11 Best Things to Do in Halifax, England

Halifax, located in the metropolitan borough of Calderdale in Yorkshire (the UK), is a beautiful town well-known for being England’s woollen manufacturer from the 15th century, and the centre was originally what the Halifax Piece Hall is now.

I didn’t know about Halifax until I’d heard from a friend, and the only thing I knew about Halifax was Halifax Bank. So I decided to look for things to do in Halifax, Yorkshire, and I found lovely places to visit and a good variety of indoor and outdoor activities.

As you walk around Halifax, you’ll see beautiful iconic buildings – from the Piece Hall to Halifax Minster – and museums. 

If you’re looking for a complete day trip in Yorkshire, you definitely need to visit Halifax. So keep reading to discover all the things to do in Halifax town centre and its surroundings.

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11 Incredible Things to Do in Halifax, England

1. Go to the Piece Hall

The Piece Hall is a beautiful impressive Grade I listed building and one of the most visited places in Halifax. 

It used to be the main centre of the textile trade in England, but now you can wander around and discover small independent shops where you can get unique gifts or eat in mouthwatering cafes and restaurants.

Apart from great shopping and eating experiences, its Georgian architecture won’t disappoint you at all. 

I thought it was smaller, but when I was there, I was very impressed by how big it was and how many shops were inside.

I loved going through the two floors to stop by unique shops and getting an amazing view of the hall with the mountains as a background.

Before you visit The Piece Hall, I highly recommend you go to their website and check events as they have many great events (music concerts, street theatre and much more) going on throughout the year. 

One of the best events is Christmas at The Piece Hall! You’ll absolutely love the Christmas spirit and atmosphere.

Next to The Piece Hall, you can also find the Calderdale Industrial Museum, a museum dedicated to the industrial heritage of the Halifax and Calderdale area.

📍 Location: Blackledge, Halifax HX1 1RE

2. Check out Halifax Town Hall

Halifax Town Hall is another grade II listed building in the town. Its classical sandstone architecture complements well with other iconic buildings in Halifax.

The tower and spire are definitely the two features that stand out, and you can see them from other points of the city. 

Although I didn’t have the chance to go inside Halifax Town Hall, I’ve heard and read that it’s amazing inside.

📍 Location: Halifax Town Hall, Halifax HX1 1ZS

3. Visit Halifax Minster

Halifax Minster is known as one of the three West Yorkshire minsters, which include Dewsbury and Leeds. 

When you see the minster, you’ll have the feeling that it’s quite old because of its structure and Gothic design, and it really does date back to 1438. Over the next couple of years, the building was reformed.

However, it was only the town’s parish church until 2009, when it was recognised as a Minster. 

As you walk around the Minster, you’ll see gravestones dating back hundreds of years!

📍 Location: Causeway, Halifax HX1 1QL

4. Enjoy the views from Wainhouse Tower

If you’re after a view of the town, you must visit Wainhouse Tower. The tower is situated on the outskirts of Halifax, but only 35 minutes walk from the town centre.

Apparently, the tower was built with no purpose, but now you can actually go inside and climb the spiral staircase with 403 steps!

Price: £3.

📍 Location: Wainhouse Tower, 9 Wakefield Gate, King Cross, Halifax. HX3 0HB

5. Go to Eureka! The National Children’s Museum

Halifax does not only offer activities for adults but for children too. Eureka is an interactive and educational museum for children aged 0 to 11.

The museum is the ideal day out for kids, with six different zones where they can explore and learn about humans and the world.

📍 Location: Eureka! The National Children’s Museum, Discovery Rd, Halifax HX1 2NE

6. Discover the Bankfield Museum

Bankfield Museum is located in the beautiful Akroyd Park, only fifteen minutes walk from Halifax Town Hall. 

It’s your sort of museum if you love uncovering the local history and the stories of the Halifax and Calderdale people. The museum has plenty of displays that cover local history and culture, customs, jewellery and textiles not only from the United Kingdom but from around the world.

On top of this, the museum hosts temporary exhibitions where you can learn more about textile art, painting and photography.

Interestingly, this museum used to be a Victorian mansion.

*Free entry

Times: Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm.

📍 Location: Bankfield Museum, Akroyd Park, Boothtown Rd, Halifax HX3 6HG

7. Go for a walk to Shibden Park

Doubtless, this is one of the best parks I have visited in West Yorkshire. The park has plenty of things to do – a miniature railway, a boating lake, walking trails, playground areas, a cafe, and last but not least, Shibden Hall.

It’s the perfect place to relax or go for a walk on a sunny day. I went on an autumn day, and luckily the weather was really good. Although it was a bit busy, I definitely enjoyed walking around the woods and the lake (actually, I wish I had time to go on a boat!)

If you don’t have a car, like me, you need to know that the park is on the outskirts of Halifax. I had a look on Google Maps and thought that it was pretty close to the train station and it was accessible.

