Where we are

Welcome to Bradford District and Craven where the fresh air and natural beauty will invigorate you, whilst the heritage and culture will fascinate you.

Where else can you enjoy two UNESCO sites, amazing countryside, combined with the former home of literary greats, alongside a city full with a rich and varied mix of cultures and languages? (Courtesy of Bradford Council)

Go to the Visit Bradford website for more information.

The City of Bradford is a young dynamic city that  is a great place to live and work.

It is named after its largest settlement, Bradford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns and villages of Keighley, Shipley, Bingley, Ilkley, Haworth, Silsden, Queensbury, Thornton and Denholme. Bradford has a population of 530,000.

The area also includes Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven which has a population of around 157,000 and has a very diverse population. Bradford District & Craven has a mix of globally successful businesses, a mix of heritage and culture and fantastic countryside on the doorstep. 

With a long industrial heritage, Bradford is proud to have once been the wool capital of the world.

In 1901 Bradford was a globally-renowned name for textiles, an industry that powered Bradford’s fortunes and drew business in from literally all over the world. The Bradford District has a rich and fascinating history.

This impressive history is reflected in the striking architecture throughout the city. From the amazing Little Germany to the magnificent Bradford Cathedral.

Bradford District and Craven is extremely diverse in relation to its people, place and experiences: a rich mix of nationalities, ethnicities, gender, ages, physical abilities, economic status and faiths.

As a former textile capital of the world Bradford has a long history of immigration through the ages – and has become enriched as one of the north’s most culturally and ethnically diverse cities as a result.

It is also home to two UNESCO sites. Bradford is the world’s first UNESCO City of Film. This title is international recognition on Bradford as a world centre for film because of the city’s rich film heritage, its inspirational movie locations and its many celebrations of the moving image through the city’s film festivals, filmed related events and unique approach to learning about film and learning with film.

Saltaire is the second UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bradford thanks to its preservation as a Victorian industrial village. Mill owner Sir Titus Salt built the village for his workers and today Saltaire attracts millions of visitors to its magnificent architecture and attractions.

Map of UK

Take a look at Bradford District

We asked members of our health and social care workforce what was great about living and working in Bradford District and Craven.

Here’s a summary of their top five responses.

If you are looking to put down roots, Bradford District and Craven offers great value. Housing prices in this part of the country are much lower. Meanwhile, average monthly rents in Bradford are almost half the national average. With city and countryside to choose from, there is something for all tastes.

Everyone knows that Bradford is the curry capital of the UK. But if this is not for you, the district has a wider range of alternatives, from a mezze in a middle eastern restaurant to pub food in lower Wharfedale. Add to that the thriving craft beer scene or the famous Betty’s tearooms and you will not go thirsty either.

Where to begin? Hockney, Saltaire, two Unesco world heritage sites, the National Media and Science Museum, the Alhambra Theatre hosting touring shows from the West End…..and not forgetting the home of the Bronte sisters at Haworth.

Take your pick. If live sport is more your thing then there is a football, rugby (league, of course) and the city has played host to world class cycling several times in recent years – including the Yorkshire stages of the Tour de France.

If you want to escape the city, you will find the open countryside on your doorstep. Whether it is the moors of Wuthering Heights or the short drive into the Yorkshire Dales, there is plenty to aim at.

If you walk, run or cycle, or just want enjoy the scenery, there is plenty of room to play!