The Bingley Five Rise Locks are an impressive engineering feat and an iconic Yorkshire landmark. Located in the market town of Bingley, close to Bradford, West Yorkshire, it is the ideal place for a day trip within the region. You can even enjoy a quiet weekend in the area, enjoying the many local walks.
This guide will tell you more about the history of the Five Rise Locks, everything you need to know about visiting, plus additional ideas for things to do in Bingley on your visit.
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Bingley West Yorkshire
Before we delve into the Five Rise Locks, here’s a quick introduction to Bingley and how to get here.
Where is Bingley?
Bingley is a market town that falls under the wider metropolitan borough of Bradford in West Yorkshire. It is located to the northwest of Bradford city centre.
How far is Bingley from Bradford?
Bingley is located approximately five and a half miles northwest of Bradford. It is only a short 15-minute drive from Bradford city centre to Bingley.
Bingley is also easily accessible via train from Bradford Forster Square. The journey takes less than 20 minutes. Other direct trains also travel to Bingley from Leeds and Skipton.
The 662 bus service towards Bingley also departs Bradford Interchange every 20 minutes. This journey takes around 40 minutes.
What is Bingley famous for?
Bingley is known for the thermal underwear manufacturer Damart and you will pass their iconic factory on the way to the locks. But the town is best known for the ingenious Bingley Five Rise Locks.
Bingley Five Rise Locks
The Bingley Five Rise Locks are an impressive sight to behold. It is hard to fully grasp the scale of the locks without seeing them in person. Here is your guide to the history of the locks and how to find them.
What are the Bingley Five Rise Locks?
So what are the Bingley Five Rise Locks? The Five Rise Locks is a staircase lock on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
Bingley Five Rise Locks opened on the 21st March 1774 and was considered a huge engineering feat. The locks are the steepest of their kind in the UK.
As the name suggests, users are required to navigate six gates and five chambers to climb almost 60 feet from bottom to top. The lock is so notoriously difficult to navigate, a full-time lock keeper is employed to assist.
Bingley Five Rise Locks Parking
When you are visiting the Five Rise Locks, the easiest place to park is in the town. There are a number of pay and display car parks in the town to choose from. We have used both Main Street Car Park (BD16 2JJ) and Waterloo Road Car Park (BD16 2NB) which are both just a short walk away. Parking charges can be found here.
How do I get to Bingley Five Rise Locks?
If you have parked in the town centre or travelled to Bingley via public transport, it is just a short walk along the canal to the Five Rise Locks.
From the train station, turn right onto Park Road. Follow Park Road to the right as it crosses the railway lines, A650 and the canal. Carefully cross the road and follow the path that runs alongside the canal, next to some buildings.
Here, you will be able to spot the iconic Damart factory headquarters. This French company was founded in 1953 and specialised in thermal underwear and fashion items for the senior market.
You can continue the walk along the canal until you reach the Three Rise Locks. These locks were opened at the same time as their better know counterpart. Although not as large and steep as the Five Rise Locks, the Three Rise Locks are still an impressive sight and typically less crowded, making it a great spot for photos.
At the top of the Three Rise Locks you will need to cross to the other side of the canal and continue the walk with it on your right-hand side. The pleasant stroll follows a peaceful stretch beside the canal for a short distance until you reach the impressive Five Rise Locks.
Make sure you follow the footpath right to the top of the locks for some impressive views!
Bingley Five Rise Locks Cafe
If you want to pause and enjoy the peace of the canal on a sunny day, you can grab a canalside seat at the Five Rise Locks Cafe.
This friendly, family-run business is located at the top of the locks on the right-hand side of the canal. They serve everything from a full English breakfast and bacon sandwiches, to cakes and tray bakes. It is a beautiful place to enjoy some lunch.
Bingley Five Rise Locks Hotel
If you want to spend a leisurely weekend in Bingley but a narrowboat isn’t for you, you can stay at the Five Rise Locks Hotel. Located just a short walk from the locks, this namesake hotel plays host to guests and special events and is set to reopen in summer 2021 as restrictions are lifted.
Other things to do in Bingley
While you are visiting Bingley, you can make the most of your visit by exploring the town centre and some of the neighbouring attractions.
