Bradford area guides
For an easy way to find information about some key local areas in Bradford start by searching our Bradford area guide. Alphabetically ordered by area name you'll find all you want to know about Bradford - from local area highlights, the latest property to buy or rent, leading local Estate Agencies and lists of local area resources.
A city and major metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, Bradford is located amongst the Pennines and west of Leeds. Since the decline of the once dominant textile industry in the area, tourism has become one of Bradford's most significant industries, with sites including Cartwright Hall, the National Media Museum and Saltaire (a Victorian era model village and World Heritage Site). Bradford's climate is relatively mild for the UK, with peak summer temperatures of 19 degrees celcius and maximum midwinter temperatures of 5 degrees celcius [1].
Bradford has a slightly higher unemployment rate than the national average and surrounding Yorkshire and The Humber's. The 2001 Census counted Bradford's population at 467,665 people, with the ethnic breakdown showing Bradford's population to be more multi-cultural than most British cities.
Bradford connects to significant parts of the North West via various motorways; the A650 to Wakefield, the A647 to Leeds, the A658 to Harrogate and the A6036 to Halifax. Bradford has had various railway issues that have limited its scope today, but currently there are direct lines to Leeds, Ilkley, Skipton, and a four times daily National Express service to London's King's Cross. In terms of air travel, Bradford is served by Leeds Bradford International Airport, which was opened jointly by the Leeds and Bradford councils in 1931 and lies just 6 miles to the north east of Bradford city. The airport offers direct flights to over 70 destinations.
Bradford's Property Market
In Bradford's city centre the vast majority of housing is made up of apartments. The University of Bradford (post code BD7) is close to the centre of the city, and so needless to say much of the property around this district is rented. Between January and March 2008, house prices in Bradford averaged £143,626, with detached houses relatively low-priced at a 282,096 average, whilst terraced houses averaged £115,223 and flats £129,530 000 [2]. Semi-detached housing is found in the BD2 post code area, among others, near the suburbs of Five Lane Ends and Eccleshall, and East of the city centre in the BD3 post code, near the suburb of Fagley. Terraced housing is more prevalent in the BD4 post code (between the suburbs of Holme Wood and East Bierley) and BD5 post code, south of the city centre. Good suburbs for families include Baildon north of the city centre (BD17), and the nearby BD10 post code, close to the suburbs of Idle and Greengates.