Discover 170 years of Bradford Festival Choral Society through photographs, programmes and stories from its remarkable archive. Explore Victorian Bradford, garden parties, balls and everyday choir life, and meet the people and places behind its history. Visitors can also share their own memories, photographs or memorabilia and help uncover more of the choir’s story. Book […]

Discover Bradford Beck, the City’s underground river, integral to its historical development. We’ll follow the Plaque Trail through the City centre, following the underground route of the Bradford Beck, and hear tales of medieval mills, breweries, tanners, strikes, floods, bridges and buildings. And uncover a winning poem. Led by Friends of Bradford’s Becks volunteer and […]

Roll up, roll up! Step up, have a go, and claim your bragging rights. Take on our heritage carnival games — Roll‑a‑Coin, Ball‑in‑a‑Bucket and Table Quoits — led by our very own Victorian Carnival Host. Also enjoy some live music and look out for historical character Florence White making an appearance! Free drop in event […]

Explore Victoria Hall at the heart of Saltaire World Heritage Site and discover its rich history, from Victorian beginnings to its role in the recent film The Choral. Enjoy Wurlitzer organ concerts, piano recitals and displays, meet local historians and trustees, and find out more about this remarkable building’s past, present and future.

Learn about Victoria Hall’s through short slideshows on Victoria Hall’s backstory, The Hall’s Conversaziones, and The Founding of Saltaire. The slideshows will run alongside each other, all day, in the Hall’s Evans Room. It’s FREE, and all are welcome. The slideshows will be one part of a varied programme within Victoria Hall.

Discover Grade II* listed St Helen’s Church, designed by John Carr of York and completed in 1776. See its remarkable east window, dating from 1700 and described as an important example of English glass painting, alongside the church’s distinctive blend of Gothic and classical architecture. Teas available nearby at Weston Hall. Teas available at Weston […]

Explore Bradford’s past through the everyday lives connected to one of the city’s most historic buildings. Discover centuries of stories through self-guided and specialist tours, displays and talks from local historians Cat Stiles and Derek Barker. There will also be children’s activities, historical dressing up and refreshments from the pop-up café.   Talks and Tours […]

Join Bingley Suffragette Nell Kenney for a guided from Saltaire to Shipley Glen up to the site of the Monster Suffragette Rally. The tour includes a ride on the magical Shipley Glen Tramway up the glen, hear about the sacrifices and bravery of the suffragettes, ending with a morale boosting song on the glen! Book […]

Experience Low Moor 1916, a powerful live performance telling the story of a community devastated by war and the catastrophic munitions factory explosion that killed 40 people. Six performers bring the year to life through drama, music and song, exploring the events leading up to a tragedy described as an accident waiting to happen.   […]

Celebrate J.B. Priestley’s birthday with Bradford poet and showman Glyn Watkins at Napoleon’s Casino. Hear stories of Priestley’s life and work, including the remarkable ‘Priestley Pie’ that survived a German bomb. Tickets include pie, peas, chips and gravy, making this a fittingly Bradford celebration of one of the city’s most famous writers. Tickets for the […]

Come and visit Hoyle Court Masonic Hall. Originally the home of the Ambler family, who were Bradford Mill owners. The building has been a Masonic Hall since the late 1950s. Alongside the Masonic temple room, there is also an Egyptian temple toom and many other rooms to explore, together with beautiful gardens.

The historic house on Market Street in Thornton is well known as the birthplace of the Brontës, but what happened to it after they moved? Uncover the house’s long history of being the local family-run butchers shop in our exclusive exhibition. The exhibition is available to explore at your own leisure throughout the day, with […]

Join us at Cliffe Castle to explore the rich sporting and leisure heritage of the district, uncovering the stories of local clubs, games, hobbies and pastimes that have brought communities together over the years. Enjoy a new display featuring Keighley Cougars Memorabilia, and celebrating it’s community impact. What are your memories of the club?