However, I had to walk carefully on the narrow shoulder of a busy road for 10 minutes or so. It isn’t impossible to access, but it isn’t the best route.

📍 Location: Godley Ln, Halifax HX3 6XG

8. Visit the Shibden Hall Museum

Shibden Hall is another incredible Grade II listed historic building that is situated in the picturesque Shibden Park.

Surprisingly, the building has been restored a couple of times. However, the Tudor half-timbered frontage remains untouched as its most important feature.

The building is also known for being the residence of notable people like Anne Lister, an English diarist from Halifax.

I found Shibden Hall and its gardens beautiful. I particularly liked getting a view of the park from the balcony. However, I didn’t go inside the museum as the entry fee is 8 pounds, and the museum seems to be quite small.

But if you’re interested in learning more about the lives of the people who lived and worked there, it’ll be worth spending those pounds.

📍 Location: Lister’s Rd, Halifax HX3 6XG

9. Explore People’s Park

Next to Calderdale College, it’s People’s Park, a beautiful park designed by Joseph Paxton.

The park was restored and improved in 1995, and it’s become a great place to relax and contemplate beautiful sculpture and architecture too. The park includes features such as a bandstand, serpentine pools, statues, cast-iron bridges and much more.

📍 Location: People’s Park, Park Rd, Hopwood Ln, Halifax HX1 2TS

10. Discover Manor Heath Park and Jungle Experience

Manor Heath Park is definitely a must-see. It’s an incredible park that has a Green Flag Award, and there’s no doubt why. The park has a variety of activities and attractions that make it a great place for a day out.

Some of the most popular attractions are The Jungle Experience, Walled Demonstration Garden and Flutter Bites Cafe.

Inside The Jungle Experience, you’ll find a huge range of plants (including exotic ones!), butterflies and other small animals. As you walk in, you’ll feel the heat as the minimum indoor temperature inside the glasshouse is 21 degrees.

The Walled demonstration garden is a garden that used to be used to grow fruit and vegetables. Today, the garden is a place where you can learn different gardening techniques. 

Last but not least, Flutter Bites is the ideal place to grab a takeaway Yorkshire tea or coffee or enjoy lunch in their outdoor seating area. 

📍 Location: Manor Heath Rd, Halifax HX3 0EB

11. Go for a hike at Ogden Water Country Park

Whether you love escaping the crowded city life or relaxing in nature, you’ll love Ogden Water Country Park. 

This park is only 10 minutes drive from Halifax city centre, but it’s worth visiting. Its scenic nature reserve and beautiful lakeside views make it a great day out. 

Ogden Water is ideal for picnics, walks and other nature activities. However, there are many other outdoor activities you can do.

📍 Location: Ogden Ln, Halifax HX2 8XZ

Where to eat in Halifax

If you’re looking for where to eat and drink in Halifax, I highly recommend going to Ricci’s Place. I loved the atmosphere and decoration inside – modern and distinctive.

They offer a great menu with plenty of options for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. They also have vegetarian dishes, and some meals can be adapted for anyone who follows a gluten-free diet.

I went to Ricci’s for brunch and had delicious egg benedicts. The poached eggs and the hollandaise sauce were perfect.

Although I haven’t had dinner at Ricci’s, I’ve heard they offer amazing Italian dishes such as seafood linguine and aubergine parmigiana.

Day trips from Halifax

There are plenty of small and pretty villages around Halifax you can easily visit. Hebden Bridge is one of Halifax’s best trips, as it has been named “the greatest town in Europe”. Its welcoming atmosphere and quirkiness make it unique. 

However, there are endless small cute places to visit in Yorkshire. Some of my favourites and hidden gems are Haworth (home of the famous Brontë sisters) and Knaresborough (a beautiful market town with magical places like Mother Shipton’s Cave).

If you prefer bigger towns or cities, you must check out Leeds, York and Manchester, where you’ll find many more attractions and things to do.

So, Is Halifax Yorkshire worth visiting?

 My straight answer is yes, as you have read above there are many things you can do in a day in this pretty town.

I hope that I have convinced you to visit Halifax! The town won’t disappoint you as it’s full of culture and heritage that you can see in its buildings and museums.

On top of this, Halifax has beautiful green walks that are perfect for hikers and cyclists.

If you have any questions about things to do in Halifax or any other trips around Yorkshire, leave a comment below.

Safe adventures! 

Cristina xx

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Helpful resources to plan your trip to Halifax

• Flying to Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)? Have a look at the best flight fares with Skyscanner.
• Check out train and bus fares with Omio.
• Book your hotel in Halifax with Booking.com
• Get travel insurance for your trip. This is a must for any trip!

Other beautiful towns in Yorkshire you need to check out

• Fantastic things to do in Knaresborough
• Great things to do in Harrogate
• Things to do in Saltaire

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