5 Best Sights in Haworth: Heart of Bronte Country, Yorkshire

The most evocative of Haworth's Brontë sights is this somber Georgian house dating back to 1778, the sisters' family home where you can see original furniture (some bought by Charlotte after the success of Jane Eyre), portraits, and books. The Brontës moved here when the Reverend Patrick Brontë was appointed vicar of the local church, but tragedy soon struck—his wife, Maria, and their two eldest children died within five years. The museum explores the family's tragic story, bringing it to life with a strong collection of enchanting mementos of the four children. These include tiny books they made when they were still very young; Charlotte's wedding bonnet; and the sisters' spidery, youthful graffiti on the nursery wall. Branwell, the Brontës' only brother, painted several of the portraits on display. Admission is by timed slot only; it's best to book ahead.

If you have the time, pack a lunch and walk for 2¾ miles or so from Haworth along the "Bronte trail" across the moors to the lovely, isolated waterfall that has, inevitably, been renamed in honor of the sisters. It was one of their favorite haunts, which they wrote about in poems and letters, with Charlotte calling it "a perfect torrent racing over the rocks, white and beautiful!” in an 1854 diary entry.

Haworth is one stop along the route of this scenic 5-mile heritage railway between Keighley and Oxenhope through the picturesque Worth Valley, as seen in numerous film and television shows including The Railway Children and Peaky Blinders. Many of the trains are pulled by handsome steam engines. Frequent themed special events add to the fun.

Haworth's steep, cobbled High Street has changed little in outward appearance since the early 19th century, but it now acts as a funnel for crowds heading for points of interest: the Black Bull pub, where the reprobate Branwell Brontë drank himself into an early grave (his stool is kept in mint condition); the former post office (now a bookshop) from which Charlotte, Emily, and Anne sent their manuscripts to their London publishers; and the church, with its atmospheric graveyard (Charlotte and Emily are buried in the family vault inside the church; Anne is buried in Scarborough).

A foreboding ruined mansion perched on a bleak hilltop four miles from Haworth, Top Withens is often assumed to be the inspiration for the fictional Wuthering Heights. Brontë scholars say it probably isn't; even in its heyday, the house never fit the book's description of Heathcliff's domain. Still, it's an inspirational walk across the moors. There and back from Haworth is a 3½-hour walk along a well-marked footpath that goes past the Brontë waterfall. If you've read Wuthering Heights, you don't need to be reminded to wear sturdy shoes and protective clothing.