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Bradford gained its status as a UNESCO world heritage site for film this decade and has gone from strength to strength since then. Although there are a varied collection of museums in Bradford, the jewel in the city’s crown, is definitely the National Science and Media museum. It was the first place in the UK to open IMAX and Panoramic cinema screens, it was the first place to open a live broadcasting studio in a museum and it’s now moving forward to incorporate the history of video games as well.
The Industrial Museum in Bradford is unlike others in the North, as it highlights the importance of how the industrialisation and the need for a larger workforce lead to the diverse cultural landscape of Bradford as a city today. These stories are represented through archive, demonstrated through machinery and responded to by contemporary artists working in Bradford today, helping us all to feel connected to our past. In a similar vein, the Police Museum is a fascinating journey through Law and Order over the past century. You can visit the Victorian cells or court and see the ornate batons of 19th century bobbies.
Another Victorian gem is Cliffe Castle: this old manor house has been preserved and expanded with exhibitions of Natural History, Minerals and Molecules, and of course the outrageously lavish collection of art from the home’s former resident Henry Isaac Butterfield. With the surrounding park and an extensive playground, it’s a great day out for the whole family.
Although it’s the smallest of the Museums in our guide, The Peace Museum should not be underestimated. The collection of peaceful objects here each link to a time and place where someone has taken action towards a more peaceful world. Walking through the exhibits is a very powerful experience and will have you motivated to become more active in your peacemaking role in the world today.
Scroll down to find out more about our top picks of museums in Bradford.
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1. The National Science and Media Museum
Courtesy of the National Science and Media Museum The National Science and Media Museum, The National Science and Media Museum, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1 1NQ - Visit now
Visit the Science and Media Museum to explore how light and sound work and how film, television and video games have developed, with interactive exhibitions a live studio and a one of a kind cinema it shows how Bradford earned its reputation as a UNESCO city of Film.
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2. The Peace Museum
Courtesy of The Peace Museum -
3. Cliffe Castle Museum
Image courtesy of Stephen Craven / Cliffe Castle museum, Keighley. -
4. Bradford Industrial Museum
Courtesy of Bradford Museums and Galleries Bradford Industrial Museum, Moorside Mills, Moorside Road, Eccleshill, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD2 3HP - Visit now
Bradford’s Industrial Museum transports you back to the city’s former incarnation as a powerhouse of the North. See working machinery, the living spaces of both the mill owners and workers, as well as contemporary responses to the archive.
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5. Bradford Police Museum
Courtesy of The Bradford Police Museum
Places to go / stay / shop / eat / drink
Bradford Visitor Guides
Walks in Ilkley
Our top picks of walks in Ilkley, be it a tame stroll in-and-out of the cultural hot-spots or a well-performed hike.
Walks in Bradford
A round-up of the best walks in Bradford, including the city centre, its parks, and around key attractions by Creative Tourist.
Bradford District Guides
Things to do in Ilkley
Our guide to the best things to do in Ilkley, including places to eat and drink, shopping and cultural attractions.
Things to do in Saltaire
There are plenty of things to do in the village of Saltaire, so we’ve rounded up some of our favourites in this guide.
Theatres in Bradford
As the birthplace of J.B. Priestly and the home of the Alhambra, the city’s longstanding thespian tradition ensures there are no lack of theatres in Bradford.
Music Venues in Bradford
Bradford has a reputation for intimate gigs and rowdy rock nights, we’ve rounded up the best places to see both in our guide of music venues in Bradford.
Art Galleries in Bradford
Bradford has given us giants of the visual art world such as David Hockney and Ian Beesley, check out our guide of art galleries to find the best places to experience art in the city.
