Huddersfield

United_Kingdom

Huddersfield from Castle Hill Huddersfield is in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire in England. This article covers the town of Huddersfield, and the district around it including the Colne and Holme valleys. Historically a textile town, the area is now re-inventing itself as a residential and tourist centre.

John Betjeman described Huddersfield Railway Station as having 'The finest façade of any such building in the country'. Make up your own mind when you visit as there is no better way to arrive than by train from Manchester or Leeds. Huddersfield has the third largest number of listed buildings in the country after Westminster and Bristol.

In the 1920s Huddersfield Town F.C. became the first football club to win the English League Championship three times in a row, a feat only matched by Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.

Huddersfield can be considered a university town as the University of Huddersfield, formerly Huddersfield Polytechnic, is one of the town's largest employers and much of the local economy now depends upon it.

Famous connections include former Prime Minister Harold Wilson and actors James Mason and Gordon Kaye.

  • Castle Hill. From all around the area, Castle Hill can easily be picked out, crowned with the Victoria Tower, built to commemorate Queen Victoria's silver jubilee. It can be reached by car and taxi, just beyond the suburb of Almondbury, and gives wonderful views in all directions, including that at the top of this article. Victoria Jubilee Tower is open to the public at weekends during the summer.

Castle Hill. From all around the area, Castle Hill can easily be picked out, crowned with the Victoria Tower, built to commemorate Queen Victoria's silver jubilee. It can be reached by car and taxi, just beyond the suburb of Almondbury, and gives wonderful views in all directions, including that at the top of this article. Victoria Jubilee Tower is open to the public at weekends during the summer.

  • Kite flying. Kite flying is practised extensively here with local council backing. The local electrical company, Npower, has also moved power lines underground to prevent kites getting tangled up in cables. This has also encouraged the users of powered hang-gliders to also use the site as a take off point.
  • Watch football ie soccer at Huddersfield Town. They were relegated in 2019 and now play in the Championship, the second tier of English football. They play at the 24,000-capacity Kirklees Stadium, Huddersfield HD1 6PG, about a mile northeast of town centre. The stadium, now called "John Smith's Stadium" (and you may see old signs for Galpharm or even McAlpine stadium), is shared with the rugby league team.
  • Huddersfield Giants, Kirklees Stadium, Stadium Way HD1 6PG. A rugby league team who play in Super League, the highest level competition in Europe. They were one of the founding members of the break-away Northern Union who created the sport of rugby league. Nicknamed "Fartown", they were the dominant team in the early history of the game.
  • Huddersfield RUFC, Lockwood Park, HD1 3UR, +44 1484 469801. Huddersfield Rugby Union Football Club was founded in 1909 and celebrated its centenary season with promotion to National League 3 North, the highest level it has achieved. It founded mini-rugby in England in 1969.
  • Showcase Cinema, Birstall.

Kite flying. Kite flying is practised extensively here with local council backing. The local electrical company, Npower, has also moved power lines underground to prevent kites getting tangled up in cables. This has also encouraged the users of powered hang-gliders to also use the site as a take off point.

Watch football ie soccer at Huddersfield Town. They were relegated in 2019 and now play in the Championship, the second tier of English football. They play at the 24,000-capacity Kirklees Stadium, Huddersfield HD1 6PG, about a mile northeast of town centre. The stadium, now called "John Smith's Stadium" (and you may see old signs for Galpharm or even McAlpine stadium), is shared with the rugby league team.

Huddersfield Giants, Kirklees Stadium, Stadium Way HD1 6PG. A rugby league team who play in Super League, the highest level competition in Europe. They were one of the founding members of the break-away Northern Union who created the sport of rugby league. Nicknamed "Fartown", they were the dominant team in the early history of the game.

Huddersfield RUFC, Lockwood Park, HD1 3UR, +44 1484 469801. Huddersfield Rugby Union Football Club was founded in 1909 and celebrated its centenary season with promotion to National League 3 North, the highest level it has achieved. It founded mini-rugby in England in 1969.

Showcase Cinema, Birstall.

  • Kingsgate Shopping Centre, +44 1484 542777. The usual assortment of shops contained in a light and breezy atmosphere. Open 7 days a week.
  • Huddersfield Open Market - offers a range of high quality goods from the continent - mainly France - and tours the area stopping in different towns each weekend.