Join us at Northcliff Miniature Railway! Why not bring the family to Northcliff Woods, Shipley (not the park)? Take a ride on our miniature railway through the woods. Perhaps bring a picnic and make a day of it? Northcliff Railway will be open on Sunday, 13th September from 13:30-16:00. The clubhouse and tracks will be […]

This free in-person circular guided walk, with a guide in costume as ‘Samuel Lister’, will include fascinating buildings and people from the past and present, plus some future plans. Whether you are a current or former resident of the area or an interested Bradfordian, a visitor or a student, you are very welcome to join […]

Celebrate J.B. Priestley’s birthday with Bradford poet and stand-up historian Glyn Watkins on a lively walking tour through the city he knew. Starting at Priestley’s statue outside the Science & Media Museum at 14:00 on Sunday 13 September, hear performed extracts on trams, fountains, beer, wool and wartime Bradford, finishing at North Parade. In front […]

Step inside Grade II* listed St George’s Hall for a talk and backstage tour celebrating the everyday heroes who have kept this historic venue running. Discover the stories of stonemasons, roofers, plasterers, technical crews, front and back of house teams, cleaners and many others whose work has supported generations of performances. Book your spot!

Step inside Bradford Archives for a pop-up exhibition celebrating the lives and passions of everyday Bradfordians. Explore original records spanning Victorian times to the present day, with stories of shopping, work, play and transport, and chat with archive staff about the collections and how you can use them.

Discover how colour has shaped everyday life through clothing, workwear, home furnishings and design. Explore rarely seen objects from the SDC Textile Collection and uncover the stories woven into the colours that surround us, revealing how colour has influenced the way people have lived, worked and expressed themselves over time.

As part of Bradford Heritage Open Day week, Bradford Local Studies is holding an exhibition of William Scruton work with a short talk about his life and pen & pencil drawing workshops. William Scruton (1842–1924) was a prominent local historian, journalist, and artist who documented the architectural and social history of Bradford during the 19th century. Pen […]

Join Ilkley Civic Society Local History Hub on a guided walk in the centre of Ilkley looking at the work of these local builders from 1860s to 1940s. We shall be able to go inside All Saints Church and see other public buildings houses and shops that they worked on.   To book call Alex […]

Colin Neville, curator of the Not Just Hockney website, will illustrate the lives and artwork of eight past visual artists who lived in the Shipley and Saltaire areas: Lise Bayer, George Brumfitt, Jack Coulthard, Margaret Firth, Govinder Nazram, Fred and May Stead, and William Capeling Stevens. He will also present a brief illustrated history of […]

The Topic Folk Club invites new and seasoned performers to a special Heritage Open Days singers’ night on 17 September. Arrive from 7pm for supportive guidance and space from friendly musicians, with the main session from 7.30pm. Expect live music, advice, tips and breakout space throughout. A warm, creative, heritage evening at The Castle Pub, […]

Step back into the 17th century through dance, music and history in this lively, hands-on workshop. Learn how people danced during this fascinating period before trying the steps for yourself. This free participatory session includes regular breaks; comfortable clothing, suitable shoes and water are recommended. Spaces are limited, so advance booking is required. Book your […]

Discover the story behind Resist – Claire Wellesley-Smith’s textile artwork inspired by Bradford Women’s Humanity League. Resist reimagines the 1917 march through textiles, found materials, natural dyes and hundreds of hand-stitched marks. The repeated stitches echo the rhythm of walking , transforming each mark into an act of remembrance and resistance. This is an opportunity to discover […]

Join an artist talk exploring Akbal Singh Kang’s journey from Punjab to Yorkshire through photographs documenting migration, family, work and community life in Bradford. Discover the experiences of a generation building new lives and shaping the city, before having the opportunity to explore the accompanying 4000 Miles To Home exhibition. Please note Gurj Kang’s exhibition […]

Go behind the scenes at Bradford Playhouse for a day celebrating the history of this 1930s Art Deco theatre. Take a backstage tour, explore archive displays, follow the family-friendly Alfie Trail and share your own Playhouse memories. Discover stories from its past, famous alumni and recent restoration work. Entry is free.   Tours at 11:00, […]

Explore 150 years of Hanson School through powerful stories of pupils, teachers and pioneers who helped shape Bradford and beyond. Discover wartime histories, suffragette teachers and groundbreaking educational reform through talks, displays and hands-on activities, with opportunities to contribute your own memories and stories to the growing museum archive. Craft workshops will run throughout the […]

Explore St Mary’s Church in Burley in Wharfedale and discover its beautiful stained glass, oak choir stalls, pulpit and altar rail crafted by renowned woodcarver Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson. See how many of his signature carved mice you can spot, enjoy a family-friendly quiz and relax with light refreshments during your visit.

