Ever since we moved to Leeds, Saltaire has always been one of our favourite day trips. An icon of Victorian-era industry, this model village sprung up during the 19th century thanks to the vision of Sir Titus Salt, a local textile magnate who pushed for better living conditions for his thousands of factory workers.
Saltaire’s crown jewel is its gargantuan factory – Salts Mill – which was once the biggest in the world. The mill is always our starting point whenever we visit Saltaire, but there’s plenty more to explore in this UNESCO-listed village.
From charming gift shops to a volunteer-run funicular railway, here are 10 of our favourite things to do in Saltaire.
1) Explore the enormous Salts Mill, an icon of Saltaire
Best for: One of the finest Victorian mills anywhere in the UK.
No visit to Saltaire is complete without wandering around Salts Mill. The jewel in the crown of Sir Titus Salt’s textiles empire, Salts Mill is a four-storey behemoth that stretches for 166 metres alongside the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.
The grade-II listed mill is the first thing you see when you step off the train at Saltaire Station. Check out the vantage point from the Victoria Road bridge before wandering inside, where everything from art galleries and bookshops to cafes and antiques shops awaits.
How to do it: Salts Mill is open from 9:30am to 5pm, although opening times for individual businesses within the mill can vary. Entry is free.
We love: The Salts Mill bookshop is always a favourite. The shop boasts a particularly excellent selection of drool-worthy cookbooks, along with a well-stocked travel section.
2) Admire the David Hockney paintings in the 1853 Gallery and Arrival of Spring exhibition at Salts Mill
Best for: Admiring the colourful art of one of Britain’s best-loved painters.
David Hockney is one of Britain’s most celebrated painters and artists. After growing up in Yorkshire, Hockney found worldwide fame through his vivid, colourful artwork that came to define the pop art movement. Salts Mill is just a few miles away from the Bradford area where Hockney grew up, and it boasts one of the world’s largest collections of the pioneering artist’s work.
No visit to Salts Mill is complete without a visit to the ground floor 1853 gallery, where many of Hockney’s famous paintings are on display in a permanent exhibition. After admiring 1853, head to the third-floor gallery, where an eye-catching display named ‘The Arrival of Spring’ boasts dozens of works created by Hockney on his iPad.
How to do it: The 1853 Gallery is open from 9:30am to 5pm. Entry is free.
3) Stroll the historic terraced streets of Saltaire
Best for: Getting to know this unique UNESCO World Heritage site.
Saltaire’s history stretches back to 1851, when textiles magnate Sir Titus Salt moved his operations – and his workers – to this rural riverside location. Salt ordered the construction of well-built stone houses for factory workers, offering standards that greatly exceeded the slum living in the nearby city of Bradford. The village also boasted a school, hospital and wash-houses, as well as a recreational institute and an ornate church.
At the time, offering such high standards of housing and welfare was a pioneering move. Salt’s investment paid dividends, with the mill operating until the 1980s and his legacy as a philanthropist as well as a businessman secured.
The narrow streets and impressive buildings of Saltaire secured Titus’ legacy. Today, you can wander at leisure, admiring the different styles of housing. It remains a popular place to live, with every house occupied. Each time we visit Saltaire, we always spot some renovation work, with residents taking good care to bring their historic homes up to modern standards.
We loved: The Alms Houses on Victoria Road are a particularly nice area of the town. Keep an eye out for the nearby hospital, which bears Sir Titus’ name.
4) Have a picnic in Roberts Park
Best for: Enjoying a sunny afternoon in Saltaire.
Roberts Park is the largest expanse of green space in Saltaire village. The park stretches along the branches of the River Aire and is a popular spot for casual strolls, picnics and enjoying a sunny Yorkshire day – a phenomenon that is not quite as rare as people think!
The park enjoys splendid views across the water towards Salts Mill and is connected to the main village by a small footbridge over the river. Like the rows of terraced houses, Roberts Park was a key component of the Saltaire development, with Sir Titus himself presiding over the opening ceremony in 1871.
As well as plenty of green space, highlights of Roberts Park include a traditional red-painted bandstand, a bronze statue of Sir Titus Salt and even some traditional stocks – a standard form of punishment in the Middle Ages.
We love: Taking a stroll around Roberts Park on a summer’s evening – it’s a beautiful spot as the sun sets, with the tall trees casting long shadows.
5) Take a walk down the canal or river in Saltaire
Best for: Exploring beyond Saltaire.
The Leeds &Liverpool Canal passes through Saltaire and flows directly through the Salts Mill complex. The canal connects Saltaire with nearby towns of Shipley and Bingley, as well as further afield. You could even wander all the way to Leeds, a walk of around 13 miles (21 kilometres) which would take half a day to complete.
