
Pretty English town away from the tourists that is known for its pub music festival and huge lagoon
BEER HAVEN Pretty English town away from the tourists that is known for its pub music festival and huge lagoon
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A PRETTY English town that only a handful of Brits know, is home to amazing pubs and a huge lagoon.
According to research conducted by Airbnb, only 15 per cent of Brits recognised the name Horbury - a small picturesque town located in West Yorkshire.
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Horbury is a great pick for gastro-tourists or those who love a 'pubcation'
Credit: Alamy
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For pubs, there is a variety to choose from including The Cherry Tree which even has an outdoor Beavertown Bar
Credit: Google
Horbury is a great pick for gastro-tourists or those who love a 'pubcation' - but away from more well-known locations.
The town is quickly becoming a hotspot for its vibrant pub scene and small-scale breweries, including the Luddite Brewing Co. at the Calder Vale Hotel, Boons, and The Bingley – a collaboration between two local breweries, Ossett Brewery & SALT.
Boons even has its own festival from July 4-6, with live music, real ales, cider and hot food.
Entry is free on the Friday, and over the weekend it costs £3 per wristband.
Alternatively, The Bingley is the perfect spot for some wildlife watching as it sits between two waterways - the Calder river and the Horbury and Hebble Navigation.
One visitors said: "We called in after a long canal towpath walk with our dog (yes the Bingley is very dog friendly).
"The Bingley has great outdoor seating overlooking the canal but as the day was drizzly and cold we went inside.
"The drinks selection is excellent with a wide choice of draught and real ales.
"Being a Ossett Brewery pub the real ales are all from this brewery and SALT brewery."
For pubs, there is a variety to choose from including The Cherry Tree which even has an outdoor Beavertown Bar, with exclusive drafts and special edition beers.
Pub With A 'Floating' Beer Garden By The Beach
After visiting The Cherry Tree, one visitor said: "Went for a few drinks in the cherry tree a couple of weeks ago."
"They had live music and the atmosphere had a good vibe, the singer was excellent.
"The staff are always very pleasant, it's definitely a happy pub."
The town of Horbury itself boasts a wealth of history, blending both tradition and modern elements.
One of the most charming things about the town is it's well-preserved architecture, which includes stone buildings, churches and quaint cottages.
The community in Horbury is also amazing, with many local events and markets often taking place.
Whilst there, you can explore the local shops, boutiques and businesses before heading off on a country walk around Horbury Lagoon.
Top 10 Northern towns to ditch the tourist trap, according to Airbnb Saltaire (Bradford) Haworth (Bradford) Halifax (West Yorkshire) Horbury (West Yorkshire) Clitheroe (Lancashire) Penistone (South Yorkshire) Ramsbottom (Greater Manchester) Saltburn-by-the-sea (North Yorkshire) Whitley Bay (Tyne & Wear) Whitehaven (Cumbria)
The lagoon stretches across five acres and can be fished in.
Developed from an old gravel pit, the lagoon boasts carp that weigh up to 20lbs, pike, tench and bream.
There are paths around the water, alongside the river Calder and dogs are allowed to enjoy a splash and run around.
One person has visited hundreds of pubs in the UK and claims if you visit only one boozer in the whole of the capital, there is one you should not miss.
Plus, a new map reveals every UK pub that's basking in sunshine right now.

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Owen enjoyed a relaxed walk down to a charming cafe beside the River Teme, relishing a coffee and sandwich in an outdoor seating area overlooking the water. Owen went on to share: "I then wandered to Broadgate, the sole surviving medieval gate, and in this area you can see some sections of the remaining town wall. "The whole place oozes history, and apparently there are almost 500 listed buildings in the town, with medieval and Georgian buildings in the centre. I'm not a huge shopper but did appreciate some of the shop windows and boutique stores. "You could easily stay longer, but my itinerary demanded I move on, and it was back in the car for hour long onwards journey to Hay-on-Wye." This stretch of the journey takes you back over the border into Cymru, with Hay-on-Wye positioned just within the Welsh boundary. The town houses another castle, tracing back to the Norman conquest and attempts to quell Welsh rebellions. Hay Castle was fortified in the 12th century, with a mansion being built in the 17th century. Despite being largely derelict at the start of the millennium, the site has been transformed by the Hay Castle Trust and now operates as an arts and literature centre. "However, I was not here for the castle and parked up to explore some of the more than 20 bookshops in the town," said Owen. Hay-on-Wye is recognised as the 'World's First Book Town', its literary renaissance led by Richard Booth in the 1960s. He had discovered some libraries that were shutting down in America and travelled out there with some mates, where they packed up thousands of books and transported them home. He launched his own second-hand bookshop in the former fire station in 1961. This encouraged others, and soon books from around the globe were pouring into the growing collection of bookshops in the town. It is of course also now renowned for its annual Hay Festival. Owen said, "With so much choice, it is hard to decide where to start. "I went for instinct over any research and popped into one that, for no conscious reason, drew me in. You can then easily get lost in these places with narrow aisles and towering bookshelves. "I was not after anything specific, so it was very much a pick and see approach before something sparked. It was one of four bookshops I went into, and it was lovely to speak to a couple of the owners/staff and ask about recommendations. He continued: "I ended up with a book per shop before deciding to do something a bit different. After a day in my car or walking around towns I felt like a nature inspired pick-me-up and had heard about The Warren - a riverside spot for walking or wild swimming. "I had some gym shorts with me and decided to go and have a short dip, the cold water a tonic for a sore back from driving." Owen added: "After drying off, it was back to the town centre for a quick coffee. Sitting there as the evening drew in and a further couple of hours of driving ahead I thought about my big mistake. "I really should have booked a night - ideally with other people/ person. "There was a lovely atmosphere in the town, and finishing off the day with some food and a few drinks would have rounded off a fascinating day. This is, though, a very good excuse to come back.".