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?

[soundsgreektome]

Forbidden Corner at Leyburn, North Yorks. Fab place.

[MotherofPearl]

Yorkshire Sculpture Park?

How far is it from Harrogate? You could go to Betty's for a treat cream tea?

[whoami24601]

Tropical world at Roundhay Park. Whereabouts in Bradford and how old are DC? That's where I live so can give lots of ideas!

[MotherofPearl]

In Bradford itself your children may enjoy the Media Museum? Bradford home to some great curry restaurants.

Day trip to York? The Jorvik is good fun.

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Train into York for the day. Beautiful city, museums, cafes, street performers etc. V good day out.

[Frazzled2207]

Eureka in halifax is worth a look though loss best for younger kids.
York, Harrogate are good day trips.
Leicester is miles away.

[Getyourarseofffthequattro]

If your kids are smallies Eureka in Halifax is a good one to visit.

I second tropical world as well.

[MrsPnut]

Tropical World Butterfly house at Roundhay Park in Leeds is good and can be combined with The Royal Armouries museum too. The museum of film & television in Bradford itself is worth a visit too and we used to visit an amazing little Indian canteen near there too.

There is nothing at Flamborough except the lighthouse and if you are not nearby then it really isn’t worth it.

It might be a bit of a trek but How Stean Gorge is a great day out www.howstean.co.uk/ and there are other attractions near there such as Brimham Rocks and Harrogate.

[anotherwinkywinkybumbum]

Eureka, Science and Media museum, Bolton Abbey are a few of the things we did and had a fab time.

[evilkitten]

That is a massive area. Can't think of any indoor gardens, but there's RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate. Bradford is tricky for stuff to do - frankly it's grim - but National Media museum is good. York is good for a day out, the Dales aren't far away, Royal Armouries in Leeds, head over to Filey/Whitby ... there's loads to do.

[MrsPnut]

Also from Bradford, it’s easy to get to Howarth and the Bronte museum which is a nice visit.

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Where are you from? Would you consider a night away at the weekend? If so, I'd suggest coming up to the Northumberland coast one weekend (book a B&B for Saturday night).

Obvs not essential if you are coming from the North and are already local to that area but if you are from far away and knows the best chance to explore Northern England...

[Honeyroar]

Flamborough/Scarborough/Whitby/Bridlington are all lovely, as is the drive there. York is lovely. The Pennines are gorgeous. Unless you’re a city person I wouldn’t particularly bother with the city centres like Manchester, Sheffield or Leics. They’re nice enough but there are much nicer places to see outside them imo.

[GentlyGentlyOhDear]

Depending on ages... Thackeray medical museum in Leeds, agree with the Bradford media museum and Eureka too. Also what about Harewood House, or Lotherton Hall. Valley Gardens in Harrogate have an open air paddling pool for kids, a great playground and tennis courts/mini golf hire.
Canon Hall farm in Barnsley. Not sure if that would be too far. There are some nice parks on Leeds for a little free day trip - Horsforth (with sand pit play area), Otley has a nice Riverside one where you can often hire rowing boats, Meanwood and Roundhay parks in Leeds are nice with little cafes.

[delilahbucket]

Visit Haworth and go on the steam train!
Definitely Tropical World at Roundhay Park, Eureka in Halifax if you have young children, Legoland in Manchester, Doncaster Dome leisure centre, Whitby is a lovely seaside visit, Rex cinema in Elland is great for little ones as they have an interval. There is the media museum in Bradford but it isn't that great. Shipley Glen and St Ives are both on your doorstep as places to go explore and take a picnic.
Leicester isn't a 90 minute drive from Bradford, it's quite far.

[LawnFever]

A trip to Howarth which is a lovely village, visit the Brontes parsonage museum and a hike across the moors to top withens.

[GentlyGentlyOhDear]

Also Temple Newsham has lovely gardens.

[delilahbucket]

Forgot to add Shibden Hall in Halifax, home of Gentleman Jack 😁

[CustardGoodJamGoodMeatGood]

Eureka in Halifax and then maybe the Piece Hall for dinner, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Canon Hall Farm, anywhere on the East Coast (Whitby, Scarborough, Flamborough, Bridlington), York is a nice day out, media museum in Bradford is OK, Splash Park in Huddersfield if you have young kids, Betty's for Afternoon Tea in either York or Harrogate, Mother Shipton's Cave in Knaresborough, Yorkshire Wildlife Park, The Deep in Hull. There's plenty to do in Yorkshire and none of it far from Bradford!

[Juice9000]

Got to be honest “Holiday” and “Bradford” aren’t two words I thought I’d ever see together, but I guess that’s a predictable response!!
(Sorry, I did used to work there)

Best thing actually in Bradford is the museum of film & television.

[Beetlebum1981]

Saltaire is really quirky - Salts Mill exhibits David Hockney art work but also has a fabulous book shop.

Bolton Abbey is a gorgeous place to spend a sunny day - the river there is perfect for paddling.

Skipton is pretty and has a nice castle that's not too big to potter around. If you or DH like wine/whisky there's also the Wright Wine Company!
wineandwhisky.co.uk

[Idontgiveagriffindamn]

Harewood house has some gorgeous gardens and a brilliant playground. There’s also Thorpe Perrow in Bedale which has some stunning scenery.
Saltaire and Haworth are worth a visit if you like small villages and history.
Think someone has already mentioned the media museum. There’s also the royal armouries in Leeds.
The Dales are amazing and not that far away. If you have national trust membership then fountains abbey and brimham rocks are worth a visit. There’s also Malham and Kilnsey.
Also Billy Bobs I’ve cream parlour and American diner is worth visiting!

[ElderMillennial]

Harrogate
York
Skipton
Howarth

[Juice9000]

Definitely go to the Dales. Bolton Abbey & further on up to Strid Wood.
Malham Cove.

[jasminoide]

Thank you all so much, taking note of everything. Dc are 18, 16 and 12. The youngest 2 love animals so ideally we'd go to some sort of animal experience/farm, any suggestions of things close by? There's an alpaca place in Pudsey, it's very expensive though (about £100+ for 30 minute walk) has anyone been that can advise?