Bradford

Welcome to Bradford  

Bradford is a very underrated city that is full of surprises.  Recently titled a UNESCO City of Film, Bradford is a thriving cultural destination with a packed events calendar, award winning museums and galleries and impressive theatres including the Alhambra Theatre and St Georges Hall.  

Things to do in and around Bradford
The many beautiful Victorian buildings found throughout the city illustrate the city's impressive past and include the area known as Little Germany and the Wool Exchange. Also not to be missed is Bradford Cathedral the city's place of worship for centuries, an oasis of calm in the city centre. 

The surrounding area of Bradford also has a lot to offer including the UNESCO World Heritage Site Saltaire, a perfectly preserved Victorian village home to Salts Mill, and the David Hockney gallery.

Nearby is the the former spa town of Ilkley, an elegant town set in the Yorkshire Dales, a perfect base for those who enjoy walking.  Beautiful countryside, rolling hills and open moorland make walking in Yorkshire an enjoyable experience. Bradford district is one of Yorkshire's most picturesque regions and there are walking routes for all abilities. Magnificent countryside can also be enjoyed near the village of Haworth, the former home of the Brontës and the Brontë Parsonage Museum.Steam trains, stately homes and transport museums are just some of Brontë Country must-sees.

Evenings out in Bradford
Considered to be the jewel in Bradford crown the magnificent Alhambra Theatre offers the best in West End shows, ballet, musicals, dramas and the annual pantomime. If that’s not your sort of thing you could become a film buff watch the best in world cinema at the three excellent film festivals in Bradford, which include Bradford Film Festival (March), Bite the Mango (September) and the Bradford Animation Festival (November).

If you are planning on making it a late one then Bradford’s West End is the place to be with a variety of bars, restaurants and clubs. The new Centenary Square development has brought some excellent restaurants to Bradford city centre. If curry is your thing then Bradford has some of the best Asian restaurants in Yorkshire. Mumtaz, Zouk Tea Bar and Grill and Kiplings are just three of Bradford's award-winning curry houses. The West End is the cities liveliest quarter and is the place to be on a night out in Bradford.

Shopping in Bradford
Shop for all things vintage in Saltaire. Saltaire has lots of interesting independent shops, including the popular House of Rose & Brown full of vintage clothing, jewellery, accessories, furniture and collectables. Look out for the regular vintage fairs held in nearby Victoria Hall.

If vintage isn’t your thing shop at the UK's largest Asian department store, Bombay Stores is the UK's largest Asian department store. Luxurious fabrics, Asian fashions, shoes, jewellery, large haberdashery and restaurant make this a day out in itself.

Shopping in Bradford is far from the norm and is a delightful change to the usual high street shops you see in most cities, if you delve in deep enough you are bound to find a world of treasures.

Fascinating Fact
The Independent Labour Party was formed in Bradford in 1893 after a strike at Manningham Mills.

For hotels in Bradford click here