Haworth village in Yorkshire is best known as the home of the Brontë sisters and the inspiration behind Wuthering Heights. From literary landmarks to heritage railways, this guide covers the best things to do in Haworth village for literary lovers and gothic explorers alike.
Whether you loved it or hated it (seriously, the debates have been….intense), the 2026 adaptation of Wuthering Heights has brought renewed attention to the windswept drama of the Yorkshire moors. But to truly understand the world that shaped this tragic love story, you have to visit Haworth Village.
Home to the Brontë sisters, Haworth is all steep cobbled streets, graveyard views, and stone cottages darkened by centuries of weather.
I inadvertently ended up exploring Haworth on none other than Halloween last year, and I absolutely fell in love with the place. Whether you’re visiting to dive more into the history of Emily Bronte’s novel, immersing yourself in the moody moors and gothic atmosphere or simply visiting to soak up the seasonal ambience, there’s plenty to do here.
If you’re drawn to gothic literary filming locations, you might also enjoy exploring these Frankenstein filming locations.
What Is Haworth Village Known For?
Haworth village is best known as the home of the Brontë sisters who lived at the local parsonage while writing the famous novels Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.
The village itself has a long and layered history, dating back to around 600 BC. Once a small farming settlement in the Middle Ages, it later became a centre for the wool trade in the 18th century before developing into an industrial hub during the 19th.
That history is part of what makes Haworth feel like stepping back in time.
Things to Do in Haworth Village, West Yorkshire
Today, Haworth is famous for its steep and picturesque main street, lined with independent shops and traditional tea rooms, the preserved steam railway that runs through the valley, and the surrounding windswept moors that inspired some of England’s most enduring literature. Its cosy but gothic (and sometimes spooky!) atmosphere makes it a popular destination for more than just literary fans. Here are the best things to do in Haworth village.
Visit the BrontE Parsonage Museum
The Brontë Parsonage Museum is the former Brontë family home, where sisters Charlotte, Emily, and Anne grew up and spent most of their lives. The Grade I listed building (also on the National Heritage List for England) houses the largest collection of Brontë artefacts in the world, offering a fascinating insight into Yorkshire’s most famous literary family.
Inside, many of the rooms have been carefully preserved much as they were in the 19th century – including the dining room where the sisters wrote their novels and Mr. Brontë’s study.
Visit St Michael and All Angels Church & Graveyard
Right beside the Brontë Parsonage stands St Michael and All Angels Church, where Patrick Brontë served as curate and where the Brontë family are buried. The surrounding graveyard, with its rows of weathered headstones overlooking the village, adds to Haworth’s distinctly gothic atmosphere.
You can step inside the church to see the Brontë family vault and gain a deeper understanding of the world the sisters lived in. Whether you visit for the literary history or simply to take in the quiet, historic setting, it’s an essential stop while exploring Haworth village.
Walk the Atmospheric Haworth Moors & the BrontE Trail
If you want your Wuthering Heights main character moment when visiting Haworth, you have to make time to explore the surrounding moors. The beauty of this is that a dull and rainy day shouldn’t put you off – in fact, they’re best explored by moody and windy weather to get the full atmosphere! You can famously hike the 43-mile Brontë Way as part of a longer trip, or alternatively, the shorter Brontë Trail. This popular walk takes you from The Brontë Parsonage Museum (which also sells a trail leaflet) to Brontë Bridge, Brontë Waterfall, and Top Withens – three spots associated with Wuthering Heights.
It’s an easy hike – but incredibly atmospheric, particularly when you consider how the moors play a backdrop for key scenes within the novel and movie adaptations.
Soft Girls Who Hike have also shared a Wuthering Heights-inspired hike on their Instagram, which includes Brontë Waterfall, Ponden Kirk and the ruins of Top Withins – widely believed to have inspired the Earnshaw family home in the novel.
Wander the Historic Haworth Main Street
Haworth’s historic main street draws visitors for its mix of old-world shops and sweeping views across the surrounding countryside. Wandering along the steep cobbled road feels like stepping back in time, with classic red phone boxes, traditional tea rooms and independent boutiques lining the way.
The street stretches for around half a mile, climbing steadily towards St Michael & All Angels Church at the top, where you’ll also find several shops and eateries tucked around the corner.
It’s a steady incline rather than a difficult climb, but if you’re planning to visit the museum as well, you can park at the top and work your way down. I’d recommend starting at the top regardless and wandering slowly downhill, dipping in and out of the boutiques. My favourite is the Cabinet of Curiosities, but there are plenty of lovely bookshops too – plus one wonderfully witchy shop that even sold haunted dolls.
Even if you don’t plan to spend anything, it’s worth visiting simply to soak up the atmosphere.
Ride the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
Even if you don’t step aboard, Haworth Station alone is worth visiting. Part of the preserved Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, the station has been carefully restored in traditional Victorian style, complete with heritage signage, red benches, and stone buildings that feel lifted straight from a period drama. You can also pay a small fee to visit the pretty platform and watch the trains roll in – although you can get views just as beautiful whilst crossing the bridge that leads towards Haworth main street.
The classic steam trains run between Keighley and Oxenhope and follow the picturesque Worth Valley through rolling countryside. On board, expect vintage carriages, drifting steam and countryside views that feel made for dramatic reflection. Bonus points if you listen to the Wuthering Heights soundtrack and stare solemnly out of the window the whole time…
Join a Haworth Ghost Tour
If you want to dive into the darker side of Haworth, booking a ghost tour is a must. Haunted Haworth Ghost Tours run for just over an hour and explore the main street, churchyard and surrounding areas, sharing stories tied to the Brontës, local folklore and Victorian death customs. The tour also covers some of the village’s most well-known hauntings, offering a deeper look at Haworth’s gothic reputation.
