National
Museum of Photography, Film & Television
World famous in Bradford (and some other parts of England), this museum
is great fun. You can easily spend a couple of rainy Saturdays here. What's
more: the entrance is free, although you do have to pay for films shown
in the museum's Pictureville, Cubby Broccoli, and IMAX theatres.
Where: Bradford town centre, tel. (01274) 202030
Open: All year, but not all day; see website.
Saltaire
19th century industrial town done right. See the remains of 19th century
textile and social engineering, be amazed by £190 pans and a £1100
Rietveld chair (and by the people who pay that kind of prices), and have
an American ice cream in the diner.
Where: Shipley, close to Bradford
Open: All year obviously, although the shops and mill tend to keep
regular shopping hours (mill is also open on Sundays).
Haworth and Top Withins
The Brontes, Yorkshire moors, Wuthering Heights, 19th century literature,
family drama, and artifacts: you find it all in Haworth and surrounding
landscape. Haworth's cobbled main street and adjacent shops are like they
were in the mid-19th century (give or take a tourist or 500). The parsonage
has been turned into a museum of those days. Top Withins, 3 miles from Haworth
on one of Yorkshire's many moors, has a history of its own. By the way:
the correct pronunciation for Haworth isn't Haworth — it's Hau'ert.
To find out why, you'll have to visit the museum.
Where: Haworth, about 8 mile north-west of Bradford. Top Within is
a couple of miles further on.
Open: All year obviously, although the shops and parsonage museum
tend to keep regular shopping hours (most are also open on Sundays).
York
Ancient town, dating from pre-Roman days. Has a large assortment of museums,
shops, and tourists (you won't be conspicuous). If you are so inclined,
you can gaze at the York Minster; otherwise the Dungeon may be more in your
line. Anyway, lots of things to choose from and spend a nice day or so.
Where: York, about 60 miles east-north-east of Bradford.
Open: Museums and shops keep various hours (see York
page for more online information).
Ingleton Falls and White Scar Cave
Beautiful yet accessible Yorkshire landscape with lots of geological features.
The Cave is one of the largest in England; the Falls aren't in the Niagara
league, but still do as an excuse for a nice walk (mostly over paved paths,
by the way — so much for Yorkshire landscape...).
Where: In North Yorkshire, beyond Settle; about 80 miles north-west
of Bradford.
Open: Both the Ingleton Falls walk and the White Scar Cave have some
restrictions; see the online information for details.
