Haworth is the kind of village that makes you want to slow down and take it all in. Nestled on the edge of the Yorkshire moors, it’s best known as the home of the Brontë sisters, whose novels immortalised the windswept landscape. But the village itself has a story worth exploring, a mix of literary history, industrial heritage, and small-town charm that feels genuine and unpolished.

The village grew around the textile industry in the 18th and 19th centuries. Many of its stone houses were built for workers in the local mills, and the streets still echo that past. Cobbled lanes twist between stone cottages and independent shops, and while tourism has increased over the years, Haworth retains an authenticity that makes it feel like a lived-in place rather than a museum. Today, the Brontë Parsonage Museum sits at the top of the main street, a constant reminder of the village’s literary fame, while the moors beyond provide the dramatic backdrop that inspired Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre.

I stayed overnight at The Old Registry Guest House, a charming boutique hotel just off the high street. Each room has its own theme, and I was in the Tudor Room, a large, airy space with timber beams, patterned fabrics, and a healthy dose of humour.

The bathroom door had a Henry VIII-shaped knocker, whose brass head seemed to judge me every time I opened the door.

From the window, the rooftops of Haworth slope down toward the village square, and beyond them, the moors stretch wide, muted greens and browns under a Yorkshire sky.

It’s easy to see why the Brontës found the surrounding landscape so inspiring: dramatic without being forbidding, wild but still inviting.

Dinner that evening was at the Haworth Old Post Office, a classic British pub with a relaxed, welcoming vibe. I went for fish and chips, and they did not disappoint.

The fish was flaky and tender, the batter crisp without being greasy, and it came with a surprisingly good black peppercorn sauce that gave it an unexpected kick. Sitting by the window, watching the lights of the village reflect off the cobbles, it felt like a perfectly unpretentious northern evening.

After dinner, I walked uphill toward the Bronte Parsonage Museum. The street narrows as it rises, with stone cottages gradually giving way to more open space.

Even without entering the museum, wandering around the gardens and the lane leading up to it is evocative. Low walls, rough grass, and flower beds frame the house, while beyond the gate the moors roll endlessly into the distance.

It’s easy to imagine the Brontës pacing these paths, their minds wandering as far as the open land before them.

Haworth’s high street is one of its greatest charms and is often described as the best in the UK. Nearly every shop is independently run, a mix of antique dealers, bookshops, craft stores, and cafes.

There’s far more character here than on a typical high street lined with chain stores. One of my favourite stops was Mrs Beighton’s Sweet Shop, a small, unassuming store that looks like it has been here forever.  Glass jars of sweets line the walls with lemon drops, sherbets, toffees, and buying a handful feels like stepping into the set of Wonka. 

Even a short visit is enough to appreciate the surrounding landscape. The moors dominate the horizon, their windswept, rugged beauty visible from almost every street. Walking out along paths that lead away from the village, you feel the openness of the land with grassy hills, heather, and the occasional stone wall marking the boundaries of centuries-old farms.

Haworth is a village that rewards exploration. History, literature, and everyday life exist side by side, from the cobbles underfoot to the sweets in glass jars. Whether you’re a Brontë fan, a walker, or just someone who enjoys a village with character, Haworth delivers. It’s small, it’s charming, and it’s unpolished, a rare combination in today’s world. By the time you leave, bag of sweets in hand and the moorland wind at your back, it’s easy to understand why this Yorkshire village continues to captivate visitors from all over the world.