Holmfirth is a sleepy little town in West Yorkshire that, despite it’s size and seemingly innocuous presence, hosts a great many more visitors than one would expect. This is mostly due to a famous and very, very popular TV show that was set in the town. With so many visitors coming and going, it would make sense that there should be a large online presence of information. Unfortunately, there isn’t, and hence the reason for this detailed Complete Guide to Holmfirth.
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Table of Contents
- Where is Holmfirth?
- Why is Holmfirth famous?
- How to get to Holmfirth
- Weather in Holmfirth – Best time to visit
- What to do in Holmfirth
- The “Last of the Summer Wine” Tour
- Places to eat in Holmfirth
- Where to stay
- Summary
Where is Holmfirth?
Holmfirth is located in the County of West Yorkshire, about 5 miles south of Huddersfield. It lies in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, and can be found at the confluence of the Rivers Ribble and Holme.
Why is Holmfirth famous?
Holmfirth is known around the country as the place that popular and long running sitcom “Last of the Summer Wine” was filmed.
The town has many famous filming locations that are visited by thousands of fans all year round. There are tours that run to all the popular filming spots, and a walk around town allows visitors to see and personally visit many of the most famous ones. You can eat in the diner where the characters ate, and even stay in the house where they lived.
Besides the popular show, the town of Holmfirth is an attraction in its own right. It has its very own winery, holds regular shows and events, and is home to many popular pubs, restaurants, and a great Picturedrome. In this complete guide to Holmfirth, I will be showing you some of the many things that make Holmfirth a great place to visit.
How to get to Holmfirth
Getting to Holmfirth is pretty easy. Most visitors will come from within England, and those that are local enough just do so by car. There are major roads coming into the town from all directions, so it is a simple matter of just using Google Maps.
If you are coming from overseas, as I was, then you can fly into Manchester Airport and catch a combination of train and bus. From within the country, you have a wider range of airports to fly into, with Leeds-Bradford Airport being the most common. From there you will need to catch a bus, or a combination of train and bus.
Are you planning on renting a car or driving when you are overseas? Then make sure you are fully covered by having your International Driver’s Permit. Find out more, or pick one up easily at THIS LINK.
Trains run to Huddersfield, where you can catch the bus directly to Holmfirth. Trains to Wakefield will also find a convenient bus connection.
Depending upon finances and where you are actually staying in the Holmfirth area, you have the option of stopping at a more local train station, albeit without the bus connection. If you hop off the train at Slaithewaite for instance, you can then catch a taxi. This is handy if you don’t want to catch the bus or deal with the traffic in Huddersfield, and also if the bus to Holmfirth will still leave you a good distance from your final destination.
Guide to Holmfirth tip – If you want to enjoy a bit more than a daytrip, consider staying nearby at The Pickled Pheasant (see below). The rooms are wonderful, and you can spend some time enjoying the walks and scenery of the surrounding countryside.
Weather in Holmfirth – Best time to visit
Summer! Summer is definitely the best time to visit Holmfirth. This is a cold little town, and temperatures never really get very high. So if you want the warmest and most pleasant time to visit, this would be it.
To be more specific, try visiting Holmfirth between the months of June to September. The daily high during this time is usually above 16°C, with the highest reaching around 19°C.
During the Winter months, you can expect daily temperatures of between 1°C to 6°C, with plenty of overcast cloudy days, and cold winds.
Guide to Holmfirth note – If you don’t mind the milder (colder) weather, then the off season could be a good time to visit. Crowds are a lot smaller, and you may even find a vacant place to stay!
What to do in Holmfirth
Holmfirth is a beautiful little town. Most visitors will come for their nostalgic TV show tours, but others will come for the amazing atmosphere, vibe, and natural surroundings. I personally have spent over a week in the town at one time in the past, and always managed to find something interesting to do!
So let’s take a look at the Guide to Holmfirth list of things to do.
- The “Last of the Summer Wine” tour – This is a no brainer, as the majority of people heading to Holmfirth will be coming specifically to do this anyway. I will put a few extra details in the next section below.
- Hunt down some famous locations – Other than the tour, take a walk around town and try to spot a few of the most famous spots for yourself. Hint – Norah Batty’s Steps are really easy to find near the Elephant & Castle pub.
- Take a hike – There are some really incredible and beautiful walks and hikes around the surrounding hllls and reservoirs. I particularly like to go down to nearby Holmbridge, and do some of the great walks around there.
- Take in a show at the Picturedrome – Featuring live music from some of the best bands and acts around, the Holmfirth Picturedrome is famous as one of the North’s best such locations.
- Spend an afternoon at the Vineyard – Holmfirth has its very own vineyard! Located just near Holmbridge, you can do tours of the Winery, wine tasting, and enjoy a great meal with fantastic views.
- Get nostalgic at the Carding Shed – The Carding Shed is a wonderful Café with great meals and coffee. The real reason to visit is the nostalgic décor, and the incredible display of classic cars! A not to be missed experience for car lovers.
