I've lived in Yorkshire for my entire life and honestly, couldn't picture myself anywhere else. We have the most beautiful scenery and rural landscapes, I will never tire of a countryside walk; so I thought it was about time I included more of my favourite places in Yorkshire, here on the blog! And what better way to start than with Haworth?! It's less than a 30 minute drive from where I live, so when I had a day off work a few weeks ago, Mum and I took ourselves for a nice day out in the sunshine.
Many people will know Haworth for being home to the Bronte sisters and for that reason, it's such a little tourist hotspot. It's not very big, but it's quaint and cosy and full of cobbles. Quintessentially British and bustling with independent businesses!
Main Street
The whole of Haworth centres around Main Street, the cobbled hill packed with shops, cafes, galleries and homes. No two businesses are the same! There's vintage clothing stores, quirky gift stores, a traditional sweet store, an old book and vinyl store and not forgetting the bakery! Favourite shops of mine include:
The Cabinet of Curiosities; an old apothecary shop warmly lit by glass globes and fragranced with exotic oils, you can find an array of bath salts, soaps and lotions or explore their range of 'extraordinary gifts'.
Lighthouse Lane; a gift shop with something for everyone, they stock an array of art and gifts from a diverse range of independent British designers among their ever expanding range of unique and fun art, homeware, gifts and clothing. (I picked up a Punky Pins enamel badge!)
Choosing a spot for lunch was tricky because everywhere is so nice! We settled on The Cookhouse because neither of us had been before and the menu had lots of vegan options. We sat outside initially but there were SO MANY WASPS, that once our food came we had to move indoors to shield ourselves (as did many other people). I went for a roast pepper, sundried tomato and vegan mozarella panini while mum opted for a cheddar and red onion marmalade toastie - both were scrummy and would highly recommend!
Central Park
At the bottom of Main Street is the rather spacious park (a Green Flag park, no less!) made up of beautiful greenery, a bandstand, playground, sculptures, an ice cream van and fabulous views. A perfect spot to sit and enjoy an ice cream or go for a nice sunny stroll (as we did).
For the Bronte fans
Off the side of Main Street, you can find the old school in which Charlotte Bronte once taught and directly opposite (ok, maybe a teeny bit higher up) is the Bronte Parsonage Museum! We didn't go in this time, but if you're visiting the area and you're a keen literature fan (or even if you're not) it is absolutely a must-do. There's so much history! Even walking by it made me want to grab a copy of Wuthering Heights and sit with my head in the book under the sun. Bliss!
So we didn't cram too much into our day, wanting to keep things nice and relaxed (it wasn't our first time there after all!). But sometimes that's the best kind of days. Pottering around scenic villages on a mother/daughter date? Fabulous way to spend a day off if you ask me. If you want one more recommendation for Haworth though, I'd say visit the Keighley and WorthValley Railway Station; who doesn't love a steam train!
Have you ever been to Haworth? What's your favourite thing there?
Loves. Emma.
