We need to have a word about Halifax.
Because if your mental picture of the town is still based on what Halifax town centre looked like 20 years ago, you might be in for a surprise.
Halifax has become rather interesting.
Not in a polished, could-be-anywhere sort of way.
Thankfully.
It’s still unmistakably Halifax.
Grand Victorian buildings sit next to little independent businesses. One of the most extraordinary Georgian buildings in Britain is now full of shops, food, drink, music and people. Huge former carpet mills have become restaurants, galleries, businesses and creative spaces.
And yes, there are still bits that could do with some love.
We’re Yorkshire. We’re allowed to say that.
But if somebody told us they had a few hours to spend in Halifax and asked what we’d do, here’s our suggestion.
First: coffee
Nothing sensible should begin before coffee.
Halifax has plenty of choices now, including some lovely independents.
One worth knowing about is Dag&Dem on Albion Street, an independent café and bakery that’s become a very well regarded little Halifax spot.
But don’t become too obsessed with following an itinerary.
Part of the pleasure of Halifax is wandering.
Grab a coffee somewhere that looks good and start walking towards the centre.
You’ll very quickly discover something Halifax has in abundance.
Buildings.
Really good buildings.
Look up
This might be our single biggest piece of advice for anybody visiting Halifax.
Look upwards.
At street level, it’s easy to concentrate on shop fronts, traffic and where you’re going.
Look above them and Halifax starts revealing itself.
Stone façades.
Ornate windows.
Old banks.
Warehouses.
Civic buildings.
Evidence of the extraordinary wealth generated here during Yorkshire’s textile years.
Halifax wasn’t built apologetically.
Much of it was built to make a point.
And some of it is magnificent.
We know this particularly well because our Halifax practice is inside The Old Town Hall on Union Street.
We may be biased.
But working in a building with a bit of history beats a retail box next to a roundabout.
Then there’s The Piece Hall
If you only have time to see one thing in Halifax, make it The Piece Hall.
Even if you’ve lived around here for years and think you’ve seen it before.
Walk through one of the entrances and into that enormous courtyard and it’s still difficult not to have a little moment.
Built as a cloth hall, The Piece Hall is one of those buildings that tells you an enormous amount about what Halifax once meant commercially.
Today it has a completely different life.
There are independent shops.
Food.
Coffee.
Bars.
Events.
Gigs.
Markets.
And lots of opportunities to wander around while insisting that you’re “just looking”.
One place we’re particularly fond of in principle is an independent bookshop.
The Book Corner sits inside The Piece Hall and is exactly the sort of business we think towns need more of.
Go in for a browse.
Buy a book.
You may even read it.
Have a wander around the independents
This is where Halifax becomes more interesting than simply ticking attractions off a list.
Independent businesses give places personality.
You don’t travel somewhere new because you’re desperate to see exactly the same shops you left at home.
The Piece Hall itself contains a mixture of independent businesses covering books, art, gifts, fashion, food and other things you didn’t know you needed until approximately 30 seconds after seeing them.
Then wander beyond it.
Explore the streets around the town centre.
Have a look through Westgate Arcade.
And don’t forget the rather magnificent Halifax Borough Market.
Markets are part of what makes northern towns northern towns.
They’re useful.
Slightly chaotic.
Full of characters.
And considerably more interesting than another anonymous retail park.
And while we’re talking about independent shops…
Hello.
We should probably declare an interest.
Bottomley Opticians has been an independent Halifax business since 1948.
Today we’re at The Old Town Hall on Union Street.
We’re an optician, obviously.
But we’re also a shop full of rather interesting eyewear.
Although you wouldn’t necessarily know it by looking at the walls.
We don’t cover them with hundreds of glasses.
Our approach is to sit down with people and select eyewear for them from independent designers from around the world.
So if new glasses happen to be on your list, you’re very welcome to add us to your Halifax tour.
You don’t have to pretend you accidentally stumbled in.
We’ll know.
Time for lunch
Halifax isn’t short of places to eat.
If you want to stay central, you’ve got plenty of options around the town centre and Piece Hall.
A longstanding Halifax favourite is Ricci’s Place on Crossley Street, serving Italian and Mediterranean-influenced food in the centre of town.
Or you could save lunch for our next stop.
Because we’re heading uphill.
Dean Clough deserves more than a drive past
For years, enormous former industrial buildings were one of Halifax’s defining sights.
Dean Clough is the ultimate example.
The site stretches across 22 acres and consists of 16 Grade II listed Victorian mills.
Once home to Crossley Carpets, the complex has been reinvented as a place for businesses, restaurants, galleries, shops, wellbeing and events.
