West Yorkshire is full of market towns with so much to see and do that is can sometimes be difficult deciding where to visit. We’ve chose five of the best West Yorkshire market towns and an overview of what you can get up to there.
Bingley
WHERE IS IT?
Bingley is situated on the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, it is found on the A650 between Bradford and Keighley. The town has excellent railway links, with regular 20-minute services connecting it to Leeds.
WHY WE LOVE IT
You can’t visit Bingley without taking a stroll along the canals and visiting the famous Five Rise Locks. There are many stunning places to explore in Bingley if you are a keen walker or cyclist and if you prefer gold then you can have a game at the scenic Bingley St Ives Golf Club. In the summertime, the market town hosts the Bingley Music Live is held in Myrtle Park which is great fun for the whole family.
MARKET DAYS
The Bingley open market now trades in the stunning refurbished Town Square and has a great selection of local and fresh fish, meats, vegetables and so much more. The market days are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Halifax
WHERE IS IT?
Halifax is in Calderdale and is the largest town in the borough. It is located in the stunning Calder Valley. The nearest cities to Halifax are Bradford and Huddersfield and the market town has excellent public transport links.
WHY WE LOVE IT
Halifax was once the heart of England’s wool industry and has so many places to see and visit. The Ogden Water Country Park & Nature Reserve offers some stunning scenery as you and the family can explore the parks beautiful lakes and nature trails. Shibden Hall is a historic building with a unique history, dating back to 1420. The Hall offers visitors a fascinating journey through the lives of the people who lived and worked in the hall.
MARKET DAYS
Halifax Borough Market is a Victorian covered market situated in Halifax’s town centre, spanning across Albion Street, Southgate, Russell Street and Market Street. The market days are Monday to Saturday, 9am until 5pm.
Hebden Bridge
WHERE IS IT?
Hebden Bridge is situated in the Upper Calder Valley and forms part of Hebden Royd. It is near Halifax and Rochdale and has excellent transportation links to Leeds, Manchester Victoria and Blackpool.
WHY WE LOVE IT
If you fancy learning about the history of the town then a visit to The Hebden Bridge Mill is recommended as it’s a building which has stood at the centre of the town for over 700 years. The Rochdale Canal running through the town is ideal for walking, cycling and seeing the quirky range of boats people have made into their homes. The quirky Hebden Bridge Picture House is a great place to visit for an alternative evening of entertainment as they screen modern and classic blockbusters and even offer cups of tea and biscuits.
MARKET DAYS
Hebden Bridge open market has two separate trading days in the heart of the town centre on Wednesdays and Thursday. Wednesday’s market is a fabulous second-hand market selling unique pieces or you can stock up on excellent retail goods and food On Thursdays market.
Huddersfield
WHERE IS IT?
Huddersfield is half way between Leeds and Manchester, it is the eleventh largest town in the UK and has excellent local transport links to major cities and towns.
WHY WE LOVE IT
Castle Hill is one of Huddersfield’s most famous landmarks as the ancient monument overlooks the whole of Huddersfield and the borough of Kirklees. Tolson Museum is the perfect place to visit if you are a museum lover as it holds plenty of heritage and collections for you to look at. Huddersfield is also the perfect place to visit if you are a bit of a foodie, as there are so many high quality eateries that suit everybody’s tastes. Each year, Huddersfield hosts the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival which is the UK’s largest international festival of new and experimental music.
MARKET DAYS
Huddersfield’s open market is nestled in the Victorian Quarter and these bustling markets are full of well-stocked stalls with everything you need from fabrics to fashion, hardware and household goods. These markets are open every Monday, Thursday & Saturday from 9am to 4pm. Huddersfield also has a second-hand market every Tuesday and Saturday, with the Saturday market being one of North’s largest second-hand markets with over one hundred stalls.
Ossett
WHERE IS IT?
Ossett is located just outside Wakefield and is situated near junction 40 of the M1 motorway.
WHY WE LOVE IT
Ossett’s town centre is a bustling area with over one hundred business’ thriving. There are only a handful of national retail chains, meaning you can explore Ossett’s quirky shops and enabling the town to maintain a strong local presence. Ossett Town Hall also offers a range of events all year round such as art classes and live music events.
MARKET DAYS
Ossett Open Market is located in the pedestrian precinct offering fresh fruit and vegetables and so much more. A Craft and Flea Market is held in Ossett Town Hall alongside the outdoor market. Market days are Tuesday and Friday, 8:30am to 3pm.
Otley
WHERE IS IT?
Otley lies on the boundary between North and West Yorkshire and is situated in the beautiful countryside of Lower Wharfedale. It is only ten miles from Leeds and has excellent travel links to nearby towns and cities. Menston is the nearest railway station, a couple of miles from the town centre.
