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Places To Go In Bradford
Welcome, traveler, to Bradford. Your journey has landed you here, and new adventures are calling your name. Now that you’ve arrived, you can stay in the safety and comfort of your hotel and watch the world spin past…or you can embrace this new place you’ve come to. Learn its streets. Meet its people. Learn its history. Your hand is already on the doorknob, isn’t it?
Things to Do in Bradford
You’ll not be wanting for things to do in Bradford. Explore the downtown area in search of museums and boutiques…or that next delicious meal. What tickles your fancy? A delectable five-course supper at the restaurant you’ve been hearing about? Or perhaps you’d rather read the paper while sipping hot coffee at one of the cafes scattered throughout town. Take in a show at the theatre, or just walk along down the main thoroughfare, watching people wander past.
Why spend hours ruminating over what to do in Bradford? Let the possibilities wash over you as you explore this new region. Move out on foot and get to know the area on a more personal level. Find that perfect souvenir at one of the smaller shops, or reinvent your entire artistic aesthetic at your new favorite gallery.
Is the wind whispering suggestions in your mind? Rent a car and take it out beyond city limits and into the wild blue yonder. Explore the smaller cities and towns past the border, and get to know the stories behind them. Visit a county fair and let childhood memories wash over you as cotton candy melts in your mouth. Sample hand-made jam at a stop on a forgotten highway, or let the hustle and bustle of modern life sweep you away as you lose yourself in the organized chaos of a modern metropolis. Your choices are endless—and so are the adventures to come.
When you book your journey with Travelocity, you’re never far from Bradford attractions. After all, the money you save when you plan a trip with us is best spent along the way. Whether it’s the roar of the city you crave, or the quiet solitude that comes with a simpler getaway, everything you need to get started is right here.
Take in the Buildings
One of the most pleasant things to do in Bradford on Avon is to just walk around and enjoy the town’s architecture. You can see many of the things learnt in the museum in real life – such as the Norman bridge with the lock up! Much of the buildings date from the 17th century (built from the profits of the booming textile industry in the area), yet some harks back to an older era.
The Canal
The Kennet and Avon Canal is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the country. I’ve already ran half of the Bath-Bradford on Avon stretch, but the other side is just as gorgeous. You can cycle the whole way there from Bath (it’s about eight miles), or just walk a little way along at either end.
The Bradford on Avon Museum
A fantastic freebie – entry to the museum doesn’t cost a penny (although donations are welcome) and you are provided with a fascinating history of the town throughout the centuries. One of my favourite facts was that the small hut like structure on the Norman bridge was once a tiny chapel, and then used as a place to lock up any town drunks! Purifying their souls and all that, I guess…
After you’ve walked through the museum, you’ll find yourself in an old school pharmacy. Here, they have accurately remade a chemist’s shop which was opened by Thomas Saunders in 1863. After passing through a few Victorian characters, it came into the ownership of Richard Thorney Christopher, who created ‘The Christopher Pharmacy’ and thus established one of Bradford on Avon’s most important institutions.
The re-creation of the pharmacy is largely Victorian, as its appearance did not really change in the last 80 years of its life. It is quite literally a step back in time, which makes it a fantastic place to visit to get a slice of this Wiltshire town’s 19th and 20th century history!
Tea and Cake at The Bridge Tea Rooms
“It’s the building that looks like it’s falling down” I heard one of the waitresses say on the phone when she was describing The Bridge Tea Rom’s location. It is located in a blacksmith’s house dating from 1502 but has been a tea room for decades. There’s lots of amazing tea rooms around South West England, including some amazing cafes in nearby Bath but Bradford on Avon’s favourite cafe is unique. Harking back to a bygone era, all the waitresses are dressed in Victorian outfits, and the interior of the tea room matches – it is bursting with eccentric furniture and props and boasts marvellous exposed beams.