- Have coffee and scones at Sid’s Café – Probably the most recognizable of the “Last of the Summer Wine” locations, Sid’s Café is also one of the most popular. Visitors can actually sit and enjoy lunch or coffee in the exact same place as their favorite TV characters did.
- Check out Ashley Jackson Gallery – One of the most famous artists from Yorkshire was Ashley Jackson, and you can stop in to admire all the incredible watercolor works at the beautiful gallery on the main street.
I personally love Holmfirth. When I first came here, it wasn’t even because of the TV Show, but I still fell in love with the quiet, unassuming town that made me feel so welcome. I still hike nearly every day, and keep finding more and more things I want to do. And I will keep coming back, even if it is only to keep adding things to this Guide to Holmfirth!
The “Last of the Summer Wine” Tour
The Summerwine Magic tour can be taken from outside Sid’s Café, and takes you on a 10 mile trip around to all of the local filming spots used in “Last of the Summer Wine”. The tour lasts about 45 minutes, and can be taken one after another each hour on the days that they run.
The Summerwine Magic tour is run by Colin, who for 20 years owned and ran Sid’s Café. He was the owner when the show was filming, interacted with the actors, and even appeared in one episode himself. He knows as much as anyone about the show, as well as the town itself, and throughout the tour provides a full running commentary.
The tour bus can be found outside Sid’s Café at 11am every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Colin runs the tours every hour from 11am onward, depending upon demand.
Guide to Holmfirth Tip – Although you don’t have to book, it is advised to call ahead if you are coming a long way to make certain the tour is running that day.
You can find out more about the Summerwine Magic tour, including phone numbers at THIS LINK.
Places to eat in Holmfirth
Holmfirth has many wonderful places to eat, and this wouldn’t be a Complete Guide to Holmfirth unless I mentioned them. Even so, I have actually written a full article on Restaurants in Holmfirth, as well as Pubs in Holmfirth. So if you want something more detailed, then swing on over and check them out.
I will start with where to eat in Holmfirth. First, I have to mention Sid’s Café and Compos. Both are popular with fans of the TV Show. Sid’s is as nostalgic as they come, and a must visit for coffee and a sandwich. Compos is a very popular Fish and Chip shop, just out of the town center, with wonderful food.
Next, there are the incredible cafes in Holmfirth. Cave is one of my favorites, with great coffee and cakes, but is usually quite busy. Ribbles is a cozy affair that is very dog friendly, and The Wrinkled Stocking Tearoom is quaint, nostalgic, and right next door to Norah Batty’s.
For meals, it depends on what you are looking for. I recommend Bengal Spice for Indian, Poppa Piccolino’s for Italian, and Ten Fourteen Steakhouse for, you guessed it, steaks!
Other than that, swing by a few of the local pubs for good food as well. The best of the lot as far as meals go would be Harvey’s Bar and Kitchen which is located right in the middle of town near the main bus terminals.
Remember, for more information, check out my articles on restaurants and pubs in Holmfirth.
Where to stay
There are not that many places to stay in Holmfirth, and then they are mostly pubs. As many of them book out pretty fast in the high season, I have included a few nice stays around the Holmfirth area, and a little further afield. If you are traveling by car, you can stay a little further away in peace and quiet!
Elephant & Castle
Elephant & Castle is a centrally located pub in Holmfirth, that is right across the road from Norah Batty’s Steps! It has rather basic rooms that are still very comfortable. The breakfast included is fantastic, hospitality warm and beer cold. Guests are generally very happy with their experiences at Elephant & Castle.
The Pickled Pheasant
The Pickled Pheasant is just a short way down the road from Holmfirth in nearby Holmbridge. This wonderful local pub underwent a full renovation in 2019 and now has 4 beautiful bedrooms as part of their premises. The pub is wonderful with great atmosphere and food, and the area is renowned as having great walks. The Pickled Pheasant would be the perfect place to base yourself for visiting Holmfirth.
The Old Bridge Inn
The Old Bridge Inn is right in the very center of town, and perfect if you are traveling by bus, with the main bus terminal located right out front. The food is delicious in this large pub, and rooms very comfortable. If you are in town for “Last of the Summer Wine” tours or sight seeing, Sid’s Café is across the road as well as the tour starting point.
The Huntsman Inn
The Huntsman Inn is located a little further away from Holmfirth, but is one of the first places people think of when coming to the area. The rooms here are very comfortable and well fitted out, and the views are stunning due to the hilltop location. Breakfasts are a full English Breakfast, and will top off your stay at the Huntsman perfectly!
Summary
Holmfirth is a wonderful town to visit. Even if you are not there for the TV Show, Holmfirth is full of character, rife with historical buildings, and presents an idyllic charm that is hard to find in this modern day and age. I would recommend anyone to visit Holmfirth at least once, and discover it for themselves.
As a resident of Holmfirth, you have encapsulated the essence of the place perfectly. This guide should be really useful for visitors near or far!
Thank you Sarah!