WHY WE LOVE IT
For keen walkers, the Chevin and Otley Chevin Forest Park is the perfect place to explore as it overlooks the whole of Otley and provides some stunning countryside scenery. If you fancy something a bit historic then take a trip to the Otley Museum and Archives where they hold a comprehensive collection of documents and photographs that tells the fascinating stories of the Wharfedale community from prehistoric times to the 20th century.
MARKET DAYS
Otley Market Squares hosts a fantastic open market and is a treasure trove for fantastic buys from clothes and household goods, to crafts, food, drink, jewellery and gifts. The market days are every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, from 8.30am until 3.30pm.
Pontefract
WHERE IS IT?
Pontefract is one of five towns in the borough of Wakefield and is close to the A1 road and M62 motorway. Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester are the closest cities to Pontefract.
WHY WE LOVE IT
Pontefract Castle was once known as England’s most fearsome fort and according to legend, the spot where King Richard II was murdered. However, visitors today can expect a much less gruesome visit as they can delve into the castles rich, blood-stained history.
The award winning Farmer Copleys Farm is a great place to visit for foodies, as they serve award winning produce straight from the farm in their Moo Café. It is also an excellent day out for the kids as they have many activities and events such as their very own corn maze and their famous Liquorice Festival. Pontefract Racecourse is an excellent and exciting day out for the whole family as they have many fixtures and events throughout the year.
MARKET DAYS
Pontefract is home to Wakefield District’s largest street market in the heart of the town. The market offers a huge variety of quirky goods from fresh produce, baked breads and fish to fashion, jewellery and flowers and is open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm. There is also a smaller open market on Friday’s stocking local produce.
Sowerby Bridge
WHERE IS IT?
Sowerby Bridge is a market town in the Upper Calder Valley of West Yorkshire and the Rochdale Canal and Calder & Hebble Navigation meet at Sowerby Bridge. Huddersfield and Leeds are the nearest cities.
WHY WE LOVE IT
You and the family can embark of one of Sowerby Bridge’s Shire cruises, where you will get to explore the sights of the town and the stunning Pennine canals. Take a visit to Tuel Lane Lock, which is one of Sowerby Bridge’s most popular attractions. Sowerby Bridge has held The Norland Scarecrow Festival that has been hosted in the town since 2000 and raises money for the village and local charities every September. The annual Rushbearing festival is a highlight of the town social calendar and is the only one of its kind in Yorkshire as over the course of the weekend, the festival sees the progress of the Rushbearing procession around seven towns and villages.
MARKET DAYS
Sowerby Bridge Open Market is located in the heart of town and was recently constructed in 2007. The market offers an array of fresh meats, fruits and vegetables and four times each year the market is doubled in size and takes on the theme of Totally Locally, where local businesses sell their goods from the market with a celebration of entertainment and local products. The market days are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 9am to 4pm.
Todmorden
WHERE IS IT?
Todmorden is located in the Upper Calder Valley, in the heart of the South Pennines.
WHY WE LOVE IT
Todmorden is not only blessed with stunning scenery but it also has a range of diverse shops and a thriving art community. Art lovers must take a visit to Water Street Gallery, which is home to a huge collection of vibrant and exciting contemporary art from leading artists and up-coming talent. If you want to get out in the open air and explore Todmorden then there are plenty of walking and cycling trails around the South Pennines that showcase Todmorden’s stunning scenery. End your visit to Todmorden in one of the town’s oldest pubs, Hare & Hounds, which was originally a 17th century farmhouse which has now been converted into a cosy countryside pub.
MARKET DAYS
Todmorden has both an indoor and open air market, which was refurbished in 2003 and is located directly opposite the Todmorden Market Hall. The market has seventy stalls and runs on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, with a second-hand market running on a Thursday.
Wetherby
WHERE IS IT?
Wetherby stands on the River Wharfe, and for centuries has been a crossing place and staging post on the A1 Great North Road, being midway between London and Edinburgh. Wetherby is 12 miles from Leeds, 12 miles from York and 8 miles from Harrogate.
WHY WE LOVE IT
Shopping in Wetherby is perfect if you are on the lookout for some quirky gifts as the town has a whole host of unique independent retailers. You can’t visit Wetherby without having a day at the races and Wetherby Racecourse is considered one of the best in the UK. The annual Wetherby Arts Festival is also a highlight of the town’s social calendar as they host a varied and exciting programme, from comedy to classical music and including our popular family dog show.
MARKET DAYS
There is a weekly market in Wetherby held every Thursday in Market Place near the town hall. There are a large variety of goods on sale including fresh vegetables, pictures frames, rugs, flowers, stationery and so much more.
