The charming northern county of West Yorkshire promises vibrant cities, industrial heritage towns and pretty Pennine villages in equal doses. There’s no shortage of things to do in West Yorkshire. Drop into cosmopolitan Leeds for museums and galleries and elegant shopping centres, feel the wind in your hair on Pennine trails and cycle ways, visit Bradford for Victorian industrial heritage and grand city parks, or pack a copy of Wuthering Heights and head to Haworth to explore Brontë-country villages and vales in this inspiring literary county. With so many places to visit in West Yorkshire, you’ll soon be planning your return trip.
Places to visit in West Yorkshire
24 hours in Leeds
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Victorian warehouses and shiny 21st-century architecture collide to awesome effect in this gritty Yorkshire city.
See the light at the end of the tunnel
Standedge Tunnel, in the heart of the Pennine countryside, is the longest canal tunnel in Britain.
Location: Marsden, Yorkshire
Nine floors of silver-screens
A visit to the National Media Museum is a must if you love photography, film, television, animation, gaming or the internet.
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Rainy Day Activities: Discover military history at The Royal Armouries
Britain’s national museum of arms and armour is home to a fascinating and unique collection, including the only existing suit of armour built for an elephant.
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire
Visit the Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle
Celebrate 200 of the world’s greatest artists at 4 leading arts venues in Yorkshire.
Location: Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Raise a glass of English wine at Holmfirth Vineyard
How about a glass of English wine? That’s award-winning English wine. Come to Holmfirth Vineyard and discover their home-grown delight.
Location: Holmfirth, West Yorkshire
Visit England’s highest, longest and deepest canal tunnel
All aboard! Take a seat on the glass topped boat and take a journey into the highest, longest and deepest canal tunnel in the country.
Location: Marsden, West Yorkshire
Take in a weekend of jazz at Marsden Jazz Festival
Hear old school traditional to cutting-edge contemporary jazz at Marsden Jazz Festival.
Location: Marsden, West Yorkshire
July events: Holmfirth Art Week
Over 400 artists combine art, music, comedy, theatre and literature for the UK's largest open art exhibition.
Location: Holmfirth, West Yorkshire
Explore an ecological paradise at Marsden Moor
Walk, cycle or climb your way across this rugged wild landscape steeped in history that has inspired people since prehistoric times.
Location: Marsden, West Yorkshire
Make yourself at home at Harewood House
This 18th century home is filled with fine art and surrounded by gardens and parkland that is home to many animals including flamingos and penguins.
Location: Harewood, West Yorkshire
Unleash your inner explorer at Tropical World
Set off on a journey through the jungle, the desert and below the surface of the water to discover all of the creatures who call them home.
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire
May events: Visit the 1940s in West Yorkshire
Head to Haworth in West Yorkshire and get a glimpse into life in the 1940s.
Location: Haworth, West Yorkshire
Enjoy being pampered in your own moorland lodge retreat
Indulge in a full range of spa treatments in the comfort of your own luxury Scandinavian lodge before setting off to explore the English countryside.
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Enjoy an afternoon tea in the house the Brontës loved
Enjoy a luxurious afternoon tea at the historic house the Brontës knew and loved, then take a tour of the real-life setting for Wuthering Heights.
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Cookery and butchery courses at Coddy's Farm
Boost your culinary skills with seasonal cookery and butchery courses at Coddy's Farm, in Holmfirth. Great accommodation, great views, great food.
Location: Holmfirth, Yorkshire
Discover a different Yorkshire on the river
Discover a new world with Shire Cruisers - steering a beautifully fitted narrow boat with everything you need, past ever-changing Pennine scenery.
Location: Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire