Shipley Glen Tramway
📍 Prod Lane, Baildon, Shipley, West Yorkshire, BD17 5BN
About Shipley Glen Tramway
Description
The Shipley Glen Cable Tramway is the oldest working cable tramway in Great Britain. Dating from 1895, it was built to transport passengers to the local beauty spot of Shipley Glen near Saltaire, the World Heritage Site. At nearly a quarter of a mile long, the gentle woodland ride provides a pleasant alternative to the steep path.
Just a short walk away from the top station you can find a café, pub and the Brackenhall Countryside Centre, plus the rocks and woodland of Shipley Glen. The bottom station is located just a short walk through Saltaire's famous Robert's Park, close to the River Aire, the Waterbus on the Canal, and the superb Salt's Mill and its famous Hockney Gallery.
This is an excellent starting point for walks, long and short, across moorland and rural areas with history stretching back at least 4000 years.
The Tramway is open on Saturday and Sunday afternoons between 12 pm and 4.30 pm, except January and February when it only opens on Sundays. There is a small museum at the bottom station where there are well informed staff, who can discuss the history of the tramway and the moors beyond and especially the massive and unique (but sadly no longer in existence) Victorian/Edwardian Fairgrounds for which the tramway was built.
There is an Edwardian Sweet Shop at the top station where, loose sweets are sold from traditional glass jars and the volunteers run a number of special events during the year. Check the website for details of events and opening times. www.shipleyglentramway.co.uk
The tramway opens at other times by appointment, for school and other groups.
Location
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📍 Prod Lane, Baildon, Shipley, West Yorkshire, BD17 5BN
from 529 reviews
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Showing 5 of 529 reviews from Google Maps.Last updated 7 February 2026.
What a wonderful place!, staff were so friendly and helpful, the ride up and down was fabulous, and the price even better, parking just outside was easy, and what a wonderful gift shop!. A must for every funicular lover!
What a great attraction, the volunteers that run this place should be proud as punch. All very friendly and professional, very inexpensive. Well done all involved.
Unfortunately it was closed for a Monday but used it before and is a historic way to climb the hill. Well kept path to the side for an alternative way to the top🙂👍.
This is our country at its best. Volunteers running a beautiful tramway for the pleasure and enjoyment of others. It’s not brash, expensive, commercial. It is a small friendly enterprise that I am sure gives huge pleasure to many people. I loved it. It was a few minutes each way of the joy of nature and the bluntest running it were super lovely.
This was a fantastic attraction to ride, with cheap journey tickets and staff readily available to buy them! The tram is pulled up a glorious route driverless through the trees which has Christmas lights during winter, accompanied by decorations like a vintage wheelbarrow on the platforms. Last station has a mini exhibition showing the history of the tramway that was interesting, even shown with an old sign as the Tram Stop!