Bradford
Bradford is a cosmopolitan hub that's bursting with surprises. Known as the city of film, a centre of Victorian history and the curry capital of the UK, this culturally diverse destination has a vitality that grabs you by the collar and pulls you in. And it just keeps getting better.
IMAX, National Media Museum This amazing IMAX screen is 5 storeys high - one of the biggest cinema screens in the UK!
Bolling Hall, Bradford One of the oldest buildings in Bradford. Bolling Hall is situated just a mile from the city centre.
left
right
Local Secrets...
The secret of clean wool
Yorkshire has plentiful supplies of soft water, which was needed in the cleaning of raw wool during the peak of the industrial revolution.
Bradford?
It was the ford over the wide Bradford Beck which gave the city its name. In the city centre the beck is now entirely underground.
Secret 3
If you enjoy a pint or two, Whitby is a great place to have a pub crawl thanks to all the friendly publicans. Cheers!
The legacy lives on
Located in the heart of Brontë Country, you can't help but be impressed by Bradford's industrial legacy. Spectacular Victorian mills rise up and speak of the city's heritage as an international trading centre - the historic Wool Exchange being a wonderful example of its rich and influential past. How apt that Bradford Cathedral still stands as an oasis of calm in this thriving city.
Film, food and fun
Today's Bradford is a successful fusion of old and new, and eastern and western; where original buildings play host to an exciting modern culture. As well as being a UNESCO City of Film with Yorkshire's only IMAX cinema, Bradford proudly boasts a wide collection of galleries and theatres. And no visit to this impressive city is complete without sampling the delights of its famous curry houses.
Bustling city to beautiful countryside
If you want a day away from the city centre bustle, you'll find beautiful towns, villages and countryside just a stone's throw away. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is Saltaire, treat yourself in the elegant spa town of Ilkley and be immersed in the world of the Brontë sisters in Haworth. With a wealth of hotels, cottages and B&Bs on offer, the whole of Brontë Country is on your doorstep.
A local beauty spot
There's something for everyone on a day out to Shipley Glen and it starts with a ride on the Shipley Glen Cable Tramway. Built in 1895, this authentic Victorian funicular takes visitors up and down the beautiful wooded hill every 3 minutes. Then hop off and head over to nearby Bracken Hall Countryside Centre. This is a wildlife haven, with colourful interactive exhibits that reveal the wonderful world of badgers, frogs and bats.
Let Bradford entertain you
As you'd expect from the city of film, Bradford has an enviable events diary. So while you're here, grab a piece of the action at one of its cinemas or theatres. As well as hosting the renowned Bradford Film Festival, the city is home to the National Media Museum with Yorkshire's only IMAX cinema. And for large scale entertainment of a different kind, The Alhambra Theatre has musicals, dramas and Yorkshire's biggest panto.
Haworth and Saltaire by steam
Why not jump aboard the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and take a steam train to some of Bradford District's treasures. Hop off at Saltaire World Heritage Site and visit this Victorian industrial village created by mill owner, Titus Salt. Inside Salts Mill itself lies a feast of arts, crafts and local history, including one of the largest collections of work by the artist David Hockney. Then steam over to Haworth and explore the infamous Brontë Parsonage.
The curry capital
Love curry? Got a taste for tandoori, balti and korma? Then get ready to sample the real McCoy in one of Bradford's famous curry houses - it's not known as England's Curry Capital for nothing. You'll find award winning restaurants in and around the city, from café-style favourites like Prashad and Lahore Café Bar, to impressive dining experiences in Mumtaz and Aagrah.
Italian coffee and Yorkshire ale
Bradford's diverse and colourful culture means you'll find food from all corners of the globe. And its watering holes are no exception! There's Costa and Starbucks for a mid-morning caffeine boost and for a pre-dinner aperitif, you'll find trendy stools a-plenty in its many cosmopolitan bars. But if it's a real Yorkshire pub you're after, then it's got to be Fanny's Ale & Cider House in Saltaire or Bar T'at in Ilkley.
