The Christmas shopper

Save time and money by shopping your doorstep, Bradford has lots to offer the Christmas shopper!

Convenience

• Plan your shopping trip before you arrive with the new interactive online 3D map. The easy-to-use website allows you to pinpoint streets and individual shops, and even to organise meetings with friends or family with its unique ‘Meet Me Here’ facility. www.bradford-interactive.org

• Safe, clean, well lit, traffic-free pedestrianised areas including the fresh, spacious new look to ‘Heritage Streets’ around Darley Street, Tyrrel Street and Bank Street.

• Late night shopping on Thursdays with free parking in Council car parks. Shops around Bradford City Centre will be opening late nights on Thursdays from early November.

• It’s never been easier to get around Bradford city centre with the Free City Bus.

• Take a break from your shopping to relax in one of the many cafes, coffee shops and juice bars that Bradford has on offer; or stop for a drink or a meal at one of the many excellent bars and restaurants offering something for all tastes.

Quality

You’ll find all the big high street names plus many great independent stores …

• The attractive Kirkgate Centre is host to over 60 shops including some of the most popular big-name, high street stores all under one roof.

• ‘Up Town’ you will find the area around North Parade has a cluster of high quality independent traders for a whole range of different gift ideas

• For gifts with a difference the ‘World Mile’ starting on Westgate, offers a variety of speciality shops.

Value

If you are looking for value for money, you’re sure to find a Christmas treat in Bradford …

• There are two permanent Indoor markets in the city centre, Kirkgate Market and the Oastler Centre, which are the perfect place to hunt out a bargain. For an A to Z list of the traders. the range products on offer and where to find the markets see www.bradfordmarkets.com

• From 2^nd to 5^th December you’ll find Darley Street and Kirkgate packed with stalls for Bradford Christmas Street Market, where you can pick up your festive treats, mouth-watering foods, crafts and gift-wares.

Win money towards your Christmas shopping with 'Grotto Lotto'

Bradford City Centre Management and Pulse FM are giving away shopping vouchers and a whopping £500 cash prize just in time for Christmas. All you have to do is pick up one of the numbered 'Grotto Lotto' tickets available from participating stores in Bradford city centre, and keep it. Then on Fridays, 19th & 26th November and 3rd December, Alex Duffy will reveal the winning number on The Pulse Breakfast Show – and a lucky listener who has a winning ticket will win a £50 shopping voucher to spend in Bradford City Centre. On Friday 10th December, Alex will do the draw for the big prize, when the lucky listener with the winning Grotto Lotto ticket will win themselves £500 to spend on their Christmas shopping in Bradford.

Please see the Grotto Lotto website for more details

Travel Information

Bradford is well served by both buses and trains from all areas of the district.

For local bus enquiries tel: 0113 245 7676, or visit the First Group website.

The city centre is served by two central railway stations, Bradford Interchange and Bradford Forster Square. For local rail enquiries tel: 0113 245 7676.

Car Parking

If you are arriving in Bradford by car you can enjoy free car parking in Council Car Parks every Thursday from late November until Christmas. There is also free parking every Sunday as normal in the following car parks: Westgate multi-storey, Rawson Road, Simes Street, Wigan Street, St. Thomas Road, Radwell Drive, Sharpe Street, Jacobs Well, Crown Court, Burnett Street, and Alexandra car parks. Ring 01274 434300 for further information during office hours.
To locate Bradford’s car parks, visit the Council's car park web page.

Free City Bus

Bradford’s freecitybus links Bradford Interchange and Forster Square stations, Forster Square shopping Park, Oastler Centre, The Leisure Exchange and Kirkgate Shopping Centre, and many city centre attractions. Buses run every few minutes from 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 5.30pm on Saturdays. All journeys on the freecitybus are free. Each vehicle is fully accessible and can carry one wheelchair or buggy at a time.

Bradford’s freecitybus has been developed jointly by Metro and Bradford District Council.

For more information visit the freecitybus web page.

Access

For free, detailed disabled access information about retail stores and shopping centres, eating and drinking and visitor attractions around Bradford city centre please visit the DisabledGo website.

You'll find shops selling everything from clothing and accessories, to electrical, sports equipment and toys, cards and gifts - all personally reviewed on their accessibility by disabled people.

DisabledGo guides have been specially designed to answer the everyday questions of disabled people, their assistants, carers, family and friends, and will empower you to judge the disabled access to venues for yourself before you visit.

Make A Day of It

Make a day of it and visit one of the many museums, cinemas and theatres which make Bradford such an attractive destination for a short break. On Centenary Square you’ll find two new galleries, Impressions Gallery displays the best of contemporary photography, and Bradford 1 Gallery shows exhibitions of contemporary and historic art and craft. For information about current exhibitions see the Bradford Museums website. You’ll also find a temporary Pop Up Arts Space in Centenary Square, hosting exhibitions, performances and installations.

Bradford is the world’s first UNESCO City of film and you can take in a movie on the big screen at Cineworld or on the huge IMAX screen at the National Media Museum, which is also bursting with interactive exhibitions and galleries activities. Find out more about screenings and festivals at www.bradford-city-of-film.com

Take in a show at the Alhambra Theatre, which hosts the best in large scale entertainment from ballet and opera to musicals and drama, or enjoy music, comedy and variety shows at St. George’s Hall – to find out what’s on see www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

You can also book a Christmas party with a difference at Bradford Theatres. ‘Mistletoe and Murder’ is a murder mystery evening which includes a 3 course meal, at the Alhambra Studio.

There are a host of festive events taking place around the region in the lead up to Christmas – for further details see www.bradford.gov.uk/events

Visitor Information

If you’ve not been to Bradford before, the Visitor Information Centre on the corner City Hall, on Centenary Square offers details on public transport, event information and ideas on where to stay. They also stock a comprehensive range of maps, guidebooks and leaflets.