The picturesque village offers fans the chance to walk in Emily Brontë’s footsteps, visiting the Brontë Parsonage Museum, historic waterfall, and church where the sisters are buried
Wuthering Heights is the name currently on everyone’s lips and as fans continue to immerse themselves in the world Emily Brontë created, they’re eager to incorporate Yorkshire into their travel plans this year.
With that comes a surge in interest in Emily Brontë’s original novel and the woman behind it herself, which will inevitably lead people to this picturesque Yorkshire village.
Visiting Haworth, tucked away in the depths of West Yorkshire, offers the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the famous literary Brontë sisters.
While the village remains a place that many locals call home and is steeped in history, with its cobbled streets and flourishing independent businesses, it’s the literary heritage that continues to draw people back to it.
Naturally, after the educational exploration, everyone still needs a cosy café or traditional pub to return to, and it’s certainly not short of those.
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Brontë Museum
From 1820 onwards, the celebrated Brontë sisters lived in a house at the top of the main cobbled street in the village, opposite the church in which their father was a pastor.
Emily both lived and died in the home, and now, that very building has been transformed into the Brontë Parsonage Museum, in their honour.
It houses the world’s largest Brontë collection, featuring items you won’t find anywhere else. Alongside its collection on display, the venue hosts numerous exhibits, visits, events and more, offering people a glimpse into the world of the Brontës.
Inside, tourists can view a wealth of history from these literary giants, from writing desks and letters to their personal belongings such as clothes and furniture from the original home.
Literary fans will particularly enjoy seeing Emily’s handwriting along with her sisters as it was these words and pens which helped to shape some of the greatest English novels of our time.
A visitor left a review on TripAdvisor in January of this year, saying: “I found it rather emotional looking at some of the items on display and will definitely be returning soon because the ticket lasts a year, and I’m pretty sure the museum is currently working on something new at the moment, but it’s all a bit hush-hush for now.”
Another shared: “This is the second time I have been to this museum, many years apart, and it was a joy to visit again. It is so well preserved, and effort has been made to source as much original furniture and fittings that were in the home originally.”
Brontë Waterfall
For those wishing to explore further afield and spend time in nature, they can undertake the popular Bronte Way, a walk which leads you past a number of significant sites. The waterfall is one of those locations, which is a 45-60 minute walk from the village.
It stands alone as a small yet stunning cascade of water on Sladen Beck, near Haworth, and is believed to have been famously visited by the literary sisters.
They would travel to the area in search of inspiration, and visitors continued to make their way there in search of the same beauty their favourite authors were so fond of.
After walking to the waterfall, one person said: “Lovely place, stunning scenery, nice walks, so quiet and peaceful. Great place to relax. Would definitely recommend.”
Brontë Church
With their father serving as the pastor of the local church, it’s no surprise there is a strong connection with the Brontë sisters and St Michael and All Angels’ Church in Haworth.
Living across the road meant they spent considerable time there and it served as their place of worship throughout the 1800s, so much so that following their tragic and premature deaths, they were laid to rest in the chapel.
Their father, Patrick Brontë, managed to outlive both his wife and all six of his children, choosing to bury them in his home church. Their bodies remain in a vault beneath the church, which now features a memorial and the beautiful ‘Brontë Window’.
To this day, Patrick is believed to be the church’s longest-serving minister, having served for an impressive 41 years.
Tragically, however, due to many of his children dying young, none went on to have children of their own, meaning there are likely no surviving descendants of that family line.