Bradford is a city celebrated for its vibrant history and culture. With its impressive Gothic style City Hall and past as a 19th century hub for the global wool trade, Bradford has a rich architectural history that regularly sees it standing in for European cities in film and TV productions from around the world.
Today Bradford is home to diverse international communities, offering visitors a chance to experience different cultures, cuisines and customs. Bradford’s museums also offer a wealth of opportunities to learn about the past and present of Bradford, from the textile industry to contemporary art.
The fact that Bradford is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Saltaire) and was the first UNESCO City of Film speaks to its cultural significance on a global scale. Its vibrant cultural scene, including festivals, art exhibits, and live performances, ensures that there is always something exciting happening in the city.
Museums & Galleries | Myths & Legends | Hidden Gems | Food & Drink
Local Cultural Heroes
The Brontë Sisters
The sisters, Charlotte (1816–1855), Emily (1818–1848) and Anne (1820–1849), were born in Thornton and lived in Haworth. Book tickets for Brontë events at BLF 2025.
David Hockney
David Hockney was born in Bradford in 1937. He is the UK’s greatest living artist, constantly working and innovating. Book tickets for Hockney events at BLF 2025.
A.A. Dhand
A.A. Dhand was raised in Bradford. The history, diversity and darkness of the city inspired his Harry Virdee novels.
Frederick Delius
Born in Bradford in 1862, an influential composer who wrote music in a wide variety of genres, including chamber music, song and opera.
JB Priestley
Born and brought up in in Bradford, John Boynton Priestley was a highly successful and prolific English novelist, playwright, screenwriter and broadcaster.
Anita Rani
Bradford born and bred, award-winning presenter Anita Rani is one of the most recognisable faces on British TV.
Andrea Dunbar
Andrea Dunbar (1961-1990) was a Bradfordian playwright whose first play, The Arbor, was written at the age of 15.
Sally Anne Wainwright OBE
English television writer, producer, and director from nearby Sowerby Bridge. Created Gentleman Jack and Happy Valley.
Michael Hirst
Michael Hirst is a screenwriter and producer best known for Elizabeth, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, The Tudors and Vikings.
Museums & Galleries
Salts Mill & Hockney 1853 Gallery
Four comprehensive art galleries featuring over 400 works by David Hockney, set in a Grade II listed mill building in the UNESCO World Heritage Site village of Saltaire.
Science and Media Museum
The Science and Media Museum is due to reopen in January 2025, following a major transformation.
Brontë Parsonage Museum
The Brontë Parsonage Museum is a writer’s house museum maintained by the Brontë Society in honour of the Brontë sisters – Charlotte, Emily and Anne.
Cartwright Hall & Gallery
Cartwright Hall (Lister Park) opened as a gallery in 1904 and houses historic and modern works, including a collection by David Hockney.
Bradford Industrial Museum
Located in Eccleshill, the museum specialises in relics of local industry, especially printing and textile machinery, kept in working condition for regular demonstrations to the public.
The Bradford Police Museum
Discover the history and heritage of policing, criminal justice, civic enforcement and the development of crime and punishment in Bradford from the early 19th century onwards. City Hall Bradford.
Bolling Hall Museum
Located just one mile from Bradford city centre, Bolling Hall offers visitors a fascinating journey through 500 years of history, accurately furnished to reflect the lives and times of those who lived there.
Cliffe Castle Museum
Cliffe Castle, located in Keighley, was built in the 1880s and is home to Victorian rooms, paintings, and decorative arts, plus galleries specialising in natural history, archaeology and social history.
The Peace Museum
Recently relocated to a new home in Salts Mill, The Peace Museum explores the history and often untold stories of peace, peacemakers and social reform.
Impressions Gallery
Located in the heart of City Park, Impressions Gallery is an independent, not-for-profit gallery for contemporary photography.
Rail Story
Discover Yorkshire’s railway heritage at Rail Story (Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, Ingrow West Station). View a fantastic display of restored railway coaches and engines under repair, or take a journey on the Railway.
Hidden Gems
Waterstones Bradford
Waterstones Bradford – Britain’s most beautiful bookshop?
Hockney – A Portrait in Nails
Marcus Levine’s al fresco portrait of local legend David Hockney. Darley Street Market.
Artz-I Islamic Art & Gifts
Hidden gallery with unique pieces of art. Longside Lane.
Mustafa Mount
Beautiful space with a Mosque, contemplation area, organic café, and book shop. Emm Lane.
Kala Sangam
Multidisciplinary arts centre & cafe. Foster Court.
South Square, Thornton
Contemporary art studio and vegetarian cafe. Thornton village.
The Brontë Stones Walk
9-mile walk from Thornton to Haworth marked by stones representing each sister. Curated and delivered by BLF, and originated by writer Michael Stewart.
Food & Drink
Pizza Pieces, Market Street
The Exchange Craft Beer House, Market Street
The Record Café, North Parade
Plenty at the Square (Vegan and Vegetarian Cafe), Thornton
BrewDog Bradford, Great Horton Road
City Vaults, Hustlergate
House of Bread, Polish Bakery, Frizinghall
My Lahore Bradford, Great Horton Road
Sunbridge Wells, Aldermanbury BD1
Dandelion Café (Vegan), Saltaire
Salts Diner, Saltaire
Saltaire Brewery, Dockfield Road, Shipley
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