City of Bradford facts for kids

Quick facts for kids City of Bradford
City and metropolitan borough
Bradford
From left to right Top: Bradford City Hall and fountains Upper: Queensbury and Shipley skyline Lower: Silsden town hall and Keighley town centre Bottom: Bingley All Saints Church and Ilkley Moor
Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  'Wool City'
Motto(s):  'Progress-Industry-Humanity'
Bradford shown within West Yorkshire
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Country	England
Region	Yorkshire and the Humber
Ceremonial county	West Yorkshire
Historic county	Yorkshire
Admin HQ	Bradford
Borough charter	1847
City status	1897
City of Bradford Met. District created	1974
Government
• Type	Metropolitan borough, City
Area
• Total	143 sq mi (370 km2)
Population  (2005 est.)
• Total	539,776 (Ranked 7th)
• Density	3,341/sq mi (1,290/km2)
• Ethnicity (2021 census)	61.1% White 32.1% Asian 2.0% Black 2.7% Mixed 2.0% Other
Ethnicity (2021)
• Ethnic groups	List 61.1% White 32.1% Asian 2.7% Mixed 2% Black 2% other
Religion (2021)
• Religion	List 33.4% Christianity 30.5% Islam 28.2% no religion 5.5% not stated 0.9% Sikhism 0.9% Hinduism 0.4% other 0.2% Buddhism 0.1% Judaism
Time zone	UTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
Postcode	BD, LS
Area code(s)	01274 (urban core/wider city) 01535 (Keighley) 01943 (Ilkley)
ISO 3166-2	GB-BFD
ONS code	00CX (ONS) E08000032 (GSS)
NUTS 3	UKE41
OS grid reference	SE164331
Website	www.bradford.gov.uk
Click the map for an interactive fullscreen view

Bradford (ⁱ/ˈbrædfərd/), also known as the City of Bradford, is a large area in West Yorkshire, England. It's named after its biggest town, Bradford, but it also includes other towns and villages like Keighley, Shipley, Bingley, Ilkley, and Haworth. Bradford has a population of over 528,000 people. This makes it one of the largest metropolitan areas in England. It's also part of a bigger urban area that includes Leeds.

The city is located near the Pennines mountains. To the east, it borders the City of Leeds. To the south, it's next to Kirklees and Calderdale. The area is very green, with lots of open spaces, moorlands, and valleys. More than half of Bradford's land is green space. The Yorkshire Dales and the Peak District are also close by.

Bradford has many old and important buildings, mostly made from local stone. There are over 5,800 listed buildings and 59 special conservation areas. The village of Saltaire is so special that it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the 1800s, Bradford became famous worldwide for making textiles, especially wool. It had plenty of coal, iron, and soft water, which helped its factories grow. This led to a huge increase in population and new buildings.

Like many old industrial cities, Bradford has faced challenges. But wool and textiles are still important. Today, fast-growing areas include information technology, financial services, and tourism. Bradford has welcomed many new people over the years. In the 1800s, many came from Ireland and Germany. In the 1950s, many arrived from South Asia and Poland. In 2025, Bradford will be the UK City of Culture, which is a big deal!

A Look Back: Bradford's History

How Bradford Became a City

Bradford officially became a municipal borough in 1847. This meant it had its own local government. It was given the special title of a "city" in 1897. Over the years, Bradford grew bigger. It added nearby areas like Allerton, Bolton, and Thornton. In 1930, Clayton also joined the city.

Famous Writers from Bradford

Anne, Emily, and Charlotte Brontë, by their brother Branwell (c. 1834).

The famous Brontë sisters, Emily, Anne, and Charlotte, were born in Thornton, which is part of Bradford. They later moved to Haworth, where they wrote classic books like Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre.

Bradford's Role in Politics and War

Bradford played a key part in the early days of the Labour Party. A mural in Little Germany celebrates the founding of the Independent Labour Party here in 1893.

During the First World War, many young men from Bradford joined special army groups called the "Bradford Pals." On July 1, 1916, many of them were killed or injured during the Battle of the Somme in France. It was a very sad day for the city.

