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Original poster

Holiday in Bradford- what to do?

265 replies

jasminoide · 02/07/2021 20:45

DH is working from an office for the first 3 weeks of August and we've decided to go along and make a holiday out of it. Accommodation is sorted, just looking for recommendations for things to do with a teen and tween. We will have a car and don't mind driving up to an hour, or 90 minutes for a really nice place.
So far we'd like to go to Flamingo Land and the cat cafe in Leeds. I'd love to go to a Botanical garden (of the indoor, tropical type) but not sure where the closest would be? We are planning day trips to Sheffield, Manchester and perhaps Leicester.
Open to all ideas, the hidden gems as well as the well known places.
Is Flamborough worth going to for the views?

OP posts:
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Original poster
jasminoide · 04/08/2021 10:13

going just over a week, which doesn't seem nearly enough 😭

OP posts:
GoingGently · 04/08/2021 10:18

Aaah glad you are having fun!

Really would encourage you to see some of the natural beauty of the area (if you're into that of course!)

If the sun comes out would recommend somewhere like Appletreewick in the dales which is an hour long drive from where you are. There are gentle bits of the river there where the kids can splash around. Good for a picnic! Think the drive would take you through ilkley or otley so would be a beautiful journey. The view when you come over the moor and descend into ilkley is pretty breathtaking!

Peabody25 · 04/08/2021 10:44

Ooh brimham rocks as well if you get a nice day. The rocks are brilliant for climbing on, there's loads of picnic spaces, gift shop and ice creams. Easily a day out. You could combine it with a quick stop in Harrogate on the way there or back.

cricketmum84 · 04/08/2021 10:49

@jasminoide

Update - we've been to cat cafe (this was essential, dc2 & 3 have ASD and this was a major incentive to come on the holiday) White Rose shopping centre, Meanwood Valley urban farm (lovely place and very cheap), Kirkgate Market (I nearly cried when I saw how cheap the plants are, I pay at least x3 back home), Heaton Manor in Halifax (only £1 to enter the Jungle experience 😬). Also tried 3 new Asian supermarkets (Pakeeza and Save Co in Leeds Road and Al Halal somewhere in BD8). Those wicker plate wall hangings that are 'in' on Instagram and retail for about £20 can be bought here for 99p. They are for pita bread apparently! Also tried karak coffee which was lovely and chapli kebabs. Have had a few, eh, "interesting" experiences too. The satnav got us a bit lost on the way home one day and we ended up in a housing estate with horses tethered in a central green. The dc were very happy and wanted to have a stroke. It was open and public so I thought it would be fine.... long story short we were chastised with very colourful language from someone leaning out of a window and we'll know in future to keep our hands to ourselves. Several things happened in Harehills Lane that makes Bradford look like the Home Counties in comparison 😂. We got ginormous shawarma sandwiches for £3 so it was all worth it though. Off to Bolling Hall today, weather has been really decent. We are going to really miss here when we leave 😭
Oh god harehills lane! It's horrendous isn't it! Were you on your way to roundhay park?

Haha the housing estate sounds like the one that adjoins tong. Always horses tethered. The bonus is though that there's plenty off scrap collectors and I've never had to pay for council to collect a broken dishwasher, washing machine etc.

I really need to get to one of the Asian supermarkets. Will see if DH will take me!

If you get chance at all there is a lovely walk along the canal from saltaire to bingley 5 rose locks. There is even a pub on the way with a gorgeous beer garden if you need a rest!

cricketmum84 · 04/08/2021 10:51

Cat cafe is so lovely. Especially when they have new kittens in and they try to steal your food 😂😂

Original poster
jasminoide · 04/08/2021 11:06

The dc absolutely loved the cat cafe. I was a bit soul destroyed at the price of the low quality food but the cats were happy enough to help us to finish our plates 😻.

