Brontë Parsonage Museum — Attraction in Bradford

My first visits to the Brontë Parsonage Museum were as a child. I fell in love with the dark stone immediately the character of the interior. I had no idea just how remarkable it’s old occupants had been. I explored the writers house, stunning landscapes gardens and the most beautiful place to spend eternity *the graveyard. I’ve been many times over the years. Older I started to take more interest in the Brontë families lives and living conditions. Enjoying reading about them I found their personal possessions and furniture preserved in the house fascinating. The atmosphere in the Museum is very homely it’s almost like one of the Brontë family members are going to come rushing out from one of the rooms as you walk along the passageway and climb the stairs. The Staff have always been incredibly knowledgeable having lots of time to answer visitor’s questions. I had a very interesting conversation with gentleman member of staff. Discussing the regret I felt at not having read their novels until my late thirties. It was agreed between us that had I read them when younger a lot of content wouldn’t have resonated quite so much with me. The exhibitions and events are always impressive. The staff have been so kind to me over the recent year. I am now visually impaired and need assistance. The Brontë Society have been incredible during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adapting to using Zoom and creating the Brontë Lounge Meetings for people to attend during lockdown and thereafter is testament to how innovative the Museum is. They have gone above and beyond to assist me with the zoom sessions. I struggle with a visual impairment now. Another reason the Brontë Lounge Sessions have been so appreciated. I don’t have to worry about mobility issues. The perspectives I heard and the inspiration taken from these sessions are wonderful. They are incredibly inclusive for less mobile people like myself and audiences from all over the world can attend. What an achievement through such a tough time in everyone’s lives. True Yorkshire Grit right there! The price is fair considering that you can return again for free. There are plenty of shops and food establishments nearby. Medieval Parish Church Saint Michael and All Angels is very welcoming. It’s absolutely beautiful inside, you can see where Patrick gave his sermons and visit the family’s crypt. My only complaint has ever been the toilet location it’s quite difficult to reach if you have mobility issues and of course if you have very young children who need to go to the toilet once in the Museum it would mean having to leave and walk across the carpark. Parson’s Field is such a picturesque place to relax listen to crows and imagine the Brontë children running off onto the distance to explore the stunning moors. I would recommend a lovely walk out there, you understand the connection they had with nature and the outdoor elements how it must have inspired them to write amazing stories, poetry and later some of the greatest novels ever written. Such a remarkable loved and talented family. The respect and kindness shown to their servants. Their resilience and creative talent an...

I'm not a huge Brontë fan, I know their story and have read several of their novels and obviously seen a lot of adaptations and biopics, but I must admit to being a little disappointed by this museum.

The best thing is knowing you're standing where they once stood, but a lot of the items are made up of recreations and copies of things that are held elsewhere or in private collections. The recreation of Branwell's study, overseen by Simon Armitage, is somewhat comical in its drunken-yet-brilliant-mind excess, and it always strikes me as odd how much is devoted to his lost genius, when there's literally three women who achieved right there, against the odds.

At best, you can do the full tour of the house in under an hour, less if it's not busy (the rooms are small and the cordons only give you a finite space, so if there's more than two people in there, you have to wait your turn). The tour is self guided but staff are on hand should you have any queries. Have to say, on my visit some of the staff looked far from energised; their aura often seemed to be one of boredom and a desire to be elsewhere/invisible (to be fair it was around 2pm so lunch breaks may have been imminent) so there was a feeling of "please don't ask me anything". They may have also been annoyed at the two unruly children one party had, the adults of whom were doing nothing to control them. You are allowed to take photographs, but no flash if your wielding anything other than your phone. The last room explores the legacy of the sisters on film, but it's pretty basic, amounting to some film scripts and the odd photo. A more interactive experience, showing numerous clips from adaptations, perhaps with the original scenes from the novel accompanying in comparison, would be more interesting and likely to fire the imagination.

The gift shop is well stocked, but you'll probably find similar in several shops on the main street, perhaps at a slightly lower price (though admittedly still inflated in comparison to other non touristy outlets; I was surprised to see pin badges going for £10 in one shop when similar would be £5 elsewhere). Toilets were clean, but the writing on the locks as small as that of the Brontës, making it difficult to know whether they're engaged. The grounds are lovely, overlooking the church and local allotments. Haworth is a lovely spot.

Obviously if you are a Brontë obsessive, this is somewhere you have to visit, but for everyone else maybe not. That said, if you are in picturesque Haworth, it would be a shame not to visit. Price of admission is 13 pounds which may seem steep for such a middling experience, but it does give you access for twelve months. Then again, if you found it middling once, you probably wouldn't...

Step through the door of the Brontë Parsonage Museum and you step back theough history. You don't have to be a fan of the Brontë Sisters to appreciate this excellent museum which is packed with furniture and items belonging to the Brontë family in a faithful recreation of their home.

After a short wait in the pleasant surroundings of the garden we were ushered in and allowed to take in the surroundings at our own pace, taking in as little or as much as we chose through information boards, our own guidebook and a series of QR codes which add to the experience. After visiting the main rooms we spent some time in the exhibition that was full of interesting information and more artifacts before descending to the shop.

The shop is full of great gifts and souvenirs and if you purchase books the staff will stamp them to show that they were purchased at the museum.

Parking is conveniently located a few metres away from the museum at £1.50 an hour payable by cash, card or via the RingGo app but if that car park is full there is another pay and display car park nearby. The toilet facilities at the museum are impressive, very clean and well-maintained.

There were a lot of staff on-site who were all very friendly and happy to talk and answer questions.

As we visited in the middle of August the museum was busy and as space is at a premium it wasn't always the most comfortable of experiences but when we were returning to the car later on there wasn't even a queue so there are probably quieter times to visit!

This museum is a must-see if you are in the area. In addition, the church that houses the Brontë crypt is the other side of the garden wall and the village itself is very...