Bradford
85 Reviews by Students #74 out of 218 University locations
Study in Bradford
Bradford combines with next-door-neighbour Leeds to form one of the biggest urban areas in the UK but the area around the University of Bradford, where all your essentials are located, is actually quite compact.
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University of Bradford
The University of Bradford officially became a university over 50 years ago and today aims to provide courses that reflect the requirements of the modern world. They were the first British university to open a Department of Peace Studies in 1973. It's teaching has been recognised with a silver award by the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
Study in Bradford? Review your location
Bradford Student Life
Bradford is an exciting place to be a student. It’s known as a friendly and diverse city with a lot going on. It’s also in the heart of the countryside, making it easy to get some fresh country air and explore.
Cost of Living
Accommodation
Student accommodation costs in Bradford range from £40 - £176 per week; the average is £96 per week.
Compare the average elsewhere: Leeds: £177/week, Huddersfield: £128/week, Hull: £121/week.
(prices are for all purpose-built student accommodation (both private and university-owned) over the last 12 months, as listed on StudentCrowd)
The average price for:
A cheap meal at a restaurant: £10
A pint of beer: £3
A regular takeout coffee: £2.51
1L of milk: £0.91
A loaf of white bread: £0.97
Prices are about 5% lower than equivalent costs in Leeds and 3% lower than Hull. In terms of cost of living, Bradford is one of the most affordable places to live as a student.
(Source: Numbeo)
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Nights Out
The nightlife here is thriving and can be found in two main areas: Manor Row and the West End. Both are within a short walk of the main university campus and contain a good mix of bars, clubs and restaurants.
Public Transport
If you know you’re going to stay mainly in Bradford, then you won’t need a car, but if you like to explore away from the beaten track, a car isn't a bad idea. Bradford is extremely well connected by trains, with journeys to famously nightlife-friendly Leeds taking less than 30 minutes and Manchester, only 1 hour.
Eating Out
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Looking for food bursting with flavour? Head to MyLahore, an asian food chain which began in Bradford. Whether you are looking for a garlic naan, samosas or a hearty curry, it's the place to be!
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Sunbridge Wells is an underground arcade of bars, pubs and restaurants in restored historic tunnels. It’s a very cool space with vaulted ceilings and spiral staircases, creating a buzzing atmosphere for drinks and eating.
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Shopping
Close to the main university campus, the main shopping areas are around Forster Square and the Kirkgate Centre. As well as the typical high street brands you’ll find in any town, Bradford has a lot of independent and family-run shops, meaning that there’s always a chance to hunt out a deal. There’s a couple of regular markets too, so making your money go a long way isn’t hard to do.
Cultural Guide
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Film
Bradford is famous for being a City of Film and many of the main attractions focus around this. The Bradford International Film Festival is held here annually and draws a huge crowd. For the rest of the year, film buffs can enjoy the National Media Museum, which has its own cinema and IMAX attached.
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Theatre
If you’re a fan of the theatre, then it’s definitely worth checking out the Alhambra. As well as being a living slice of history, this gorgeous old Victorian building is still a major venue and can take on anything from ballets and operas to concerts and touring West End productions.
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Galleries
Cartwright Hall Art Gallery is located in the picturesque Lister Park, boasting some amazing artwork, including the David Hockney Gallery. Impressions Gallery is one of the oldest photography galleries in Europe. Keep an eye out for their events and new exhibitions.
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History
If you’re willing to travel a bit further, you can visit the historic villages of Saltaire and Haworth. Both of them look like they could have jumped straight out of a Victorian novel.
Top 10 Bradford Accommodation
Read Bradford Reviews
Great city and bu...
Great city and buses are great into Leeds and Bradford city centre read more
Great city. Buses...
Great city. Buses every 15 mins into Leeds and Bradford city centre. read more
Public transport...
Public transport is very easy to operate and use read more
Somewhat limited...
Somewhat limited options for eating out. Cheap as can be though. read more
Bradford is a cul...
Bradford is a culturally rich city known for its historical landmarks and vibrant arts scene. The city offers diverse dining options, beautiful parks, and excellent public transport. Its strong community spirit and affordable living make it an attractive place for students and families. Bradford's dynamic cultural events and festivals add to its charm. read more
Bradford is conve...
