As the home of the Bronte sisters, the picturesque Yorkshire village of Haworth and the windswept moors that surround it have long been a place of pilgrimage for lovers of literature.
But now, after the release of the much-hyped Hollywood version of Wuthering Heights, a tidal wave of tourists has begun descending onto its tiny cobbled streets.
Despite mixed reviews, the bodice-ripping reinvention of Emily Bronte’s dark romance appears to be inspiring a new generation of fans – with a procession of social media influencers leading the charge.
Local traders told the Daily Mail how they are drawing up plans for an unprecedented influx of day-trippers and holidaymakers from around the world – which experts estimate will bring in well over one million visitors by the end of the summer.
Not everyone seems happy. There are mutterings of ‘overtourism’ while the village’s steep and narrow streets have long been plagued with parking chaos and traffic gridlock.
One local historian has also highlighted how some bewildered visitors have shown up assuming the village – which is home to 6,259 residents – is ‘not real’ believing it to be ‘some sort of Disneyland’.
So-called ‘set-jetters’ may be disappointed to find not one scene of the new blockbuster starring Australian actors Margot Robbie and Jason Elordi was shot in Haworth which sits eight miles from Bradford in West Yorkshire.
And there was no place in the movie for the ‘wily, windy moors’ that inspired Emily and her sisters Charlotte and Anne to write their classic novels.
As the home of the Bronte sisters, the picturesque Yorkshire village of Haworth and the windswept moors that surround it have long been a place of pilgrimage for lovers of literature. Pictured: Friends Rebecca Goult, Florence West and Beth Hickling-Moore take a selfie on Haworth’s Main Street on their visit from London
But now, after the release of the much-hyped Hollywood version of Wuthering Heights, a tidal wave of tourists (pictured) has begun descending onto its tiny cobbled streets
Despite mixed reviews, the bodice-ripping adaptation (pictured) of Emily Bronte’s dark romance appears to be inspiring a new generation of fans – with a procession of social media influencers leading the charge
Director Emerald Fennell instead used the wild landscapes of the North Yorkshire Dales as the backdrop for her portrayal of Heathcliff and Cathy’s tempestuous and doomed love affair.
Yet that doesn’t appear to have put anyone off. One of the first to arrive after the movie hit cinema screens over Valentine’s weekend was TikTok influencer Molly Roberts.
The fashion and beauty content creator had flown into London from Ireland for the premiere where she got to meet Robbie and other members of the cast – while trying to read the 1847 Gothic masterpiece for the first time.
Before heading off Molly, 28, told her 155,000 followers: ‘I have no idea who is who because they all have the same names and I am looking up the meaning of every other word and I have to listen to the audio book at the same time – but so excited for the movie.’
Molly went on to enjoy ‘a gorgeous day out’ in Haworth whose must-see attractions include the Bronte Parsonage Museum – the former home of the sisters which now holds the world’s largest collection of family manuscripts and personal items.
Even the local curry house in Haworth is called the Bronte Balti and by the end of the day Molly had visited a number of the village’s curiosity and gift shops.
As the ‘invasion’ began, shopkeepers told how they are welcoming their new visitors with open arms at a time when many businesses in the region are battling for survival amid Britain’s cost of living crisis.
Hayley Smith, who runs the artisan Riddle and Rind cheese shop in Haworth’s historic Main Street, told the Daily Mail: ‘We have been besieged by TikTok-era visitors. At one point, there were 30 or 40 up and down the street doing videos and asking questions.
‘People who have read the books will come anyway but when it starts going onto the silver screen it is like Harry Potter.
‘It has led to a tourism increase and I think it will in the future when people who have watched the film say ‘Oh yeah we will go to that place’.
‘Let’s just hope they don’t realise they did not film it here. They built a set up on the moors. I thought it was a bit strange. ‘
While Bronte purists may balk at Fennell’s raunchy and loosely-based interpretation of Bronte’s Gothic classic, Hayley, 55, insists the movie can only be ‘a good thing’.
She added: ‘There is a lot of conversation. There are two parties. Some people are open minded and want to see the film, knowing it’s not true to the original.
‘It is like a modern interpretation, Others have slated it because they are not wearing the period dresses.
‘But overall, it is good for Howarth because it is bringing people to the area – not just literary people.’
Jasmine Colgan, 23, of Writers Bloc Eat Drink and Dream bar, said: ‘It has led to an increase in tourism – including a lot of Americans and Chinese visitors.
