Halifax's Most 'Instagrammable' Spots

This week, Visit Calderdale had the pleasure of welcoming a group of photographers from the IGers Leeds group over to Halifax, and we took a tour of some of Halifax’s most ‘instagrammable’ spots.

It was really interesting to see our much loved town through the lens (pun intended) of passionate photographers, who were particularly keen to explore the hidden gems of Halifax, and to appreciate the town from new angles, as they aimed to achieve the ‘perfect shot’.

So often in our busy lives, we forget to notice things – the ornate detailing on an exterior doorway for example, or the engraving on the side of a building marking a moment in time. We also so often forget to ‘look up’ – something which it pays to do in Halifax, which has one of the most complete Victorian townscapes in Britain.

On the tour, we were lucky enough to get Behind the Scenes access to some of Halifax’s most well-known buildings, as well as visiting some old favourites. Below are a selection of some of the fantastic photos taken on the day… why not use these as inspiration for your own personal photographic tour of Halifax towncentre? We’d love to see your photos if so – tag us on Instagram at @visit_calderdale .

1. Coffee & Pastries at Lucy’s Little Bakehouse

Lucy’s Little Bakehouse is an independent café right in the heart of Halifax, at Westgate Arcade. Come for the fresh flowers, pretty decor and relaxed atmosphere…stay for the fresh bakes, good coffee and amazing customer service!

2. Halifax Borough Market and the Streets in the Sky

At this splendid Grade II* listed Victorian market hall you’ll discover beautiful wrought ironwork, exquisitely-carved stonework and baroque spires, as well as mythical beasts keeping watch above you over the Market’s interior! Despite current renovations taking place in the market, you can get some fantastic photos if you get the right angle. Regular tours of the hidden ‘Streets in the Sky’ above the Borough Market will return once the current building work has finished. Keep an eye on Visit Calderdale for details!

3. A ‘Behind the Scenes’ tour at Halifax Town Hall

Halifax’s ornate town hall was designed by Charles Barry, who also designed the Houses of Parliament! It’s impossible not to be blown away by the grandeur of the Town Hall, from the glass dome of the entrance stairwell, the lavish decor in the Victoria Hall (where they filmed parts of A Gentleman in Moscow), the Council Chamber with its beautiful stained glass, and the Mayor’s Parlour.

Get your own ‘behind the scenes’ access to the Town Hall by requesting a full tour with Halifax Heritage Tours CIC.

4. The Piece Hall and Rose Window at Halifax Central Library

You won’t be short of photo opportunities when you visit the iconic Piece Hall – a Grade I listed building, which is the oldest remaining Georgian cloth hall in the world. Each of the four entrances to the Piece Hall offer a unique perspective, each grander than the next. The stone columns which characterise the covered perimeter of the building also offer fantastic opportunities for framing your photos in unusual and interesting ways. The tower and spire of Square Chapel dominate the skyline above the Piece Hall, and are a much loved feature in the classic image of the Piece Hall that many of us know and love.

Whilst you are at the Piece Hall, we highly recommend you pop into Halifax Central Library, which is on the site of what used to be the old Square Chapel. There you’ll find one of Halifax’s most hidden gems – the exquisite rose window, made up of 85 individual pieces of handcut glass, and painstakingly restored in 2017.