Bradford ~ BD1

Bradford is a lively city on the edge of the moors in Britain's West Yorkshire Pennines. The city was first founded somewhere around the time of the Norman Conquest. It started life as the village of 'Broad Ford'. By the middle ages had become a small town centred on Kirkgate, Westgate and Ivegate. At the turn of the 19th Century, Bradford was a small rural market town, where wool spinning and cloth weaving were carried out in local cottages and farms. Industrial growth led to the rapid expansion of the city. The town expanded and old buildings were largely replaced by new ones. The lavish Victorian architecture which sprang up then is still much in evidence today.

Highlights of the city include the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television and the David Hockney museum. The city also plays host to various cultural events, including the Bradford Animation Festival and the Mango Film Festival. The surrounding countryside provides a wealth of attractions, including the Chevin Forest Park, which offers miles of hiking trails with well-maintained footpaths, tea room, gift shop and picnicking facilities. Pony trekking can be arranged. Bradford is right on the doorstep of Bronte Country, where you can visit the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth with its quaint cobbled streets, step back in time and take a ride on the old steam train. There are many Yorkshire abbeys worth visiting, the most famous being Fountains, Jervaux and Rievaulx Abbeys, and Bolton Abbey, situated in a village of the same name. Lovely walks by the river and an excellent cottage tea room in the village. Newby Hall is a combination of stately home and tranquil gardens, adventure fort, playground, boats etc. for children. With a restaurant serving snacks and ice creams. A peaceful, unhurried day out. Harewood House, historic house, grounds and bird garden, is one of the Treasure Houses of England.

Bradford is easily accessible by road, train and air - Bradford/Leeds International Airport is just 11 km (7 miles) away. There is a wide variety of shops in Bradford, from arts and crafts to large out-of-town supermarkets. There are also two well equipped shopping centres - Cannon Mills Shopping Village and Kirkgate Shopping Centre.

Education in Bradford

Bradford has an excellent university, and a wide range of schools catering for every age, from toddlers to Sixth Form students. There are 7 Nursery Schools, 159 Primary Schools, 28 Secondary Schools, 12 Special Schools and Bradford University. Among the state secondary schools are three grammar schools and a Roman Catholic comprehensive school.

Bradford is a thriving industrial city, with employment and enjoyment for every kind of individual.

Estate and Letting Agents for Bradford BD1