Discover Oakworth

Oakworth can be explored through two very different places: Oakworth Station, with its film history, and Holden Park, with its succession of different landscapes. For planning your trip, it helps to consider these themes separately. At the station, the film adaptation of E. Nesbit’s novel, the building and guided visits take centre stage; in the park, its grottos, open parkland and woodland define its character. This lets you tailor your stay to your interests.

Oakworth Station: Film History and the Building

Oakworth Station was the main location for the 1970 film adaptation of E. Nesbit’s novel The Railway Children, directed by Lionel Jeffries. For visitors interested in film history, this offers a specific point of connection: the station is associated with a particular production and its director.

The station building features an Edwardian-style booking office and historic advertisements. The office points to the design of a specific room, while the advertisements add another feature of the building. So, alongside its connection to the film, the station’s furnishings and design are also worth noting. Geographically, Oakworth Station lies between Damems and Haworth.

Guided Tours and Route Planning

During guided tours of Oakworth Station, visitors can see the Ladies’ Waiting Room, which served as the Perks Office in the original film. The room is both a named part of the station and a specific link to its film history. Behind-the-scenes tours start in the Booking Hall and last about 30 minutes. Dates and access arrangements may vary; check both before making your plans.

Oakworth Station is also one of the main points on a 6.5-mile route that starts and ends at the car park at Haworth Station. The tour and the route answer different planning questions: the tour is a defined visit of about 30 minutes, while the route’s length and start and end points are key considerations. This lets you choose whether to include the station as part of a guided visit or as one of the main points on a route.

Holden Park: History and Landscape

Holden Park, also known locally as Oakworth Park, was established in 1925 on land donated to the people of Oakworth. The two dates mark different stories: 1925 refers to the creation of the park, while 1970 refers to the film made at the station.

The grottos and caves extend around the bowling green. Holden Park also transitions from caves to open parkland and then woodland. The grottos around the bowling green are a specific feature; the succession of caves, open spaces and woodland describes the change in landscape on a broader scale. During your visit, you can take in both individual features of the park and the sequence of its different landscapes.

Discover more destinations: Upton, Drighlington, Silsden, Farsley, Meltham, Addingham, Liversedge, Guiseley

For the broader travel overview: West Yorkshire.