Bradford is convenient place to live due to moderate cost of living and good commute system read more
Bradford is a pla...
Bradford is a place that is special to my heart, and I have a lot of respect for it, despite the fact there are significant social and economic problems there, and the atmosphere is generally not pleasant in many areas. It is clearly something of a 'shantytown' however that does not overcloud the fact it is a true 'melting pot' of culture and diversity, having been put on the map by some very famous people. I definitely prefer it to my hometown which is seen as a much better place for quality of life, however it does not have the amenities. culture and inclusivity that Bradford has, and was in some ways a riskier place to grow-up, socially, for someone who has challenging behaviours. read more
nice place lots o...
nice place lots of places to eat read more
A quiet city that...
A quiet city that doesn't have much of a night life but has a multitude of places to each that won't break the bank and has a dew events here and there. read more
Living in Bradfor...
Living in Bradford offers a vibrant blend of cultural diversity, historical significance, and modern amenities. The city boasts a rich industrial heritage, reflected in its architecture and museums like the National Science and Media Museum. Residents enjoy a bustling city center with markets, shops, and restaurants catering to diverse tastes. Bradford's multicultural atmosphere is evident in its festivals, cuisine, and community events, fostering a sense of inclusivity and tolerance. However, like any city, Bradford faces challenges such as economic disparities and urban regeneration efforts. Overall, living in Bradford provides a dynamic urban experience with opportunities for exploration, connection, and personal growth. read more
Bad city compared...
Bad city compared to others, needs more things to do read more
The town in affor...
The town in affordable but can be cleaner read more
No night life in...
No night life in Bradford just a city park read more
City is generally...
City is generally affordable with budget friendly shops nearby, however there are close to no healthy options to buy food from other than 2 subways. Fast food.options are the only things available. read more
Not many options...
Not many options for nights out but the shopping facilities and access to transport make it easy to visit other places and still be home safely at the end of the night read more
not as bad as the...
not as bad as the pl;ace i lived in before read more
A lovely and affo...
A lovely and affordable location read more
A very cheap city...
A very cheap city. Doesnt seems safe to go out. read more
Bradford is cheap...
Bradford is cheap...for a reason. Takeaways can get very expensive with different fees. Nightlife is non-existent outside of events hosted by the University (mostly due to Bradford being one of the most dangerous cities in Europe), and even then most of the time the music is unbearable. read more
Has everything yo...
Has everything you need, plus super close to both Leeds and Manchester read more
Easy to get aroun...
Easy to get around and the variety of restaurants is good. read more
Bradford is a cit...
Bradford is a city for shopping and has a great selection of foods, ‘Broadway’ is a great open space for experience. read more
Bradford is a goo...
Bradford is a good city with good people and different cultures within it. I would definitely recommend it to my friends to apply here. read more
Best university e...
Best university ever. It is very accommodating and very student friendly university. I would definitely refer my friends. read more
Only did day rele...
Only did day release so cannot fully comment read more
Bradford is a rel...
Bradford is a relatively calm and accommodating town to live in read more
Good city with pl...
Good city with plenty of places to eat and shop. There are pubs and places to drinks but not much night life. Plenty of public transport for students. read more
It was amazing ci...
It was amazing city actually 🙂 read more
I love how quiet...
I love how quiet the town is and friendly read more
cost of living is...
cost of living is the best part about the city and the restaurants too. read more
It’s really great...
It’s really great city to stay in with good prices, everything is near me read more
It's great to hav...
It's great to have a good place as the green. read more
The city has much...
The city has much to offer. Great sites, beautiful landscapes etc. read more
City of contrast...
City of contrast nice and cool read more
it's cheap but gr...
it's cheap but grocery shopping is a pain if you don't drive read more
The city of Bradf...
The city of Bradford is quite small so not much to do but we are right next to Leeds and Huddersfield which is a plus read more
Bradford is ok, c...
Bradford is ok, certainly wouldn’t recommend clubbing round here but funny place read more
There are two tra...
There are two train stations in the city and good bus services read more
Nice place to liv...
Nice place to live and town is not a far walk so I can easily access shops etc read more
Nothing is too ex...
Nothing is too expensive and quite affordable read more
Does not have muc...
Does not have much night life, food choice is limited but have good selection of Asian food. read more
Town is only a 5...
