Colin Crosby Heritage Tours

Excellent Day When Visiting Halifax

Calderdale Council, in Yorkshire, recently launched their new Visitor Guide, and invited a number of people in the tourism field to attend the event.

I was one of those privileged to be invited to the launch in Halifax, and was pleased to attend.

The launch itself took place at Eureka!, the famous interactive museum aimed very successfully at children. I arrived in Halifax with plenty of time to spare, so had a look around the town and had a very good and inexpensive breakfast at the Goose pub.

The actual launch went well, with a number of council officers underlining particular aspects, after which we were given a lighthearted but informative tour of Eureka! before sitting down to a well prepared buffet lunch.

Then we were taken on a walk around the town centre, with a surprising number of interesting places, all of which were well worth a visit.

We were taken to the Square Chapel, a former Independent chapel now used as a thriving arts centre; the amazing Piece Hall, built for cloth trading; the Victoria Theatre, providing both plays and concerts; the elegant 17th century Somerset House, built by Carr of York and now used as an upmarket restaurant with a room for marriages; the Market Hall, in my opinion only bettered by the fabulous one at Leeds (Yorkshire); the Town Hall, designed by Sir Charles Barry; and the stately Halifax Minster.

It was nice as well to talk to other people who had come a fair distance, including Sheffield and even Croydon.

I came away with a highly favourable impression of Halifax, which I confess I had never really considered previously as a suitable place to visit.

Congratulations to everybody involved in the launch. I am sure it will lead to an upsurge in tourism business.