The town centre is home to a number of independent cafes, bars and shops. Within the Bingley Arts Centre you can enjoy theatre performances. You can also take a stroll through one of Bingley’s parks, Myrtle Park or Prince of Wales Park.
Bingley St Ives Estate
On the outskirts of Bingley, you will find the St Ives Estate. This 550-acre country park is a beautiful place for a woodland stroll. You can enjoy an invigorating circular walk that will take you from Bingley to the estate. It is a challenging walk however, so make sure you are prepared with sturdy walking boots and your hiking essentials.
Goit Stock Waterfall
If you want to discover one of the area’s best hidden gems, you need to visit the neighbouring town of Harden to see Goit Stock Waterfall. This pretty waterfall can be reached on foot in an hour from Bingley. Alternatively, it is a short ten-minute drive followed by a pleasant woodland stroll.
St David’s Ruin
Another nearby hidden gem in St David’s Ruin. This folly was built to look like ruins and, surrounded by enchanting woodland, it feels like it came straight from the pages of a fairytale. You can reach St David’s Ruin in just 5 minutes by car from Bingley, or enjoy a 30-minute walk. St David’s Ruin and Goit Stock can both be reached on foot easily if you park in Harden, it makes an ideal day trip from Bingley.
Saltaire
Just a short distance from Bingley is the model town of Saltaire. This pretty town is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It was designed by Sir Titus Salt and revolutionised the living conditions of Victorian mill workers in the region’s woollen industry.
Before you go
So if you’re ready to take a stroll along the Leeds Liverpool Canal and discover the Bingley Five Rise Locks, be sure to bookmark this page or pin it so you can revisit this guide!
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Until our next adventure,
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Hello, I’m Hannah! I’m a writer and photographer who loves experiencing the wonders of Yorkshire. My guides will help you escape from your daily routine by showing you that you don’t have to go far to find an adventure.
Hannah omg I love St David’s Ruin that really does look like a fairy tale! I can’t wait to see this someday! It is now on my list
St David’s Ruin is such an incredible spot! There are so many wonderful hidden gems around Bingley that are worth exploring on your visit!
I was sold at first sight with the stunning photograph from the bottom the the locks. I can imagine being entertained for hours watching boats navigate each step. And to think it dates from 1774. Incredible. Thank you for such an interesting post.
Thanks Anne! The Five Rise Locks are certainly an impressive sight to behold! I’d love to spend the day watching the canal boats pass through! It’s crazy to think it was first engineered so many years ago! What an incredible achievement!
Every walk is made better by discovering a waterfall! Great travel tips included in this post, Hannah.
Ah that is so true! There are lots of lovely hidden gems around Bingley, it’s an area well worth exploring!
Five Rise Locks sounds and looks like an amazing landmark. Bingley sounds like a great getaway . Love that Bingley is easily accessible by train or bus or car. Thanks for the great guide.
Bingley is definitely an underrated place to enjoy a weekend! There is so much to see and do and there are some beautiful walks in the area. it is well worth a visit!
Always excited to see another gem around Yorkshire. This looks like a unique site to explore, so definitely landed on my list of places to visit. Thank you for sharing.
Bingley Five Rise Locks is a lovely Yorkshire gem. It’s an impressive sight and the walk along the canal is beautiful. Thanks for reading!
Very cool! I love seeing such engineering and I’m sure it was a feat dating back to the 1700’s. I wonder how long it takes to do the 12-foot rise within each chamber? Would be amazing to go through there in a boat.
Bingley Five Rise Locks is such an impressive sight with a fascinating history! I believe it takes between 45 minutes to an hour to go up the lock and 20 to 30 minutes to come down which I think is pretty impressive! I’d love to ride a boat through the locks, that would be an incredible experience!
I can’t count the number of times I’ve been through Bingley on the train on the way to Leeds, but I’ve never actually stopped off there. You’re right, this is definitely an impressive thing to see. I’ve seen locks before but not like this. Maybe next time I should actually get off the train at some of these places
Bingley is a place that is easily overlooked but it is well worth a visit when you are in the area! There are some lovely things to see and do and the locks are incredible!
