Halifax Guide
A Guide to Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is an historic market town located in West Yorkshire southwest of Leeds. It is located in the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale, which also includes Brighouse, Elland, Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden. in 2021, the population of Halifax was around 90,000.
History
Halifax was famous as a wool and textile center both before and during the Industrial Revolution. The Calder River and surrounding valleys provided ample water for mills, and the area quickly grew into a hub for textile innovation, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries. Halifax's industrial expansion was supported by the construction of the Piece Hall in 1779, a grand neoclassical building where wool merchants came to trade "pieces" of cloth.
The Halifax (previously known as Halifax Building Society) was founded in the town in 1853. By 1913 it was Britain's largest building society. It is now part of Lloyds Banking Group.
Attractions
The Piece Hall is a Grade I listed building and Halifax's major sight. It is the oldest remaining Georgian cloth hall in the world. Opened in 1779 it was a public market for the sale of "pieces" (a 30 yard length of fabric produced on a hand loom). It has been redeveloped as a major shopping and entertainment center.
Halifax Minster is one of the oldest buildings in the town. It features impressive Gothic architecture, stained glass windows, and a significant collection of historical artifacts, including the grave of Anne Lister (1791-1840), owner of Shibden Hall and dubbed "the first modern lesbian."
Shibden Hall dates back to the 15th century and was the home of Anne Lister, whose detailed diaries offer an important glimpse into the social and cultural life of the period. The hall is now a museum featuring period rooms, exhibits, and beautiful gardens.
The Calderdale Industrial Museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the industrial heritage of the region. The museum features a collection of working machines dating from 1850 to 1930, all of which were either built or used in Halifax. The museum first opened its doors in 1985.
Housed in a Victorian mansion, Bankfield Museum focuses on the history of Halifax and Calderdale, with exhibits on local industry, textiles, and the military. It also features collections of costumes, art, and artifacts from around the world. The house, noted for its grand interior, was bought and enlarged by Colonel Edward Akroyd, an MP and son of a wealthy mill owner, in 1838. It lies with Akroyd Park to the north of Dean Clough off Haley Hill.
Eureka! The National Children's Museum is an interactive museum dedicated to children. Eureka! encourages learning through play and discovery. It features hands-on exhibits on science, technology, and everyday life, making it a popular family attraction. The sister Eureka! Science + Discovery Museum is in Liverpool.
Often referred to as the "Tower of Pisa of Yorkshire," Wainhouse Tower is a 275-foot Victorian folly originally constructed as a chimney for a dye works but was completed as an ornate tower. Visitors can climb to the top for panoramic views of Halifax and the surrounding countryside.
Dean Clough Mills is a former industrial complex of carpet mills, built in the 1840s-60s, once one of the world's largest carpet factories, now transformed into a center for businesses, art galleries, and restaurants. Altogether around 150 businesses call Dean Clough home including a Travelodge hotel, two gyms, bars, restaurants and beauty salons.
Victoria Theatre offers a wide range of performances, including plays, concerts, dance, and comedy shows.
A short walk from The Piece Hall, Borough Market dates from 1896 and sells a range of fresh, local and handmade produce.
Halifax Town Hall was designed by renowned architect Sir Charles Barry, who also co-designed the Palace of Westminster, the building was completed in 1863 and is a testament to the town's prosperity during the Industrial Revolution. The Town Hall features an ornate clock tower, intricate stone carvings, and a grand interior with a magnificent staircase, wood paneling, and stained glass windows.
Eat & Drink
Some recommended places to eat and drink in Halifax include Freddie's Fowlers on Albion Street, True North in Dean Clough Mills and the restaurant at Shibden Mill Inn which has a Michelin star. The Shibden Mill Inn is also a 4-star hotel housed in a 17th-century building.
Good pubs include The Fleece Inn in the village of Elland, The Old Cock near Halifax Borough Market, Upper George on Crown Street and The Duke Of Wellington on Commercial Street. Gin Lane is a gin bar in Somerset House, a Grade II listed building on Rawson Street.
Access
By car the town is 40 minutes from Leeds on the M621 and A58. From Manchester take the A664 and M62. Driving time is about 1 hour, 20 minutes. Huddersfield is a 20-minute drive south on the A629.
Halifax Station has trains to Bradford, Leeds, Brighouse, Huddersfield Station, Sowerby Bridge, Blackpool North and Manchester Victoria. There is also a train through to Chester Station in Chester.
There are also regular services to London King's Cross via Wakefield Kirkgate, Pontefract and Doncaster.
National Express and local buses leave from Halifax Bus Station on Winding Road. There are long distance buses to Victoria Coach Station in London. There are more local buses to Brighouse, Burnley, Claremont, Huddersfield, Leeds, Ripponden, Siddal and Todmorden.
Accommodation in Halifax
Halifax has several good places to stay. Select from The Imperial Crown Hotel at 42-46 Horton Street, the Shibden Hall View at Hough House a bed and breakfast situated in a historic building or the New Hobbit Hotel out in Sowerby Bridge.
See a listing on hotels in and near Halifax
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