Huddersfield

The rivers around the town provided soft water required for textile treatment in large weaving sheds; this made it a prominent mill town with an economic boom in the early part of the Victorian era Industrial Revolution. The town centre has much neoclassical Victorian architecture; an example is its railway station, a Grade I listed building described by John Betjeman as "the most splendid station façade in England." It won the Europa Nostra award for architecture.

The town hosts the University of Huddersfield and three colleges: Greenhead College, Kirklees College and Huddersfield New College. It is the birthplace of rugby league with the local team, Huddersfield Giants, playing in the Super League. It also has a professional football team, Huddersfield Town, that currently competes in the EFL League One, as well as two Rugby Union clubs: Huddersfield R.U.F.C. and Huddersfield YM RUFC. Notable people include Labour former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson and film star James Mason.