Getting Around Bradford: A Visitor's Guide
Bradford sits in West Yorkshire, with Leeds about 9 miles (14 km) to the east. For a visitor, the city is compact enough to explore on foot in the centre, while buses and trains handle longer hops across the wider metropolitan borough and to neighbouring towns. This guide covers the practical options: rail, buses, taxis, walking, and how to reach the city from its airport.
Arriving by Train
Bradford has two main railway stations, and knowing which one you need will save you time.
- Bradford Interchange is the main railway and bus station combined. It has trains to Manchester Victoria and Chester, Preston and Blackpool North, Leeds (about 20 minutes) and York, and Huddersfield. There are three direct trains a day to London King's Cross, but it is usually quicker to change in Leeds. Change at Leeds also for Birmingham and the southwest, and for Newcastle and Scotland.
- Bradford Forster Square sits about half a mile north of the Interchange. It has trains from Leeds (about 25 minutes via Shipley), Ilkley, and — via Saltaire — to Skipton.
Because the two stations serve different lines, check which one your service uses before you set out. If you are arriving from the south or southwest, changing at Leeds is generally the faster route into the city.
Buses and Public Transport
Bradford's bus station is inside the Interchange, making it the natural hub for onward travel. West Yorkshire Metro publishes timetables and route maps for the whole network, so it is the first place to check when planning a journey.
The likeliest bus trip for a visitor is to Leeds. First Bus runs the X6 to Leeds every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sunday, taking about 35 minutes. Bus 72 follows a similar route but with more stops, taking about 50 minutes. Bus X11 also runs to Leeds every 30 minutes, while Bus X63 runs to Huddersfield every 10 minutes.
For longer journeys, National Express runs direct buses from London Victoria (about six hours) as well as from Manchester city and airport, Liverpool, Birmingham, Oxford, Cardiff, Hull and Newcastle upon Tyne. Megabus offers one direct bus from London Victoria and two with a change at East Midlands Parkway.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
There are many taxi ranks in the city centre, but it is often cheaper to call and book rather than pick up a cab at a rank. Hackney Carriage white cabs can be flagged down anywhere within the city. Metro Taxis can be called on +44 1274 733733 or +44 1274 728999, with no call-out charge.
Walking and Driving
Central Bradford is walkable, and on foot you can take in the city's Victorian architecture, including the grand Italianate city hall, as well as attractions such as the National Science and Media Museum, the city park, the Alhambra theatre and Cartwright Hall.
Driving in Bradford, by contrast, is a tedious business. The many terraces open directly onto narrow thoroughfares, so you are often stuck behind a van waiting to turn right against oncoming traffic — and no sooner does it succeed than a taxi darts out from the left to take its place, before the lights ahead turn red. For most visits, public transport and walking will be less stressful than driving.
Getting from the Airport
Bradford is served by two airports, and the better choice depends on where you are flying from.
- Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) is about ten miles (16 km) north-east of the city centre along the A658. It offers a good choice of flights from Western Europe — for example Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Düsseldorf and Dublin — and within the UK from Southampton, Exeter, Belfast and Glasgow. The airport has no motorway or rail link, so the journey through traffic can be slow and anxious. Buses 737 and 747 between them run every 30 minutes from Bradford Interchange Station to the airport, taking about 50 minutes; the 737 runs via Shipley, while the 747 runs via Greengates and continues to Harrogate. Other buses run from the airport to Leeds, Otley, Ilkley and Keighley. Taxis are plentiful.
- Manchester Airport (MAN) is the better option for long-haul flights. From there, take any train towards Leeds and change at Huddersfield for Bradford Interchange; the journey takes about 1 hour 40 minutes.
Practical Tips
- Use Bradford Interchange as your default hub — it combines the main railway station and the bus station in one place.
- Check West Yorkshire Metro for timetables and route maps before travelling by bus.
- Book taxis by phone rather than relying on ranks if you want to save money.
- Allow extra time for airport transfers: Leeds Bradford has no rail link, and road traffic can be slow.
- For long-haul trips, Manchester Airport plus a train via Huddersfield is usually the smoother option.