VISIT HAWORTH
Visit and fall in love with the village of Haworth
Haworth: The World’s Literary Shrine to the Brontë Sisters
There are literary destinations, and then there are places that have become pilgrimage sites for readers from around the world. Haworth is one of them.
Tucked into the hills of West Yorkshire, this historic village was home to Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë – three sisters whose novels and poetry transformed English literature.
From the family home at Haworth Parsonage came Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Agnes Grey and hundreds of poems, letters and stories.
Their books introduced readers to unforgettable characters including Jane Eyre, Edward Rochester, Heathcliff, Catherine Earnshaw and Helen Graham. Their writing explored love, independence, social class, religion, marriage, grief, abuse and the position of women in Victorian society.
More than 175 years later, their work continues to inspire novels, films, television dramas, theatre productions, musicals, opera and ballet.
For anyone who loves literature, Haworth is much more than a pretty Yorkshire village.
It is a place where literary history is still tangible.
Why Is Haworth Such an Important Literary Destination?
The Brontës lived at Haworth Parsonage from 1820, when their father, Patrick Brontë, became minister of the parish.
Charlotte, Emily and Anne spent much of their lives here, developing their extraordinary imaginations and writing some of the most influential works of the nineteenth century.
The sisters were prolific from childhood.
Along with their brother Branwell, they created imaginary kingdoms, characters and stories, producing tiny handwritten books and magazines.
Those childhood experiments eventually became the foundation for three extraordinary literary careers.
What makes Haworth particularly special is the connection between the writers, their home and their landscape.
You can visit the rooms where they lived, see original manuscripts, walk through the village they knew and explore the surrounding countryside that influenced their imagination.
The Three Brontë Sisters
Charlotte, Emily and Anne are often discussed together, but each developed a distinctive literary voice.
Charlotte became famous for Jane Eyre and Villette.
Emily created the extraordinary world of Wuthering Heights.
Anne wrote two remarkably modern novels, Agnes Grey and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.
All three also wrote poetry.
Together, they challenged the conventions of Victorian literature and created female characters who were far more complex, independent and emotionally powerful than many readers had encountered before.
Charlotte Brontë: The Creator of Jane Eyre
Charlotte Brontë was born in 1816 and was the eldest surviving Brontë sister.
Her greatest novel, Jane Eyre, was published in 1847 under the pseudonym Currer Bell.
It became an immediate literary sensation.
The novel tells the story of Jane, an orphan who grows up experiencing hardship before becoming a governess at Thornfield Hall.
There she meets the mysterious Edward Rochester.
Their relationship became one of the great romances of English literature, but Jane Eyre is much more than a love story.
Charlotte created a heroine who insists on having her own identity, moral independence and right to make her own decisions.
That was a powerful idea at a time when women’s lives were heavily restricted by social expectations. Jane herself has become an enduring symbol of female independence and self-determination.
Charlotte’s Most Famous Characters
Jane Eyre – intelligent, passionate, independent and determined to retain her dignity.
Edward Rochester – wealthy, brooding and deeply flawed, but one of literature’s most enduring romantic characters.
Bertha Mason – the mysterious woman hidden in Thornfield’s attic, whose character has inspired generations of literary interpretation.
St John Rivers – a fascinating contrast to Rochester, representing duty and religious commitment.
Charlotte Brontë’s Other Novels
Charlotte’s literary career went far beyond Jane Eyre.
Shirley
Published in 1849, Shirley explores friendship, class, industrial unrest and the position of women against the background of Yorkshire.
Villette
Published in 1853, Villette is one of Charlotte’s most psychologically complex novels.
Its heroine, Lucy Snowe, is independent, observant and emotionally restrained. The novel explores loneliness, identity, love and the difficulties faced by a woman trying to build an independent life.
The Professor
Charlotte’s first completed novel was published after her death. It drew partly on her experiences of teaching and living in Brussels.
Emily Brontë: The Extraordinary Mind Behind Wuthering Heights
Emily Brontë was born in 1818.
Unlike Charlotte, Emily published only one novel.
But that novel became a masterpiece.
Wuthering Heights appeared in 1847 under the pseudonym Ellis Bell.
It tells the story of Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, two unforgettable characters whose relationship becomes consumed by love, jealousy, obsession, revenge and loss.
Heathcliff and Catherine
Few relationships in literature have had the cultural impact of Heathcliff and Catherine.
Their story is passionate, destructive and unconventional.
Heathcliff is one of the most controversial characters in English literature.
He can be romantic, obsessive, cruel and vengeful.
Catherine is equally complex.
