I’m absolutely thrilled that Bradford has been awarded the UK City of Culture 2025, as I think that it’s about time that it’s recognised for the vibrant, multi-cultured and fantastic City that it is. But as someone who has lived in Bradford for all of his life, apart from all of the events that are being held by the Bradford 2025 Team, i’ve realised that if you’re not from Bradford that you probably wouldn’t know what to do when you arrive into the beautiful and newly pedestrianised City Centre, so I thought that I would tell you five things to do in Bradford City Centre.

Anyway that’s enough of me rambling, here’s five things to do in Bradford City Centre.

A large rectangular light brown brick building with some large rectangular glass doors that has Broadway written in bright white illuminated writing and a large glass canopy above it's doors next to a light brown stone paved street against a light blue sky, on a white background.

A picture of Broadway Bradford.

1. Visit all of the great Shopping Destinations.
If you’re a shopaholic and love nothing more than spending hours browsing the Rails and picking up some great Bargains, then there’s plenty for you to check out. From Broadway Bradford that includes many of the high street’s most well known Shops including Boots, H&M, and Superdrug, as well as some delicious places to eat like Pizza Express, Popeye’s, Pret and Wing Stop. To the newly opened Darley Street Market that contains a plethora of Independent Stalls, including both Men’s and Women’s Fashion, Health & Beauty, a Butchers, a Fishmongers, a Delicatessen, a Cheesemongers, Homeware and even a Florist, as well as an entire Floor dedicated to multi-cultural Cuisine, including Caribbean, Egyptian, Greek, Mexican and Syrian Food. But if you struggle getting into the heart of the City Centre, then there’s also Forster Square Retail Park that includes places like Argos, JD Sports, Next, TK Maxx, and many, many more with ample Parking.

A large rounded rectangular light brown brick building that has some large rectangular glass panes all over it that has National Science and Media Museum written in bright white writing on them next to a tall shiny bronze statue of a man stood on a dark stone pedestal surrounded by some multicoloured flowers against a bright blue sky, on a white background.

A picture of the National Science and Media Museum.

2. Visit all of the Museums and Galleries.

The City Centre has quite a few Museums and Galleries to look around that all have free admission. From the National Science and Media Museum that features six floors of amazing exhibits, including Animation, Makespace, Power Up, Sound & Vision, and Wonderlab, where you can learn all about TV, Film, Radio and Science throughout the decades. To the Bradford Police Museum, which is fantastic if you’re interested in learning all about the history of Crime and Law Enforcement, and even the Bradford Impressions Gallery that features thousands of pieces of Photography taken by both professionals and amateur Photographers.

A collection of several tall cascading water fountains illuminated by some bright purple and white lights inside a large rectangular swimming pool surrounded by a light brown wooden boardwalk against a bright blue sky, on a white background.

A picture of Bradford City Park.

3. Visit one of the City’s Open Spaces.
Bradford City Centre has recently undergone a massive redesign and has added quite a few new Parks and Open Spaces, such as Norfolk Gardens, but one of it’s biggest open spaces definitely has to be City Park, which features their famous Mirror Pool, the U.K’s largest Urban Water Feature. which is great to relax by the side of on a boiling hot Summer’s Day. There’s even some Cafe’s and Restaurants dotted around the perimeter of it, including Cakeole, Nandos, Starbucks and Wetherspoons if you fancy a nice cold Drink or a snack to relax with.

A tall historic gothic light brown stone building and Clock tower that has some pointed arches and carvings all over it next to a light brown stone paved street that has some silver metal lamp posts and some string lights dotted all around it against a light blue sky, on a white background.

A picture of Waterstones Bradford.

4. Visit some of the historical Buildings.
Bradford has some fascinating historical Buildings to check out, especially if you like the Gothic and Victorian style, but my top recommendation definitely has to be The Wool Exchange which was built in 1864 and houses a few independent Shops and Businesses as well as a massive Waterstones, that’s apparently been named as the U.K’s most beautiful Book Shop.z`

A large rectangular historical light brown brick building that has a dome roof, some bright white columns, and some large rectangular glass windows illuminated by some strings of some golden yellow lights that has Alhambra written in bright white writing on it against a medium blue sky, on a white background.

A picture of Alhambra Bradford.

5. Take in a Show.
Bradford has some amazing Entertainment Venues, including the Alhambra Bradford if you love Theatre and Musicals as well as the St. George’s Hall and The Studio if you love Stand Up Comedy. But there’s now also the recently opened Bradford Live if you’re looking for some amazing Live Music to enjoy.
There’s quite a lot more things to do in Bradford City Centre, but I just thought that I would tell you five of them.
Have you visited Bradford City Centre yet? What did you get up to whilst you were there? What City do you think should be awarded the UK City of Culture 2026? Please let me know down below.

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Luke x