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?

@whoami24601 I just got these pics from their Facebook page to show how lovely it is. We had a leaving lunch from work there a few weeks ago and the hospitality was spot on!

It's grim up north, hey?!

Amused how everyone is suggesting immediately leaving Bradford to look round somewhere else!

I agree @Hen2018

Actually lots of us have suggested things to do IN Bradford

@Hen2018 have you even read the thread as there are many, many suggestions of things to do in Bradford being made? In fact the flavour of the entire thread is that there are loads of things to do here!

Given the OP and her family is staying for three weeks, suggesting things to do in the wider area as well seems a fairly reasonable thing to do.

Cartwright Hall gallery is also definitely worth a visit. It's just 5 mins from the centre and is in a gorgeous park. Has rotating exhibitions but some permanent works from Hockney and Damian Hurst.

Also, Bolling Hall, which was a stately home dating back from 14th century is a great museum. Some great ghost stories from there! It's just out of the city centre

Has the mirror pool reopened in City Park yet? I tried to find an update about it but no joy.

@SecretKeeper1 not yet. My guess is they will switch it back on when restrictions lift, so hopefully soon!

Billy Bobs ice cream parlour always goes down well with mine.

If you want to go further I love The Deep in Hull but that is a bit of a trek.

Museum of media in Bradford was ace too

@Aprilinspringtimeshower

Leicester is miles away! Why?

As a native of Leicester I completely agree! Why?

[quote Restlessinthenorth]@SecretKeeper1 not yet. My guess is they will switch it back on when restrictions lift, so hopefully soon![/quote]
Thank you. Such a good place to be on a hot day, my kids loved it!

I wonder if Leicester was a mix up with Leeds?

@jasminoide I think you're going to need three months, not three weeks!

After climate change, when Bradford is capital of Britain, we'll be glad of all these amazing places to visit.

@Restlessinthenorth yes, thanks. The tips for going to Edinburgh or Wales amused me most. Why not go to Bradford then pop to London? Or the Arctic Circle?

If you feel like going that far, we went to Heights or Abraham in Matlock recently and it was amazing.

@Illogicalmadness did you miss the part where the OP asked for things to do near Bradford?
Not things to do in Scotland and Wales, entirely different countries that would take 4-5 hours to travel to

If you want Llamas in Yorkshire try Nidderdale llamas for a lovely llama and alpaca experience.

Thank you so much everyone, I'm taking note and can't wait to make our itinerary! The reason Manchester, Leicester and Sheffield are potential days trips is because dd1 has apllied to uni courses there so I thought we might as well take a look at the area seeing there are no open days.

@SecretKeeper1

Has the mirror pool reopened in City Park yet? I tried to find an update about it but no joy.

They were 'testing' it the past couple of days so it should be properly open again soon.

@Restlessinthenorth

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

Ooh thanks for the tip about the arcade

Definitely Tropical World at Roundhay Park. It's not a botanical garden as such but had different areas and plants from those parts. Plus as aquarium, bat enclosure, nocturnal mammals, reptiles, insects, meercats, terrapins. It's fab for not so great weather. York Gate garden in Adel and Harlow Carr are both good for gardeners . Theyre both beautiful and York Gate is very special. There's so many great places that have also been mentioned. Have a great time

And someone mentioned Bolling Hall. Fab for anyone who likes ghost stories and spooky places

Not sure I can add anything that hasn't already been suggested (haven't read the whole thread yet but York Chocolate Experience and Wensleydale Creamery are great if you're foodies) but watching for ideas for my holiday in Yorkshire next year.

Funnily enough I was chatting to a friend about Bradford the other day. Admittedly we only went for a day to visit the media museum but it didn't have any of the grot factor I was expecting and would happily visit again.

Not sure how old your kids are but you could take a trip to the (admittedly small) Colne Valley Museum in the beautiful Colne Valley to learn about life before the industrial revolution - chance to see how wool is turned into cloth and have a little go yourself. And then make like a real Northerner and take a walk round the res. May I recommend the stunning Butterley at Marsden :-)

Leeds industrial museum
Bradford industrial museum
Skipton
Howarth
Where they filmed last of the summer wine
The dales
The coast is lovely but I’d stay a few days as the roads as busy
Flamingo land is fine but not really smart