Museums in Bradford
Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities EditorBradford gained its status as a UNESCO world heritage site for film this decade and has gone from strength to strength since then. Although there are a varied collection of museums in Bradford, the jewel in the city’s crown, is definitely the National Science and Media museum. It was the first place in the UK to open IMAX and Panoramic cinema screens, it was the first place to open a live broadcasting studio in a museum and it’s now moving forward to incorporate the history of video games as well.
The Industrial Museum in Bradford is unlike others in the North, as it highlights the importance of how the industrialisation and the need for a larger workforce lead to the diverse cultural landscape of Bradford as a city today. These stories are represented through archive, demonstrated through machinery and responded to by contemporary artists working in Bradford today, helping us all to feel connected to our past. In a similar vein, the Police Museum is a fascinating journey through Law and Order over the past century. You can visit the Victorian cells or court and see the ornate batons of 19th century bobbies.
Another Victorian gem is Cliffe Castle: this old manor house has been preserved and expanded with exhibitions of Natural History, Minerals and Molecules, and of course the outrageously lavish collection of art from the home’s former resident Henry Isaac Butterfield. With the surrounding park and an extensive playground, it’s a great day out for the whole family.
Although it’s the smallest of the Museums in our guide, The Peace Museum should not be underestimated. The collection of peaceful objects here each link to a time and place where someone has taken action towards a more peaceful world. Walking through the exhibits is a very powerful experience and will have you motivated to become more active in your peacemaking role in the world today.
Scroll down to find out more about our top picks of museums in Bradford.
