Things to do in Idle

Activities, attractions and tours

Photo "Idle" by Tim Green (CC BY) / Cropped from original
Photo by Tim Green (CC BY)
Photo "Idle" by Tim Green (CC BY) / Cropped from original
Photo by Tim Green (CC BY)
Photo "Idle" by Betty Longbottom (CC BY-SA) / Cropped from original
Photo by Betty Longbottom (CC BY-SA)
Photo "Idle" by Linden Milner (CC BY-SA) / Cropped from original
Photo by Linden Milner (CC BY-SA)
Photo "Idle" by Tim Green (CC BY) / Cropped from original
Photo by Tim Green (CC BY)

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Top places to visit

1. Peak District National Park

At its heart lies the Peak District National Park, which became the first national park in the UK in 1951. The cities of Manchester, Sheffield and Derbyshire are located nearby and are easily accessible by road and rail network.
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The Peak District is often described as an area of contrasting natural beauty, with moors and dales, rivers and springs.

2. University of Leeds

Renowned for its research and teaching, the University of Leeds is also set apart by its campus, which unites a variety of divergent architectural styles in a celebration of British architecture throughout the 20th century. Grouped on well-manicured lawns just outside the Leeds city center, it welcomes more than 30,000 students each year from a variety of backgrounds. The university was the first in the region to accept women, Catholics and other disadvantaged groups. Go on a walking tour of its many striking buildings and have a picnic on the grass, as you watch the students go past.
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Late Victorian and award-winning brutalist and modernist architecture house the classes and students of Leeds’ namesake university, established in 1904.

3. First Direct Arena

When First Direct Arena opened in 2014, Bruce Springsteen and Elton John set a high bar for the quality of artists who would appear here. Since then, a huge variety of entertainers have come, from Drake and Miley Cyrus to championship boxing matches to beloved local acts such as the Kaiser Chiefs. Don’t miss any of the action in the arena’s fan-shaped configuration. It is unique in the U.K., with the rear seats only 230 feet (70 meters) from the stage, rather than the usual 330 feet (100 meters).
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Its honeycombed exterior glowing like a beacon at night, Leeds’ modern music venue draws crowds nightly to its shows featuring local and international stars.

4. Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre is a multipurpose complex containing several entertainment venues. With around 2,000 seats, the main auditorium is famous for hosting the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest. Check out the varied program and choose from the many shows across the center’s eight halls.
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You’re spoilt for choice for majestic auditoriums in this eclectic complex, where you can see comedy gigs, musical recitals and plays.

5. Royal Armouries

The Royal Armouries Museum is a comprehensive museum that displays a vast collection of weaponry spread across six galleries. Explore the extensive galleries and find displays of arms and armor organized into intriguingly curated exhibitions. Check out over 2,500 objects in the Hall of Steel or learn about the art of warfare and the history of hunting. Catch a live demonstration of jousting at the Tiltyard.
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Discover the world of weaponry at this purpose-built museum, which contains the national collection of arms and armor from throughout the ages.

What to do in Idle

Popular places to visit

Alhambra Theatre showing heritage elements

Alhambra Theatre

You can make plans for a show at Alhambra Theatre on your trip to Bradford. Experience the entertainment choices and fascinating museums in this family-friendly area.

Alhambra Theatre
National Science and Media Museum showing signage

National Science and Media Museum

Kids love the distortions and tricks of the Wonderlab and the Games Lounge, while adults get a sense of nostalgia through the displays of old televisions and cameras.

National Science and Media Museum
Bradford City Hall showing a pond, night scenes and a fountain

Bradford City Hall

Spectacular light shows illuminate this imposing Venetian Gothic building, which is adorned with sculptures of British royalty and a Venetian-inspired clock tower.

Bradford City Hall
Bradford City Park which includes heritage architecture and a fountain as well as a couple

Bradford City Park

Hang out at this central urban park, home to green spaces, a spray pool, family-friendly festivals and a Venetian Gothic masterpiece.

Bradford City Park
Bradford Cathedral showing heritage architecture and a garden

Bradford Cathedral

Bradford’s oldest place of worship is a celebration of the art history, religious past and wars that have shaped the city and its people.

Bradford Cathedral
Lister Park featuring a pond and a park

Lister Park

4/5(1 review)

David Hockney’s pop-art works and modernist prints feature in the gallery at the core of a vast park with water features, botanical gardens and a pretty lake.

Lister Park
Wool Exchange featuring heritage architecture, street scenes and a church or cathedral

Wool Exchange

This Gothic masterpiece once played an important part in the world of wool and was a hangout for socialites. Today, it features a bookshop and café.

Wool Exchange
Bradford Cathedral showing heritage elements and wild flowers

Little Germany

Learn about the local history of Bradford when you take a trip to Little Germany. Experience the theatre scene and museums in this culturally rich area.

Little Germany
Bolling Hall Museum featuring château or palace and heritage elements

Bolling Hall Museum

Discover the art and architectural heritage of Bradford while exploring the well-appointed rooms of one of the city’s oldest-surviving buildings.

Bolling Hall Museum

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 

 

Corn Exchange which includes heritage architecture and street scenes as well as a small group of people

Leeds

Photo by Sam Sanders

Baildon

Photo "Calverley" by David Spencer (CC BY-SA) / Cropped from original
Photo by David Spencer (CC BY-SA)

Calverley