Bradford became the world’s first UNESCO City of Film in 2009. The Bradford District combines urban and rural landscapes that have served as settings for numerous film and television productions. Film history sits alongside industrial heritage, literature and routes through open landscapes here – offering different ways to get to know the character of the region.
Film, Media and Technology
The National Science and Media Museum explores the science and culture of light and sound technologies and their impact on our lives. A striking technical landmark is its 52-foot-high IMAX screen, the largest in the region. At the Bradford Industrial Museum, different machines take centre stage: the permanent exhibitions cover textile machinery, steam power, engineering and motor vehicles. Staff and volunteers regularly demonstrate working machines there. You can encounter different facets of technology, from media and their effects to machines brought into operation for demonstrations.
Industrial Heritage and Designed Places
Saltaire is an exceptionally complete and well-preserved industrial village from the second half of the 19th century, with its original town plan intact. The village is also part of the European Route of Industrial Heritage. The Saltaire Village Heritage Trail takes in ten significant buildings and attractions, offering a themed way to explore this architectural heritage.
Little Germany offers a different perspective on historic architecture: its ensemble comprises 85 buildings constructed between 1855 and 1890, 55 of which are listed. In Bingley, the Bingley Five Rise Locks are a defining part of the canal heritage. The staircase lock is considered the steepest flight of locks in Great Britain and is a Grade I listed structure. These examples show different scales of heritage – from a preserved village plan and a cohesive ensemble of buildings to a single lock system.
Literature, Art and Urban Spaces
The Brontë Parsonage Museum houses the world’s largest and most significant collection of Brontë manuscripts, artworks, and household and personal items. The house was home to the Brontë family from 1820 to 1861. At Salts Mill, the 1853 Gallery on the ground floor features a permanent exhibition of works by David Hockney. Lister Park is home to Cartwright Hall, which opened as an art gallery in 1904 and displays works by Lowry, Warhol, Lichtenstein and Anish Kapoor. These connections to art and literature span a historic home and its collections, galleries and exhibitions.
Bradford City Park also combines an urban space with a striking structure: the Mirror Pool is the largest urban water feature in the United Kingdom. On a tour of the city, you can consider this public space alongside museums, galleries and architectural history; each theme offers a different perspective on Bradford.
Routes and Landscapes in the Bradford District
The Bradford District has more than 1,000 kilometres of urban and rural public routes for walking, horse riding and cycling. Two named routes give an idea of the different distances available: the Millennium Way is 45 miles long and lies entirely within the administrative boundary of the Metropolitan District of Bradford. Along the way, it offers views of woodland, moorland, streams, reservoirs and picturesque valleys. The Great Northern Railway Trail is 4.1 miles long and runs from Queensbury to Cullingworth. En route, it crosses the Grade II listed Hewenden Viaduct.
The natural landscape also includes the Bradford Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve, the first nature reserve of its kind in West Yorkshire. About 90 per cent of the area consists of British habitats given special conservation priority, including peat bogs, heathland and wetlands.
Getting Around and Regional Cuisine
Bradford has two important railway stations: Bradford Interchange and Bradford Forster Square. Dishes available in Bradford include Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Rogan Josh, Biryani, kebabs, Samosa Chaat and large naan breads. So, when planning your trip, you can choose from museums, heritage and landscapes, as well as ways to get around the city and local food.
Discover more destinations: Keighley, Ilkley, Haworth, Bradford, Bingley, Shipley, Sheffield, West Yorkshire.
For the main travel overview: Yorkshire And The Humber.
