Pretty village ‘frozen in time’ is perfect day out | UK | Travel

Heptonstall, a beautifully preserved hilltop weavers’ village in Yorkshire, offers an ideal day trip with its stunning church, scenic walks and rich history. This quaint hamlet is home to just 1,500 residents. The remnants of its 13th-century church are still visible, and its charming cobbled streets were once the backdrop for the early stages of the English Civil War in 1643.

In the 1980s, local protests led to the restoration of the original paving slabs when the main road was dug up. The council later replaced the street lamps with late 19th-century cast-iron gas-style structures. Today, the village seems frozen in time. It was originally a hub for loom weaving, which is why many of the old cottages have wide windows that flood the homes with sunlight – a feature designed to aid the weavers’ work, according to Yorkshire.com.

The original church in Heptonstall, dedicated to the Archbishop of Canterbury St Thomas Becket, was established around 1260. Over the centuries, it underwent numerous repairs until a devastating storm in 1847 left only the skeleton of the building, now surrounded by the old graveyard, reports Yorkshire Live.

Literature enthusiasts may be interested to know that Sylvia Plath is buried in this Yorkshire graveyard, far from her native land. Her husband, Ted Hughes, lived nearby in Mytholmroyd. Tragically, her headstone in the south-west corner of St Thomas Becket’s churchyard was vandalised to remove Hughes’ name.

One visitor on TripAdvisor remarked: “If you’re staying in Hebden Bridge, it’s well worth the (hilly) walk to Heptonstall. We primarily went to visit Plath’s grave, but there was also a lovely old ruined side-by-side with a new church nearby.”

The newer church, St Thomas the Apostle, was constructed within the same churchyard and serves as the venue for the annual Pennine Spring Music Festival. Workshops, masterclasses and performances take place here, with the yard occasionally hosting open-air shows.

Another visitor commented: “Beautiful little village with cobbled streets, two churches, one with Sylvia Plath’s grave, and a lovely tea shop, Towngate Tearoom, with indoor and outdoor seating. We drove up from Hebden Bridge and parked outside the village on the roadside.”

A further reviewer described the location as “amazing”, urging: “If you’ve never been here, GO! Let your imagination run riot whilst walking through, and over all the gravestones!”

Named best café in West Yorkshire for 2025, Towngate Tearoom – boasting an impressive 4.9-star rating on TripAdvisor – offers the ideal spot to enjoy refreshments after wandering through this historic settlement.

Advance booking is advisable given the establishment’s popularity and high footfall. One patron shared: “Stopped by Towngate Tearoom while visiting the village – really glad we did. The coffee was excellent and clearly freshly made, and the cakes were spot on.

“The place has a warm, relaxed feel and the staff were friendly without being over the top. You can tell they care about what they serve. Perfect little stop if you’re wandering around the area.”