Keighley brings together several distinct themes for a stay: the historic steam railway through Brontë Country, local collections and the Picture House, which opened in 1913. The market in the centre and the Cat Steps Story Trail add another perspective on the town to these cultural attractions. When planning your visit, it makes a difference whether you focus on railway and film history, exhibitions, a trip to the cinema or a woodland trail.

Railway and film history

Keighley is the northern terminus of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. Its route runs from Keighley to Oxenhope through Brontë Country. The railway offers a five-mile steam train journey; services may vary, so it is worth checking the timetable in advance. This puts both the route through the countryside and the train journey itself at the centre of the railway’s history.

Film and television are also part of the railway’s history: it featured in the 1970 film adaptation of Edith Nesbit’s story “The Railway Children” and has appeared in numerous other film and television productions over the years. Its connection to the film “The Railway Children” is thus clearly dated; its other appearances span a range of productions.

Cliffe Castle and Rail Story

Cliffe Castle was built in the 1880s as the home of the Victorian millionaire and textile manufacturer Henry Isaac Butterfield. Its galleries focus on natural history, archaeology and social history; there is also an exhibition of glasswork by Morris and Co. Individual displays may change. The estate’s gardens were transformed into a large public park. Together, the history of the house, its varied collection themes and the transformation of the gardens offer several perspectives on Cliffe Castle.

Rail Story brings together two museums on the station site at Ingrow West. The Carriage Works is home to the Vintage Carriages Trust and displays restored railway carriages, many of which have been used in well-known film and television productions. At the Engine Shed, visitors can see locomotives being repaired and maintained. The two areas have different focuses: restored carriages with film connections on the one hand, and locomotives undergoing maintenance on the other.

Cinema, market and woodland trail

The Picture House on North Street is a purpose-built cinema that first opened in 1913. It has two screens; its facilities may change over time. Family screenings are held on Saturdays and Sundays, although the programme may change. Check the current listings for details of a specific screening.

Keighley Market is in the town centre. Alongside fashion, jewellery, materials and household goods, it has traders selling high-quality food. Individual traders and product ranges may change. The market offers a different perspective on Keighley from its railway and museum sites: the focus is on the goods and the variety of traders.

The Cat Steps Story Trail is in the Braithwaite and Guard House area of Keighley. The redesigned woodland trail was created by local children and is open for families to explore. Its local, child-designed character and woodland setting distinguish the trail from the museums’ collections and railway history. Those weighing up the different attractions will find both cultural themes and a nature trail among the Keighley experiences described here.

Discover more destinations: Shipley, Bradford, Bingley, Haworth, Ilkley.

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