things to do in Leeds/Bradford

Janeyjaz

We are staying in Bradford next weekend - thanks to Orbitz and wondered if anyone can suggest good things to do - 2 boys aged 16 & 11 - thought about The Royal Armouries and Brimham rocks - any ideas?
Thank you

ruthha_2

Theres a imax in the centre of bradford thats free and lots of things to watch and touch . The currys are very good and very cheap at about £ 5 a head. Kasmir near the imax . Cow and calf at Ikleys free and the views wonderful.
Shipley glen railways for under £ 1 each .

skintlass

Bolton abbey or Haworth are fairly close and good walking.

melb

the Imax referred to is in the Bradford Museum of Film and Television which is well worth a vist. It is free (the Imax isn't you have to pay admission unless it's changed in the last year) but your kids would love the museum. You can request a TV programme and go into a little booth and watch it. My 2 chose Bagpuss which we all enjoyed! There's a pretend Television studio where you can film yourself reading the news and see yourself doing it on the TV and also real cameras you can have a go on. there's a magic bit upstairs with optical illusions. There's an indoor ice-skating rink in centre of Bradford not far from this museum. Salts Mill at Saltaire has a lovely feel and a n exhibition of Hockney's work and a lovely (though a bit pricey) restaurant. Leeds Market is great for a wander round.

foodiestudent

I assume you have a car or some form of transport... if not, most of the following are easy to get to on the bus/train...

*Temple Newsham House and Farm (Council Run so pretty cheap)
*Bradford Film and Photography Museum (FREE - that's the one the poster ^ was saying with the IMAX)
*Kirkstall Abbey (FREE) and Kirkstall Museum (again, Council Run. Has recreation Victorian Streets!)
*The Royal Armouries (FREE - They have jousting etc on at weekends)
*Leeds City Museum and Art Gallery (FREE)
*National Coal Mining Museum. It's near Wakefield, rather than Bradford, but great if your kids are into going underground and exploring etc.
I'd also second the cow and calf rocks if the weather's good. Great for a picnic and the view's amazing.

Bolton Abbey near Ilkley is also lovely - near the Cow and Calf too, so maybe a combined trip? Some little walks near the river and woods. I think the Parking is about a fiver but the grounds and Abbey are free.

Hope that helps! Most of those are Leeds-based, I don't know Bradford so well!

zax47

In case you are trying (unsuccessfully) to find a website for it, the old "Museum of Film, Photogrpahy and Television" in Bradford was re-named the "National Media Museum" following the last re-vamp several years ago!

http://www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/

A more unusual option is the Thackray Musuem of Medicine in Leeds, nr St James hospital . My nephews loved it.

http://www.thackraymuseum.org/

markandkate

We stayed in Shipley about 5 miles from Bradford a few weeks ago and would recommend Saltaire It is a village built by a mill owner for the workers much in the style of Bournville or Port Sunlight. There is Salts Mill with an exhibition of David Hockney paintings.

When in Bradford you MUST have at least one curry

All the previous ideas are good but many of the places mentioned are now owned by National Trust and I think that parking at Brimham Rocks at £4 is very OTT. Ilkley is very posh and the moor is a way out of town

McKneff

Lightwater Valley at Ripon would be ideal for your kids at their age.
Have a look at their website, there are sometimes some special offers on.

Brimham Rocks - they would be bored stupid.

Isnt there something called Xscape just outside Leeds on the Hull Road.

Janeyjaz

thats a great help - just need some sunshine

zax47

McKneff wrote: »

Isnt there something called Xscape just outside Leeds on the Hull Road.

Well kind of...... if by "just outside Leeds" you mean at Glasshoughton, Castleford (nearer Wakefield than Leeds) and "the Hull road" you mean the M62 - it's off J32.

Xscape-Castleford

It's great fun, but boy is it expensive - just one "lap" of the "Skyride" aerial assault course is £7 (off peak, 9am-5pm) or £8 (peak, after 5pm). Get a 2nd mortgage if you want to use the SNO!Zone Indoor ski slope.

Xscape -Castleford, SNO!Zone prices

Janeyjaz

Star Trek is on - the boys have already seen it - but to see it at IMax - brilliant