This looks like such an enjoyable day trip! I would love to check out the locks. I live in Seattle and watching boats move through the locks here is fascinating. Seeing these narrow staircase locks with such a rich history would be a real treat! Everything else in the area looks delightful! Thanks for an interesting post.
Ah I love Seattle! I’ve visited a lot with work, it is such a beautiful city and I agree, watching the boats sail by is so relaxing! Bingley is such a charming town and the Five Rise Locks are an impressive sight to behold! I hope you get an opportunity to see them in person!
Wow such an incredible place, I didn’t know it existed! Thank you so much for sharing this detailed post.
It’s a fascinating place, isn’t it? It’s a great gem in Bingley but not many people outside the local area know about it. I’m so glad you like the guide and were able to discover it. Thanks so much for reading!
Five rise locks looks like an interesting and lovely spot, with plenty to do nearby.
It is a great place to visit and Bingley is a lovely area! Thanks for reading!
Narrow boats are such a unique thing to me (US!) These locks look interesting!
Haha I know what you mean! I find narrow boars such a novel idea! It is nice to be able to see them but I don’t think I’d be able to navigate the lock! I would like to take a ride in a narrow boat at some point though!
I’ve done a lot of locks tours before but none looked like this! Will have to hunt this down.
It’s definitely one of a kind isn’t it! It is well worth seeking out, it is an impressive sight!
It’s funny, I am so used to seeing locks and canals in the UK, but you are right, they really are an engineering marvel. I really LOVE the views from the top of the five locks…and then all those colourful canal boats.
It’s still quite novel to me living near a canal, we didn’t really have any where I grew up and they’re definitely a fascinating creation! The view from the top is incredible! It’s such a fun and unique sight to see!
Enjoyed your post! I love locks. and have been to few in Scotland and and taken a ride in it to get to the other canal at a different level. It’s so much fun and such clever engineering feats! I will visit this place when I am in Yorkshire next. 🙂
Locks are so clever, aren’t they? I’ve never ridden through one but I’d love to experience it sometime! Bingley Five Rise Locks is an impressive sight, I hope you get a chance to visit and see it in person!
What a neat lock system! I’ve seen one in Scotland and the large Panama Canal but didn’t know there was one so steep and multiple steps. I find it fascinating how someone designed this concept and could spend forever watching boats pass! Nice that they have a cafe there for a snack while viewing it!
It is impressive just how many steps the boats rise at the Five Rise Locks! Sitting at the cafe, watching the boats pass sounds like a relaxing day indeed!
There’s so much to explore in the UK! I’ve never heard of this specific town but it looks quite nice and impressive! Thanks for sharing *w*
There are so many hidden gems in the UK to uncover! Bingley is a lovely spot and the Five Rise Locks are incredible. It’s a lovely place to explore when you’re in the area!
I love walking around the water. I used to walk a lot along canals when I lived in London. I am bookmarking your post for when I am next in West Yorkshire. I also liked your post on St David’s ruin which sounds like an interesting place too.
Walking by water is so peaceful, isn’t it? And St David’s Ruin is really close to Bingley Five Rise Locks so you could easily explore both on the same day! I hope you’re able to visit them both soon!
Bingley looks like a vintage English town. The waterfall and the St. David ruins look absolutely stunning. Thanks for sharing this lovely guide, Hannah
It is a beautiful area with so much to see and do. I hope you get an opportunity to visit!
Never heard of it, but it looks really interesting. Thank you for sharing this guide.
It’s such a fascinating place and well worth a visit! Thanks for reading!
Thanks for this guide! It looks like a cool place to explore (and that waterfall is super pretty too–I love waterfalls)!
It is a really interesting place! And Goit Stock is a beautiful waterfall. They’re very close and you could easily tie them into a day visit!
From your blog I’ve learned so much about England that I had no idea about before. My bf spent a few years living in Liverpool and he always said his favorite country for nature and exploring is England. I was puzzled, have only bee to London and Aimesbury, but I am started to really understand why. So many unexpected things to see and experience 🙂
I’m so glad you’ve been able to discover another side to England through my posts! London is awesome but the rest of the UK is very different! I hope you get an opportunity to visit again and explore some other parts of the country, you’d love it! Thanks for reading!