Kingsgate Shopping Centre, +44 1484 542777. The usual assortment of shops contained in a light and breezy atmosphere. Open 7 days a week.

Huddersfield Open Market - offers a range of high quality goods from the continent - mainly France - and tours the area stopping in different towns each weekend.

The Huddersfield area has many restaurants of different types and costs. The following small selection are restaurants which have been visited and recommended by Wikivoyagers:

  • Fenay Bridge, Penistone Road. This place can be excellent but sometimes awful. They have a 2-for-1 deal on all year which is a big serving. But sometimes the food can take a while and isn't up to scratch, but other times its top notch. Give this place a try you might like it. It is on Penistone Road going towards Kirkburton you can't miss is!
  • Balooshai, 3 Viaduct St, +44 1484 559055. Balooshai is one of a number of excellent Indian restaurants in Huddersfield. There are an increasing number of restaurants on this small street.
  • Gringo's, Possibly one of the best restaurants in W. Yorkshire. They serve a wide array of great tasting, affordable Mexicans food. Their drinks, however, can be rather expensive though. Tip: Go for the 'early-bird' special food offers for the best deal - order before 7PM. 8 Railway Arches Viaduct St, tel. 422411, .
  • Laxmi, +44 1484 666555. Woodhead Road, Berry Brow. Excellent Indian restaurant. Tu-Sa 5:30PM-11PM & Su 5:15PM-10PM. Two course meal about £15 (per-person including drinks).
  • Mustard and Punch, 6 Westgate, Honley, +44 1484 662066. A small friendly restaurant; Mustard and Punch is expensive when compared to other restaurants in Huddersfield. £35 per-person including wine and tips.
  • Thai Sakon, 5 St. Johns Street, +44 1484 450159.
  • The Weavers Shed Restaurant With Rooms, Knowl Road, Golcar, +44 1484 654284. Converted 18th-century Woollen mill - a Modern British restaurant specialising in home-grown, locally-sourced produce (the restaurant has its own farm) Voted 'Best Restaurant With Rooms' Good Food Guide 2006, Restaurant of the Year and Chef of the Year 2007, Yorkshire Life.
  • Azeem Takeaway, 325 New Mill Road, Brockholes, +44 1484 667471. M-Sa 5:30PM-11:30PM.

Fenay Bridge, Penistone Road. This place can be excellent but sometimes awful. They have a 2-for-1 deal on all year which is a big serving. But sometimes the food can take a while and isn't up to scratch, but other times its top notch. Give this place a try you might like it. It is on Penistone Road going towards Kirkburton you can't miss is!

Balooshai, 3 Viaduct St, +44 1484 559055. Balooshai is one of a number of excellent Indian restaurants in Huddersfield. There are an increasing number of restaurants on this small street.

Gringo's, Possibly one of the best restaurants in W. Yorkshire. They serve a wide array of great tasting, affordable Mexicans food. Their drinks, however, can be rather expensive though. Tip: Go for the 'early-bird' special food offers for the best deal - order before 7PM. 8 Railway Arches Viaduct St, tel. 422411, .

Laxmi, +44 1484 666555. Woodhead Road, Berry Brow. Excellent Indian restaurant. Tu-Sa 5:30PM-11PM & Su 5:15PM-10PM. Two course meal about £15 (per-person including drinks).

Mustard and Punch, 6 Westgate, Honley, +44 1484 662066. A small friendly restaurant; Mustard and Punch is expensive when compared to other restaurants in Huddersfield. £35 per-person including wine and tips.

Thai Sakon, 5 St. Johns Street, +44 1484 450159.

The Weavers Shed Restaurant With Rooms, Knowl Road, Golcar, +44 1484 654284. Converted 18th-century Woollen mill - a Modern British restaurant specialising in home-grown, locally-sourced produce (the restaurant has its own farm) Voted 'Best Restaurant With Rooms' Good Food Guide 2006, Restaurant of the Year and Chef of the Year 2007, Yorkshire Life.

Azeem Takeaway, 325 New Mill Road, Brockholes, +44 1484 667471. M-Sa 5:30PM-11:30PM.

