Our Hotels in Bradford

Bradford is famous for being the world's first UNESCO City of Film. It's part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, which specializes in fields like design, gastronomy, literature, music and crafts. The permanent title celebrates Bradford's unique film heritage, its role as a location in many movies, and the number of film festivals hosted each year.

Wondering how Bradford earned his title? The city has a long history of filmmaking and remains a location for many TV and film sets today. The first Cieroscope was invented in the area in 1896, too! What's a Cieroscope? It's a device that combines a camera, printer and projector, which paved the way for motion pictures on their path to the modern day. Bradford also hosts several film festivals and events annually. Exploring the Bradford Movie Trail is one of the top things to do when visiting this West Yorkshire City. You'll see places of historical importance and the backdrops from famous movies. Many classic and modern films have been shot in the Bradford area, including Room at the Top(1959), The Railway Children(1970) and Monty Python's The Meaning of Life(1983). Why not attend one of the city's famous film festivals, like The Drunken Film Festival, The Bradford Family Film Festival or The Wide Screen Weekend? The Bradford International Film Festival (BIFF) is one of the city's best-loved events, offering a diverse programme. The BIFF has shown hundreds of new and classic movies since the first event in 1995.

Planning a trip to Bradford? There's plenty to do in the city, including some must-see attractions, excellent restaurants, venues and shops to explore. It also pays to plan a day in surrounding rural Yorkshire when you figure out how to get to Bradford. The city is nestled among beautiful, scenic countryside, including the Yorkshire Dales and Peak District National Parks.

The National Science and Media Museum is one of Bradford's cultural highlights. It's part of the UK's National Science Museum Group, including the Science Museum in London and Manchester's Science and Industry Museum. Find it in the city centre, a perfect place to spend a morning or afternoon during your time in Bradford. The museum is home to several exhibition spaces spotlighting the history of photography, film, TV, animation and gaming. Permanent galleries include Wonderlab, where visitors are challenged to think like scientists. The Gamer's Lounge is another firm favourite. The Kodak Gallery explores the history of photography, and Animation Gallery displays original models and artwork from hundreds of animations. Enjoy interactive activities that bring the learnings to life, ending your tour with a film in the museum's IMAX movie theatre.

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Bradford area? That's right! Saltaire is a beautiful Victorian village in Shipley, part of the City of Bradford District and a must-see for visitors. This outstanding example of a 19th-century model town shares the social and economic impact of the textile industry with visitors today. Saltaire is named after Sir Titus Salt, who built an enormous mill and village for his workers next to the River Aire. The mill, Salts Mill, was a unique masterpiece of its time, home to 1,200 looms, providing jobs for around 3,000 workers. The mill opened in 1853, with the village built around it. The village itself is built in the attractive Italianate style, a place where people still live today. That means it's free and open to visitors at all times!

Salts Mill is a 20-minute drive out of Bradford City Centre, the star attraction of Saltaire Village. It's well worth your journey when you get there. The former textile mill has been converted into a cultural hub, including an art gallery, shopping centre and dining spaces. It's free to visit with ample onsite parking, making it an excellent option for a day away from Bradford. The galleries include an extensive collection of artworks by David Hockney. Special events and exhibitions mean there's something new to see every time you visit.

Round off your itinerary with some of Bradford's best restaurants, bars and pubs. The city has been crowned the Curry Capital of Britain plenty of times, making Indian restaurants a great place to start. There are also many other exciting cuisines and local flavours to sample while in Bradford. The best restaurants around include:

• The Manor House. A modern pub and restaurant serving hearty, homey food and all the typical pub drinks
• Mumtaz. Stands out among Bradford's many excellent Indian restaurants, an elegant space serving refined, traditional dishes and British favourites
• The Rooftop Café. An easy choice for fresh, local produce prepared properly; the café is set on the rooftop of St Peter's House, built to serve as Bradford's Post Office in 1886
• The International. Another long-standing Indian restaurant that's popular among Bradford locals – the extensive menu and cosy dining room make it easy to see why
• My Lahore. For creative Indian and Pakistani dishes served alongside some more familiar British and American favourites, fruity cocktails and atmosphere in spades
• The Royal Low Moor. A gastropub with a reputation for delicious dishes, great beer and a laidback atmosphere
• Bab Tooma. A cosy Syrian restaurant serving authentic dishes in a warm, welcoming atmosphere
• Salts Diner. Find this casual dining space in Salts Mill, unmissable for snacks and meals when you visit Bradford's unique attraction