Holiday in Bradford- what to do?

[jasminoide]

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?

Saltaire/Roberts Park/Salt’s Mill/Canal boat ride
East Riddlesden Hall (NT)
Day trip to Ilkley/Betty’s/paddle in the river
National Media Museum
Royal Armouries in Leeds (you can get a water taxi there for £1/head from Leeds station)
Clip n Climb in Ilkley or Leeds
Eureka in Halifax
Manor Heath Park in Halifax has a small indoor tropical garden
Tropical World in Rounday Park, Leeds, plus playgrounds etc in Rounday Park
Trip(s) to the Dales - Malham, Grassington, Gargrave
Skipton Castle and Cliffe Museum, Skipton
Yorkshire Sculpture Park (v close to Cannon Hall, but a bit much to do both in one day)
Bolton Abbey
Brimham Rocks (NT)
Hardcastle Crags (Halifax; NT)
Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
Armley Mills Museum, Leeds
Bradford Industrial Museum
Day trip to Blackpool
Haworth (home of the Brontes, Victorian high street)
Keighley and Worth steam railway
National Coal Mining Museum, Wakefield. Book underground trips of your children are over 5! Great playground and nature trail here too.

I second the suggestion of visiting the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds. It is housed in the old workhouse next to St James' Hospital.

We have been several times, and it is DD's and my favourite museum.

I'm in the village beginning with a G and have spent the lockdown periods of the last year exploring all the local footpaths and when I've been feeling particularly energetic have got just about as far as the edge of Pudsey, so have often gone along the bridleway between Tong and Bankhouse where that pic was taken.

Loving all the West Yorkshire love and booooo to the haters.

I hope the OP has a lovely holiday here, it's a great place to live with lots to see and do.

Knowsley safari Park then stay the night in Liverpool to explore the docks etc next day. I'd then drive to North Wales for a day trip before stopping off for the night at Chester and then driving back to Bradford.

Yes boooo to the haters indeed. Bradford may not be your traditional holiday destination you will find so much to do here.

Forgot to mention that both Pickering and Malton are a nice day out for a wander round the shops and a nice pub lunch.

@BarbaraofSeville I'll make sure to give you a wave next time you are passing 😉

You're really well placed to travel the North of England and into Scotland from Bradford. I'd take the train to Edinburgh for 1/2 nights.

If you are wanting a good curry I would recommend the aagrah or the Nawaab in Tong. The Nawaab is my absolute favourite. They used to do a buffet pre-pandemic which was great for my teens as they could try a bit of everything and work out what they like.

There are some good ideas on this recent thread.

Everyone's heading to W. Yorks!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4282177-What-do-locals-do-near-Haworth-and-Oxenhope

Hesketh Farm Park, Patley Bridge (home of the oldest sweet shop in the world)
Cow &Calf rocks and the Coldstones Cut, Ilkley (coldstones is actually in the middle of the moors, but well worth the trip)
Some people, most people, love Forbidden Corner, but I hate it
Stocked Park

@jasminoide, join an FB group called “Yorkshire Tots to Teens”

Bradfordian here. Some fab suggestions but a couple I wanted to add that haven't been mentioned.

We have an ice rink in the centre, if the kids fancy skating.

Flashback arcade is brand new, so haven't been but it sounds fab. Basically you pay a single entry fee and there are hundreds of retro and current arcade games/air hockey etc. Again it's in the city centre

Sunbridge wells is also due to re open imminently. It's a beautiful collection of underground tunnels with bars and restaurants. I believe there is a new pizza place opening up in there too. Access behind the Wetherspoons in the centre

Oh we went to insane air last week which is a really good trampoline park. There's also funzy which is is all inflatables but I've not been there. Bradford has a bad rep but I absolutely love living here and, as others have said, it's a great base to explore west Yorkshire. I second that Facebook group - Yorkshire tots to teens - it's fab! Whereabouts in Bradford will you be?

There's also this new inflatable park in Bradford city centre. funzy.co.uk/. There's also a Hollywood bowl and laser zone on the outskirts.

Would definitely recommend the ice cream farm at Tong, Goodalls, they're amazing.

Brimham rocks is good for a free day out, loads of picnic space and masses of rocks to climb on.

Ilkley - for the moors, and Betty's tea room.

Leeds city centre - good for shopping, cinema, nice restaurants, couple of escape rooms, indoor crazy golf

Temple newsman - lovely cafe, good for walks, go ape

If they're into skating/ scooting/ biking there's a skate park called the works and an urban bike park as well in Leeds.

Coast - about 90 mins from the west coast so quicker than the east, Southport is meant to be lovely but Blackpool maybe more appealing for the pleasure beach, sandcastle swimming centre, loads of amusements

A couple more ideas, York Maze www.yorkmaze.com/ and stockeld park summer adventure stockeldpark.co.uk/

I’d say Stockeld is for younger children but I love the Forbidden Corner.

@jasminoide, thank you for this. We live in West Yorkshire and are not going away this summer, this thread has given me lots of new ideas, or reminders or places we’ve not been to for ages.

OP - I'm going to Bradford (where there are loads of things to see and do in West/South/North Yorkshire)

Posters suggestion - go to Liverpool/Edinburgh. Seriously?

@BarbaraofSeville We used to live in Fulneck, just down from the Moravian settlement. We often used to walk across to Tong and have a drink in The Greyhound. It sounds like there is more going on in Tong than when we lived there.

I think Bradford has a bad reputation. It has a very diverse population and areas of great poverty.
However that diversity and an interesting history has led to lots of great tourist attractions and it is surrounded by beautiful countryside within a short drive.
I think you could do a lot worse for a UK holiday.

Well said @TreaslakeandBack

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned, but Brimham Rocks in Yorkshire is amazing. My teens loved it, and they're hard to please. Just don't go on a wet day!
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brimham-rocks

I also suggest Yorkshire Sculpture park, but again, best enjoyed when its dry as its quite spread out and good to take a picnic

I live in Bradford. Saltaire to be exact.

We have loads to do here. Bradford has such a bad rep but it's ace. We are so close to other cities and right on the doorstep of beautiful countryside.

I'd really recommend coming to Saltaire. Don't come on a Monday as everything is shut but otherwise there's loads to do. The mill is incredible, there's a really nice park and a few cool independent shops to check out and nice lunch spots.

I think everyone has covered the other places I'd advise to visit, but I really hope you have a great time!

I see a pp has mentioned Pateley Bridge. If you go there you can sample the world's best pork pies from Weatherhead & Sons. Lucky you!

Lots of excellent suggestions already come rain or shine.
I'll just add Nidderdale. Go to the village of Middlesmoor, walk to the church yard and take in the view right down the valley (amazing) then go for a walk in any direction.

I'm puzzling the Leicester bit as it's more than 100 miles from Bradford but maybe Op didnt realise.

As a local, this thread has made my day. Bradford comes in for a lot of unfair criticism, but i think it's an absolute gem of a place to live. So nice to see others with lots of positive things to say!

Also wanted to add, the rooftop cafe at the top of Kala Sangam arts centre in the city is a gorgeous place to have lunch. Beautiful outside terrace looking onto the equally beautiful cathedral. It's definitely a hidden gem. Great food and very reasonably priced too

Ooh Restless I didnt know that existed! Will definitely check it out! Also a local and am loving all the positivity Bradford is getting on this thread. So often we are overlooked as Leeds is so close, but it's a real gem and I wouldn't live anywhere else.