A taste to take away
If you'd like to take a taste of Yorkshire home with you, your taste buds will be spoilt for choice. There are wonderful farmers' markets and farm shops both in Bradford itself and villages like Saltaire so you can stock your boot full of the freshest local fruit and veg. You'll also find Mumtaz's mouth-watering Asian products on sale in many independent stores (and of course the restaurant's own shop too!).
Wild times at the farm
There will be 'ooohs and aaahs' and 'mooos and baaas' 'til the cows come home on a day out at St Leonard's Farm Park in Esholt. Friendly farmer James invites you and your family to come and feed the animals, play in the Fun Barn and relax in the 16th Century tearoom. But that's not before the kids have got carried away on the tractor and trailer rides and the pony and trap rides. It's all wildly good fun.
A media extravaganza
The National Media Museum has so much going on, it's hard to know where to start. But if you love film, photography, TV, radio or gaming, it's best to jump right in. Kids can play with light and colour in the Magic Factory, get gaming in the Games Lounge and watch favourite TV moments in TV Heaven. But the star of the show has to be the IMAX cinema - showing jaw-dropping 3D short films and movies.
A greener life
You might be surprised to discover that Bradford is also a city of parks and green spaces. So if the weather's glorious, why not enjoy some fresh Yorkshire air out at Lister Park. As well as its formal Mughal Water Gardens, there's a boating lake, children's play area and even the Cartwright Hall Art Gallery. And if you're really in the mood for adventure, why not introduce the little ones to the tranquil landscape and limestone pathways of the great Yorkshire Dales.
A rich architectural legacy
As you wander around Bradford city centre, you can't help but notice there are beautiful old buildings at every turn. And where better to start than 500 year old Bradford Cathedral, situated on the edge of the city's historical heart. A few steps more and you'll reach Little Germany, named after the 19th Century European merchants who came here. And there's more Victorian architecture to admire in the form of the Grade I listed Wool Exchange.
A more privileged history
If you'd like to spend a little time exploring a different side of Bradford, then go to Bolling Hall. Just a mile outside the city centre, here you'll discover the lives and times of the Bradford families who called it home for over 500 years. Every nook and cranny is packed with history through the centuries, including Cromwell's Death Mask. But can you spot the White Lady in the Ghost Room?
Museums of peace and industry
Back in the city centre sit a wealth of museums, containing different snapshots of Bradford's colourful history. The Peace Museum is unique to the UK and, as the name suggests, charts non-violence and conflict resolution. Bradford Industrial Museum has innovative displays of textile machinery, steam power and engineering. And why not combine a day out in pretty Ilkley with a visit to the Manor House Art Gallery and Museum.
High Street essentials
For some retail therapy of the High Street kind, you'll find all your favourites at the indoor Kirkgate Centre or outdoors at the Forster Square Retail Park. From fashion and sports to those bathroom cabinet essentials, there are plenty of bargains to be found as you mooch between stores, departments and coffee shops.
Independent boutiques galore
If you're looking for something a little bit different, then there's a wealth of exciting independent shops to tickle your fancy. Home to some of the best Asian shops in the country, you'll find yourself surrounded by all the beautiful fabrics, sparkling jewellery and pretty shoes you could wish for. You simply can't afford to miss out on the treasures in the vibrant quarter known as the World Mile.
From vintage jewellery to juicers
Beyond Bradford's centre, tucked away in the surrounding towns and villages, there are even more boutique and vintage finds to be had. Ilkley is wonderful for extra special gifts, Haworth Main Street is a treasure trove of antiques and old fashioned sweets and Saltaire's Salts Mill has the most delectable homeware section. If you never thought you could get excited about cutlery, think again.
Popular
The Alhambra Theatre
With a capacity of 1,400 seats, this is a wonderful theatre and often recieves visits from major touring companies including The Northern Ballet Theatre and The Royal Shakespeare Company.
Beckfoot, Bingley
This secluded little hamlet is well worth a visit. The packhorse bridge and quaint cottages make for a surprising find so close to the busy city of Bradford.
A taste of Asia
Don’t leave England’s Curry Capital 2011 without dining at one of its award winning curry houses.
Need somewhere to stay?
