A Flying Visit To The Bradford District

Image by Tom Marshall

This May, a very special guest will be arriving in the Bradford district. One of the world’s most famous trains (rivalled perhaps only by the Orient Express and Thomas), the Flying Scotsman celebrates its centenary on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.  Join in by taking a ride behind the very first train to hit 100mph, snap photos of this engineering marvel, sit in the cab and enjoy all the other activities as part of the celebration.

Continue your exploration of the Bradford district by public transport and learn about Bradford's fascinating industrial, engineering and transport history and how it helped shape the city it is today.  

All these wonderful locations, as well as many other attractions in the district, are easily accessible by bus and train.

Discover Haworth and Brontë Country

Travel by bus through the stunning countryside on the Brontë Scenic Bus which boasts some of the best views of all England’s bus routes.

Ride on the Flying Scotsman and the other gleaming trains of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway to explore beautiful Brontë country, stopping at fascinating places like Haworth, Oxenhope and Keighley, which have featured in many period films, including The Railway Children. There’s plenty to discover in these areas with lots of great food and independent shops to explore, as well as easy access to the stunning moorland scenery.

Visit Rail Story in Ingrow to see artefacts from the age of steam. The museum hosts a fantastic collection of restored carriages, including those used in The Railway Children, as well as offering the chance for a rare look behind the scenes of the railway and see how the engines are repaired and maintained.

Discover Bradford

Bradford Interchange Station is one of two main stations serving Bradford, offering rail, bus and coach services.

Hop on the bus to the Bradford Industrial Museum

Just as steam powers the magnificent Flying Scotsman, it powers the mighty Victorian machinery of the textile industry at the Bradford Industrial Museum.  The museum’s amazing collection of these still-functioning machines is housed in a former mill alongside vintage vehicles and a variety of exhibitions which currently includes a display of photography by Maurice Broomfield which focuses on the legacy of the Industrial Revolution.

The Bradford Police Museum is home to a wonderful collection of police memorabilia ranging from the Victorian era through to modern times.  Visit on Fridays and Saturdays, to see the displays of uniforms, weapons and photographs from over the years, tour the cells and stand in the dock of the preserved Victorian courtroom.

Discover Saltaire

Saltaire Station is 4 miles north of Bradford and takes approximately 12 minutes from Bradford Forster Square.

While trains like the Flying Scotsman may have been the beginning of the decline of the canal network for the transportation of goods and passengers, the canals themselves like the Leeds-Liverpool Canal which runs through Bingley, Shipley and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Saltaire past Salts Mill, remain as beautiful and tranquil waterways to explore. Spend a day strolling the banks of the canal, discovering hidden gems like the Saltaire Brewery or the Hirst Wood Nature Reserve that lie along its route, and visiting the engineering marvel, the Bingley Five Rise Locks.

One of the main attractions of the UNESCO World Heritage village is Salts Mill, which is home to the impressive 1853 gallery, boutique shopping, and a number of cafés.

Head into Shipley on Sundays to ride the Shipley Glen Cable Tramway. This Victorian-era marvel dates back to 1895, when it was built to ferry folks to a leisure ground at the top of Shipley Glen. Nowadays the tramway offers a beautiful and scenic ride up to the glen where brilliant views await you and you can also visit the museum to learn more about the history of the line over the years.

Discover Ilkley

Take the train to Ilkley on the Wharfedale line. The station was built in 1865 during Ilkley's heyday as a spa town. Ilkley remains a popular destination for shopping, dining and sightseeing in beautiful countryside.

Relive your childhood and feel the nostalgia at the Ilkley Toy Museum. The collection includes a huge selection of toys, games dolls, a working fairground model and much more to give you a peek back at what children have played with and how toys have changed over the years. You’ll be eager to hug your childhood teddy bear when you get home.

People have been taking the plunge at White Wells Spa Cottage for hundreds of years. Even Charles Darwin is said to have "taken the water" there during his residence in Ilkley. The cold waters have long been purported to stimulate the circulation and after that you will be even happier with a nice cup of tea from the cafe!

Stay with us! There’s a great selection of accommodation in the Bradford district, perfect for extending your visit and giving you more time to explore the area.