It’s enormous.
And if you’ve never actually gone inside because you assumed it was all offices, go and have a look.
There’s art dotted around the site, galleries and exhibitions alongside places to eat and drink.
For food, True North is one of the current restaurants at Dean Clough, while the complex has several other independent cafés, bars and eateries.
The industrial architecture is a large part of the experience.
Brick.
Stone.
Cast iron.
Huge spaces.
Halifax’s past being used rather than simply preserved behind a rope.
We like that.
If you’ve got longer, meet Anne Lister
If you’re visiting Halifax rather than simply spending a couple of hours in town, head out to Shibden.
Shibden Hall is one of Halifax’s genuine treasures.
Its history stretches back centuries, but today it’s internationally associated with Anne Lister, whose remarkable diaries and life inspired Gentleman Jack.
And then there’s Shibden Park surrounding it.
It’s a lovely antidote to the town centre.
History.
Green space.
Yorkshire hills.
And enough gradient to justify whatever you ate for lunch.
Or stay in town and discover more of the history
Halifax Minster is another building worth visiting.
And the joy of central Halifax is that much of its history is relatively compact.
You don’t necessarily need a meticulously planned itinerary.
Walk.
Look around.
Take the odd side street.
Look upwards again.
You’ll discover buildings you may have driven past a hundred times without really seeing.
Halifax is better when you don’t rush it
Perhaps that’s the real point of this article.
Halifax isn’t a theme park.
There isn’t one route you’re supposed to follow.
Its appeal comes from the mixture.
A spectacular Georgian cloth hall.
Victorian industrial architecture.
A proper northern market.
Independent shops.
Restaurants.
History.
Coffee.
Culture.
And people actually living and working amongst all of it.
It’s a town that rewards curiosity.
Frequently asked questions about visiting Halifax
What is Halifax famous for?
Halifax is particularly associated with its historic wool and textile industries and has an extraordinary architectural legacy from its commercial past. Today, The Piece Hall is probably its most internationally recognisable landmark, while Shibden Hall has become widely known through the story of Anne Lister.
What are the best things to do in Halifax?
The Piece Hall is an obvious starting point. Halifax Borough Market, Dean Clough, Halifax Minster and Shibden Hall are also well worth exploring, depending on how much time you have.
Is Halifax good for independent shopping?
Yes. The Piece Hall has a significant collection of independent traders, and you’ll find other independent businesses throughout Halifax town centre and at Dean Clough.
Where can I get coffee in Halifax?
There are numerous independent cafés across Halifax town centre, The Piece Hall and Dean Clough. Dag&Dem on Albion Street is one local option worth investigating.
Where is good for lunch in Halifax?
There’s a growing selection around the town centre, Piece Hall and Dean Clough. Ricci’s Place is a longstanding central Halifax restaurant, while Dean Clough has several independent places to eat including True North.
Is The Piece Hall worth visiting?
Yes. Even if shopping isn’t your thing, the building itself makes The Piece Hall worth experiencing. Its scale and architecture give an extraordinary glimpse into Halifax’s importance during the cloth trade.
What can I do in Halifax for half a day?
Start with coffee in the town centre, explore The Piece Hall and its independent shops, wander through Halifax Borough Market and the surrounding historic streets, have lunch and then either walk up to Dean Clough or head to Shibden Hall if you have transport and more time.
Are there independent shops near The Piece Hall?
Yes. The Piece Hall itself contains numerous independent traders, with further businesses in the surrounding town centre, Westgate Arcade and nearby streets.
Where can I find an independent optician in Halifax?
Bottomley Opticians is an independent family optician at The Old Town Hall, 22 Union Street in Halifax town centre. We’ve been part of Halifax since 1948 and specialise in private eye care and independent designer eyewear.
One last thought
There’s something rather good happening in Halifax.
And independent businesses are part of it.
Every time somebody chooses the independent coffee shop, restaurant, bookshop, market trader, gallery, maker or retailer, they’re doing something small but important.
They’re helping Halifax remain Halifax.
Not Leeds-lite.
Not Manchester-but-smaller.
And definitely not an identikit collection of national chains.
We rather like this town.
We’ve been looking after people’s eyes here since 1948, so perhaps we’ve had time to get attached.
If you’re visiting Halifax, have a wander.
Eat something good.
Buy something from somebody independent.
Look at the buildings.
And if you happen to be passing The Old Town Hall on Union Street, stick your head in and say hello.
You don’t even have to buy any glasses.
Although we do have some bloody good ones.
Bottomley Opticians Halifax
The Old Town Hall
22 Union Street
Halifax
Telephone: 01422 331031
