with walkers especially with Hardcastle Craggs nearby.
For those who love a bit of heritage, the centre of the village is home to the Heptonstall Museum home to interiors of weaver’s cottages and displays of other local industries such as clog making. It’s a great insight into the domestic life of the villagers in the area.
8. Oxenhope
The village is located near Keighley and close to the popular village of Haworth made famous by the Bronte sisters. It is also famous for Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, which features in the popular children’s classic The Railway Children. Historically the village was part of the cloth and wool trade by 1850, Oxenhope was host to over 20 mills.
Surrounded by beautiful countryside including the Oxenhope Moor, and home to fantastic pubs it’s a great place for a day trip. It’s also known for its Straw Race, an annual event in which competitors complete a 2.5-mile course around the village carrying a straw bale and stopping at each pub for a pint of beer (sounds right up our street).
9. Thornton
On the outskirts of Bradford, situated along the Bronte Way, a long-distance footpath, Thornton is the birthplace of the Brontes. A perfect place for exploring this part of West Yorkshire, the village is easy reach to Haworth and other sites of interest.
The centre of the village retains the old-fashioned character of a Pennine village with stone-built houses and flagged roofs. Whether you’re looking for a base for fantastic walks or a spot to chill out and escape from it all, this is a brilliant spot to visit.
Read More: 14 Of The Best Walks In Yorkshire To Try
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