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?

Haworth is lovely and not too far out (still BD postcode), Otley is worth a visit too for farmers market. Worth Valley railway is a nice trip out too. Also Media museum, Bolling Hall museum, Cartwright Hall, (all within spitting distance of the city centre). A bit further out you've got Tropical world in Leeds, and Eureka! science museum in Halifax, both just a short drive.

@alexdgr8

why are people saying Howarth; i doubt that kids would like that. sounds like a boring school trip.

My kids all love Haworth. It's especially lovely at Christmas.

@jasminoide

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.

Ah, that makes sense. Perhaps (if you're coming from the south up the M1) you could take a look at Leicester on one of the journeys.

If you're going to visit Manchester, the museum of science and industry has stuff for all ages.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster.

Just looked up the Science & Media Museum’s webpage and it has loads of suggestions of things to do locally - all already mentioned here I think
But very helpful.
www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/visit/visit-bradford

So glad to know The Deep still as it's penguins. I live in Hull and just trying to drum up a bit of tourism to us. We don't get much Everyone always seems to forget about poor old Hull.

@Miniestelle

So glad to know The Deep still as it's penguins. I live in Hull and just trying to drum up a bit of tourism to us. We don't get much Everyone always seems to forget about poor old Hull.

Hull has a fab art Gallery too, but I have a soft spot for the penguins.

@Miniestelle

So glad to know The Deep still as it's penguins. I live in Hull and just trying to drum up a bit of tourism to us. We don't get much Everyone always seems to forget about poor old Hull.

There was a nice thread about Hull some time ago and the minority who posted tired rubbish about Hull not being very nice were given short shrift.

DP did a lot of work there during the city of culture and I came over and visited all the museums and galleries, had a wander round and we even had a lovely night out. We didn't get to The Deep, the nearby coast or the Humber Bridge country park but there's definitely enough to keep most people amused for a week.

I think you could say the same for most cities, if you're prepared to do a bit of research and have an open mind. After all, there's always parks, museums, sites of local interest, activities and independent restaurants plus the change of scene you get when you're away from home.

But a lot of the places suggested are in the Bradford area and have Bradford postcodes.

Haworth and Ilkley have Bradford postcodes but they’re absolutely nothing like the city of Bradford. Like chalk and cheese in fact.

@jasminoide if you are still here the fountains in the city have been switched back on :)

@cricketmum84 I'm very much here, can't wait to get away now! For some reason this thread doesn't show up on threads "I'm on", does anyone know why that is? If anyone else has something to add please tag me so I don't miss it.

@BarbaraofSeville Hull must have improved a lot since I was there.
Manchester I agree with, Haworth too.

[quote newnortherner111]@BarbaraofSeville Hull must have improved a lot since I was there.
Manchester I agree with, Haworth too.[/quote]
Well, 'improved' is a strong word.

Would it help if I added photos of the little magazine my kids have come home from school with? Full of ideas for the free or cheap things in the holidays!

@whoami24601

Would it help if I added photos of the little magazine my kids have come home from school with? Full of ideas for the free or cheap things in the holidays!

Yes please!

In Bradford I would do one day in the city centre with the media museum and the mirror pool and shops, arcades, lunch. If I really wanted to avoid the shops I’d drop in to Lister Park and Cartwright Hall which are a very short distance from the city centre.

I would do one day out in Haworth and go on the steam train and to the Bronte museum with a nice walk on the moor.

Then a day in Saltaire visiting Salt’s Mill, Robert’s Park and Shipley Glen Tramway.

I would do another day out to Ilkley with a trip to the lido, a leg stretcher to the cow and calf, a bit of an adventure to the stone circle, ancient carvings and modern art on the moor, and dinner in the pub up there with the best views.

Next day you’d find me in Malham where I’d do the cove and goredale scar, back via Janet’s Foss, maybe a dip in the water, dinner in the gorgeous Beck Hall.

Every single place above has a Bradford postcode (yes even Malham) and there’s something for everyone.

Bradford?!?! Oh Crikey! You're in for a shock & a half!

@tellmetologoffIamaMNaddict You are joking?! Bradford is the ghetto! Very, very dangerous place. There are many parts of Bradford that even the Police won't go! Knife crime is RIFE there.
I live in Harrogate and have had to go to Bradford a few times - never voluntarily

Don't be such a drama queen @PerciphonePuma. No-one has suggested thst the OP goes to Manningham Lane. All cities have less desirable areas.

@PerciphonePuma

Bradford?!?! Oh Crikey! You're in for a shock & a half!

I know, Bradford is truely awful. Call social services. The OP is taking her DC to the ghetto on holiday

Nicely illustrating the usefulness of Harrogate in keeping a lot of the snobs away from the rest of us.

Saltaire World Heritage site

First few

Next batch

[quote PerciphonePuma]@tellmetologoffIamaMNaddict You are joking?! Bradford is the ghetto! Very, very dangerous place. There are many parts of Bradford that even the Police won't go! Knife crime is RIFE there.
I live in Harrogate and have had to go to Bradford a few times - never voluntarily [/quote]
Oh bore off! There are some lovely parts of Bradford (such as where I live) and there are some not so nice parts of Bradford.

Exactly the same as every single city in the country.

@jasminoide after a few weeks your threads get moved to "watching" from "I'm on"

[quote PerciphonePuma]@tellmetologoffIamaMNaddict You are joking?! Bradford is the ghetto! Very, very dangerous place. There are many parts of Bradford that even the Police won't go! Knife crime is RIFE there.
I live in Harrogate and have had to go to Bradford a few times - never voluntarily [/quote]
I grew up in Harrogate and have been back there to live as an adult and I love Bradford.

Harrogate has its not so nice parts, it's not all Betty's and the Stray.