Last Updated on July 10, 2026 by Tavernier’s Travels
We recently had a lovely break away visiting our family up in Yorkshire, and during the trip we were able to take in some of the delights of West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and even a bit beyond.
I have to say there’s so much to see and do north of the border; Yorkshire has a wealth of historical sites and absolutely some of the best countryside England has to offer. We all talk about Kent being the garden of England, but Yorkshire really gives it a run for its money. I have been to Yorkshire many times over the past few decades but never explored it as I did during this trip – I have to say it most certainly is not grim up north!
For our first full day, our cousin Diane recommended that we visit the pretty village of Saltaire. As we were already based on the edge of Bradford, we thought it was a great idea as Saltaire was only a short bus ride away, situated a short distance from the city centre, and perfect for our first full day in the region.
Saltaire
This beautiful Victorian model village was a delight to visit. As soon as we disembarked the bus, crossed the road and strolled down the hill, it was like being transported back in time. It’s not difficult to see why it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site; the village has been well-preserved, and is made up of many workers cottages and almshouses lining many streets and built with local stone. For me, personally, walking around Saltaire, I really did feel like I was walking around a purpose built village as opposed to an authentic one; as pretty as it is, it’s quite obvious the purpose of what Titus Salt envisioned and ultimately did.
Saltaire History
Saltaire was built by the wealthy entrepreneur Titus Salt in the mid-1800’s. Salt took his name and the name of the river, Aire, and combined them together to form ‘Saltaire’. The cottages built were used to house those employed in the nearby mill, which Titus owned and ran. There were different types of houses for different types of workers, and who lived where was dependent on your status. You can find what would have been the Executive’s houses on Albert Road, while the lower ranked workers lived in ordinary houses dominated around the village.
Salt took his workers out of the slums of Bradford where, at the time, life expectancy was very poor. He wanted to offer his workforce the chance of a better life in the countryside. The new model village had its own hospital, gymnasium, concert hall, games rooms, a school for his employees children and many more recreational initiatives. He banned the consumption of alcohol in his village to ensure his workers were healthy and had a measure of discipline; he believed it was key to a better life – hence the aptly named wine bar Don’t Tell Titus.
The mill has also been well-preserved; formerly a production site for textiles and wool, today, it’s open to the public. You can go inside and explore a number of shops and eateries, as well as art galleries, some of which feature the works of David Hockney (whose early years were spent in Bradford). Unfortunately, we tried to visit Salts Mill on a Tuesday, but the mill is closed on both Mondays and Tuesdays, so take heed!
Things to do in Saltaire today
As stated before, you can visit Salts Mill. Entry is free, and there are a selection of shops and eateries, a gallery with a huge collection by David Hockney, as well as the largest bookshop outside of London (which was a shame to miss). The Salt Mill has been used for filming productions such as An Inspector Calls, The ABC Murders and Gentleman Jack to name a few.
Once you’ve toured the mill, you can chill out by the canal or even take a boat ride. We took a walk along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal; a short distance from the bridge, you can get a good look of Salts Mill. If you’re in Saltaire with kids, there’s the beautiful Roberts Park just on the other side of the canal to keep them entertained.
The Saltaire Institute – now called Victoria Hall – holds many meetings, concerts and community events. Saltaire Festival, an arts and music community event is held every September lasting nine days.
Another thing our cousin told us about was the Living Advent Calendar held every year during the Christmas period. Local residents and businesses decorate their windows with festive themes (which is something I can’t wait to see this upcoming Christmas season!). Also during the Christmas period, Roberts Park hosts a Christmas market with live music and other entertainment.
Victoria Road is the main road in Saltaire, and is lined with a mix of cafés, restaurants and independent shops. As we walked back along Victoria Road, we had a browse in a few shops before noticing a little queue outside a café, Salts Village Bakery and as we are ones to follow the locals into eateries (as they know the best places), we ventured inside.
There isn’t a lot of space to sit inside, but we managed to grab a small table. The food was delightful and tasty; I ordered a meat and potato pie (as I always do when I visit the north) and I have to say I was not disappointed. The staff were lovely and friendly (special shoutout to Max, featured in the picture below, and co!) as were the other customers – there was a great display of biscuits, cakes, chutney and jams to purchase, we even brought a few treats to bring back home with us! I highly recommend Grandma Wild’s (a well known Yorkshire brand) Clotted Cream and Lemon Shortbread biscuits! As featured in the picture below.
I highly recommend a visit to Saltaire if you ever find yourself nearby! And, as I always say, please remember this is a real village with real people living there and going about their daily lives. I’m sure the locals are proud of their village and don’t mind people coming to explore, just as long as we visitors are respectful.