Local traders told the Daily Mail how they are drawing up plans for an unprecedented influx of day-trippers and holidaymakers from around the world. Pictured: L-R Joanna Williams, her niece Freya and her daughter Esme-Rose on a visit to Haworth from Hull
Rather than filming on the West Yorkshire moors, where the book was set, director Emerald Fennell instead used the wild landscapes of the North Yorkshire Dales as the backdrop for her portrayal (pictured) of Heathcliff and Cathy’s tempestuous and doomed love affair
Regardless, experts estimate its popularity will bring in well over one million visitors to the Bronte sisters’ home village of Haworth (pictured) by the end of the summer
But not everyone seems happy. There are mutterings of ‘overtourism’ while the village’s steep and narrow streets have long been plagued with parking chaos and traffic gridlock. Pictured: Visitors on Haworth’s Main Street
One local historian has also highlighted how some bewildered visitors (pictured) have shown up assuming the village – which is home to 6,259 residents – is ‘not real’ believing it to be ‘some sort of Disneyland’
One of the first to arrive after the movie hit cinema screens over Valentine’s weekend was TikTok influencer Molly Roberts, whose must-see attractions include the Bronte Parsonage Museum (pictured), the former home of the Bronte sisters
Even the local curry house in Haworth is called the Bronte Balti (pictured) and by the end of the day Molly had visited a number of the village’s curiosity and gift shops
The village also boasts a business called The Original Bronte Stationary Store (pictured), on the site of a Victorian store where Charlotte Bronte, is said to have bought her writing paper and arranged to sell copies of Jane Eyre
As the ‘invasion’ began, shopkeepers told how they are welcoming their new visitors (pictured) with open arms at a time when many businesses in the region are battling for survival amid Britain’s cost of living crisis
Hayley Smith, who runs the artisan Riddle and Rind cheese shop in Haworth’s historic Main Street, told the Daily Mail: ‘We have been besieged by TikTok-era visitors’. Pictured: A campervan stationed in a car park in Haworth
Meanwhile, Jasmine Colgan, 23, of Writers Bloc Eat Drink and Dream bar, said: ‘It has led to an increase in tourism – including a lot of Americans and Chinese visitors’. Pictured: The Haworth village sign
Sian Alison, who owns a boutique shop on Main Street selling handcrafted jewellery and Italian leather handbags, told how the movie was ‘making a difference’ to local footfall. Pictured: Tourists on the village’s Main Street
‘A lot of people have come to do the walks. I am from Haworth. I live just down the street so I am local and can see it has brought a lot of people in.
‘Normally, January to March is the quietest period. A lot of shops normally close during the week.
‘But because of the film coming out we have got quite an influx of people. So some businesses have opened up earlier.
‘We are normally only open from Thursday to Sundays in winter but have opened up more because of the film and the school holidays.
‘Being called Writers Bloc, we have all the typewriters all over the place. We encourage people to write poems and pop them in the post box
‘We have had discussions about the film as well.’
Sian Alison, who owns a boutique shop on Main Street selling handcrafted jewellery and Italian leather handbags, told how the movie was ‘making a difference’.
She said: ‘The inspiration for the film was here.
‘A lot of people are coming in and talking about it. I have not seen it – I am going on Saturday.
‘They are calling it a classic film. There is quite a buzz about it, which is great. My husband does the local ghost walks. So we love it.’
Julia Swann, of The Original Bronte Stationary Store, said: ‘I have had a lot of people coming in asking about the Brontes and the film so it has had a very positive effect.
‘It seems to be a younger age group than usual. This one is causing a bit of a stir because it is a bit raunchy. It is definitely having an impact.’
The shop is on the site of a Victorian store where Charlotte Bronte, is said to have bought her writing paper and arranged to sell copies of Jane Eyre.
Graham Stephen, 60, of the Origin8 gift shop, told how fresh interest began to build up after Christmas – at a time when traditionally visitors to the village tail off.
He said: ‘New faces have been coming around to see the place. For us, it is mainly people from Europe and China.’
Sharon Dargue, 54, of the Spooks of Howarth magic shop, described last weekend as ‘incredibly busy’.
She said: ‘It was amazing.
‘We have got people asking about the film and being curious. So it is good.
‘It does not matter that none of it was filmed here. It is the association with the Brontes.’
Kira Terry, who runs the Modo & Co souvenir shop said she was looking forward to the boom continuing into summer.
Kira, 29, said: ‘I have noticed the customers coming in are staying around some more.
‘I have had customers come in who are staying and focused on the Bronte products. I know it has always been popular and there are quite a few holiday cottages.’
Meanwhile local resident Michelle Blackler, 50, was taking the influx in her stride.
Michelle said: ‘I am used to it. I’ve grown up with it and tend to avoid tourism like the plague. I keep myself to myself.’
Local tourist chiefs also welcomed the latest developments.
