-George-Wood.jpg "Little Germany (c) George Wood")
20 Great things to do in Bradford & district
National Science & Media Museum
The National Science & Media Museum is a must see when visiting Bradford. It is a mixture of historical collections and interactive galleries alongside an IMAX theatre and two cinemas. You can explore every aspect of the media world!
Eat some curry!
Bradford is the first city ever, to have been voted Curry Capital of Britain for six years in a row. The city has a well deserved reputation for Asian cuisine so a Bradford curry is a must when visiting.
Admire World Class Artists
Bradford is home to amazing pieces of art by renowned artists. From David Hockney in the 1853 Gallery at Salts Mill, to L.S Lowry and Andy Warhol at Cartwright Hall. Alternatively, Impressions Gallery is one of the leading independent venues for photography in the country.
Have a Brontë Experience
Discover locations and landscapes which inspired the Brontës. The ruins of the farmhouse Top Withens on Haworth Moor which are thought to have been the inspiration for Emily Brontë’s classic novel Wuthering Heights. The sisters home is now the Brontë Parsonage Museum, full of their original possessions.
See the real Saltaire
Learn more about Saltaire UNESCO World Heritage Site’s history on a highly entertaining and informative guided walk of the village lead by Maria Glot.
Cheers to Real Ale!
Enjoy a day exploring the real ale pubs using the Keighley and Worth Valley Ale Trail. Explore the area and sample a wide selection of locally brewed ales.
Shop at the UK’s largest Asian Store
Bombay Stores is the UK’s largest Asian department store. Luxurious fabrics, Asian fashions, shoes, jewellery, large haberdashery makes this a day out in itself.
Jump on board a steam train
The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway is an excellent way to travel through Brontë Country. Not only is it one of Yorkshire’s few remaining steam railways it’s a great day out. Look out for the many events that are held at the railway including the popular Beer and Music Festival and the Santa Trains.
Spend a night at the theatre
Considered to be the jewel in Bradford crown the magnificent Alhambra Theatre offers the best in West End shows, ballet, musicals, dramas and an annual pantomime. Bradford is also home to St George’s Hall, the oldest concert hall in Britain, which attracts all the top comedians.
Fantastic Festivals
The annual Ilkley Literature Festival attracts some of the best from the world of literature and entertainment. Alternatively, how about Bingley Music Live, set in the picturesque grounds of Myrtle Park, which has firmly established itself on the festival circuit and is probably one of the most affordable festivals in the UK.
On Ilkley Moor Baht 'at
Impressive views of Wharfedale and beyond can be admired from Ilkley Moor. The Moor is home to pre-historic rocks and is rich in wildlife and has a number of walking routes.
Enjoy Live Music
You can catch a diverse array of live bands. Glyde House is home to JATP Jazz Club & Topic Folk Club. In Saltaire, The Live Room presents live folk, roots and acoustic music at The Caroline Street Social.
Have a Michelin starred experience
The Michelin starred Box Tree in Ilkley is one of Yorkshire’s finest restaurants, and is situated in one of Ilkley’s oldest buildings. Go and treat yourself in these unique surroundings.
Feeling brave?
Then jump into the icy cold plunge pool at White Wells, Ilkley Moor. White Wells is home to 18th century plunge baths as well as a café. It’s open when the flags are flying!
Go underground
Explore Sunbrigewells a network of Victorian tunnels under the streets of Bradford, converted into an underground market of bars and shops. Three storeys of below-ground space full of history.
Admire breathtaking architecture
Bradford’s Victorian past is evident in the impressive buildings in Little Germany. German merchants built the imposing buildings to house their goods; many are now listed buildings.
Explore Undercliffe Cemetery
Undercliffe Cemetery is one of the finest Victorian Gothic cemeteries in the UK, full of obelisks, grand columns and statues of angels. Here you will find many of the notable inhabitants of Bradford along with veterans of famous conflicts such as Waterloo and the Crimea.
Watch the barges descend
Bingley Five-rise lock staircase is the most spectacular feature of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. This unique 5-rise staircase has a total fall of 60 feet and is the steepest lock staircase in Britain and a masterpiece of 18th century engineering.