She is passionate and wilful but constrained by the social world in which she lives.
Their relationship has inspired generations of readers to debate whether Wuthering Heights is fundamentally a love story, a Gothic tragedy, a study of revenge or something much darker.
Perhaps it is all of them.
The World of Wuthering Heights
The landscape is central to Emily’s novel.
The moors around Haworth provided the environment Emily knew throughout her life, and the atmosphere of the Yorkshire landscape has become inseparable from the novel’s identity.
Wind, isolation, storms, darkness and wild open countryside all contribute to the emotional intensity of Wuthering Heights.
Although the fictional Wuthering Heights should not be treated simply as a direct copy of a particular building, locations such as Top Withens have become important destinations for literary visitors.
For Brontë enthusiasts, walking into the landscape is a way of experiencing the atmosphere behind Emily’s writing.
Anne Brontë: The Bravest and Most Radical Brontë?
Anne Brontë was the youngest of the three sisters and is sometimes overlooked beside Charlotte and Emily.
That is changing.
Modern readers increasingly recognise that Anne’s writing was remarkably bold.
Her novels confronted subjects that Victorian society found uncomfortable.
Agnes Grey
Anne’s first novel, Agnes Grey, was published in 1847.
It draws heavily on her experiences as a governess.
Through Agnes, Anne examines:
- Social class
- Education
- Employment
- Wealth
- Marriage
- The treatment of women
- The realities of working as a governess
Unlike the dramatic Gothic world of Wuthering Heights, Agnes Grey is often strikingly realistic.
It provides an important insight into the lives of women who had to earn their own living.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
Anne’s second novel is arguably her most revolutionary.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall appeared in 1848.
Its heroine, Helen Graham, leaves her abusive husband and takes her young son with her.
At the time, the idea that a woman could leave her husband, support herself and protect her child was extraordinarily controversial.
Anne confronted:
- Domestic abuse
- Alcoholism
- Marriage
- Women’s financial dependence
- Social hypocrisy
- Religious morality
- Female independence
The novel’s subject matter makes Anne one of the most important early writers on women’s rights and domestic abuse.
Helen Graham: One of Literature’s Strongest Women
Helen Graham is one of Anne’s greatest achievements.
Rather than simply enduring her circumstances, Helen takes control of her life.
Her decision to leave her husband was almost unimaginable within Victorian society.
This makes The Tenant of Wildfell Hall particularly relevant to modern readers.
Anne wasn’t simply writing a romance.
She was asking serious questions about power, marriage and women’s freedom.
Anne Brontë’s Literary Legacy
Anne died in 1849 at the age of just 29.
Her literary reputation has grown enormously since then.
Today, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is recognised as an important work of nineteenth-century literature and an early exploration of issues surrounding domestic abuse and women’s independence.
Modern writers and academics continue to rediscover Anne and reassess her contribution to English literature.
The Brontës and the Power of Poetry
One of the most fascinating things about the Brontë family is how central poetry was to their creativity.
Before Charlotte, Emily and Anne became famous novelists, they were children creating stories, poems and miniature books.
Their brother Branwell was also involved in their imaginative world.
The young Brontës invented fictional countries, developed characters and wrote about their imaginary lives.
This wasn’t simply childhood play.
It became a form of literary training.
By the time Charlotte, Emily and Anne published their novels, they had spent years developing their ability to create characters, construct imaginary worlds and experiment with language.
The Brontës and Their Imaginary Worlds
Two fictional worlds became particularly important:
Gondal and Angria.
Emily and Anne were particularly associated with Gondal, while Charlotte and Branwell developed Angria.
These imaginary kingdoms were populated by rulers, soldiers, lovers, villains and heroes.
The surviving writings reveal just how intensely imaginative the Brontë children were.
Their childhood worlds helped lay the foundations for the much larger fictional worlds that would eventually appear in their novels.
Visit the Brontë Parsonage Museum
For anyone interested in the Brontës, the Brontë Parsonage Museum is the essential starting point.
This is the house where Charlotte, Emily and Anne lived and where some of their greatest works were written.
The museum contains manuscripts, letters, books, clothing, furniture and personal possessions belonging to the family.
Seeing the original handwriting of the sisters can be an extraordinary experience.
You aren’t looking at an abstract literary history.
You are standing inside the actual home where the literature was created.
The museum is operated by the Brontë Society and hosts exhibitions and events throughout the year. Check the official website for current opening arrangements and exhibitions before travelling.
Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway is another worthwhile attraction when visiting Haworth.
The KWVR is a 5 mile heritage railway that opened in 1867 and runs between Keighley to Oxenhope via six stations.
