Nestled in the Upper Calder Valley of West Yorkshire, along the River Calder and the Hebden water, is the charming market town of Hebden Bridge, England.  This quaint town is renowned for its bohemian charm, artistic community and scenic landscapes.  With cobbles stone streets, old bridges, coffee shops, and abundance of nature, it’s the right amount of cozy and tranquil making it perfect for a relaxing escape.

Hebden Bridge reached its peak during the Industrial Revolution, becoming a known mill and factory town called “Trouser Town”. When the mills closed in the 1970s, a movement of artists and those looking for solitude in a safe space created a climate and community of acceptance. Over time, Hebden Bridge became known as a haven for LGBTQ+ individuals and is often affectionately referred to as “the lesbian capital of the UK.”

Because of its open-minded environment and European small-town charm it was somewhere we wanted to sneak away to for a few days.

Fun fact for music fans, Hebden Bridge was the childhood home of Ed Sheeran.   

Getting to and around Hebden Bridge

With its prime location between Manchester and Leeds, Hebden Bridge is a great day or weekend getaway by train.  With its own railway station, trains run frequently and are well-connected to multiple major cities.  The ride is roughly 45 minutes to an hour from either city and is the most convenient and scenic ways to get to Hebden.  The station is close to downtown so the need for additional transportation once you have arrived is minimal. 

Our trip to Hebden was a part of a larger European trip, so we flew into Manchester from Amsterdam. The flight was a quick hour-long journey, and the drive from the airport to our accommodations was around an hour and a half. Since we wanted the freedom to venture beyond just Hebden, we chose to rent a car for a couple of days. We were surprised by how affordable the rental was compared to other trips. Our cost for the three days was the same as 24 hours in the Netherlands.

Parking can be limited in the town center, so we left our rental car parked at the Airbnb since everything was within walking distance.

What to do in Hebden Bridge

Hebden Bridge offers a rich blend of outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, and charming local attractions.

For us, Hebden Bridge was a weekend of relaxation, strolling along the canals and venturing through the shops of city center.  We had plans to get out into nature or drive to the eastern coast, but staying in town checked every box we needed. 

Visit the Independent Shops

On our first morning we wandered in and out of the shops of town center.  Hebden Bridge boasts many small independent shops, boutiques, art galleries, and bookstores that are known for their quirky offerings, everything from handmade crafts and vintage clothing to local art. A few of our favorite stops were The Willow Garden, a cute little floral shop that was two floors of fresh cut flowers, potted plants, candles and everything you could imagine putting in your outdoor garden space, Crooked Books, a magical bookshop specializing in nature, feminism, folklore, and witchcraft, and Jules an incredible pottery shop that we had to hold ourselves back from buying everything in the store. 

Thursday to Sunday there is a weekly market that features different themes such as local produce, crafts, and antiques and the day we happened to be there it was antiques.  It was fun to dig through crates of old vinyl and classic books.  The market is very popular and has been voted “the best small outdoor market in the UK”.

Stroll the Rochdale Canal

Our favorite part, outside of eating the amazing food the town had to offer, was walking along the Rochdale Canal.  The leisurely walk or bike ride along the picturesque canal is lined with narrowboats, wildflowers, and historic buildings. I felt like we stopped every 10 yards to take a different picture of something beautiful.  If you are lucky enough to be walking the canal when a narrowboat comes through, you can watch the gates of the manual canal lock being used.  Continuing along the towpath will connect you to nearby towns and offers beautiful views of the Calder Valley.

Hardcastle Crags

Hardcastle Crags is a National Trust woodland area, known for its stunning trails and the historic Gibson Mill.  It is perfect for hiking, picnicking, and spotting wildlife. The scenic walks range from easy to more challenging, making it a great spot for nature lovers.  If you are feeling adventurous you can walk the roughly two-mile hike to the entrance.  You can also drive to the Midgehole car park, but you will need to pay a £5 parking fee.    

