Yorkshire Residents Take Wuthering Heights Hype in Stride as Film Tourism Surges
With the cinematic release of Emerald Fennell's new adaptation of Wuthering Heights starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, the Yorkshire Dales national park is preparing for a significant influx of visitors. However, local residents appear remarkably unfazed by the impending attention.
Historic Connections and Commercial Opportunities
The four-mile trail from Haworth village to Top Withens in West Yorkshire has long attracted literary pilgrims seeking the landscape that inspired Emily Brontë's 1847 Gothic masterpiece. The rolling hills of brown bracken and hauntingly beautiful scenery have drawn visitors for generations.
"We're used to crowds," says Craig Verity, landlord at the Kings Arms pub in Haworth, located just steps from the Brontë Parsonage where the famous sisters were raised. The area has been capitalizing on its Brontë connections for decades, with establishments ranging from the Brontë Hotel to the more creatively named Brontë Balti restaurant.
Film Locations and Historical Exhibitions
The Brontë Parsonage Museum, which attracts approximately 75,000 visitors annually, expects increased numbers this year. A screening of the 1992 adaptation starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliet Binoche scheduled for February 12th has already sold out completely.
East Riddlesden Hall, a 17th-century National Trust property about five miles from Haworth, will host a special Lights, Camera, Brontë exhibition coinciding with the film's release. The exhibition will showcase historical artifacts including the "vast oak dresser" believed to have inspired furniture described in the novel's opening pages.
Sophie Fawcett, a senior marketing and communications officer with the National Trust, notes that documentation of the property's use in adaptations dates back to a January 1921 article in the Shipley Times and Express.
Cast Accommodations and Local Hospitality
During filming, the cast stayed at Simonstone Hall, a luxurious country house hotel in the Yorkshire Dales. Owner Jake Dinsdale describes the actors as "lovely people, and brilliantly undemanding," noting that Margot Robbie has since returned for a stay with her husband.
"They'd booked out all 20 rooms, but our restaurant remained open to the public," Dinsdale recalls. "The cast enjoyed gathering around the firepit to toast s'mores or sitting down for roast dinners and afternoon tea."
Despite the potential commercial opportunities, Dinsdale maintains a measured approach: "I won't be renaming any rooms as 'The Jacob Elordi Room' or 'The Heathcliff Room.' Commercial naffness isn't for us."
Tourism Infrastructure and Future Expectations
Tony Watson, head of economy and tourism for North Yorkshire council, expresses confidence in the area's ability to manage increased tourism. "The area has featured in so many films and series; we're experienced in managing that," he states.
Watson notes that post-pandemic trends already show more younger people exploring the county outdoors, a demographic likely to grow as the film showcases the region's natural beauty. "We'll have to wait until release to see if there's some iconic shot people want to replicate," he adds, mentioning prepared locations like Aysgarth Falls with established infrastructure.
Back at the Kings Arms, local resident Jack Greatrex reflects on the enduring legacy: "The Brontë sisters shaped this village for future generations, and for lovers of landscape and literature. This film could mean that they continue to do so."
Whatever the film's ultimate impact on tourism, Watson remains optimistic: "I'm the luckiest head of tourism imaginable—the film is going to do my job for me."