If anyone ever watched 16 Kids and Counting, there was a family from Bradford called the Bland family and I'm sure they were from that estate as there was always footage of horses being led past their windows.
Harehills Lane will be remembered for all of the wrong reasons. Let's just hope that dc3 does not write "being offered drugs" regarding things that happened in the summer in her holiday journal when she goes back to school 🤣

OP posts:
Restlessinthenorth · 04/08/2021 11:07

Just wanted to say OP that this thread has been an absolute joy! I really love living here, but as a Bradfordian am used to the city being slated in the national media and general scoffing and unpleasant comments that people who live outside of the area will make. It's been so lovely to hear someone have such a positive experience! Hope you have a great final week

howsteenhappy · 04/08/2021 11:36

I've been following this thread as we are visiting family in Leeds this week and looking for some new things to do. Just wanted to come on and let you know that HowSteen Gorge is amazing, and well worth booking into an activity if you have time. The drive up through the Yorkshire dales was absolutely breathtaking, and we have packed our kids off doing gorge walking while we partake in a fantastic full English at the cafe! Well worth a trip if you have time.

CHISistoast · 04/08/2021 11:37

Eureka is good, Halifax isn't far. Shibden Hall also in Halifax is worth a look.

MrsPnut · 04/08/2021 12:15

@howsteenhappy

I've been following this thread as we are visiting family in Leeds this week and looking for some new things to do. Just wanted to come on and let you know that HowSteen Gorge is amazing, and well worth booking into an activity if you have time. The drive up through the Yorkshire dales was absolutely breathtaking, and we have packed our kids off doing gorge walking while we partake in a fantastic full English at the cafe! Well worth a trip if you have time.
My friend’s parents own HSG, well for the next month or so anyway. It is a beautiful place and they have developed the outdoor activities well.
peanutbuttertoasty · 04/08/2021 13:25

I used to love the bird garden at Harewood House. There's a good kids' adventure playground there too

St Ives Park in Bingley is a nice place to go for a walk in the woods and see some nature

Salts Mill is fab if you want to look round what was until relatively recently a working mill. Stunning victorian building and village that was built for workers. Inside the mill there's the David Hockney gallery and lovely shops selling gorgeous art supplies, a lovely bookshop, home store, antiques and a lovely cafe. There are some displays about the heritage of the mill with photos etc. too. It's a World Heritage Site and definitely worth a visit! All free to get in. There's a nice park there by the river too

peanutbuttertoasty · 04/08/2021 13:47

Newby Hall also brilliant - adventure playground, miniature railway and boat trips

howsteenhappy · 04/08/2021 13:59

@MrsPnut wow, it's a great place. Really helpful friendly staff, our kids had a brilliant time, we felt very safe sending them off with the instructors who really seem to know their stuff. A hidden gem, we are from Scotland but already planning when we can come back and the activities we will do. The breakfast and coffee was delicious too.

Original poster
jasminoide · 08/08/2021 09:17

Final update - we are leaving in a few days so getting packed up and sorting the house out. We have been to York, Harrogate, Manchester, Bolling Hall, Sunbridgewells tunnels and a few local shopping centres. The buildings in the city centre are absolutely beautiful!
Thank you to everyone who made suggestions, unfortunately quite a few places are booked up until September and the weather hasn't been clement enough for walking the dales so we will have to leave them until next time (which there definitely will be!). We've had such a fab time, tried so many new things and have such good memories. #teamBradford

OP posts:
SophyRivenhall · 08/08/2021 23:03

OP, first, I hope you enjoy your remaining few days in Bradford whatever the weather. Secondly, thank you for starting this thread. DD and I usually spend a couple of weeks over the summer here visiting family. While we have done plenty of the things recommended on here, there were many we had not done before or even heard of. As a direct result of this thread, we went to City Park today after a gap of several years and went to Sunbridgewells tunnels plus the new Flashback Arcade.

If you still haven't got round to trying Asian sweets, I recommend Nafees Bakers which has several branches in the city. You can ask for a 500g box of mix mithai which will give you a good selection of the various types on display, and you can keep them in the fridge for at least a week after you go home.

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