There are plenty of pubs in Huddersfield, many of which get packed with people on Friday and Saturday nights.

  • Coffeevolution, Church Street - the best coffee in town can be found in this unpretentious, fiercely independent coffee shop which is licensed and open late at weekends. Light but pricey meals available.
  • Head of Steam, St Georges Square, +44 1484 454533. Popular real ale pub in the train station. Good blues on a Monday night. Great Jazz on a Wednesday night.
  • Revolution, Cross Church Street - Vodka bar from very popular chain which attracts a large, diverse crowd most nights. Outdoor area & DJs at weekends.
  • The Vox Bar, Church Street, +44 1484 452229. Good music and good drink, young crowd. Resident DJ Friday and Saturday nights. It's down a back alley near the train station.
  • Verve, Church Street - a slightly older crowd than Vox, with pre-club cheesey dance pumped out over the weekend. By day, it's a cafe selling reasonable paninis, coffee and smoothies.
  • Warehouse - Large pub. Charges entry on F Sa. Part of the scream chain. Young crowd.
  • Zephyr, King Street - Small, trendy. Good range of foreign beers.
  • Northern Tea House, 36 Kings Street - A small tea shop offering afternoon tea with gluten free and vegan options.
  • The Sair Inn, Take a 183, 184 or 185 bus about 4 miles out of the town centre, alighting at the bottom of Hoyle-Ing in Linthwaite on Manchester Road, after the "Royal Oak" pub. There's a sign advertising "The Sair Inn". After a five minute climb up the hill you'll find this gem of a hostelry, selling its own beers brewed on the premises that can be enjoyed in a uniquely authentic, old pub atmosphere. Popular among locals, students and real ale tourists, you may become a regular.
  • Bar 1:22, 120 New Street (opposite Lidl on the ring road. Live music venue with a range of genres seven nights a week. The original and best live venue in town, beware of cheap imitations. Featured The Feeling, The Pigeon Detectives and Enter Shikari before they all went on to be Top Ten Album selling bands. The home of live music in Huddersfield
  • Have a drink in The Founders Bar of the George Hotel where the finer points of the game of Rugby League were hammered out. The bar is considered the birthplace of the game.
  • The Bridge at Longroyd Bridge. A few hundred yards out of the centre of Huddersfield. A great live music venue. Live bands Friday night and Sunday afternoon. A great DJ on Thursday and Saturday nights.
  • The Riverhead Brewery Tap, 2 Peel Street (Marsden, +44 1484 841270.
  • The Rat and Ratchet at the junction from Lockwood onto the ring road has a large selection of cask ales on tap and the staff are usually quite knowledgeable. Nice atmosphere.
  • The Parish, by the Parish church - Huddersfields finest alternative/metal bar and live music venue. Excellent food and drink and a great atmosphere. Well worth a visit.
  • Tokyo, Queen Street - 'The club to finish off the night' Tokyo opened in June 2005 after a £2-million re-investment of a 19th-century, Grade II listed former courthouse.
  • The Live Lounge, 75 Lidget Street Lindy. Old brownstone type of building with a nice lounge downstairs and dining room is upstairs. This is fine dining at it's best with great service and well known for the lamb. There is soft music and also a great place for small parties.

Coffeevolution, Church Street - the best coffee in town can be found in this unpretentious, fiercely independent coffee shop which is licensed and open late at weekends. Light but pricey meals available.

Head of Steam, St Georges Square, +44 1484 454533. Popular real ale pub in the train station. Good blues on a Monday night. Great Jazz on a Wednesday night.

Revolution, Cross Church Street - Vodka bar from very popular chain which attracts a large, diverse crowd most nights. Outdoor area & DJs at weekends.

The Vox Bar, Church Street, +44 1484 452229. Good music and good drink, young crowd. Resident DJ Friday and Saturday nights. It's down a back alley near the train station.

Verve, Church Street - a slightly older crowd than Vox, with pre-club cheesey dance pumped out over the weekend. By day, it's a cafe selling reasonable paninis, coffee and smoothies.

Warehouse - Large pub. Charges entry on F Sa. Part of the scream chain. Young crowd.

Zephyr, King Street - Small, trendy. Good range of foreign beers.

