Our Venues
Our Museums and Galleries
Bolling Hall Museum is a fascinating journey through the lives and times of the Bradford families who lived there for more than five hundred years. You can find it just a mile from Bradford city centre, sitting in a beautiful, quiet, leafy garden.
With parts of the building dating from Medieval times, Bolling Hall is a mix of styles and ideas with every nook and cranny packed with history. For many years the hall was home to two grand families, the Bollings and the Tempests, who were involved in some of the most important (and violent) moments in the history of England and our city.
During the Civil War the household supported the Royalist cause, and the house provided a stronghold during the ‘siege of Bradford’.
Rooms are furnished and decorated to give an accurate taste of life at different periods of the house’s history, and the fascinating furniture on display includes a superb bed made for Harewood House by Thomas Chippendale.
Bolling Hall Library is also now located in Bolling Hall Museum. More information on the library can be found here.
There isn’t a café onsite, but The Lodge Café, run by the Friends of Bowling Park, is just over the road.
Limited Disabled Access
In 1974, Bradford Council created a unique museum, which now contains permanent displays of textile machinery, steam power, engineering innovations and motor vehicles.
Depending on when you visit, you can experience the sights, sounds and smells of whirring machinery, see the spinning machine at full speed, or even learn from the amazing volunteers who know all the skills and tricks of printing and weaving.
Our site team are supported by a range of fantastic volunteers who help bring the site to life. If you’re making a special visit, please check before travelling, but most weeks we have:
Blacksmith – Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday
Printers – Tuesdays, Wednesdays
Weavers – Wednesday
Mr Moore – Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Spinners – Thursday
Set within the beautiful surroundings of Lister Park, just one mile from Bradford city centre, Cartwright Hall Art Gallery has been welcoming visitors since 1904.
Home to Bradford’s nationally significant art collection, the gallery brings together Victorian, modern and contemporary art alongside changing exhibitions, family activities and events throughout the year.
Bradford was one of the first local authority museum services in the UK to actively collect work by South Asian and Black artists. Today, this nationally important collection sits alongside works from across the centuries, reflecting the city’s rich artistic and cultural heritage.
The story of Bradford’s art collection began before Cartwright Hall itself. The city’s first art museum opened on Kirkgate in 1879, where annual selling exhibitions helped establish a permanent collection for the people of Bradford. As the collection grew, Samuel Cunliffe Lister donated £40,000 towards creating a purpose-built civic art gallery within Lister Park. Cartwright Hall opened in 1904 and, more than 120 years later, continues to grow and evolve through its permanent collection and programme of changing exhibitions.
While you’re here, why not enjoy refreshments in the Refreshment Room Café or take time to explore Lister Park, one of Bradford’s most-loved parks and home to beautiful gardens, a boating lake and family-friendly play areas.
Explore using our new
Bloomberg Connects Gallery Guide
There really is something for everyone at Cliffe Castle in Keighley. You can see sparkling Victorian rooms, overflowing with paintings, furniture and art of every style. But there are also rooms dedicated to nature, the district’s archaeology and a display of stained glass by Morris and Co.
It’s an absolute feast for the imagination.
Cliffe Castle was originally built in the 1880s as the home of Victorian millionaire and textile manufacturer, Henry Isaac Butterfield and was a showpiece of international art and French decoration. It was the scene of many glittering parties and society events.
In the 1950s the Castle was bought by Sir Bracewell Smith, who commissioned architect Sir Albert Richardson to turn Cliffe Castle’s gardens into a grand public park and remodelled the Castle to be a free museum for the people of the district. That continues to this day, winning (and retaining) a coveted Heritage Green Flag award – the first in the district!
In recent years Cliffe Castle has had a glow-up, inside and out, with Victorian features in the park reinstated, and the breathtaking stained glass Butterfield Window on the Grand Staircase restored. The Castle also hosts changing exhibitions from our collections and the community, as well as a fantastic café.
The Heritage Craft Room is a bright, open space for creative works to take place. It is located in its own separate building on the Bradford Industrial Museum site.
The room features artwork by local mural artist Tom Bailey, telling the history of crafts in the Bradford area, focusing on those on the Red List of Endangered Crafts. These are crafts at risk of being lost as there are fewer skilled craftspeople working on them.
The Heritage Craft Room was designed to be a place where anyone can come and learn about and get hands on with crafts, in a welcoming and inclusive environment. We want as many people as possible to be able to use the space to discover, create, and meet.
There are different ways to get involved.
You can take part in one of our scheduled workshops, led by professional craftspeople.
You can also hire the space for your own group or club. Whether you’re running a workshop, hosting a meeting, or simply gathering in a relaxed setting, the room offers natural light and a calm, welcoming atmosphere, even if you’re not planning a hands‑on craft activity.
Commercial hire – £265 day / £45 per hour
Community hire – £25 per hour £120 full day
To make an enquiry about availability and get a booking form, please email eventbooking@bradford.gov.uk
The Heritage Craft Room is a space designed for people and communities to access crafts and making in a welcoming environment. We recognise that cost may be a barrier to some groups booking our space – if the rates are a barrier, please get in touch at eventbooking@bradford.gov.uk to discuss options with us.
About Us
Bradford District is home to some of the most exciting museums and galleries in Yorkshire. Come and see for yourself
Donate
Could you support our work by sponsoring, donating or volunteering?
All opportunities have flexible commitment requirements and aim to provide a rewarding and enriching experience for all.
Friends of Bradford Art Galleries and Museums
The Friends have special links with Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Bolling Hall and Bradford Industrial Museum.
Contact fobagam@gmail.com
(registered charity 1108562, company limited by guarantee 5373709).