8 Best Things To Do In Bradford, England

1. Bingley Five-Rise Locks

Bingley Five-Rise Locks is a staircase lock, on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal of Bingley. As the name infers, a vessel going through the lock is lifted or brought down in five phases. Bingley Five-Rise is the steepest flight of locks in the United Kingdom. The Five-Rise flaunts an ascent of 59 feet (18 metres) over a 320 feet (98 metres) distance!

As a matter of fact, the intermediate and bottom gates are the tallest in the nation! Stroll along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal towpath, which is a phenomenal site to observe the five locks. Visit the Five Rise Locks Cafe, with an expansive lunch menu and exceptionally pleasant ambience.

Bingley Five-Rise Locks

Address: Beck Ln, Bingley BD16 4DS, UK

Website: Bingley Five-Rise Locks

2. National Science and Media Museum

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The National Science and Media Museum was formerly known as the National Media Museum, until March 2017, and is a part of the National Science Museum Group. This historical centre features seven stories of displays with changing exhibits on photography, television, animation, video gaming, the internet and the logical standards behind light and colour. It additionally keeps a collection of more than 3.5 million pieces in its research facility.

The National Science and Media Museum contains three cinemas and features film events. Under its new name, the National Science and Media Museum will focus its attention on the science behind still and moving pictures.

The National Science and Media Museum

Address: Little Horton Ln, Bradford BD1 1NQ, UK

Website: National Science and Media Museum

3. Roberts Park (Shipley)

Roberts Park is an urban park, located in Baildon, West Yorkshire. This recreation centre is a necessary piece of the Saltaire World Heritage Site. In addition, Roberts Park is a Grade II Garden, recorded in the English Heritage’s Register of Gardens, along with winning the Green Flag Award.

Roberts Park is visited by 3,000 individuals every day, who stop by to meander through this wonderful garden. Moreover, the River Aire runs close by and there are some delightful structures and asylums, dabbled throughout. The wooden and iron benches are an absolute pleasure. Roberts Park is close to Victoria Hall, central Saltaire, shops and the must-visit mill.

Roberts Park

Address: Baildon, Shipley BD17 5RN, UK

Website: Roberts Park

4. Saltaire Village and Salts Mill (Shipley)

Saltaire is a Victorian model town, situated in Bradford, West Yorkshire. The Salts Mill is situated by the River Aire and the town is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an anchor point of the European Route of Industrial Heritage. Sir Titus Salt, an industrialist in the Yorkshire woollen industry, built Saltaire in 1851. Therefore, the name of the town is a blend of the creator’s surname and the name of the waterway.

This is a fascinating place to meander around. Likewise, the Salts Mill is an 18th-century textile mill, which is now a gallery, shopping mall and eatery complex. The Mill has been elegantly revamped and flaunts some astounding works by Hockney. Above all, the art and contents are beautifully exhibited.

Saltaire Village

Address: Saltaire BD18 3JS, UK

Website: Saltaire Village

5. Bradford Industrial Museum

The Bradford Industrial Museum was built in 1974, along with the Moorside Mills of Bradford, specializes in historical pieces from the printing and textile industry. This Mill symbolises the progressive industrial era of Bradford. Furthermore, you can visit the Horse Emporium in the old canteen, along with the shop in the mill. Bradford Council bought the mill in 1970, to use it as a historical centre.

Bradford Industrial Museum

Address: Moorside Mills, Moorside Rd, Bradford BD2 3HP, UK

Website: Bradford Industrial Museum

6. Alhambra Theatre

The Bradford Alhambra Theatre is named after the Alhambra royal residence in Granada, Spain. The theatre was constructed in 1913, thereafter bought by Bradford City Council, in 1964. In 1974, the theatre achieved a Grade II listing. The building is a notable historic point on the Bradford horizon, together with the arches and skyline of the Bradford Odeon.

The Alhambra Theatre was extensively renovated in 1986 and hosts the best entertainment events, from musicals, dance performances, live shows, dramas, to Yorkshire’s greatest panto. The theatre seats 1,400 individuals and is a prevalent choice for organisations like Disney, the Northern Ballet, the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, New Adventures and Cameron Mackintosh. Do visit this gem in Bradford’s crown, that displays a brilliant assortment of changed history.

Alhambra Theatre

Address: Morley St, Bradford BD7 1AJ, UK

Website: Alhambra Theatre

7. Cartwright Hall

Cartwright Hall is Bradford’s municipal art gallery, that offers an energising array of contemporary exhibits. The collections showcase 19th and 20th-century British craftsmanship, with global contemporary prints and South Asian works. Cartwright Hall re-opened its upper display, in partnership with Connect, in 2008. This showcase is a permanent display of art, by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Connect makes associations between historic gems from various societies and times. This transcultural idea connects over 200 eastern and western art displays in categories concerning People, Places and Imagination. It’s an interesting place to visit and experience the shifting culture of last few centuries.

Cartwright Hall

Address: Lister Park, Bradford BD9 4NS, UK

Website: Cartwright Hall

8. Lister Park

Lister Park is located outside the downtown area and is one of the city’s biggest attractions, given to the city of Bradford by Samuel Cunliffe Lister. The park has been effectively revamped, the lake has been re-opened for boats and a Mughal water garden has been developed. There are plenty of activities to keep you entertained here, some of which are tennis, basketball, bowling greens and a children’s play area.

In addition, Lister Park features the Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, with its perpetual and conventional craftsmanship, on display. Stroll along this exceptionally clean park and try the panini at the lakeside bistro.

Lister Park

Address: N Park Rd, Bradford BD9 4NR, UK

Website: Lister Park

Enjoy this UNESCO Film City

In Bradford, you can enjoy the historic heritage, traditional cuisine, and museums, as well as the natural reserves and parks. Stroll by the lakeside, stay in Saltaire Village and watch a theatrical performance in the Alhambra Theatre. By all accounts, you are sure to enjoy your stay in the rustic English city of Bradford.