The Brontes, Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre

Overview

Available languages

English

8 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Step back in time and discover the world of the Bronte sisters on this Bronte Tour! This captivating journey takes you through the life and works of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Bronte, three of the most famous writers in English literature. With a visit to the Parsonage where they lived, the Bronte museum, and other important landmarks, this tour provides an in-depth look into the world that shaped these incredible women. Expert guides will lead you through the Bronte's hometown and share fascinating stories and insights into their lives and works. Whether you're a fan of the Bronte sisters or simply a lover of English literature and history, the Bronte Tour is an experience you won't want to miss. So book your tour today and immerse yourself in the rich literary heritage of the Bronte sisters

Additional Info

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

The time of pickup from Oxenholme train station is timed to meet the first train heading towards Glasgow from London Euston on Mondays to Saturdays

The English Lake District weather can change quickly, even in the summer months. Please bring a waterproof coat with a hood in case of rain or windy weather

As there is a little walking involved on the tour, some uphill and on uneven or wet terrain, please wear suitable, comfortable shoes

No Children under the age of 7

Children must be accompanied by an adult

All passengers, including children of any age, must have a seat purchased for them

We will collect you from the departure point linked to your chosen option. Please do not change to a different departure point without informing us in advance as we don't automatically go to every departure point. If we don't know you have changed your departure point we may not pick you up for the tour!

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Relaxed and friendly small-group tour of no more than 6 guests

Comfortable minivans with air-conditioning, WiFi and charging points for most mobile devices

Regular photo / refreshment / comfort stops

Entry into The Bronte Parsonage and Museum is included in the price

Professional Guides share their expertise of all the fascinating facts and stories in English

Departure and return to convenient, centrally located meeting points

All entrance fees for locations on the itinerary are included

We do stop for lunch but the cost of the food and drink is not included

What To Expect

Wycoller Country Park

We start the day with a scenic drive through Cumbria, past the market town of Kirkby Lonsdale and into the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Our first stop is at the village of Cowan Bridge to see the buildings which were once the Clergy Daughter's School attended by four Brontë sisters, Maria, Elizabeth, Charlotte and Emily. The poor conditions and harsh regime caused a scandal at the time and although the sisters were withdrawn from the school, it was too late for Maria and Elizabeth who died shortly after returning home. The school was the inspiration for "Lowood" in Charlotte's novel, Jane Eyre, and she never forgot the harsh treatment and unhealthy conditions the she and her sisters endured there. Our drive continues amidst beautiful scenery into the County of Lancashire. Following in the footsteps of Charlotte Bronte, our next stop is at the tiny village of Wycoller with its ruinous hall, the model for Ferndean Manor in Jane Eyre. The village is full of character and atmosphere with two ancient bridges and a ford crossing Wycoller Beck. Your guide will show you around the Gothically romantic ruined hall and explain the history of this sleepy little village.

40 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Bronte Parsonage Museum

As we move through the towns and villages, your guide will put the surrounding countryside and the impact of the Industrial Revolution on the area into context. We see one of the local mills, a survivor from the time of the Brontë's, up close on the way to Ponden Hall. As our time is limited, we only have time to view the hall from the outside. It is famous for reputedly being the inspiration for Thrushcross Grange, the home of the Linton family, Edgar, Isabella, and Cathy, in Emily Brontë's novel Wuthering Heights. However, it does not match the description given in the novel and is closer in size and appearance to the farmhouse of Wuthering Heights itself. The Brontë biographer Winifred Gerin believed that Ponden Hall was the original of Wildfell Hall, the old mansion where Helen Graham, the protagonist of Anne Brontë's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, fled from her husband. Ponden shares certain architectural details with Wildfell: latticed windows, a central portico and date plaque above. We will let you decide for yourselves which sister described it in her novel. From here, our journey takes us across the brooding Pennine Moors, a bleak and beautiful place where the sisters would wander to escape the industrial fumes from the chimneys of nearby Keighley and the emotionally charged atmosphere of the Parsonage in Haworth. Although there is no evidence that the now ruined farmhouse on Top Withens was the inspiration for Heathcliff's dwelling, locals and the Brontë Society say Emily was most likely thinking of its moorland setting when she wrote about Wuthering Heights. Describing it, she wrote: "One may guess the power of the north wind blowing over the edge, by the excessive slant of a few stunted firs at the end of the house; and by a range of gaunt thorns all stretching their limbs one way, as if craving alms of the sun." Pretty strong stuff when you are out there on those actual moors in the wind and the rain! Although we can experience the moors from the road, we don't have time to walk very far before moving on to our next, fascinating destination, The Brontë Parsonage Museum.

