Todmorden
Sourced from Wikivoyage. Text is available under the CC-by-SA 3.0 license.
Todmorden is a pleasant town in Calderdale in West Yorkshire; it is considerably less visited than its better known neighbour, Hebden Bridge. 'Tod' is at the far west of Calderdale, bordering on Greater Manchester and Lancashire. Before the 1970s Todmorden was a borough in the West Riding of Yorkshire and at one time the county boundary between the West Riding and Lancashire was in part the brook that runs under the town hall.
Get in
Todmorden is on the railway line from Manchester and Rochdale to Halifax, Bradford and Leeds. There is also a line to Burnley and Blackburn.
There are regular buses to Burnley, Halifax and Rochdale and less frequent ones to Bacup across the Lancashire border and on to Bolton.
There are regular buses to Burnley, Halifax and Rochdale and less frequent ones to Bacup across the Lancashire border and on to Bolton.
Get around
The local bus services operated by First are reliable and pleasant although somewhat expensive. However, to use the service around Calderdale, and into Lancashire and Greater Manchester you can buy a ticket which lasts all day. The ticket can be purchased from the driver.
There are two railway stations in the Todmorden area: Todmorden and Walsden.
Taxis are plentiful, cheap and safe.
See
- The conservation villages of Lumbutts and Mankinholes, by the T6 or T8 bus, if you don't want to walk.
Rochdale Canalhas some of its most attractive and interesting stretches within the town's boundary.
Todmorden Old Hallis a Grade 1 listed building that dates from Tudor times and was once a post office.
Town Hallis an imposing building at the centre of the town, designed by John Gibson of Westminster. Its pediment is in fine carved stone with two central female figures on a pedestal. The left hand one represents Lancashire (cotton spinning and weaving industries) and the right hand one Yorkshire (engineering and agriculture).
the marketSome feel that it has declined somewhat of recent years, but is still worth visiting. It was once well known as the only one for some miles open on Good Friday.
Do
- The Pennine Way, a footpath which runs from Derbyshire into the Borders region of Scotland passes within the town's boundaries. A particularly popular place on it is the monument to the dead of the Napoleonic wars at Stoodley Pike.
- Walking, cycling, fishing and horse riding are all widely practiced in the area. The town lies alongside the Pennine Way, Pennine Bridleway, Mary Towneley Loop and Calderdale Way.
- The Centre Vale Park contains a large open area, woods, and children play areas. It occasionally hosts events. Located next to the sports centre.
- The Hippodrome Theatre shows films as well as putting on live amateur performances of a high standard.
- Todmorden Cricket Club, despite being in Yorkshire, is a member of the well-know Lancashire Cricket League and games are played at its ground adjacent to the park. The Cricket club also has caravan and camping facilities.
- If you're in Todmorden at the weekend it may be worth taking a bus or driving to nearby Burnley to watch a football match involving Burnley FC. The team made it to the Premier League for the 2009/10 season, but subsequently returned to the Championship for the 2010/11 season. Burnley achieved promotion back to the Premier League in 2014, by finishing 2nd in The Championship.
- Rochdale FC is also close if you're using bus or train or driving.
- Manchester United and Manchester City are close by on the train (30 to 40 mins on the train to Central Manchester)
Buy
- Todmorden has an interesting market, both indoors and inside the Market Hall.
- There are two good secondhand bookshops one of which, Borders, specialises in sport books and, in particular, cricket.
- There is also a number of antique shops and galleries (including Bare Arts which doubles as a brewery).
- At the Toy Shop with a nostalgic (and slightly chaotic) Toy and Model Museum in its basement.
Eat
- Site Pizzeria, restaurant and bar on Rochdale Road.
- Todmorden Old Hall.
- Hanuman (Three Wise Monkeys) - bar and Thai restaurant
- Kava - coffee house and vegetarian restaurant
- The Tapas Bar - Spanish Tapas, with a super £10 tea time menu between 4pm and 6pm. Open Wednesday to Saturday, and Sundays before a bank holiday Monday
- Staff Of Life - excellent food and traditional beers
There are several other cafes, pubs, and takeaway options around the town centre.
Drink
There are numerous pubs and wine bars in the town centre as well as the Shepherd's Rest and the Top Brink at Lumbutts. The Golden Lion and The Polished Knob pubs often have live music.
Sleep
-
phone: +44 1706 819917address: Rise Ln10 room hotel
- Lindores bed and breakfast
Stay safe
Todmorden is a beautiful town and the locals are very friendly. You should not encounter any problems if you act as you would anywhere else.
Go next
As well as the surrounding countryside, which is beautiful and good for walking, the great cities of Manchester and Leeds are only a train ride away.