Heptonstall Village

A short walk or bus ride away, the nearby village of Heptonstall offers steep cobbled streets, the ruins of an ancient church, and Sylvia Plath’s grave in the local cemetery—a site of literary pilgrimage.

Experience the Arts & Music Scene

With galleries, live music venues, and a thriving theater scene, Hebden Bridge has a vibrant arts community.  The Trades Club, a historic and intimate socialist music venue, hosts numerous events throughout the year, filling the valley with music each night.  Along the canal you could find people dancing along the water to the music coming from the venue. 

If theater is more your style, then the Hebden Bridge Little Theatre is your spot for the performing arts.  The small theater group is known for producing consistently high-quality productions.  Unfortunately, when we were there they were in between productions so we were unable to catch a show. 

Where to eat in Hebden Bridge

If you are a coffee lover this is the perfect place to go.  There were so many cozy cafes for us to choose from.  Each one offered their own unique style that allowed you to relax and soak up the local ambiance.  Our number one choice and where we frequented the most was The Excited Goat.  The espresso was smooth and made you want to go for another cup – which we did multiple times.  Along with coffee, they offer a small food menu that features breakfast and lunch options.  We enjoyed lunch one day with our coffee and delighted in the tuna melt with onions and the excited goat sandwich.

We made sure to check out some of the other cafes in town.  Stops were made at Moi Outside for an afternoon latte and a sweet treat from the bakery and The Little H Café for breakfast crepes and a coffee for the road.  There were so many additional options that we wanted to try but ran out of opportunities.

For a small town, the number of highly rated sit-down dining options was impressive. After some research, we chose a quaint café called Marco’s, known for its pizza and Mediterranean dishes and highly regarded as one of the top pizza spots in town. We were eager to explore their diverse flavor offerings. Unfortunately, when we arrived, a sign on the door informed us that they were closed during our visit. Disappointed but still craving Italian food, we found ourselves back at square one.

With our minds set on Italian we went to Il Mulino, a small Italian place, that could get us in without a reservation. (Word of advice try and get reservations especially on the weekend as most places do get busy.)  The place was nice, and the décor and ambiance were fun with large, exposed stone brick and dark wood beams making it feel rustic, but the food was just okay, nothing that I would crave for after. We had lasagna and tagliatelle pollo.  Reviews were really good for the place, and we may have had a bad night but with all the other competition in the area it made it hard to put it at the top of our list.

A restaurant that we would recommend is Rim Nam Thai.  Nestled along the canal is this lovely little find.  The food was delicious and reasonably priced.  The service was excellent.  We enjoyed the set meal for two that consisted of starters and then three different main courses so that we were able to try multiple items on the menu.  A favorite for both of us was the Beef Massaman Curry which was beef in a slow cooked curry with coconut milk.  The curry was so flavorful and savory making you want to come back for more. 

Other restaurants that we would have liked to visit or will visit if you find our way back to Hebden Bridge would be Aya Sophia, specializing in Greek and Mediterranean cuisine, and  Old Gate a classic British pub famous for their fish and chips.

Where to stay in Hebden Bridge

Hebden Bridge offers a variety of charming accommodations to suit different tastes and budgets.  Some options include boutique hotels downtown like The White Lion Hotel or Croft Mill, bed and breakfasts that give you that homey feeling, guesthouses like the Cown Inn or Robin Hood Inn that provide the traditional pub experience with a comfortable room, or rent a cottage or apartment for more of a home away from home feel. 

For our weekend getaway we stayed in a beautiful Airbnb called “The Cabin”.  The perfect little mini apartment overlooked the valley below and was just a few minutes walk from town center.  It featured a small kitchen, comfortable bedroom with sitting area and fireplace, and access to a garden area to enjoy your morning coffee and take in the beauty of the valley. 

Whether you’re into hiking, art, or just soaking up the laid-back atmosphere, Hebden Bridge is an ideal destination for a relaxing yet enriching escape.

Have any questions about our stops? Let us know in the comments!