Bradford is called the British capital of wool. In the past, it was one of the country's most important textile production centers. Today, the city has undergone a transformation and is associated primarily with film production and new media, and tourists also enjoy well-preserved Victorian neighborhoods.
The development of weaving manufactories in Bradford dates back to the 14th century. In the following centuries, the city became the leading center of this production. In 1900 it was called the wool capital of Yorkshire and all of England, and industry attracted merchants and industrialists from all over Europe to the city. A large group of them were Jews from Germany. A memento of them is the Victorian district called Little Germany, which was completely renovated at the beginning of the 21st century and is now one of the representative places in Bradford.
The oldest monument in Bradford is the local cathedral built in the 14th-15th century on the site of a much older church, dating back to the 6th century. In some of the buildings, the earlier romanesque walls with characteristic bifora windows have been preserved. The Bolling Hall residence, which now houses a museum, also dates from the 14th century. It presents the life of the richest people in Bradford before the industrial revolution.
Much of Bradford's buildings date back to the industrial revolution. There is a Victorian town hall and the Stock Exchange, where wool was traded. The central point is the Centennial Square surrounded by historic buildings. The buildings of the city also show the former factories that currently function as apartment buildings or cultural facilities.
Bradford's biggest attraction is the local National Science and Media Museum. It shows how technology and media affect life and presents the collections of the largest British broadcasters and cinema networks. In turn, the industrial traditions of the city can be found in the Museum of Industry. There is also a thriving dance theater scene in Bradford, represented mainly by the Alhambra Theater.
