Our City

Bradford is a vibrant city of more than half a million people with the youngest, fastest growing population outside London.

Bradford is a district of visual contrasts from the grand Victorian and Edwardian architecture of the city centre to the rolling hills of Bronte Country at Haworth and Ilkley Moor. In 2012 the middle of Bradford was transformed into a new City Park which boasts the highest fountains in any UK city. In 2015 Westfield opened a state of the art new shopping complex right in the city centre.

Bradford has a long tradition of welcoming people from all over the world and almost a quarter of its people are of Asian heritage. In addition there are significant communities from eastern Europe.

Bradford is an entrepreneurial city with a long tradition of successful small businesses but it also home to some of Britain’s most cutting edge technology companies and it is the headquarters for several national businesses including Morrison’s and the Yorkshire Building Society.

Bradford has two UNESCO accreditations. It became the world’s first City of Film in 2009 recognising its significant contribution to film and cinema history. The Victorian district of Saltaire is a World Heritage Site. The city is home to the National Media Museum, one of the most visited museums outside London, to the acclaimed Alhambra Theatre and to the magnificent Cartwright Hall Art Gallery.

Bradford is the UK Curry Capital and is home to the Bradford Bulls Rugby league team and Bradford City Football Club. s.

Bradford has suffered significant economic hardship in recent years and there have been challenges particularly around educational standards and community cohesion. However, a determined programme of city centre regeneration, the establishment of a Growth Zone, pioneering work on apprenticeships and new Industrial centres of Excellence are helping Bradford look forward to the future with increased confidence.