West Yorkshire has long been the backdrop to some of Britain’s most gripping television dramas – and now it’s the star once again in Sally Wainwright’s brand-new BBC series, Riot Women.
Wainwright, the award-winning writer behind Happy Valley, Gentleman Jack and Last Tango in Halifax, is renowned for bringing West Yorkshire’s towns, hills and valleys to life on screen. With Riot Women, she returns to her home county, telling the story of strong, determined characters against the backdrop of our dramatic landscapes and historic streets.
Riot Women filming locations
Much like Happy Valley, the new series was filmed across Halifax, Hebden Bridge and wider Calderdale. Many of the cast, and writer and director Sally Wainwright stayed at the hotel during filming. That means fans can experience the very places that inspired Wainwright’s writing – from the cobbled market squares and mills of Hebden Bridge, to the grand architecture of Halifax and the sweeping countryside in between.
Highlights include:
- Halifax town centre – with its striking mix of Victorian and modern architecture
- Hebden Bridge canals and streets – instantly recognisable from the series
- Shibden Hall – also famous from Gentleman Jack
- Hardcastle Crags – a National Trust woodland setting featured in multiple TV productions
Walk in the footsteps of TV favourites
For TV and film fans, Calderdale is a dream destination. Not only can you trace the dramatic locations from Riot Women, but you’ll also spot settings from:
- Happy Valley
- Gentleman Jack
- Last Tango in Halifax
- To Walk Invisible
- A Gentleman in Moscow
- Marvel Superheroes
- The History Boys
- Ackley Bridge
- And many more (even appearances by The Beatles at Holdsworth House itself)!
Our Film & TV Location Page is a great place to start if you’d like more information.
Stay close to the action at Holdsworth House
After a day of exploring, return to Holdsworth House Hotel – itself a filming location, featured in Last Tango in Halifax and other TV shows. Relax in our historic manor, enjoy dinner in the award-winning restaurant or unwind with a treatment in the Farmhouse Treatment Rooms.
Whether you’re a lifelong Sally Wainwright fan or new to her work, Riot Women offers the perfect excuse to discover the landscapes, towns and stories of West Yorkshire.
Book your stay now and step into the real-life settings of Britain’s best-loved dramas.
Riot Women actor Lorraine Ashbourne’s husband, Andy Serkis (Gollum, Lord of the Rings), with Holdsworth House team members during the Riot Women cast’s stay.
