Huddersfield is home to strong Yorkshire traditions, great festivals and some impressive architecture. During the Industrial Revolution the town built an enviable reputation for its textiles and its fine woollen worsteds are still in demand around the world.
Huddersfield has a rich legacy of notable Victorian buildings such as the railway station, described by Sir John Betjeman as ‘the most splendid station facade in England’. In fact, the town boasts an incredible 1,660 listed buildings - the third highest number in Britain.
Huddersfield Art Gallery has an excellent collection of British Art, including works by Francis Bacon and Henry Moore. The Huddersfield Choral Society is based here and the Contemporary Music Festival takes place every November. Other events include the Huddersfield Food and Drink festival, poetry and jazz festivals, Caribbean carnivals and the Mela. The modern arches of the Galpharm Stadium dominate the skyline and contrast with Jubilee Tower on Castle Hill, built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee. Visit the Tower for fine views or trace the town’s history at Huddersfield’s Tolson museum.
The former textile mills between Batley and Dewsbury have been restored for contemporary use and now make up the Yorkshire Mill Mile. Alexandra Mills is home to the Skopos Motor Museum, whilst Red Brick Mill and Cheapside Mill house a range of shops offering a vast range of fabrics, clothing and designer furnishings.
Best known as the film location for ‘Last of the Summer Wine’, Holmfirth is an attractive stone-built village within the picturesque Holme Valley. The cobbled streets and former weavers’ cottages provide an attractive backdrop for the numerous cafes, art and craft galleries as well as the familiar TV locations. Holmfirth has solid artistic credentials with the Holmfirth Musical Festival, Folk Festival, Holmfirth Choral Society and the Holme Valley Brass Band Contest being long established. Holmfirth Artweek is the largest public entry art exhibition in England and a number of nationally recognised artists live and work in the valley.
Sitting at the head of Colne Valley, Marsden has strong historical associations with the Luddites - textile workers who destroyed the machinery that threatened their jobs. The Huddersfield Narrow Canal brought prosperity to Marsden as a trans-Pennine staging post and at Standedge you will find the highest, longest and deepest canal tunnel in Britain. The surrounding wild moorland and dramatic Peak District Park make the town an excellent base for outdoor pursuits.