You can also book onto one of their more historic Grave Tales: Haworth’s Buried History tours, which share the history of Haworth told through the lives of those buried in the local churchyard.
Both are by far some of the spookiest things to do in Haworth village.
Shop at Haworth’s Cabinet of Curiosities
You’ve probably seen Haworth’s Cabinet of Curiosities across social media – every season, they go all out with their window displays, with both Christmas and Halloween offering particularly stunning arrangements. Think twinkling golden lights and rich orange pumpkins in autumn, and abundant garlands and festive florals in winter.
Step inside and it’s just as magical. The apothecary-style shop was once a Victorian druggist and still looks like one today, filled with vintage cabinets and units salvaged from chemists, grocery shops and museums. You’ll find botanical soaps, fragrances, folklore-inspired books and beautifully packaged curiosities that feel perfectly at home in Brontë Country.
Warm Up in Haworth’s Historic Pubs & Tearooms
After exploring the moors or wandering the steep main street, Haworth’s historic pubs and tearooms are the perfect place to warm up.
The Black Bull at the top of Main Street dates back to the 16th century as a former coaching inn and later became closely linked to Branwell Brontë, who drank here despite his father serving as parish priest next door. Stories of his graveyard escapes remain part of its lore, and today it’s one of Haworth’s most atmospheric – and most actively haunted – pubs.
The King’s Arms, with 17th-century roots and its own Branwell connections, is another of Haworth’s historic and cosy pubs. Behind the bar you’ll find Brontë-themed beers named after the siblings themselves, making it a fitting stop for literary fans. Like several pubs in the village – including Haworth Old Hall, The Old White Lion and The Fleece Inn – it too is home to resident spirits.
If you’d prefer tea and cake to a pint, Cobbles & Clay, The Old Registry and Villette Coffee House offer Yorkshire tea and homemade bakes. Whether you’re visiting for the history, the hauntings or simply a quiet drink beneath low beams, Haworth’s pubs are part of its gothic character.
Gothic & Spooky Connections to Haworth
Beyond its literary fame, Haworth has long carried a darker edge. The churchyard surrounding the Parsonage was notoriously overcrowded in the 19th century, with thousands of tightly packed graves. The village had an unusually high mortality rate at the time, with poor sanitation and drainage causing serious health problems in the village. The Brontës quite literally lived surrounded by illness, grief and constant reminders of death – something that inevitably shaped the darker tone of their writing.
There’s also local ghost lore. One of the most enduring legends is that of the Grey Lady, said to appear around the churchyard and Parsonage, dressed in Victorian costume and carrying a wicker basket. Some believe it’s the ghost of Emily Brontë herself!
And then there are the moors that have long been linked to Northern folklore like will-o’-the-wisps, boggarts and wandering spirits. It’s no surprise then that Wuthering Heights includes subtle paranormal undertones and draws on local Yorkshire folklore.
That same wild, windswept setting helped shape the novel’s isolated, moody and almost gothic tone, mirroring the emotional intensity of its characters. The 2026 film adaptation was primarily filmed in the Yorkshire Dales National Park too, echoing the very landscape that inspired the story.
Visiting Haworth Village in Autumn
I may be biased (I first visited Haworth on none other than Halloween!), but I think autumn is the perfect time to visit this charming village.
Spotting steam trains chugging through the station is especially beautiful when they’re set against rich autumn colour that mirrors the striking red benches and vintage signs. It almost feels like stepping onto Hogsmeade Station – or Peaky Blinders, which was filmed right here.
The large graveyard is particularly striking at this time of year, with vibrant leaves scattered between the historic headstones. Against the dark stone and looming church, the seasonal colour only heightens the village’s gothic feel, making it an ideal spot for a slow wander.
The main draw is, of course, The Cabinet of Curiosities and the endearing main street. The shop famously looks spooky and magical in autumn, and many of the other independents lean into cute Halloween decorations that add to the atmosphere rather than overpower it.
If the weather allows, an autumn walk on the moors is a must. They’re even more dramatic at this time of year – either rich in seasonal colour or windswept and moody as intended. Afterwards, there’s nothing better than warming up in a historic pub with a hearty meal beside a crackling fire.
Between the steam trains, seasonal shopfronts and windswept moors, Haworth easily earns its place on any autumn bucket list.
If Haworth has sparked your interest in gothic travel, you can explore more year-round spooky destinations here.
Practical Tips for Visiting Haworth Village
Haworth Village is located in West Yorkshire, near the town of Keighley, on the edge of the Pennine moorland. It’s part of Brontë Country and sits around 10 miles from Bradford and roughly 20 miles from Leeds.
There are several public car parks around the village, though they can fill up quickly during weekends and autumn events. Arriving earlier in the day makes things much easier.
If you’re travelling by public transport, the nearest mainline station is Keighley, which connects to Leeds and Bradford. From there, you can take the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway directly into Haworth, or use local bus services.
The village is well signposted, but be aware that the main street is steep and fully cobbled. Comfortable shoes are essential, and if you have mobility concerns or are pushing a pram, it’s best to park at the top of the village near the Parsonage and explore downhill rather than climbing up from the bottom.
If you’re planning to walk on the moors, check the forecast beforehand and wear appropriate footwear, as conditions can change quickly.
Is Haworth Worth Visiting?
If you’re drawn to windswept moors, literary history and villages that lean fully into their gothic charm, Haworth more than delivers. Whether you visit for the Brontës, the haunted pubs, the heritage railway or simply to wander its steep cobbled street, Haworth is the perfect autumn day out in Yorkshire.
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