West Yorkshire Accommodation Guide
Yorkshire is the largest county in the United Kingdom in terms of land area. Few people realise however that Yorkshire is sub-divided into four separate counties: West Yorkshire, East Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and South Yorkshire.
In this brief tourist guide to West Yorkshire, we will provide our recommendations for accommodation and list the county’s top attractions. We will also provide some key tourist information about West Yorkshire and provide a brief overview of its history.
West Yorkshire is a land locked county and has no access to either the North or Irish seas. Aside from bordering the other three constituent Yorkshire counties, West Yorkshire shares a border with Greater Manchester to the south-west, Derbyshire to the south and with Lancashire to the west and north-west.
West Yorkshire’s connection to Lancaster is steeped in history and an intense rivalry between the two areas continues to this day. This rivalry stems from the so called ‘Wars of the Roses’ which were a series of fifteenth-century civil wars between the supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet, those being the House of Lancaster and the House of York. The wars originated from two rival claims for the throne of England and they lasted for over 32 years between 1455 to 1487.
Thankfully, the rivalry between East Lancaster and West Yorkshire is now much more peaceful in nature than it was 500 years ago. The contests today are now sporting in nature and transcend football, cricket and rugby. The ‘Roses Derby’ has become a popular term especially in Rugby League and regularly sees matches between Oldham and Rochdale (from East Lancashire) and Huddersfield and Halifax (from West Yorkshire).
As you would expect, West Yorkshire has many natural attractions including parts of the Pennines, Ilkley Moor, Otley Chevin Forest Park, the River Aire and the Fairburn Ings Nature Reserve. People also visit the many tourist attractions in West Yorkshire’s three leading cities, namely: Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield.
These attracttions include the Royal Armouries Museum and the Armley Mills Industrial museums in Leeds, the National Coal Mining Museum and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in Wakefield and the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford.
West Yorkshire / Tourist Information
- County Town: Leeds
- Land Area: 2,029 km2 (783 square miles)
- Population: 2,320,214 (2019)
- Population Density: 1,143/km2 (2,960 / square miles)
- Average Temperature: (Summer 20 °C)
- Days Of Rain: Dry for 162 days a year
Best Attractions In West Yorkshire
Peace Hall (Halifax): Built in 1779 as a trading venue for fabric and cloth that had been manufactured in the surrounding area, Peace Hall is one of the finest Georgian Halls in the UK. Having benefitted from a multi-million pound restoration in 2017, Peace Hall has been transformed into one of Europe’s greatest town squares – it can accommodate events for up to 7,500 people. The surrounding buildings house a selection of cafes, restaurants and boutiques. There is also a heritage centre which explains the buildings fascinating past.
Ilkley Moor (Ilkley): Part of Rombalds Moor, Ilkley Moor is an inspirational high point that rises to 402m (1,319 feet) above sea level. The views from the top on a clear day are incredible and the wider moorland is a fantastic place to spend a day, if not two! People also come here to see the ‘Cow and Calf, a large Hangingstone rock formation made of millstone grit. The attraction received its name because the larger of the two rocks looks like a cow attending to its calf (the smaller rock). Historians believe that there was also a ‘bull’ rock but that it was broken up to provide stone during the spa town boom of the 19th century.
Emley Moor Tower (Elmley): With constructing commending in 1969, Elmley Moor Tower is the tallest freestanding structure in the United Kingdom. Standing at a whopping 330.4 metres (1,084-foot) tall, this incredible feat of engineering is the 24th highest tower in the world. It is built to withstand extremes of weather including hurricanes, earthquakes and electrical storms.
Harewood House (Harewood): Harewood House is a large stately home in the village of Harewood in West Yorkshire. Built in 1759, the current house is a member of the Treasure Houses of England collection and its grounds were designed by the acclaimed landscape architect Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, often referred to as just ‘Capability Brown’. The grounds of the house include the now derelict Harewood Castle which was built in the 12th century.
Best Accommodation In West Yorkshire
Colden Water (Hebden Bridge): A truly stunning stone cottage on the edge of Blackshaw Head village (near Hebden Bridge), Colden Water sleeps 12 people comfortably across 6 bedrooms. After a long day of walking in the surrounding countryside, put your feet up by the large wood burner and enjoy the views of the surrounding countryside. The National Trust owned Hardcastle Crags and the Pennine Way are close by and easily accessible from the cotage.
Waterside Lodges (Brighouse): Sleeping 8 people across 4 bedrooms in complete comfort, these amazing waterside lodges afford stunning views across both the lake and the Calder and Hebble canal. The living area is positioned on the second floor to make the most of the incredible views. There is also a lovely wood burning stove in the living area for the colder months of the year.
Stay In Britain is the ultimate guide to places to stay and things to do in Great Britain. Whether you are looking for a luxury self-catering cottage, a cheap B&B for a weekend stay, a short break in a caravan park or a business-friendly hotel in the West Yorkshire area, we have everything you need. Enjoy your stay in Britain!