Northern Tea House, 36 Kings Street - A small tea shop offering afternoon tea with gluten free and vegan options.

The Sair Inn, Take a 183, 184 or 185 bus about 4 miles out of the town centre, alighting at the bottom of Hoyle-Ing in Linthwaite on Manchester Road, after the "Royal Oak" pub. There's a sign advertising "The Sair Inn". After a five minute climb up the hill you'll find this gem of a hostelry, selling its own beers brewed on the premises that can be enjoyed in a uniquely authentic, old pub atmosphere. Popular among locals, students and real ale tourists, you may become a regular.

Bar 1:22, 120 New Street (opposite Lidl on the ring road. Live music venue with a range of genres seven nights a week. The original and best live venue in town, beware of cheap imitations. Featured The Feeling, The Pigeon Detectives and Enter Shikari before they all went on to be Top Ten Album selling bands. The home of live music in Huddersfield

Have a drink in The Founders Bar of the George Hotel where the finer points of the game of Rugby League were hammered out. The bar is considered the birthplace of the game.

The Bridge at Longroyd Bridge. A few hundred yards out of the centre of Huddersfield. A great live music venue. Live bands Friday night and Sunday afternoon. A great DJ on Thursday and Saturday nights.

The Riverhead Brewery Tap, 2 Peel Street (Marsden, +44 1484 841270.

The Rat and Ratchet at the junction from Lockwood onto the ring road has a large selection of cask ales on tap and the staff are usually quite knowledgeable. Nice atmosphere.

The Parish, by the Parish church - Huddersfields finest alternative/metal bar and live music venue. Excellent food and drink and a great atmosphere. Well worth a visit.

Tokyo, Queen Street - 'The club to finish off the night' Tokyo opened in June 2005 after a £2-million re-investment of a 19th-century, Grade II listed former courthouse.

The Live Lounge, 75 Lidget Street Lindy. Old brownstone type of building with a nice lounge downstairs and dining room is upstairs. This is fine dining at it's best with great service and well known for the lamb. There is soft music and also a great place for small parties.

Huddersfield town centre is generally considered safe as it professes "24 hour total CCTV coverage inside the ring road". In 2007 a student, Tobiasz Minski from Poland, was murdered in Slaithwaite (5 miles from Huddersfield). Walking by yourself, especially if you are female, through Fartown, Bradley, Thornton Lodge and Birkby during late at night can be quite dangerous so if you do wander out stay in groups or get a taxi home.

  • Huddersfield's area code (for landline numbers) is 01484 when dialed from within the UK or +44 1484 from outside the UK.

If you are travelling with a laptop then you will find broad-band internet access in the rooms of most, but not all, medium to high end hotels. If this is important to you check before booking. Alternatively there are many WiFi hot spots in and around Huddersfield.

There are also several places that offer web and other internet access if you are travelling without a laptop.

  • Vox bar. Offers internet access to wireless laptop owners at no additional charge.
  • Coffeevolution. Open Wi-Fi hot-spot for customers at no charge.
  • EasyInternet Cafe. Above KFC on New Street. However, the general cleanliness of the terminals leaves much to be desired.
  • BT phone booth in the main square has broadband access however this is expensive and best reserved for only basic internet use such as checking emails.

Vox bar. Offers internet access to wireless laptop owners at no additional charge.

Coffeevolution. Open Wi-Fi hot-spot for customers at no charge.

EasyInternet Cafe. Above KFC on New Street. However, the general cleanliness of the terminals leaves much to be desired.

BT phone booth in the main square has broadband access however this is expensive and best reserved for only basic internet use such as checking emails.

  • The Pulse of West Yorkshire 102.5FM and Pulse Classic Gold 1530AM the local radio stations for the area, including Huddersfield (and the wider Kirklees district, plus neighbouring Calderdale and Bradford). The university sometimes broadcasts a student radio station during term time from its media centre. Regional radio stations include Real Radio and BBC Leeds.

The Pulse of West Yorkshire 102.5FM and Pulse Classic Gold 1530AM the local radio stations for the area, including Huddersfield (and the wider Kirklees district, plus neighbouring Calderdale and Bradford). The university sometimes broadcasts a student radio station during term time from its media centre. Regional radio stations include Real Radio and BBC Leeds.