48 hours at Bradford 2025 for families
This two-day itinerary is packed with easy wins for family days out in Bradford District during UK City of Culture: free museums, big green spaces, and proper good food.
Published: June 26, 2025
Planning a family trip can feel like a full-time job. So we’ve done it for you!
There’s plenty to keep kids curious and active in this 48 hour guide to Bradford District - with enough culture, character and coffee stops to keep adults happy too.
Day 1: Fun, Food and Free Adventures in Bradford
Morning
Start your trip with a visit to the National Science and Media Museum – entry is free, and there’s loads to explore for all ages.
- Discover YOU:MATTER, created especially for Bradford’s year of culture, this is a playful and powerful experience exploring how we’re all connected.
- Don’t miss Wonderlab, packed with hands-on exhibits.
- And, brand new Sound and Vision Galleries, open from 10 July.
- While you’re in the city centre check out the Tower of Now sculpture, celebrating Bradford’s diversity.
- Plus, if you’re here on 25 or 26 July, BD: Festival is taking over – performers, food and loads more.
Lunch
Grab a bite in the city centre – there’s something for every taste and budget.
Cafe J’Adore – cosy and welcoming.
Pizza Pieces – great for a quick slice.
Chaat Chaska – Pakistani street food within The Broadway shopping centre.
Afternoon
- A walk to the peaceful and pretty Lister Park will take you 20 – 30 minutes from central Bradford, or you can catch the 662 Shuttle from Bradford Interchange or Forster Square.
- Let the kids run free in the adventure playground.
- Pop into Cartwright Hall Art Gallery (free entry) for a mix of culture and creativity. Check out their current family-friendly events.
Evening
End the day with a family dinner. You’ll be spoilt for choice:
MyLahore – Fun, modern British-Asian fusion with plenty the kids will love.
Sweet Centre Restaurant for authentic Kashmiri cuisine, a favourite with locals, and the original Sweet Centre serving traditional Asian sweets and snacks since the 60s.
La Caverna – woodfired pizza in atmospheric Sunbridgewells (Tue–Sat).
Mamma Mia Pizza, Jinnah, or Sapphire Bradford – all great options for a relaxed meal.
Day 2: Steam Trains, Story Trails and Brontë Country
Morning
- All aboard! Ride the historic Keighley & Worth Valley Railway from Keighley to Haworth – steam trains the whole family will love.
- Visiting between July and September? Don’t miss Bradford 2025’s magical The Railway Children experience.
Lunch
Settle in for a laid-back lunch in Haworth:
Picnic in the beautiful Central Park.
Pavé – for cheese, charcuterie and Italian-French tapas.
The Treehouse – hearty roasts and pizzas and a menu to keep everyone happy.
Afternoon
- Up on the moors above Haworth you can discover the Wild Uplands sculpture trail, brand new for Bradford 2025. Download family activity maps and find directions.
- Explore the Brontë Parsonage Museum – full of fascinating stories, with discounts for kids.
- Then go undercover with a Secret Spy Mission from Treasure Trails – a fun way to see the village.
Where to eat later on
Stay in Haworth for an early evening meal or head back to Keighley for something to eat.
Old Post Office – cosy vibes and Brontë history.
The Fleece Inn – traditional pub on Haworth main street.
Stefanos – a much loved Italian restaurant in Silsden.
The Curry House, Shimla Spice, Taylors on the Green and Amici are all close to Keighley Station, offer a warm welcome and excellent dinner menus.
Why not catch a family screening or storytelling evening at Keighley Picture House?
Make it a weekend to remember!
Plan your overnight stay and discover more family-friendly events across the district.