Town is only a 5 minute walk away so it is good for shopping. read more
out of expectatio...
out of expectation previously disappointed a bit read more
The location lack...
The location lacks in social events read more
Very easy to get...
Very easy to get around. Lovely and homely read more
Good range of sho...
Good range of shops and venues read more
I really like the...
I really like the city and i really like the people read more
Great location cl...
Great location close to city centre and travel places read more
Great city but th...
Great city but the night life is not good unfortunately read more
A diverse city, v...
A diverse city, variety of options available for food lovers, not much night life read more
It’s the best aga...
It’s the best again and very affordable to live in read more
The city is not v...
The city is not very interesting, however, you can always find something for yourself. Student life at the campus is great, but if you want to have more fun I suggest visiting Leeds read more
Public transport...
Public transport is easily accessible. There are many options for eating out in the city . There aren’t mainly options for night out read more
excellent excelle...
excellent excellent room and nice place read more
Bradford is a goo...
Bradford is a good town to live in as a student, has everything you need, and is amazing food-wise. It's a small town and isn't the best for a night out or for tourism though. read more
I like how Bradfo...
I like how Bradford is close to the countryside with still having a city feel. read more
The town is rathe...
The town is rather different to what I am used to but overall has a wide range of shops to look into read more
I loved the town...
I loved the town here. Everything is just few steps away read more
Don’t use public...
Don’t use public transport or go on nights out read more
Low rate for publ...
Low rate for public transport as I didn't use it, however everything is at walking distance so it's perfect read more
Everywhere is sup...
Everywhere is super close and a walking distance away! There is not really a night life but you can easily access leeds via train read more
It's lockdown, so...
It's lockdown, so hard to judge. I came from London so it's nice to see some reasonable prices for a change. I can say that the fast food is of a higher quality than from where I came from in London. They seem to really hold their fast food to high standards here. I really appreciate that. I ate out a couple of times before lockdown, which was good, and there is a cinema around that would be cool to visit if it ever opens again. Shopping overall is pretty standard. I walk everywhere so I have no idea about public transport. There are a lot of derelict buildings, but you also get nice views since it is very hilly. The weather was snowy also during winter which was quite beautiful. I think it's because Bradford is at a relatively high altitude. read more
The Green is the...
The Green is the best place in Bradford read more
Not much to do, b...
Not much to do, but you will still find ways to get entertainment and go out with friends read more
Great place to li...
Great place to live, coming from the Midlands, a lot of the living costs are cheaper here. A vibrant, lively place to live. The only worry is night life, as various girls I've spoken to around here say they avoid going out at night, as the night life is fairly boring, and they don't feel safe, which is clearly a big worry read more
It is a suburban...
It is a suburban city that is lovely and easy to navigate. read more
Cost of living is...
Cost of living is remarkably low but as a foreigner, Im unused to UK restaurant pricing read more
Not what I expect...
Not what I expected but do love living here read more
Bradford is a nic...
Bradford is a nice city, Bradford has a lot of nature places, so it is not boring to live here. read more
I have never used...
I have never used the public transport. The eating out is decent. One good all you can eat Chinese buffet. Shopping there is atrocious n the cost of living is I dunno read more
City centre is no...
City centre is not bad but could have improved in terms of hygiene with littering and the rat issues. It is convening to travel to nearby city e.g. Leeds, Manchester and York read more
Good pubs to go t...
Good pubs to go to but no good nightclub. Broadway is great for shopping and trains are frequent. Good atmosphere in the city centre read more
very good and che...
very good and cheap place to live in.one can say some properties are underpriced well some are overpriced .this is my first year so I don't have much to say but it has been ok so far read more
Bradford is one o...
Bradford is one of the reasonable cities in terms of money. It has alot of place to have fun. read more
Always something...
Always something or somewhere to go. Bus routes available. Town is a walk away. Eating out has a wide range of choices. read more
Night life is ver...
Night life is very poor. Not much going on read more
It's a nice place...
It's a nice place to be in. It's full of students read more
Overall a great a...
Overall a great and calm place read more
It is a little ex...
It is a little expensive for some of us read more
It’s a bit expens...
It’s a bit expensive however a lot to do in the area read more
City centre is sm...
City centre is small but enough for shopping. read more
To eat out Bradfo...
To eat out Bradford is famous for it but for everything else I'd say Leeds is better read more