Yorkshire (Halifax, Saltaire?) by train

[Chrisaldridge]

Hello - I like to have a mini break with my son (10) once a year. He likes going on the train, staying in a hotel, travel lodge or similar and doing a few things with me. Doesn’t have to be big ticket - we’ve done London, Birmingham and Dudley before so we are a bit eclectic!

I was thinking of staying in Halifax. I’m keen to see the Piece hall. Different place, I know, but I’m also keen to see Saltaire. Would 2 nights in Halfax be too much? Is Saltaire of interest to a child? Would Scarborough be a better option? Or Bradford?

There’s an embarrassment of riches in Yorkshire. So much to see. I intend to spend a longer holiday by car at some point but want to leave the car at home for this trip and maybe focus on places where the car is a PITA to park.

any suggestions welcome :-)

Halifax and Saltaire are both great options. Halifax: Piece Hall, Eureka children's museum, Shibden Hall, cafe and park a short (car) journey although I'm not sure what the bus route would be. Saltaire: art gallery, cafe, shops, Robert's Park with river and canal, Shipley Glen where you might be lucky enough to go on the tram if it's running. He would love the tram if he likes trains. It's a bit of an institution for Bradford children.

https://www.shipleyglentramway.co.uk/

Skim read and missed your son's age, sorry. Tram is probably better suited to younger children and looks to only be open at the weekends anyway. It's run by volunteers. But if you don't mind the hill then Shipley Glen is a lovely walk too.

There's a lot of buses go past the entrance to Shibden Park and it's for a fantastic playground as well as little train and a landtrain. Buses go from the main bus station about every 15 minutes or so

The Science Museum in Bradford is closed for a refurb at the moment. I would probably go to the Royal Armouries in Leeds. It's a short walk from the train station.

You can easily go to Howarth, birthplace of the Brontes from Saltaire. Take a look around the parsonage and also go on the steam train, (Worth Valley).

If he's really into trains there's the Keighley and Worth Valley Steam Railway. It runs from Keighley to Oxenhope. There are often things on during weekends in the school holidays in Haworth, also on the steam train route. Keighley is easily accessible by train from Saltaire or Shipley.

Might be easier to base yourself in Leeds. Halifax, Bradford, Saltaire, Keighley Worth Valley railway or York railway museum are all easy day trips from Leeds.

Cartwright Hall (Bradford) and Cliffe Castle (Keighley - bus and ten minute walk) are both easily accessible by bus from Saltaire, both free, set in parks and run by Bradford Council. East Riddlesden Hall is National Trust and on the same bus route to Keighley - the Shuttle 662.

Skipton Castle is small but another good place, although it has entry fees.

Thank you for so many responses!

@grumpyoldeyeore i did wonder about Leeds as a base. I will look again at that. @ERNIEhasbeengoodtome the royal armouries is a good call. Hadn’t thought of that.

We stayed in Hebden Bridge last year and it was easy to get the train from there to Halifax, Leeds and Manchester. We only had a day in Halifax but we could easily have spent a bit longer there. The shops and food at the Piece Hall were very good. We also went to the Imperial War Museum North via the train then tram.

Echo basing yourself in Leeds if you want to travel by train - you can get trains out to saltaire, Skipton, ilkley, Bradford and Halifax easily. Saltaire is a great day out. York railway museum?

The Corn Exchange in Leeds is similar in some ways to the Piece Hall - a beautiful old place built for trading, full of shops and cafes. The Corn Exchange is undercover. Again not far from the train station and Royal Armouries.

Agree with PP Leeds might be a better place to stay.

Thanks guys. We have been to York as a family and the railways museum is fabulous. I’m ‘saving’ some places for a family trip - Hebden bridge is one. It really is a fantastic county. i will definitely look again at Leeds.