Pretty English ‘toffee town’ with fairytale tower and wedding cake building – home to Quality Street chocolates

WITH Christmas right around the corner, plenty of Brits will be stocking up on tubs of chocolate, but if you're looking for a Quality Street fix before December then head to West Yorkshire.

The town of Halifax is known as "toffee town," thanks to its ties to the very well-known chocolate brand.

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In 1890, John and Violet Mackintosh opened a sweet shop in the Yorkshire town, with their toffee recipe becoming a huge hit.

Their first Mackintosh factory burnt down in 1909 and a second one was built in Albion, where it still makes sweets today.

Then in 1936, the couple's son Harold Mackintosh invented Quality Street, changing the face of Christmas snacking forever.

Harold Mackintosh named Quality Street after J. M Barrie's play of the same name, with the company also inventing well-known chocolate bars Rolo and Toffee Crisp.

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Unlike Birmingham's Cadbury World, visitors can't take tours of the Quality Street factory.

But fortunately, you don't need to get a job at the factory to see how the chunks of chocolate are decorated in their shiny wrappers because is home to its very own Quality Street wrapping machine.

Set over four floors, Calderdale Industrial Museum is dedicated to showcasing all of the industrial heritage of the area and the machines that were used to do so.

The Quality Street machine is located on the museum's first floor, with a volunteer putting the piece of kit through its paces.

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Youtuber recorded the machine in action, with a volunteer placing chunks of chocolate inside before they're wrapped in gold foil.

One previous visitor t the museum said on TripAdvisor: "We explored the history of confectionary making, and a volunteer demonstrated a Quality Street wrapping machine (and gave us a free chocolate).

"There were volunteers present at all of the exhibits, and all were extremely knowledgeable and extremely interesting to talk to."

There are plenty of other pieces of machinery inside the Yorkshire-based museum too, including a textile machine that makes the covers for bus seats.

One person wrote on TripAdvisor: "This is the best museum we have been to because, unlike many other places, the people who volunteer here are knowledgeable, enthusiastic and proud of their history."

Calderdale Industrial Museum is open every Saturday from 10am until 4pm, with entry costing £7.50 for full-paying adults, with accompanied kids going free.

The historic market town rose to fame during the Industrial Revolution as a centre for wool trade, it's also known as the birthplace of the banking giant Halifax.

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In the mid-19th century, a small group set up an investment and loan society at the Old Cock Inn in Halifax, which is still there to this day.

Its rich heritage is reflected in its grand Victorian architecture and enduring cultural landmarks, including Piece Hall - a Grade I-listed Georgian building that's the oldest cloth hall in the world.

Standing at the heart of Halifax since 1779, the open-air courtyard is surrounded by independent shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. 

The Piece Hall is also home to its own fairytale tower, which stands at the back of the building.

Meanwhile, Halifax’s Town Hall has been compared to a wedding cake by visitors because of its tier-like structure and white stone facade.

Shibden Hall is another historic landmark in the town, with the half-timbered building originally dating back to the 15th century.

For over 300 years, the building was the home of the Lister family, with 19th century diarist Anne Lister considered its most famous resident.

Entry tickets cost £10 for a full-paying adult and £7.50 for a child.

Other attractions in Halifax include Eureka! The National Children's Museum, the award-winning museum is home to over 400 interactive exhibits designed for kids.

There's also Halifax Minster, Bankfield Museum and the Victoria Theatre where a range of plays, concerts and shows are held.

Halifax is home to the Victorian Craft Beer Cafe, an award-winning pub that opened in 2014 that serves a range of beers and ales.

Other restaurants in Halifax include Temujin, which serves Mongolian food, and Sapore, which is considered to be one of the town's best Italian restaurants.

Halifax is a 30-minute drive from Bradford, and it's an hour's drive from Manchester.

The Yorkshire town can also be reached on a direct train from York, where journeys take just under two hours.

Earlier this year, Halifax Bus Station was also named Transport Project of the year, with judges praising its design.

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