The City of Culture

This city has recently been named the UK’s city of culture 2025, and this is for multiple reasons. More than a thousand new performances and events are planned for the year, including 365 artist commissions, a series of major arts festivals, and intriguing national and international partnerships. Its themes will be steeped in Bradford’s distinct tradition and culture. The city also has a rich cultural heritage, from Charlotte Bronte to David Hockney and Zayn Malik, making Bradford significant to the art, literature and music scenes.

Bradford’s legendary Literature Festival

Bradford is also home to one of the country’s most welcoming and diverse festivals, Bradford Literature Festival. The festival is attended by over 70,000 people, proving just how admired it is. Bradford Literature Event is a year-round cultural outreach initiative as well as an annual festival. The festival is unique in the country for its wide and inventive approach to high quality arts and cultural programming, encompassing the finest of literature, music, theatre, cultural conversations, lectures, and family events.

The Home of the Bronte Sisters

Haworth is in Bradford district, it is a literary heaven, with visitors from all over the world flocking to see the home where the writers lived and walk along the old, cobbled streets. The Bronte Parsonage Museum, located in Haworth hamlet, is the former home of the Bronte sisters, whose writings include Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. This beautiful village is the perfect day out for literary lovers, or even people who love a picturesque place and a good café!

Britain’s Highest Water Fountain

Bradford City Park is a public park in the city centre. It contains a mirror pool which has the tallest fountain in any British city, spraying water 30 metres into the air. There are also over 100 smaller fountains, laser light projectors, and great speakers. A slightly elevated Y-shaped boardwalk runs across the middle of the mirror pool, allowing people to travel over the water in safety. Water play is encouraged, and the pavilion end of the pool has 40 low-powered play fountains. This is one of many things which differentiates Bradford from other cities.

Oldest Concert Hall still in use

St George’s Hall is one of the oldest concert halls in the United Kingdom that is still in use- making it one of Bradfords great historical landmarks! German Jewish wool merchants who had migrated to Bradford, because of the textile business, helped to fund and build St George’s Hall. This concert hall supports a wide range of operations, including famous comedians, family shows, enlightening discussions, and fantastic music performances. It also has excellent acoustics and welcomes orchestras from throughout the world.

First to Serve State Funded School Meals

Bradford council became the first local authority to provide free school meals to students. This dates to 1907, as Bradford had been a huge growth area during the Industrial Revolution. There were many concerns of poorer people being unable to serve in the war because of how underweight they were, which is why Bradford acted. Margaret McMillan petitioned for free school meals with her argument that it was useless to try to educate starving children. This decision (amongst others) made Bradford become recognised as the progressive city it is today.

The Curry Capital of Britain

Bradford has been known as the Curry Capital of Britain for six years, holding the crown from 2011 to 2016! The Bradford Curry Trail would be the perfect day (or couple of days) to visit Bradford’s 50+ Indian restaurants. A few of many favourite Indian restaurants are Omar Khan’s, MyLahore, Mumtaz and Prashad (which starred on Ramsay’s Best Restaurant in 2010). If you’re a curry lover and haven’t been to Bradford yet, this city is the place to go.

First UNESCO City of Film

Bradford is titled as the world’s first UNESCO City of Film! It is home to the National Science and Media Museum and is the country’s largest visitor destination, dedicated to photography, broadcast media, and the internet. Bradford received this title because of the city’s rich film legacy, inspiring film settings, and numerous celebrations through yearly film festivals. If you are visiting Bradford, check out the famous film settings and the National Science and Media Museum.

Home to the Largest Former Industrial Building

Bradford is famously known for the world’s largest former industrial building. Sir Titus Salt was the owner of the Salt Mill, which was erected in 1853. When it was finished, it was the world’s largest industrial building and remained in service until 1986, when it was closed. The building was later converted into a restaurant, art gallery and shopping complex, open to all tourists. The Salt Mill also holds David Hockney’s ‘A Year in Normandie’, which is his biggest ever picture, at 90.75 metres long!

Youngest City

Despite Bradford being the birthplace of David Hockney and the Bronte sisters, it is also the youngest city in Europe. Around 29% of its five hundred thousand residents are under the age of 20, therefore making Bradford the youngest city! This fact is one of many distinguishable things that Bradford has to offer to both older and younger people. A trip through Bradford’s city centre will reveal the presence of youth. Even though the sense of history is strong in Bradford, there is also a lot to do for teens and young adults. From adventure and water sport activities to bars and clubs, there is something for everyone to do.

Get there by bus! Download the First Bus App to plan your journey and buy your tickets.

Photos: @bradford_2025