Top 10 reasons to visit West Yorkshire

By Beverley Addy

Outdoors

You are never far from the great outdoors and what a great outdoors it is. Even in urban areas, fabulous green spaces have been created, but in just a few minutes from most centres you can be out on the hills and moors, navigating the canals and fields or taking in the view from a country pub or cafe.

Friendly folk

Wherever you are in West Yorkshire you should be afforded a warm welcome. There’s nothing like a local to give you the low down on their own town. Beware, people will talk to you!

Amenities

A bustling town or city centre is never far away. Amenities are always on hand with still thriving villages offering everything you need from entertainment to food.

Norland Moor

Architecture

Wakefield Cathedral and the Chantry Bridge, Huddersfield’s St George’s Square and train station, Halifax Piece Hall to name but a few are architectural focal points. Keep your eyes peeled for hidden gems in town centres and while out and about for landmarks such as Victoria Tower, on Castle Hill, follies such as Wainhouse Tower, Halifax, Denby Dale’s huge curving skew arch viaduct and the amazing Emley Moor Mast.

Arts and crafts

If you’ve been searching for a special gift or treat, then West Yorkshire is home to a huge number of artists and crafters whose work is readily available to buy across the region.

Real ale in real pubs

From big players to micro-breweries West Yorkshire is awash with top ale and real pubs to drink it in. Local brewers such as Ossett, Empire, Golcar, Goose Eye, Magic Rock, Ilkley, Timothy Taylors and Saltaire keep the pumps well stocked. Even if you are a non-ale drinker, the many warm and welcoming pubs, offer superb food.

Great food

Yorkshire puddings – they’re always best in Yorkshire. But seriously West Yorkshire is a hot bed of culturally diverse food from the award-winning Box Tree, Ilkley, to the Spanish taste sensation of Meson La Pepa in Huddersfield. Fine dining is on the menu many restaurants but you can also find some top gastropubs too.

History

From formal museums, with excellent interactive exhibitions such as the National Coal Mining Museum, Shibden Hall and Colne Valley Museum, to the stories woven into the actual landscape and built environment that was shaped by the coal and textile industries, it’s a rich vein of information to be mined for detail or simply absorbed as you enjoy your visit.

Wakefield’s National Coal Mining Museum offers interactive exhibitions

Location

‘God’s own country’, as West Yorkshire folk will tell you it is, is right in the heart of the UK so it’s a good spot to get to and it’s a great base for exploring further afield.

Music

From brass bands to orchestras, folk singers to Male Voice Choirs, the internationally known Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and Marsden Jazz Festival, this county has something for all ears in venues from tiny bars to concert halls.

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