Modern Bradford: Museums and Heritage

In 1919, the Church of Saint Peter became a cathedral. The National Science and Media Museum opened in Bradford in 1983. It's a great place to learn about photography, film, and television. Bradford was also one of the first places outside London to show movies.

Salts Mill

In 2001, Saltaire village was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This means it's a very important place that needs to be protected. The village, including Salts Mill, is well-preserved. It shows what life was like during the Industrial Revolution.

In 2007, Bradford was named the greenest city in the UK. This was because it had the lowest environmental impact. Its rivers are clean, and it has lots of green spaces and recycling programs. In 2009, Bradford became the world's first UNESCO City of Film. This title celebrates the city's long history with movies and its efforts to use film for local development. Bradford has been a filming location since the early days of cinema.

Exploring Bradford's Geography

Where is Bradford Located?

The City of Bradford is on the edge of the Pennines mountain range. It shares borders with other areas like Leeds, Kirklees, and Calderdale. To the west, it borders Lancashire, and to the north, North Yorkshire.

Bradford's Natural Landscape

Bradford has a lot of moorlands, including Ilkley Moor. These areas can be quite high up. Less than 5% of the district is woodland. A large part of Bradford, about 73.8%, is green space. This includes parts of the Airedale and Wharfedale Valleys.

Rivers and Waterways

Three river systems flow through the City of Bradford. The River Aire runs through towns like Keighley, Bingley, and Shipley. The River Wharfe goes through Ilkley. Even though it's a big city, Bradford isn't built on a huge river. Its name comes from "Broad-Ford," a crossing point on the small stream called Bradford Beck. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal also passes through the area. It has famous locks like the Bingley Five Rise Locks, which are amazing examples of canal engineering.

Local Parishes

While the main part of Bradford is managed by the city council, many smaller towns and villages have their own local councils, called parishes. These include:

• Addingham
• Baildon
• Burley
• Clayton
• Cullingworth
• Denholme
• Harden
• Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury
• Ilkley
• Keighley
• Menston
• Oxenhope
• Sandy Lane
• Silsden
• Steeton with Eastburn
• Trident
• Wilsden
• Wrose

How Bradford is Governed

Representing Bradford in Parliament

People living in Bradford are represented in the British Parliament by Members of Parliament (MPs). There are five different areas, or constituencies, in Bradford, each with its own MP. For example, Bradford East is represented by Imran Hussain, and Bradford West by Naz Shah.

The City Council

Bradford City Hall Tower and Flagpole

The City Of Bradford Metropolitan District Council manages the whole Bradford area. It was created in 1974 by combining several smaller areas. The council is based at Bradford City Hall. Bradford has had a special "Lord Mayor" since 1907.

The city is divided into 30 areas called Wards. Each ward elects three Councillors. Elections happen every May, and one-third of the 90 council seats are up for election. Councillors serve for four years.

Bradford's Coat of Arms

Bradford Coat of Arms

The coat of arms for Bradford City Council has special symbols. The boar's head comes from an old story about a wild boar that caused trouble in Cliffe Wood. The Lord of the Manor offered a reward to anyone who could defeat it. The stag and the white angora goat represent the area's wildlife and its history in the wool industry. The roses on the collars are for the Yorkshire rose. The hills and valleys of the area are also shown. The original coat of arms had a Latin phrase: 'LABOR OMNIA VINCIT', which means "Work conquers all."

Who Lives in Bradford? Demographics

In 2011, Bradford had a population of 522,452 people. About 11.8% of people living in Bradford were born outside the UK. This is higher than the average for England.

The 2011 census showed that about 67.44% of the city's population was White. About 26.83% were of Asian background. Other groups included Mixed ethnic groups (2.48%), Black ethnic groups (1.77%), and other ethnic groups (1.48%).

Bradford has a younger population compared to the rest of Yorkshire and England. This means there are more young people living here.

Fun Things to Do: Tourism in Bradford

Popular Attractions

Brontë Parsonage Museum, Haworth

Brontë Country is a popular area that includes Haworth, where the Brontë sisters lived. Other exciting places to visit include:

• The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway
• Ilkley's Cow and Calf Rocks
• Bradford's National Science and Media Museum
• Bradford City Park
• Cartwright Hall
• Saltaire village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Salts Mill

Bradford was also the world's first UNESCO City of Film, which means it's a great place for movie lovers!

