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!

Some Areas on the outskirts are - keighley centre itself, not so much.

Where in particular? It's a big place and you are using your one experience to paint the whole BD area, unfairly

Bradford has a great theatre the Alhambra I have seen some great west end performances there and yes so does Leeds

Honestly I can't remember where ex's family lived now, near the factory that used to make crisps. Or where it used to be; tiny little cottages. And the city centre was diabolical. I'm not being unfair, this was what I thought of the place. I won't even tell you what Leeds residents said.

OP asked what it's like. She's getting a broad view, and it's only fair if she's thinking of living there. I think it's rough. Nice architecture in some parts, though.

@@GiddyRobin- the crisp factory was in Allerton - on the road to Wilsden, Harden and Bingley..all perfectly good places to live.

Was it the one that did those salted crisps? In the red and white packet?

Maybe so for you, but even my ex thought it was a dump and he grew up there! It just felt bleak to me? And I'm Northern, so it's not a case of a shocked Londoner.

Fair enough though! We were usually around the city, though and I do think that's poor. Especially the market. Lovely Waterstones though, I did like that. The area around the media museum wasn't good, where abouts was that?

Seabrooks crisps?

I was about to say the same thing-Seabrooks factory was in Allerton, which was a perfectly nice place to live when I lived in Bradford. Now you have to go further out to find those nice places, like Bingley but the commute will be a bastard. I’d look at places like Garforth and Wakefield district. I was in Bradford yesterday, it really is a dump and actually doesn’t feel very safe, particularly to drive round.

Farsley or Pudsey is West side of Leeds close to Bradford so easy to commute to. Saltaire is absolutely gorgeous in Bradford.

Farsley ideal as lots going on and ten mins from Leeds and Bradford

Funnily enough I drove through it today! It used to be very wealthy so there are many beautiful Victorian buildings. Unfortunately it looks like it’s a pretty depressing place to live these days but that’s just going on how the place looks.

Worth mentioning that Ilkley and Skipton are not on the same train lines. I don't know if the services are reliable day in, day out - and if you are using a car as back up it's about an hour to get to Leeds from those towns. If not more.

I'd say Bingley is a good shout if you want to look further out from Bradford. Not as far as Ilkely and Skipton.

There’s a recent article in the Yorkshire Post about good places to live that are commutable to Leeds. Shipley, saltaire, bingley, Baildon and Apperley Bridge were the ones I remember. Also Ilkley (but ££) and Skipton (slightly less ££, but not cheap).

@GiddyRobin I taught for 10 years at the secondary school on Allerton (when it was Rhodesway and now Dixons) so I know the area well. I grew up in Bradford and my aunt worked for Seabrook crisps.

I live in the Lidget Green area of Bradford and work around the Great Horton/Horton Grange area. Yes, it's a deprived area, there's lots of litter, the driving is atrocious, the daily fireworks get annoying, but there is lots of good stuff about the area and the people who live here too. I actually like living and working in Bradford - I don't feel any less safe walking around the area or the city centre than I do in Leeds for example. Bradford as a whole has some lovely places to visit - Lister Park, Saltaire, museums and theatres, City Square, Waterstones bookshop.

If you can afford it, there are nicer places to live, but some people don't have a choice about where they can afford to live and so they make the most of the community where they live rather than branding the entire city as a shithole.

I will put this way. If we ever had to test our nuclear weaponry, I would suggest Bradford as a testing site.

OP, it's bloody awful especially if you're not from round there and are a bit "different" like disabled, ND, etc. So much anti-social behaviour, fireworks, appalling driving, litter, fly-tipping, cliquey families and friendship groups with various degrees of snark and unfriendliness. Even some of the smallest children are very rude and noisy, what my late Mum would describe as dragged up.(Source - I'm stuck in an area I won't mention on the Leeds-Bradford border, been here too long, and utterly desperate to get out).

Huge areas of the centre of Bradford are basically a ghetto with high deprivation and crime. My parents live in a village on the outskirts with a BD postcode and it’s lovely. Agree with comments about anywhere along the Aire or Wharfe valley train lines being nice - Saltaire, Bingley, Skipton, Ilkley - but the property will be more expensive.

@Miloarmadillo2 ghetto?!

Wow did she bring bag fulls home?

Grew up in Bradford but no Idea what's it is like now.

Wow, that's quite a horrible thing to say.

Threads about Bradford always bring out the worst of people who have never lived here.

Agree with those who say look at Shipley/Saltaire/Bingley. I live in Saltaire and it's beautiful. Loads of great independent cafes, restaurants, bars, shops. It's only 15 minutes into Leeds on the train and 10 minutes into Bradford. We go to the theatre a lot in Bradford and I like it for shopping when I can't be bothered going into Leeds. We are right on the moor here and there's some gorgeous walks to take advantage of. Loads of cultural stuff happening like cool art fairs, exhibitions, gigs etc. I am from the midlands originally but I'd never live anywhere else now.

I drove through a few years ago several times. Driving was appalling, people chucking rubbish out of car windows, litter and fly tipping everywhere. We were going to look at a car at a dealership that my husband had seen online. There was a sign on the counter saying they could no longer accept cash payments for car purchases. This wasn’t that long ago so suspect huge amounts of money laundering was going on previous to this.

The city centre isn't great and there are some rough bits but also some nice bits too. I grew up in nab wood which is nice. Saltaire is nice. My dad lives in Wilsden which has a nice rural vibe.

Yes Seabrooks! His Mum might have worked there for a bit? She was a librarian though so moved on I think, then spent time in Liverpool.

Ahh, well maybe it's just a matter of opinion then. His gran worked in Haworth and lost her finger in a mill - shit ex but some interesting stories.