Bradford

[Lisanoonan]

What is Bradford like? I'm starting a new job in Leeds next month. I'll be renting in Leeds for a while.

But I was looking at property prices, to buy in the future.

I see that there are some nice and affordable apartments in Bradford. Which is not far from Leeds

Does anyone know much about the place? What's it like? Thanks!

Bradford is an amazing city full of culture and so much to do. I love it though it is so big I’d do a bit of research about the best places to live. There’s a lot around Leeds, you’ll be spoilt for choice

I agree with posters saying this.

Lots of commutable and more affordable options as well as the very expense upmarket Leeds neighbourhoods and the super cheap for a reason areas. OP, maybe you could rent somewhere convenient for your new job that's reasonably cheap and spend your free time getting to know the areas and your options. You've had good advice on here already. Apart from Horsforth, unless you are loaded/ win the lottery! (Horsforth IS lovely but very expensive!)

First of all where in Leeds will you be working!

Horsforth has great transport links and a good community and services, but it's very expensive as a result!

Farsley and Pudsey are halfway between Bradford and Leeds and also great communities with lots of shops, restaurants, things going on.

Same distance but south of Leeds is Morley with Garforth to the east. Plenty of people commute into Leeds from Wakefield area too.

Innit boss.

Wetherby is expensive has a terrible highschool and is soulless
Ilkley is expensive and pretty sedate ( booths is great) but has access to amazing outdoor activities.

A lot of the hate towards Bradford is Islamaphobia. It has a large Muslim population and people say it's like Pakistan. I want to emphasise that I like Bradford and there are many nice places to live there. My colleague lives there and absolutely loves it. She's white, British and has no problem with the demographics. Just bear in mind that some of the people hating it are the type of people who call London "Londonistan".

Iv only visited Bradford once and I was really surprised at how bad it was. We stayed in a place only about a ten maybe 15 minute walk from the station, and there was so so much deprivation. Open drug dealing taking place, (really quite young kids/youngteens too which I found upsetting). People openly drinking on the street. We got people (men) saying stuff as we passed (not that it matters but we weren’t dressed up, just jeans and jumper) Very dirty streets and buildings that were quite obviously abandoned etc some of the driving was atrocious too, nearly got run over twice with driver cutting a corner by going actually up on the pavement.

im not posh In anyway, grew up I what would be called a very rough area actually different rough areas over the years. Iv been homeless and was friends/knew people who were up to all sorts or dealing with addictions or working as sex workers etc. i Have friends from all backgrounds from the poorest upwards. So I’m not someone who really cares too much about or even thinks about being worried about that stuff if that makes sense but we were at a restaurant down the road from where we were staying and realised the it was a byob place and when I suggested going to the shop for a bottle to have with the meal the person I was with didn’t want me going alone.
also not that it matters I am mixed race and have absolutely no problem with the mixed demographic in Bradford in-fact it was a draw as I thought we would get some lovely food while there.

im not judging and I’m absolutely sure I only saw one part of what is obvious a big city with lots of people so it can’t all be like that but I wouldn’t live there and probably wouldn’t visit again unless I had a specific reason.

we found an absolutely lovely cafe though, food was gorgeous and staff were lovely. Loads of Asian families or groups of Asian women enjoying brunch. Mmm I remember that lunch very fondly.

its a shame as I was quite excited to go and while I’m sure my experience may not be a full picture it really has put me off.

Virtually everyone on mumsnet thinks York is magical and a wonderful place it often get suggested as a wonderful place to live. I've seen drug taking , drug dealing, shop lifting, racism, fighting, domestic violence, adults using the street as a toilet.
Bradford is a big place that's diverse as are most places. Do you have any areas in mind?

Bradford, like anywhere has its good and bad points. I live in Haworth and it's fine. However, If you can afford Leeds do that instead, the commute can be awful.

This is what I was going to say. A canal and a couple of nice pubs, and close to "upmarket" Rawdon. There's a park and ride at the station and it's handy for the airport.

I've never been to Bradford myself; I live on the other side of the Pennines but DBro and his GF have recently bought a house in Farsley mentioned upthread and they love the area. Both previously lived in London.

One thing about the train service..yes it’s not far but the trains can be unreliable esp in winter. My colleague commuted from Shipley every day and was always moaning about the service.
Any reason you dont want to live in Leeds apart from house prices? I would say there are more grubby parts of Bradford than there are in Leeds and the city centre is pretty soulless. However most city centres are decaying at the moment!

Bradford is known for excellent curry houses!

Look in bingley. 15 mins on train. Don't stay in an apartment in Bradford, it's grim.

Farsley is delightful. Really gentrified in last 10 years or so and gone up a lot in price.

^ agreed.

Bingley is fab too. More of town in its own right outside of Bradford than a neighbourhood of Leeds like Farsley is. Although Farsley residents make us all smile fondly by calling Farsley "the village".

I wouldn’t. No train. Unreliable buses - 1 an hour (if you are lucky and the driver showed up! The local MP got involved, it’s that bad). Exactly why I moved away from Wetherby, because it was an absolute bastard to get to work in Leeds. Decent pubs and restaurants are moving away. Loss of Sant Angelo, Cora and Southbank just can’t be made up for with the Black Bull!

Morrison’s in Wetherby has a really decent cheese selection. That’s the nicest thing I can say about it.

Rough. I lived in Leeds for a while and Bradford was known to be shit. My ex had family there and I loathed visiting. Run down, and no one who lives in Bradford wants to live in Bradford. It was the laughing stock of Leeds.

Areas around Wetherby will be more expensive. Apperley Bridge, Bingley, Saltaire, Shipley all good. I wouldn't buy a flat near the city centre , Manningham, Great Hortnon..I used to live in Lidget Green and when I go back I can see the area struggling.
All in all I wouldn't work in Leeds and buy in Bradford mainly because of the busy, slow commute each day. Like others have said I would look in Farsley, Pudsey..

Try Keighley its lovely.

I do know about it. I actually currently live in Dewsbury. My friend actually lives in Clayton which is outskirts of Bradford towards Halifax. Around that area it’s very country side nice big fields to walk dogs etc. Bradford is having massive improvements the roads atm in city centre nightmare because culture capital 2025 Bradford has won that and will be doing events all next year.
there are regular trains between Leeds and Bradford buses to

Pudsey farsley close to Leeds. But if you like a small town not a lot going for it but if you like a base I have gorgeous country views then try certain areas of dewsbury not all say mirfield, thorn hill, or some areas near batley as train only 15 mins from Leeds