It’s best known for its role in the 1970 film version of Edith Nesbit’s story The Railway Children, which can be walked, but has appeared in many other TV and film productions.
The Railway hosts many events throughout the year and attracts a wide range of visitors and enthusiasts.
The heritage railway travels through the Worth Valley and offers an enjoyable way to explore the wider Yorkshire landscape.
St Michael and All Angels’ Church
Next to the Parsonage is St Michael and All Angels’ Church, where Patrick Brontë served as minister.
Members of the Brontë family are buried here, making the church and its surroundings an important part of the literary pilgrimage.
It provides another direct connection with the family and their lives in Haworth.
Explore Haworth Main Street
Haworth’s steep, cobbled Main Street is now lined with independent shops, cafés, galleries, pubs and restaurants.
For literary visitors, take time to explore the bookshops and Brontë-related businesses.
You can find:
• Brontë novels
• Poetry collections
• Biographies
• Literary criticism
• Books about Haworth
• Prints and artwork
• Brontë gifts
There is something particularly satisfying about buying a copy of Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights in Haworth itself.
Haworth and the Brontë Landscape
The countryside around Haworth shouldn’t overshadow the literature, but it remains an important part of understanding the Brontë story.
The moors provided the sisters with a landscape they knew intimately.
Top Withens, Brontë Waterfall, Brontë Bridge, Alcomden Stones and Ponden Kirk are among the places explored by visitors interested in the connection between the Brontës and the landscape.
You don’t have to be an experienced walker to enjoy Brontë Country.
Even a short walk beyond the village to Penistone Hill Country Park provides a sense of the open, exposed Yorkshire environment that helped shape the atmosphere of their writing.
A Two-Day Brontë Literary Weekend
Two days allows you to experience Haworth without rushing.
Day One – The Brontës
- Brontë Parsonage Museum
- St Michael and All Angels’ Church
- Main Street
- Bookshops
- Literary shops
- Local pubs and restaurants
Day Two – The Brontë Landscape
Explore the countryside around Haworth.
Depending on your interests and fitness, you could visit:
- Penistone Hill Country Park
- Brontë Bridge
- Brontë Waterfall
- Top Withens
- Alcomden Stones
- Ponden Kirk & The Fairy Cave
Return to Haworth in the evening for dinner and perhaps an evening reading of Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre.
Five Brontë Poems to Read
For a deeper understanding of the sisters, add poetry to your reading list.
Emily Brontë — Remembrance
A deeply moving poem about memory and loss.
Emily Brontë — Hope
A meditation on despair and the struggle to find hope.
Emily Brontë — The Night-Wind
An atmospheric poem reflecting Emily’s fascination with nature.
Anne Brontë — The Blue Bell
A gentle reflection on nature and memory.
Charlotte Brontë — On the Death of Anne Brontë
Charlotte’s deeply personal response to losing her youngest sister.
10 Must-See Places To Visit When Staying In Haworth
Haworth is not only a lovely place to visit, but it’s also a great place to base yourself for exploring further afield.
THE PERFECT destination
Many adventures for a day trip or full week exploring our nearby hidden gems!
Getting to Haworth
Haworth can be reached by road and public transport.
For National Rail services, Keighley is the principal railway connection. From Keighley, visitors can travel onwards to Haworth by bus or experience the heritage Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.
Once you’re in Haworth itself, the historic village is best explored on foot.
If you’re travelling by car, check parking arrangements before arriving, particularly at weekends and during busy periods. Avoid the private car park at Changegate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Haworth
Is Haworth worth visiting for literature lovers?
Absolutely. Haworth is one of Britain’s most important literary destinations and the home of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë.
What is Haworth famous for?
Haworth is famous worldwide for its connection with the Brontë family and the writing of Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Agnes Grey and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.
Can you visit the Brontë family home?
Yes. The Brontë Parsonage is now the Brontë Parsonage Museum and contains original manuscripts and personal possessions belonging to the family.
What book should I read before visiting Haworth?
Wuthering Heights is the obvious choice if you want to connect the surrounding moorland with literature, while Jane Eyre provides the essential introduction to Charlotte Brontë. Wycoller is the alleged setting for Ferndean Manor, though you’ll need to drive there.
Can you visit Top Withens from Haworth?
Yes. For the full Wuthering Heights experience, walking to Top Withens can be reached from Haworth, although it is a substantial moorland walk and weather and ground conditions should be considered before setting out.
Are Charlotte, Emily and Anne buried in Haworth?
Members of the Brontë family are buried at St Michael and All Angels’ Church in the crypt beside the Parsonage, although Anne is buried at Scarborough and has a gravestone.