Annual Events and Festivals

Bradford hosts many fun events throughout the year, such as:

• The Bradford Literature Festival
• The Bradford Film Festival
• The Bradford Festival
• The Bradford Mela
• Bingley Music Live
• The Ilkley Literature Festival
• Haworth's 1940s weekend
• The Saltaire Festival
• Special Christmas events

Tourism brings a lot of money to Bradford, over £500 million each year. It also supports more than 13,500 jobs in the area.

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  National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, the world's first UNESCO City of Film

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  Salts Mill in Saltaire, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

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  Cow and Calf Rocks in Ilkley

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  Haworth village centre

Bradford's Economy: How People Make a Living

Bradford's economy is worth about £9.5 billion. It's the third largest in Yorkshire. In the past, Bradford was famous for its wool and textile factories. Today, making things still provides about 1 in 5 jobs. However, most jobs (77%) are in the service industry.

The fastest-growing areas include information technology, financial services, tourism, and retail. Many big companies have their headquarters or distribution centers here, like Morrisons and Hallmark Cards. Three of the UK's largest financial companies, Yorkshire Building Society, Santander Group, and Vanquis Banking Group, are based in Bradford. The National Science and Media Museum is also a big part of the city's culture and economy.

Bradford's population has grown faster than most other UK cities outside London. The city has a lot of young people. Experts say Bradford is one of the top cities in the UK ready for future growth. Businesses in Bradford are also more confident than the UK average. Over £1.5 billion is being spent on new building projects to attract more investment.

About 12% of all jobs in Bradford are in manufacturing. The service sector provides 82% of the jobs. Bradford also has a strong entrepreneurial spirit, with many new businesses starting up.

Learning in Bradford: Education

Bradford has many schools and colleges for students. The local education authority manages state schools. There are also private schools like Bradford Grammar School and Woodhouse Grove School. For older students, Bradford College and the University of Bradford offer further and higher education.

Bradford in the News: Media

Television and Radio

For television, people in Bradford watch BBC Yorkshire and ITV Yorkshire, which are broadcast from Leeds.

There are several radio stations that you can listen to in the area:

• BBC Radio Leeds
• Heart Yorkshire
• Capital Yorkshire
• Hits Radio West Yorkshire
• Greatest Hits Radio West Yorkshire
• Sunrise Radio (for the Asian community)
• BCB 106.6fm
• Drystone Radio (for the Wharfedale area)

Newspapers

Local newspapers for Bradford include:

• Telegraph & Argus
• The Yorkshire Post
• Yorkshire Evening Post

Getting Around: Transport in Bradford

Public Transport: Trains and Buses

Metro helps organize public transport in Bradford. Most local train services are run by Northern. You can also take longer-distance trains to London King's Cross railway station from Bradford Interchange and Bradford Forster Square station.

The Wharfedale line connects Bradford Forster Square to towns like Ilkley, Burley-in-Wharfedale, and Shipley. The Airedale line connects to places like Skipton, Keighley, and Bingley. You can change at Keighley for the Brontë Country and the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. Both Bradford Forster Square and Bradford Interchange have direct routes to Leeds. Bradford Interchange also connects to cities like Manchester, Halifax, and London King's Cross.

There are bus stations in Bradford, Ilkley, Keighley, and Shipley. Most bus services are run by First Bradford and Keighley Bus Company.

Air and Water Travel

Leeds Bradford Airport is about 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Bradford city centre. It has flights to many places in Europe, plus the United States, Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey. You can also connect to other parts of the world through major airports like London Heathrow.

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal runs through the area. The Bingley Five Rise Locks are a famous part of this canal. There are also plans to reopen the Bradford Canal, which closed in 1922.

Roads and Motorways

The M606 motorway connects Bradford to the main motorway network. It's one of the shortest motorways in the country. The A650 road has been improved to a dual carriageway, bypassing towns like Bingley and Keighley. The A658 road goes through a tunnel under the Leeds Bradford Airport runway.

Clean Air Zone