Attractions in Bradford
Polly Checkland HardingBradford is a northern city home to venues with real cultural clout, with the attractions at its neighbouring locations Ilkley and Saltaire also a big draw to the area. Bradford itself was designated as the world’s first UNESCO City of Film in recognition of the rich film heritage, evocative movie locations and the plethora of film festivals and events here. Ranked as a world centre for film, Bradford is home to the National Science and Media Museum, which was the first in the UK to open an IMAX and panoramic cinema screen, as well as a live broadcast studio in the museum itself.
Visual art is another strength in the city – perhaps no surprise when Bradford’s alumnus include David Hockney, photographer Ian Beesley and multidisciplinary artist Shanaz Gulzar. The city’s Impressions Gallery was instrumental in repositioning photography as a serious art form, Cliffe Castle Museum, the former home of Victorian millionaire and textile manufacturer Henry Isaac Butterfield, holds a lavish art collection, and Fuse Art Space holds the candle for interdisciplinary and mixed medium artists.
Bradford’s music and theatre scene is not to be out done, however. This is the city where Bowie played St George’s Hall, the birthplace of playwright and novelist J. B. Priestley and now a significant producing hub. Head to the monumental Alhambra Theatre for landmark touring shows, or to Theatre in the Mill for Edinburgh Fringe previews and experimental productions.
For more information on all of these venues, and Bradford’s other stand-out attractions, as well as things to do in Ilkley and Saltaire, read on.