Are there Brontë events in Haworth?
Yes. The Brontë Parsonage Museum hosts exhibitions, talks, events and activities throughout the year. Check the museum’s website for the current programme. The village community also arrange events throughout the year.
Is there a literary festival?
Yes. The city of Bradford hosts an annual literature festival.
How big is Haworth?
According to the 2011 Census, Haworth has a population of 6,379, including out-lying settlements and farmsteads. Haworth village itself is likely to have just over 2,000 people.
The civil parish of Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury is within the Bradford Metropolitan District Council area, which itself falls within the county of West Yorkshire.
Where is Haworth?
The village has a South Pennine hilltop location in the Worth Valley, West Yorkshire, England. It is 3 miles (5 km) southwest of Keighley, between the villages of Oakworth and Oxenhope.
How far is Haworth from…
Haworth is just 4 miles from Keighley which has a train station connecting to Leeds, Bradford and beyond. It’s also the start of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, so it is possible to enter Haworth via steam or diesel train.
You can also catch a bus to Haworth from the Keighley Bus Station and unless you want to visit the railway station, we suggest you get off the bus higher up the hill at the Haworth Surgery (ask the bus driver to stop there).
Haworth is the following road miles from: Bradford – 9 miles, Colne – 11 miles, Skipton – 13 miles, Leeds – 26 miles, Manchester – 45 miles, York – 52 miles, London – 213 miles.
How do I get there?
By car: If driving, you’ll enjoy stunning moorland routes from Colne or Hebden Bridge, and the roads from the M62 motorway, Halifax or Keighley are very straight forward.
By train: To get to Keighley by train, you can plan your trip and book your tickets with Trainline. The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway runs steam and diesel trains between Keighley railway station and Haworth railway station at weekends, bank holidays and daily in summer (01535 647777). These are great if you’re into vintage railways, but a bit pricey if they’re not your thing and you just want to get there.
By bus: The Keighley bus station is a 5 minute walk from the train station and you can catch the B3 or B2 bus to Haworth for approx £4 (adult). If you want to go to the top of the village, near the Bronte Parsonage Museum, ask the driver to stop at Haworth Surgery.
By taxi: An Uber taxi costs approx £8 (as of 2021).
Where to park the car?
With many streets in Haworth narrow and winding, it can seem difficult to find somewhere to leave your car without causing an obstruction or inconvenience to locals. Here’s a quick guide to what car parking spaces are available (all are Pay & Display).
Bronte Parsonage Museum Car Park: 63 spaces – council. Our choice, at the top of the village and adjacent to public toilets. This is our suggested car park.
Bronte Village Car Park: 300 spaces – council. Within an ex-quarry setting with short paths to Main Street.
Haworth Railway Station Car Park: 35 spaces – railway. Lower part of the village.
Gas Street Car Park: 60 spaces – council. Lower part of the village.
Locals tip – free parking is usually available at the doctors’ surgery car park when not in use on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. Please do not use when the surgery is open, as local patients need it.
Central Car Park, formerly Changegate Car Park is owned and managed by the notorious ‘Yorkshire Clamper’ (Google it). We suggest you read their reviews on Google and TripAdvisor to make your own judgement.
Is there a children’s playground?
Central Park is a well-kept green space with beautiful flower beds, bowling green and children’s playground. This has swings, a climbing frame and slide, and there’s also a band stand in the centre to shelter under in case it rains.
Located between the train station and Main Street with large grassed areas and numerous benches, it’s ideal for picnics and to rest your legs after a busy day wandering around. It also has public toilets there too.
Are there public toilets?
Yes. There are public toilets in the park at the bottom of Main Street as well as public toilets near the car park by the Bronte Parsonage Museum .
These maintained by the parish council with a 30 pence entrance fee to help cover the maintenance costs.
Is the first aid in the village?
Yes. We suggest visiting the pharmacy (closed on Sundays) near the train station or ask a local business for assistance. Haworth also has a surgery if required.
defibrillators can be found in front of the Old While lion Hotel and at the Community Contact Point an police station.
Are there ATMs for cash?
Yes. A free ATM is outside of the Spa and Co-op shops near the train station.
There is another is in the Kings Arms pub at the top of Main Street for a small fee.
Keighley has many high street banks with external and internal ATMs at their premises.
What visitors say
Had an amazing guided tour on Saturday with David and Jodi taking in the sights of Haworth.
When in trouble – “Better Call Saul”, but when you want to be in awe – Better Call David! I deeply appreciate his help in planning my trip across Haworth Moor and in making my special mission
