Bradford / Popular UK / United Kingdom

10 Great Day Trips from Bradford

The city of Bradford is famous for its urban grit and great Victorian structures. The city offers a unique taste of Yorkshire life but there are also places near Bradford that are worth visiting. You can easily explore these destinations on a day out after hiring a coach charter.

For wanderlusters and travel lovers, we have compiled a list of great tourist attractions that aren’t far from Bradford. However, if you truly want to savour the day trip, you should coach hire with driver. 

These sites have diverse scenery and rich cultural heritage. The best part is that these are family-friendly destinations that you can visit with your friends as well.

Liverpool

Distance from Bradford: About 68 Miles

Travel Time: Between 1 and 2 Hours

The city of the Beatles, Liverpool is a perfect travel destination for music lovers. The city has also been named the World Capital City of Pop by Guinness World Records. For tourists, there are so many things to do in Liverpool. It has attractions and landmarks literally littered throughout this maritime city.

Each building and architecture is special in its own right. But if there is one thing that we have to recommend, it would be the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. The building took 74 years to build and is Britain’s biggest Cathedral.

Other notable attractions in Liverpool that you must visit include:

  • The Beatles Story
  • Beatles Statue
  • Royal Albert Dock Liverpool
  • Museum of Liverpool
  • Anfield Stadium

Alton Towers

Distance from Bradford: About 105 Miles

Travel Time: Between 2 and 2.5 Hours

Alton Towers Resort is arguably the best place for families. This is a theme park where you can go on a minibus hire with friends or a school trip. 

This is the UK’s largest theme park situated in central Staffordshire. The park consists of 910 acres of land and there are more than 40 rides and attractions. If you are into fun, the Smiler, Thirteen, Rita, Oblivion, Nemesis, Galactica, and Wicker Man are some rides that you shouldn’t miss.

What’s more interesting is that there is always a fun event going on for which you can register yourself in advance. However, bear in mind that entry to the Alton Towers Resort is not free. You’ll have to get a £36 ticket if you are an adult.

Peak District

Distance from Bradford: About 30 miles

Travel Time: More than 1 Hour

Peak District is one of the best and nearest attractions for nature lovers. It has been designated as the UK’s best holiday destination, thanks to its splendid views. There are plenty of things to explore and so many activities to do such as horse riding and water sports.

Some notable attractions include: 

  • Monsal Trail
  • Chatsworth House
  • Derwent Dam
  • Ridge Walk Mam Tor to Losehill
  • Tissington Trail

Of course, walking and cycling are Peak District classics and we urge you to explore the Hope Valley. The valley offers enchanting views and has the most picturesque villages in the UK.

Birmingham

Distance from Bradford: About 127 Miles

Travel Time: About 2.5 Hours

For art lovers, there is no better destination than Birmingham. The city has world-class galleries and museums that you can explore in a single day.

Most of these galleries are dedicated to inventions, manufacturing, and people. The city is also known for its heritage in the world of food and cuisine, and of course, legendary rock music.

There are plenty of activities to do and things to explore in the bustling nightlife. Some top attractions that you shouldn’t miss are:

  • Symphony Hall
  • National Motorcycle Museum
  • Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
  • Library of Birmingham
  • Birmingham Back to Backs

If you have some extra time to spare on your day out, visit the Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum. You’ll get to see the planetarium, and exhibitions on space exploration, and can also have the chance to watch the world’s oldest working steam engine.

Cambridge

Distance from Bradford: About 160 Miles

Travel Time: More than 3 Hours

The city of Cambridge is a little far from Bradford. It’ll take you about 3 hours to reach there, but the trip is worth it.

Once you are in the city, the first thing that you should do is visit the University of Cambridge. The world-known university actually consists of 31 autonomous Colleges. Robinson College, Queen’s College, King’s College, and Trinity College are a few to name.

You can see different college grounds which merge at the Backs, a picturesque meadow along the river Cam. The Cambridge University Botanic Garden is another site for nature lovers.

