City guide to Bradford

Bradford is a large northern city, with a long andand Mumtaz Paan House is recommended by Good
documented history, and a population of almostFood Guide. Kipling's Indian restaurant was awarded
300,000 people.the 'Best in Britain Award' by a customer vote.
Numerous important historical buildings andChino Thai serves Chinese and Thai dishes in an
monuments, including mills and factories and one ofup-market environment, and offers seating for 100
only two World Heritage Sites in Yorkshire, make thepeople.
city a first choice of many history-seekers and thePubs/Bars
city never fails to reward the effort! Bradford is alsoCAMRA recommends numerous Bradford pubs in the
home to the most visited museum outside ofcity, and named The Junction 'Pub of the Year' in
London.2006. Other contenders were Haigy's and Fighting
The vibrant cultural life in Bradford, and award-winningCock.
restaurants, make the city an ideal destination for aBrewery Tap is a rock pub that presents live acts
relaxing evening out or weekend away; but the citytwo or three times each week, offers a free
also boasts a lively nightlife and music scene forjukebox and various drinks offers. Bradford's longest
those seeking entertainment a little moreserving music venue also comprises a poolroom and
adventurous!beer garden.
Like many other areas in the region, millions ofFubar is a cocktail bar and tapas restaurant, boasting
pounds are pouring in for regeneration and the citya vast selection of cocktails, wines, liqueurs and
offers an exciting up-and-coming feel.beers, with a chic and stylish interior that belie its low
Historyprices.
Bradford was granted city status at the end of theThe Sun Hotel is one of Bradford's most popular gay
nineteenth century, but its history is documentedbars, and features regular DJs, drag acts and pub
back to the thirteenth century. Bradford formed anquizzes. There is a lounge area, pool and games
important manufacturing area during the Industrialroom, secluded beer garden and rooms to rent
Revolution, but suffered the collapse of theupstairs.
manufacturing industry during the twentieth century.Nightclubs
There have been signs of improvement over the lastRio is a rock club and live music venue, one of many
twenty years, but the rate of unemploymentBradford nightclubs, open three nights a week and
remains below the national average.presenting a selection from 80s and punk to indie and
The National Media Museum is the most visitedgoth. Admission is free before 9:30pm and drinks are
museum outside of London, exploring developmentscheap.
in photography, film and television, and housing theRun by the owners of The Sun Hotel, Club Life is a
largest cinema screen in the world.very popular gay club, offering the best of sing-along
The Industrial Museum is based in an eighteenthclassics and 'cheesy pop'. Admission is free on
century mill, and houses artefacts exploring the area'sThursdays, and a variety of DJs perform on Fridays.
manufacturing past.Lingards is a house, speed garage and techno
The nineteenth century village of Saltaire was built tocomplex, comprising a pre-club bar, Ascension
house the local mill workforce, and is one of only twonightclub and Subterranea nightclub. There are club
World Heritage Sites in Yorkshire.nights at the complex twice a week.
Art GalleriesThe Love Apple is another complex; this one
Bradford has numerous galleries including Cartwrightcomprising a cafe, bar, nightclub and art exhibition
Hall with comprises four separate galleries, displayingspace. The club specialises in non-mainstream music,
British works of art from the nineteenth andand hosts live music performances.
twentieth centuries, and a selection of South AsianShopping
arts and crafts.The Kirkgate Shopping Centre is home to 65 shops
Salts Mill is a shopping and arts complex, located in aand a large market on its top floor. There are 550
converted Victorian mill in the village of Saltaire. Thereparking spaces, and the centre is easily accessible in
are four galleries in the complex, including Davidthe city centre. It is open every day.
Hockney Gallery, a gallery exploring the area'sThe Oastler Shopping Centre is a market in the city
heritage and a third displaying operatic costumes andcentre, comprising 80 stalls and shops and trading in
masks.fresh fish, meat, fruit and vegetables. There are also
The Manor House, in Ilkley, and the Arts Centre, incafes and markets. St James Wholesale Market is
Bingley, host a range of temporary exhibitions.located out of the city centre, and is the place to
Theatresfind exotic food produce.
The Alhambra Theatre is Bradford's sole large-scaleSalts Mill is a converted Victorian mill, now a shopping
theatre, and housed in an impressive Victorian building.and arts development. The development is home to
The theatre regularly hosts large-scale touringnumerous shops trading in unusual goods, a cafe, a
productions, including West End plays anddiner and four art galleries.
performances by the Royal Shakespeare Company.Sports
The Alhambra Studio is located next door, andThe Richard Dunn Sports Centre is the largest of
stages small-scale performances.forty leisure centres in the city, and comprises a
The Bradford Theatre-in-the-Mill is adjacent to the25-metre pool and leisure pool activities for children, a
university campus, and offers small-scale productions,gym, and a sauna, a solarium and squash courts. The
and drama and technical workshops.centre is open every day.
Theatres specialising in musicals and concerts includeThe city university offers an impressive range of
St George's Hall, The Tamsin Little Music Centre andsporting facilities over three venues. The Sports
The Little Priestley.Centre houses most of the facilities, the Laisteridge
RestaurantsLane site is home to squash, football and hockey
Amongst Bradford's award-winning restaurants iscourts/pitches, and the Woodhall Sports Ground
Weaver's. The restaurant comes highlyprovides sites for football, rugby and cricket.
recommended by Good Food Guide, AA, Michelin andThere are forty golf courses in Bradford; including
Hardens, and serves traditional and contemporaryQueensbury Golf Club, an 18-hole course with a
British cuisine.lounge and bar on-site.
Bradford's Curry Mile is home to more than twentyThere is also a branch of Hollywood Bowl in the city,
Indian and Asian-influenced restaurants, of which, Thecomprising 24 ten-pin bowling lanes.
Kashmir is widely regarded as the best by customers,