1 hour • Admission Included

Options

Oxenholme Departure 9:22am

Starting point:
Oxenholme, Kendal LA9, UK

Windermere Departure 9:00am

Starting point:
Windermere LA23, UK

Reviews

4.82

45 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

For Brontë-Fans a Must!
Birgit V,
Oct 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Brontë Tour - absolute fantastic! Very good guide, with profound knowledge of the writings and the lives of the Brontë Sisters. Took us to places related to their novels and shared with us a lot of Information. Small group! One of the best tours I‘ve done so far!!
Not to be trifled with - English lake tours
66paget,
Aug 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
Such great hopes my heroine Charlotte Brontës tour turned out to be an utter disaster; Like many I don't live in Windermere so booked the tour & train tickets plus hotel stay spending over £600.00 only to receive a cancellation text when I actually arrived in Windermere so less than 24hrs notice. Other clients cancelled so it wasn't economical to take 1 client, absolutely fine, but having a 24 hour cancellation policy impacts the other guests as they have no time to cancel their arrangements & recoup some of their monies so a lot of money was spent and lost unnecessarily- I was reimbursed for the tour £159.00 but lost a further £450.00 on hotel and train to Windermere, all because English lake tours have a ridiculous 24 Hour cancellation policy, great for the person cancelling but who cares about the other clients. Never again - my advice as Miss Fairfax cautioned Jane upon learning of her impending marriage to Rochester " I wished to put you on guard, all that glitters is not gold"folks stay at home - read Jane Eyre, Wuthering heights & Tenant of Widfell Hall or watch these classics on DVD because English lake tours are not to be trifled with.
alexisrH8947PT,
Jul 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Superb tour!!! Our guides, Gillian and Sandra, were welcoming, attentive, and clearly passionate about the Brontes!
Great day - full of facts
Henry B,
Jun 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Minibus arrived on time and both the guide and driver were very welcoming and knowledgeable. We spent a day travelling around the area were the Brontë sisters lived including a visit to the parsonage and the Brontë museum - I thought I knew a lot about the Brontes but I was amazed by the social history the guide explained which put all the novels into much clearer focus and context - I’m the Brontë lover and my husband came along to keep me company but we both thoroughly enjoyed the day - I absolutely recommend this tour!
A Day with the Brontes.
Leonie P,
Jun 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
This tour provided the context for the novels and poetry of the Bronte sisters. We visited places used by the Brontes in their writing. Our guide told us the stories of each location and explained how they influenced Emily, Charlotte and Anne. We visited their home, the moors and the church. I learned about the ghosts and superstitions of their day which increased my understanding of the Brontes. I thoroughly enjoyed the day with a small group. The guide was excellent in her narratives throughout the day. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who loves reading.
Cancelled without notice the day of the tour.
Margaret S,
Jun 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
1.00
They canceled the morning of the trip! No explanation. Even though I had communicated with someone at 8:30 pm the night before. Also, I couldn’t download the ticket.
Very Worthwhile Tour of the Countryside and History of the Brontë Sisters
Quest318944,
May 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This tour covered beautiful countryside and charming villages. Our tour guide, Jillian, was interesting and a wealth of information. In addition to learning about the Brontë sisters we gained so much knowledge regarding what life was like in that area of England during their era. The tour was fascinating and our tour guide was excellent.
The Bronte Sisters and the moors
O7104EXlesliel,
May 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We loved our English Lake District Tour with Gillian and Sandra. The roads were scary narrow but Sandra did an amazing job and kept us safe. We were fascinated by the Bronte family parsonage and its proximity to the graveyard. We saw one of Charlotte's dresses and lots of other memorabilia. Gillian brought the sisters lives to life and the hardships of living in that place during that time. She showed us places and told us stories that fleshed out the books they wrote.
A great day in Brontë country
memilyn2017,
Apr 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our guides were fun people with whom to spend a day in Brontë country! They took us to places that inspired passages in the Brontë novels, and they talked about life in northern England, too. They brought up English history as we drove through the countryside. We learned a lot, and had a lovely day.
Highly Recommend
Kara K,
Nov 28, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
I can’t highly recommend this tour enough. If you are a Bronte fan, It’s a must. Even if you have never read their books but have at least seen the movie adaptions and want to know more about the Brontes take this tour. The guide Gillian is very knowledgeable and Sandra is very wonderful driver. If you are worried about the price don’t just splurge by taking this tour it is worth every penny. They will take you to places you might not know about or are hard to find if you are doing it on your own. Taking this tour took out any stress of driving or navigation expectably for us Americans. My friend and I did 2 weeks traveling the UK and this was our favorite tour.