A visit to the University of Cambridge itself requires a whole day. But we recommend that you should not miss other notable landmarks such as the Museum of Cambridge, National Horse Racing Museum, St. Mary the Great Church, and Fitzwilliam Museum.

Sheffield

Distance from Bradford: About 45 Miles

Travel Time: About 1.5 Hours

Sheffield is a city known for its greenery and over two million trees. There are about 250 parks and green spaces which have earned it the title of “Green City.” 

Sheffield is nothing short of a small heaven for nature lovers. The city has plenty of prime picnic spots and ample places where you can go cycling and strolling. Bucolic vistas, mining towns, manor homes, and mineral springs make Sheffield one of the best places for a day trip near Bradford.

 Some popular attractions that you should visit in Sheffield are:

  • Tropical Butterfly House
  • Wildlife & Falconry Centre
  • Sheffield Winter Garden
  • Sheffield Botanical Gardens
  • Rivelin Valley Nature Trail

Kingston upon Hull

Distance from Bradford: About 70 Miles

Travel Time: 1.5 Hours

Kingston upon Hull (also known as Hull) is situated at a place where the River Hull meets the Humber Estuary. The port city is renowned for its Humber Bridge and white telephone boxes. In 2017, it was also named the UK’s Capital of Culture.

The city is famous for its connections with the poet Philip Larkin. But there is more to it than meets the eye. Kingston upon Hull has plenty of attractions that are worth visiting including:

  • Streetlife Museum of Transport
  • The Deep
  • Hull’s Old Town
  • East Park

We urge you to visit the Queens Gardens. It is a 4-hectare oasis situated in the heart of Hull. The terrain  has a maritime history as it used to be the largest boating dock in the UK. However, the place was transformed from the dock to the Queen’s Gardens in 1930.

Malvern Hills

Distance from Bradford: About 167 Miles

Travel Time: More than 3.5 Hours

Malvern Hills is another destination for nature lovers. The area is famed for having natural beauty and offering stunning views. In fact, it has been chosen as a biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Malvern Hills has been a top attraction for tourists due to its natural mineral springs and wells. But the Great Malvern Priory, Malvern Theatres, and Great Malvern Station are some other sites that you should explore.

The loop trail is another key attraction for tourists at Malvern Hills. It is a 10 miles long track which is ideal for walking as well as mountain biking. It’s a 5-hour long track that you can try with family and older children.

Nottingham

Distance from Bradford: About 80 miles

Travel Time: 1.5 Hours

The famous city of Nottingham is merely 80 miles far from Bradford. This is an ideal tourist destination for people who are into local folk tales.

Nottingham is well-known for its role in the Robin Hood legend. But there is so much more to explore. It’s a city that offers you a bit of everything on a day trip. There are monuments, museums, parks, and good restaurants that you’ll surely find satisfying.

The top attractions to visit in Nottingham are:

  • National Justice Museum
  • Nottingham Castle
  • City of Caves
  • The Arboretum
  • Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall

Oxford City

Distance from Bradford: About 180 Miles

Travel Time: Between 3 and 4 Hours

A trip to Oxford will take more than 3 hours from Bradford on a coach charter. But this is a destination that should be on your list.

Oxford is renowned for its 800-year-old university and the city also has a rich heritage. There are so many things to do and explore including museums and churches. And the good news is that you don’t have to pay a penny for visiting museums in Oxford.

In case you don’t have a checklist, we recommend you to visit:

  • Christ Church Cathedral
  • Radcliffe Square
  • Christ Church College
  • Sheldonian Theatre
  • Bodleian Library

In addition, the Carfax Tower, Modern Art Oxford, Martyrs’ Memorial, and Ashmolean Museum are some other places that are worth visiting. If you want to further explore the city, visit the historic market of Abingdon-on-Thames and the Oxford city centre.

Final Note

We hope you have found our day-out ideas interesting. These are exciting places and cities that you can visit with the family on a coach or minibus charter from Bradford. In case you require a vehicle charter with driver, contact us. The Coach Company can provide you with a vehicle of your choice anywhere in the UK.