Bradford is a northern city with real cultural clout. Its heritage is evident in the architecture of places like Little Germany and Saltaire, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Also worth checking out is the unique Bradford City Park, which features a Mirror Pool that boasts 100 fountains, including one that’s over 100ft tall.
1. Visit Forster Square Shopping Park
The Forster Square Shopping Park is home to an array of stores and restaurants. Here you’ll find all the high street brands you need, including Next and Asda Living.
The park also has a Poundland, which is five times bigger than the average charity shop. This makes it the largest store of its kind in Yorkshire.
For those looking for more culture, there’s the Cartwright Hall Art Gallery. Here you’ll find four permanent galleries and seasonal contemporary exhibitions. You can also visit the Impressions Gallery, which is instrumental in repositioning photography as a serious art form. There’s even the acclaimed Fuse Art Space, which hosts interdisciplinary artists.
2. Take a stroll through Lister Park
Located in Manningham, Bradford’s picturesque Lister Park is the perfect place for kids to burn off energy. The beautiful park features a boating lake, tennis courts and modern play areas for all to enjoy. It also houses the Cartwright Hall Art Gallery and has an impressive botanical garden.
Those interested in history will enjoy exploring Salts Mill, which was once a textile mill and is now an arts and entertainment complex. Visitors can explore the art galleries and shops selling stationery, books, jewellery and home decor from local businesses.
For more contemporary culture, check out Bradford’s National Science and Media Museum. This free museum takes you down memory lane with exhibitions on photography, television and videogames.
3. Visit the Bronte Parsonage Museum
Set against the backdrop of the Yorkshire moors, the Bronte Parsonage Museum is where you can see the home of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte. It houses a historic collection of the sisters’ jotters, drawings, paintings and clothes.
The museum also has the world’s largest collection of Bronte manuscripts which include early editions of their trail-blazing novels. It also hosts a series of literary events and exhibitions throughout the year.
Once you’re done exploring the museum, you can take a hike along the Bronte Trail to Peniston Hill Country Park, the Bronte Waterfall and even Top Withens – the location that inspired Wuthering Heights!
4. Check out the University of Bradford
The University of Bradford has a fantastic reputation internationally and offers a wide range of opportunities for students to excel in their chosen field. The university has partnerships with top-tier companies, provides invaluable work experience placements and sandwich years and also hosts a number of employability events.
Bradford’s student community is incredibly diverse and this is reflected in the university itself. The campus includes the student union and a variety of clubs and groups, as well as counselling services and other support for students. Students can also take advantage of the state-of-the-art facilities on offer, including the Unique Fitness and Lifestyle centre. The university is located at the Interchange and has bus services to other parts of town.
5. Enjoy a meal at one of Bradford’s many restaurants
Bradford might not be the first place you think of for a great night out but the town has had a recent renaissance and is home to many new bars, pubs and clubs. There are also a number of restaurants and cafes that serve up everything from sushi to British classics like fish and chips.
Shipley is a small town in Bradford that offers a combination of good cafes and independent shops, perfect for a day out with friends or family. It is also close to Saltaire, a Victorian model village that offers boutique shops and regular markets. The area is also famous for its wool industry and has a rich history of art and culture.
6. Visit the City Centre
The Bradford city centre has a lot to offer. From its amazing independent businesses and places of interest, it can be a great place to bond with the family during a day out.
Bradford Forster Square Railway Station serves the local area with rail service along the Leeds-Bradford line. The station is used by over 2 million passengers each year.
Northern-operated trains leave every half hour during the day to Leeds, Skipton, and Ilkley. Passengers needing connections to long-distance trains should make a change at Shipley. In addition to train service, the station also has parking available. It is open 7 days a week.
