Get Outside with Bradford 2025

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor

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Get Outside with Bradford 2025

Until 31 December 2025

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Get Outside with Bradford 2025: An image of a large man made pool with fountains in front of a historic building with a clock tower
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Bradford 2025 – UK City of Culture is in full swing, with cultural happenings blooming all over the city and the wider district. Below are just some of the ways in which you can experience the larger-scale public commissions. These site-specific works, most of which are free, are designed for the outdoors and show how world-class talent and local perspectives can combine to create remarkable experiences for everyone.

Step into the moorland above the city with the newly commissioned visual artworks that form Wild Uplands, a collection of site-specific pieces from internationally renowned artists. You can explore these while listening to Earth & Sky, a sound walk created by Opera North, combining new music, field recordings and the works of Bradford-born Frederick Delius. You can also watch the city transform with BD Walls, an ever-growing open-air gallery of new large-scale street art.

For performance with a difference, seek out The Railway Children, a spectacular production that blends theatrical magic with Yorkshire’s railway heritage. Step into the world of the Waterbury children as you board a real steam train and set off down the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, before experiencing a fresh staging of the show in a specially built auditorium.

To get between all these outdoor happenings, check out the walking trails of Bradford on Foot, 25 curated routes showing off the best of the city and surrounding area.

Get outside with Bradford 2025. Scroll down to find out more.

Our top picks

Bradford on Foot

Bradford on Foot, Until 18 October 2025, Free entry - Visit now

Get outside with one of the 25 specially devised walking trails in and around Bradford, as part of UK City of Culture 2025. Whether you’re looking to get into nature, connect with local history, or find accessible ways to enjoy the city outdoors, there’s something for everyone – and it’s all completely free.

Bradford on Foot
Courtesy Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Image credit: David Lindsay

BD Walls in Bradford

BD Walls, Until 31 December 2025, Free entry - Visit now

Street art takes centre stage in BD Walls, with vibrant murals transforming the city of Bradford into an open-air cultural gallery.

BD Walls
Courtesy of Bradford 2025 - UK City of Culture. Image credit: David Lindsay

Wild Uplands at Penistone Hill Country Park

Wild Uplands at Penistone Hill Country Park, Bradford, Until 12 October 2025, Free entry - Visit now

Inspired by the surrounding landscape, four new large-scale public art commissions will embed themselves into the Bradford Moorlands this summer.

Wild Uplands at Penistone Country Park
Courtesy of Bradford 2025 - UK City of Culture. Image credit: Nida-Mozuraite.

Earth & Sky at Penistone Hill Country Park

Earth & Sky at Penistone Hill Country Park, Bradford, Until 12 October 2025, Free entry - Visit now

Opera North soundtrack your journey through the Uplands with three new commissions and a homage to Bradford-born composer Frederick Delius. Using state-of-the-art geolocation technology, you can listen to a curated soundscape that transitions as you move through the moor.

A woman wearing a long green jacket and a speckled dress stood infront of a wall.
Courtesy of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Image credit: Tom Arber

The Railway Children at Keighley and Worth Valley Railway

The Railway Children at Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, Bradford, 16 July–7 September 2025, From £10.00 - Book now

Steam-powered storytelling at its very best and perfectly staged for Bradford 2025, this much-loved classic is pulling into the station in spectacular style this summer.

The Railway Children at Keighley and Worth Valley Railway
Courtesy Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Image credit: Guy Farrow

Where to go near Get Outside with Bradford 2025

Ancoats
Restaurant
Bruco

Bruco is a new restaurant in Ancoats, serving up stylish Italian small plates.

Samsi
Manchester
Restaurant
Samsi

Long-standing Japanese restaurant on Whitworth Street in Manchester with a pleasingly affordable menu.

The Pavilion Gardens, which also houses the Pavilion Arts Centre, is a beautiful, historic venue dating back to 1871 which superbly shows off the Victorian splendour of Buxton. Set within twenty three acres of magnificent, landscaped gardens and play areas, the venue provides the perfect setting for fun and relaxing family days out, with great food and drink, shopping and over 100 events and festivals throughout the year.
Buxton
Cinema
Pavilion Arts Centre

A historic gem in Buxton’s Pavilion Gardens, Pavilion Arts Centre houses an intimate 360-seat theatre and cinema.

Leeds
Gallery
The Sculpture Gallery

The Sculpture Gallery is an outstanding new gallery, of pure sculpture, showcasing the work, not only of the six owners but guests also.

A club bedroom at Malmaison Leeds
Leeds
Hotel
Malmaison Leeds

Malmaison Leeds is a historic and dramatic building, full of character and individual style. Beautifully refurbished quirky bedrooms with power showers, blackout curtains and great beds.

On The Wall is a funky independent shop that sells a wide range of creative and artistic items including, posters, art prints, canvases, greeting cards and merchandise/gifts. They also offer a bespoke framing and canvas printing service and a screen printed t- shirt service. If you are looking for something more unique and inspiring they also sell work by local artists.
Leeds
Shop
On The Wall

Bright, bold and full of character, On the Wall pairs expert framing with prints, posters and gifts inside Leeds Corn Exchange.

Leeds
Restaurant
Canned Heat

Canned Heat is an independent bottle-shop & bar in the heart of Chapeltown, Leeds. Born out of a passion for Music, Art and Community.

Chorlton
Restaurant
Yane

Friendly neighbourhood restaurant in Chorlton, specialising in authentic Japanese cuisine such as donburi, katsu kare and traditional pickles, made in-house.

Creatures Comedy Club
Manchester
Theatre
Creatures Comedy Club

Whether you’re a die-hard comedy fan or just after a spontaneous night out, there’s something here for everyone. Open 7 nights a week.

What's on: Festivals

The Herds, The Walk Productions
FestivalsManchester
MIF25: THE HERDS

Manchester International Festival 2025 kicks off with an awe-inspiring outdoor spectacle as THE HERDS take to the streets of Manchester, Rochdale, and Wigan.

Free entry
CinemaManchester
YANK at Cultplex

Thirteen movies to get to know the United States of America. Cultplex presents a season of film exploring America through its own lens.

From £7.50

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