Experience the city’s heritage and rising arts and culture scene the FACT way.
Bradford may not be the first city that comes to mind when visiting the United Kingdom, yet with its varied history, gorgeous architecture, and beautiful scenery, the city has a lot to offer for both culture vultures and foodies. This year, Bradford has been put on the map, named as the UK City of Culture 2025 - so we took a trip up north to discover highlights and hotspots.
Bradford is in West Yorkshire and is home to roughly 564,000 people, with 22 per cent of the population being British South Asian. Taking this diversity into account, Bradford is teeming with culture, life and light - owing to its friendly and welcoming locals. The stereotypical great hospitality of Northerners can undoubtedly be attributed to Bradford, as everyone we interacted with approached us with warmth and care.
Those who have made significant contributions to the arts and culture scene, and particularly notable talents to come out of Bradford, include J.B. Priestley, David Hockney, Zayn Malik and Aasif Mandvi. The city also has a history of film and television production, including favourites such as Happy Valley, Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life, Peaky Blinders, The Crown and The Railway Children.
Whether you’re looking for a jam-packed and educational day trip or a relaxing weekend exploring the city, Bradford truly has it all.
Morning
After a restful night’s sleep at the gorgeous Midland Hotel, we set off into town to explore a myriad of cultural attractions. Thankfully, the hotel’s location is more than ideal, and with the town centre only ten steps away, we were ready to seize the day and make the most of the rare good weather.
Starting with a coffee to fuel our day, we visited Sapa Tea, a Korean supermarket with a coffee shop inside that specialises in Vietnamese coffee. Be sure to order the iced egg coffee to start your day in the best possible way.
Tower of Now
Tower of Now, a sculpture by artist Saad Qureshi, is located in Hall Ings, just a stone’s throw from the Midland Hotel. This 15-metre tall sculpture is made out of a combination of different materials, including wood, metal and fibreglass. Qureshi was inspired by Bradford’s multiculturalism and the way its citizens interact with one another, making a sculpture that represented all the different cultural facets that make Bradford what it is today. He fused iconic architectural features from around the world, such as Gothic church bell towers, Hindu temples, Islamic archways, and synagogue domes, creating a thoughtful and intricate piece that perfectly sums up Bradford.
Artz-i Islamic Art and Gifts
We visited Artz-i Islamic Art and Gifts, an award-winning art gallery and gift retailer. It is the UK’s first and Europe’s largest Islamic art gallery, housing a collection of both traditional and contemporary Islamic art.
Their art offerings include stone tiles, calligraphy, antique brass, appliqué textiles, original paintings, photography, wood carvings and more. Designing, developing and sourcing their products from countries such as Türkiye, Egypt, Morocco, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan, they’ve steadily built an international and loyal clientele.
The gallery space is breathtaking from the outset, with every wall adorned with intricate and colourful artwork that relates to themes of faith, interwoven with artisanal and modern crafts.
Founder Mohammed Rasul told FACT all about his journey behind Artz-i as we walked around the gallery, citing his inspiration as a desire to reframe the image of Islam in the Western world. He’s especially proud of the reception from students who visit the gallery on school trips, saying: “Watching their reactions to Islamic art is a privilege to witness, because I can see them learning in real time that Islam is more than what they’re taught in the mainstream media.”
Afternoon
Darley Street Market
Darley Street Market is a superb spot for a quick yet satisfying lunch, offering a variety of food and drink options, as well as several delis to purchase any last-minute groceries you may need. We ordered from Babtooma, an authentic Syrian restaurant that brings a taste of the Middle East to West Yorkshire. The grilled arayes, za’atar tacos and chicken shawarma plate were perfectly spiced and mouth-wateringly juicy - all served with crispy fries and a warm smile.
Saltaire
A speedy ten-minute train journey from Bradford is Saltaire, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and preserved model village. Its appeal is evident from the moment you step off the train, with its manicured residential roads, sociable locals and cosy coffee shops, it’s the ideal quick day trip from Bradford’s bustle.
Saltaire gets its name from its founder, Sir Titus Salt, and the River Aire, which runs through the village. Sir Titus Salt built the Grade II-listed historic Salts Mill in 1853, along with the village that housed his workers. He was well-known for providing his employees with excellent living conditions in return for their hard work, emphasising the importance of a good quality of life for factory workers.
We took a stroll by the canal and basked in the late summer sun, stopping off at Tambourine Coffee for another caffeine fix, and Village General Store for a browse of some unique fashion and homeware pieces.
Evening
MyLahore
We ended our day at the wonderful MyLahore, a Pakistani restaurant born in Bradford that now has branches in Birmingham, Blackburn, Leeds and Manchester. It very quickly became a household name throughout Yorkshire and beyond, so we visited their flagship to see what all the fuss was about.
Welcomed with immediate enthusiasm, we were in for a treat as the staff’s hospitality is undeniable. We ordered onion pakoras and vegetable samosa chaat to start, both bursting with flavour and filling our stomachs after a long day of sightseeing. For the main course, we chose hearty chicken biryani that warmed us from the inside out, and lamb nihari, a rich, traditional Pakistani breakfast dish that melted off the bone. All washed down with a sweet mango lassi, it was the perfect meal to end our adventures in Bradford.
If you have a weekend to spare, give Bradford your free time, and it will surely reward you with its real charm.
GO: Visit https://bradford2025.co.uk for more information.