Visit St Mary’s Church, Wyke, the much-loved ‘Church on the Hill’, which has served the community since 1847. Wander around this historic place of worship at your own pace, with free family activities for parents, carers and children taking place in the church hall during the afternoon, plus light refreshments.

Visit SS John Fisher & Thomas More Roman Catholic Church in Burley-in-Wharfedale and enjoy a warm welcome as part of Heritage Open Days. Take the opportunity to explore this local place of worship, discover more about the church and spend time looking around at your own pace during the open day.

Join Low Moor Local History Group for a guided walk exploring the devastating 1916 munitions factory explosion that killed 40 people, including six firemen. Visit locations affected by the blast and uncover the story of the factory, the surrounding community and a tragedy whose original site now lies beneath landfill.   Meeting Point: Victoria Park […]

Step into Keighley’s past through rarely seen photographs, historic maps, sale plans and images from Ian Dewhirst’s archive. Discover local people, family life, vanished streets, factories, mills, shops and familiar places, revealing the everyday moments, communities and people that have shaped Keighley’s rich and diverse history over time.

Join us at Bradford Industrial Museum for a Bradford Calico Dress patch making sessions. Complementing our ‘Made by Many Hands’ Exhibition. Use textiles, colour and creativity to make a patch that reflects your story and becomes part of a unique community project. Patch making is open to everyone, no experience necessary, with our friendly helpers […]

Join local historian and Brontë expert Paul Crossley for a free two-hour walking tour of historic Thornton, birthplace of the Brontë sisters. Starting at the Brontë Birthplace, explore key sites including the Bell Chapel ruins, Kipping House, South Square Centre and the village’s distinctive snickets and ginnels along the way. Book your spot here! Or […]

Enjoy a wild day out at Shipley Glen with free outdoor activities for all ages. Try den building, foraging, bug hunting, nature play and creative workshops led by wildlife experts, while discovering what makes Bradford’s nature reserves so special and how local habitats can be protected and restored for the future.

Try your hand at Arabic calligraphy with artist Razwan Ulhaq at Bradford Industrial Museum. Discover how Razwan created nine pigments from Bradford’s rivers, buildings and even its football ground, then use handmade bamboo pens to create your own work. Suitable for complete beginners and those with previous calligraphy experience and skills. Book your spot!

Celebrate 175 years of St Luke’s Church at the heart of East Morton village. Explore this welcoming historic church and enjoy a special exhibition created by the Morton Archive Group, highlighting local stories and heritage. Visitors can also discover the church’s recently reordered interior and enjoy refreshments during their visit.

Explore the lives of Bradford people buried at historic Undercliffe Cemetery on a guided tour led by local researchers. Hear remarkable stories uncovered through a five-year project documenting those laid to rest here since 1854, discover the cemetery’s rescue and restoration, and explore this beautiful 26-acre hilltop site at your own pace. Book your spot […]

Celebrate Bradford’s rich cycling heritage at Darley Street Market, from pioneering clubs and record-breaking riders to traditional bicycle frame making. Enjoy a film about Pennine Cycles, historic bikes and archive images, hands-on family activities, and meet local cycling organisations helping to shape the future of cycling across the district today.

Discover the hidden stories of women who fought for the vote in Saltaire and Shipley. Explore a small exhibition, meet HerVote100 volunteers, try on suffrage hats and sashes and enjoy craft activities, while learning about the campaign to commemorate the historic Great Shipley Glen Rally of 1908 with a new plaque.

Discover the Victorian roots of Bradford’s football culture with sports historian John Dewhirst. Explore the rise of rugby and association football, the story of early clubs, Park Avenue glory and huge crowds, and find out how these sporting traditions helped shape community life and laid the foundations for Bradford’s modern sporting identity. Book your spot!

Celebrate Bradford’s heritage crafts at Bradford Industrial Museum with a special day inspired by the Made by Many Hands exhibition. Discover traditional skills, techniques and stories through a varied programme of heritage craft activities, and explore how generations of makers have helped shape Bradford’s industrial, cultural and creative identity over time.