Alternatively, the River Aire flows alongside Roberts Park and offers a series of pleasant waterside strolls. However, these routes don’t stretch as far as the canal.
We love: The canal has been busy each time we’ve visited Saltaire. There’s plenty to see near the village, including the Seven Arches Aqueduct en route to Bingley. The other direction, towards Shipley and Leeds, is more industrial.
Read next: Our favourite walks from Leeds city centre.
6) Enjoy a pint at the SALT Beer Factory
Best for: Trying a locally brewed beer.
Occupying a prime position on the corner of the A650 and A657, the SALT Beer Factory is one of Saltaire’s most popular bars and serves a wide selection of their own craft beer.
Even if beer isn’t your thing, it’s worth a visit to admire the building itself. SALT has taken up residence on the site of a former tram depot, and the historic building offers plenty of space both indoors and outside. If you get peckish, their wood-fired pizza oven promises excellent food. Be warned – it can get busy at peak times.
Read next: 10 brilliant things to do during a weekend break in Leeds.
7) Go souvenir shopping at giddy arts
Best for: Bagging a locally-made gift.
On the corner of Victoria Road near Saltaire train station is giddy arts, one of the village’s most charming shops. Upstairs, collections of souvenirs, arts and crafts are packed onto wooden shelves and tables. A small bar serves some of Saltaire’s best coffee. There’s even a zero-waste body care station, allowing you to top up your shower gel or shampoo and cut down on plastics.
We loved: A spiral staircase leads to the basement, where you will find a small gallery of local art which is well worth admiring.
How to do it: giddy arts is open seven days a week. Check their website for the latest opening times.
8) Go for lunch at The Pepper Mill
Best for: One of Saltaire’s top restaurants.
From brunch to dinner, The Pepper Mill has been delighting diners since it opened in late 2022. It’s excellent at any time of day, but this burgeoning restaurant’s lunch menu is particularly great for those enjoying a day trip to Saltaire.
Highlights include classic brunch items such as eggs benedict served with smoked bacon or spicy nduja scrambled eggs served on toasted sourdough. For those seeking traditional lunch options, the shepherd’s pie or steak sandwich are firm favourites. If you visit on a Sunday, you’ll even have the option of tucking into a traditional roast dinner. After eating, you can enjoy an excellent coffee before setting off to explore more of Saltaire.
How to do it: The Pepper Mill is open seven days a week. Opening times vary, so we suggest referring to their website.
Note: You can make reservations for dinner service, but breakfast and lunch at The Pepper Mill operate on a walk-in basis.
Read next: Our guide to exploring Leeds Dock.
9) Visit the unique Saltaire United Reformed Church
Best for: Visiting one of the UK’s most impressive Victorian-era churches.
As you stroll down Victoria Road, you cannot help but notice the striking columns and domed rooftops of the Saltaire United Reformed Church. Built by – you guessed it – Sir Titus Salt in the late 1850s, the church served the workers of Salts Mill and is still active today.
We love: Stroll around the church’s exterior before heading inside, where you can admire the 19th-century organ and the pews – on which Sir Titus Salt’s initials are carved.
How to do it: The church is often closed. To stand the best chance of getting inside, we suggest visiting on a Sunday afternoon, when it is usually open to the public.
10) Take a ride on the Shipley Glen Tramway
Best for: Enjoying a historic funicular through charming woodland.
Head towards the strip of woodland above Roberts Park and you will find Shipley Glen, which is a popular spot for short hikes. Whilst plenty of people enjoy exploring the glen on foot, the most popular form of transport here is the historic Shipley Glen Tramway, which takes visitors on a short journey through the woods.
Opened in 1895, this short funicular tramway is a firm favourite among families looking for something fun to do near Saltaire. The entire operation is run by a team of dedicated volunteers, who also take care of a small museum at the bottom station nearest Salts Mill.
How to do it: Shipley Glen Tramway operates on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer season. In winter, the tramway runs on Sundays only. An adult return ticket costs £2.50, with a child’s return ticket costing £1.
Read next: 13 of the best things to see and do in Bishop Auckland.
Visiting Saltaire: how to do it
By car: The best place to park in Saltaire is at the Salts Mill Car Park. At the time of writing, parking here is free.
By train: Our favourite way to get to Saltaire is by train. Northern runs regular trains from Leeds to Saltaire, with a journey lasting a little over 15 minutes. An off-peak return costs £6.30 per adult, but advance tickets and railcards will reduce the price.