If you’re visiting for our Open Day on Saturday 22 June, why not make a weekend of it?
There’s so much around Bradford to see and do. If you, or your son or daughter, consider Bradford as an option, it’s well worth spending a little time getting to know this fantastic city.
We suggest arriving the evening before your open day, so you’re fresh for our welcome talk the following morning. The Open Day runs until 3:00pm, leaving you with a free afternoon and evening to explore Bradford.
Here are our suggestions to help you make the most of your weekend in Bradford:
Friday evening
Food
If you arrive in Bradford hungry and keen to unwind, Sunbridge Wells is the place to go.
This unique food and drink experience lives within historic tunnels in the city centre. It offers a selection of places to eat and drink, and also features several quirky, independent shops.
Or…fancy a curry? Bradford has dominated the Curry Capital of Britain awards in recent years. The city is home to over one hundred Asian and Indian restaurants. Akbar’s and Mumtaz are highly-rated, and MyLahore, which is two minutes from campus, is a big favourite with our staff and students.
Entertainment
If you arrive early enough, you could catch an evening show at Bradford’s legendary Alhambra Theatre.
The European premiere of Little Miss Sunshine is running from 19 to 22 June.
Friday/Saturday Morning
Breakfast
We’d never recommend attending an Open Day on an empty stomach. With so much to get involved in, a hearty breakfast is essential.
Our early-opening city-centre recommendations include Guzelian, Tribeca and Café Patisserie.
Open Day, 9:00 – 15:00
The Open Day gets underway at 9:00am. We recommend you start in the Great Hall for our Welcome Talks which start at 9:15am and 12:00pm. Presented by Richard Warburton, the Artistic Director of Theatre in the Mill, our own on-campus theatre and a group of our students, the talk is always an entertaining and informative start to the day.
We then have a busy schedule of talks and tours throughout the day.
Friday/Saturday afternoon and evening
The Open Day finishes in time for weekend visitors to enjoy an afternoon around Bradford. There’s plenty to see and do:
Places to visit
The National Science and Media Museum is just a five-minute walk from campus.
You can visit the mind-bending, interactive Wonderlab gallery, or catch a movie in the region’s biggest IMAX cinema.
Next up, why not hit the shops in Bradford’s Broadway shopping centre? The complex offers over 80 big name stores. You can shop for fashion, electronics, media, and everything in-between.
You can also enjoy an evening meal here, with a number of restaurants in or nearby to the centre.
If you like to shop and dine away from the high street, the Piece Hall in Halifax is well worth a visit. This historic building dates from 1779 and is home to a unique selection of independent boutique stores, bars and restaurants. The Piece Hall is just 15 minutes away by train, from Bradford Interchange. Trains back to Bradford run until after 11:00pm, so you can make an evening of it.
Sunday
For a peaceful Sunday stroll, try a walk round Lister Park. Its boating lake, Mughal gardens, and the iconic Cartwright Hall are the perfect way to close your visit.
Lister Park is easy to reach from the centre of Bradford on foot, or by bus or car.
Fancy something different? Why not visit Roberts Park, Saltaire for the Bradford Dragon Boat Festival. Watch teams compete for victory and raise money for charity. The festival includes lots of other displays and attractions, including a fun fair, live music and international food stalls.
Dragon boat racing behind Salt’s Mill
cc-by-sa/2.0 – © John Smith – geograph.org.uk/p/5030200
For more information on things to see and do during your visit and time here as a student, take a look at our Discover Bradford page.
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