Halifax overview

For many, the word Halifax conjures up images of high street banks and the credit crunch. An altogether unpleasant picture. However, Halifax is also a town buried in the hills and valleys of West Yorkshire, with more to offer than a fixed-rate interest mortgage.

This Pennine town, has a reputation in the textile industry as the centre of England’s wool manufacturing industry from the 15th century onwards. The resplendent Halifax Piece Hall, where the industry flourished, still stands to this day as a reminder of the trade.

Film tourists may be interested to know that Piece Hall featured in Brassed Off and is home to the Halifax Gibbet, an English guillotine used to dispense capital punishment long before the device used in the French Revolution was invented.

Halifax is also located in what is quaintly known as Bronte Country. It is on the sweeping hills surrounding Halifax that the Bronte sisters were inspired to write some of the English language’s greatest works.

These hills make for fabulous walks, offering panoramic views, whether visitors are a fan of Wuthering Heights, or not.

Halifax Location

From Leeds, Halifax can be reached using a number of fast roads such as the A58 and M606 providing a speedy link between the two destinations. Similarly, Bradford and Manchester benefit from fast road links with Halifax.

There is also an extensive bus network in the region. First Calderdale and Huddersfield operate services along with Arriva. These services link Halifax with Dewsbury, Wakefield, Bradford and Leeds. They typically run every ten to 20 minutes, Monday to Saturday.
Halifax’s bus station is also noted for its picturesque setting inside a listed building.

There are also good rail links between Halifax and the neighbouring towns and cities. It is on the Caldervale Link, which serves Manchester, York, Leeds, Blackpool, Huddersfield and Wakefield. From here, good transport links are available to the south of Leeds, via London.

International visitors should also note that Halifax is served by the relatively near Leeds Bradford International Airport, which operates domestic flights and a number of routes throughout Europe.

Why Visit Halifax?

Halifax has a lot to offer for family visitors. Its main attraction is the Eureka! Museum, which is one of the biggest non-profit learning centres in England. At this museum, children and adults can explore the world around them using a number of interactive features, which have been praised on national television shows such as Blue Peter.

As well as listed buildings and museums, there is also a great deal of countryside bordering Halifax, perfect for walking fans, and the literature enthusiasts can escape to the birth place of the Bronte sisters in under half an hour.