Motorhome Hire in Bradford

Bradford has a story unlike any other city in Yorkshire. Once the wool capital of the world, its grand Victorian architecture tells the tale of an industrial powerhouse that shaped global trade. Today, Bradford is a city of culture, diversity, and surprising natural beauty — and it makes an excellent starting point for a motorhome adventure with Heath's Motorhome Hire, based just 35 minutes away in Pontefract.

The city's cultural credentials are formidable. The National Science and Media Museum, part of the Science Museum Group, draws visitors from across the country with its interactive galleries, IMAX cinema, and exhibitions exploring photography, television, and digital technology. Bradford was the first UNESCO City of Film, a recognition of its deep connections to the moving image industry that stretch back over a century.

Cartwright Hall, set within the beautiful Lister Park, houses Bradford's permanent art collection and hosts rotating exhibitions of international significance. Lister Park itself is one of the finest Victorian parks in the north, with a boating lake, botanical gardens, and the spectacular Mughal Water Garden. Nearby, Saltaire — the model village built by Sir Titus Salt in the 1850s — is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and well worth an afternoon's exploration. The 1853 Gallery inside the former Salts Mill holds the world's largest permanent collection of David Hockney paintings.

What sets Bradford apart for motorhome travellers is its position on the edge of Brontë Country. Haworth, the hilltop village where the Brontë sisters wrote their masterworks, is just a short drive to the west. The Brontë Parsonage Museum sits at the top of the cobbled Main Street, and from there you can walk out onto the wild moorland that inspired Wuthering Heights. The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, a preserved steam line, runs from Keighley through Haworth and up to Oxenhope — a truly atmospheric journey.

Beyond Haworth, the road climbs over the Pennines toward Hebden Bridge and the upper Calder Valley, one of the most characterful parts of West Yorkshire. Alternatively, head north through Shipley and Baildon to reach Ilkley Moor and the gateway to Wharfedale. The Yorkshire Dales National Park is less than an hour from Bradford, with Malham Cove, Gordale Scar, and the limestone pavements of the Three Peaks area all within comfortable reach of a motorhome.

Bradford's food scene reflects its rich multicultural heritage. The city is renowned across the country for its curry houses, and a meal on the Bradford Curry Mile is an essential experience before hitting the road. The Great Victoria Hotel, designed by the same architects who built the Midland Hotel in Manchester, adds a touch of grandeur to the city centre.

For those collecting a motorhome from our Pontefract depot, the drive to Bradford follows a straightforward route along the M62 and M606. Once on the road, the A629 heads north through Halifax toward the Calder Valley, while the A650 runs through Bingley and the Aire Valley. Both are scenic drives that set the tone for your journey ahead.

Bradford proves that great motorhome trips do not need to start in picture-postcard market towns. This is a city with depth, character, and a genuine story to tell — and with the moors, dales, and valleys of Yorkshire waiting just beyond its boundaries, it is the perfect place to begin.