Bradford Industrial Museum

What it’s like

Free hands-on look at old mill life, with blacksmiths, weavers and spinners working the machinery in front of you.

This one's built around demonstrations rather than exhibits behind glass. Blacksmiths, printers, weavers and spinners actually work the traditional textile machinery while you're there, and you'll bump into Mr Moore, the mill manager character, who by the sound of it likes a chat about how the place used to run. Given the age range they've listed, this is really one for the under-5s crowd, so don't expect much to hold a ten-year-old's attention past the noise of the machines.

First Saturdays bring free drop-in play and growth sessions for under-5s, which is worth building a visit around if your toddler's the target audience here. There's also a Halloween trail with a skeleton rat hunt, crafts, face painting and a disco, so that's one to watch out for if you're planning around the school holidays.

It's free to get in, which for a morning out with a toddler is hard to argue with, and the car parking on site is free too, including disabled spaces. There's a café for the inevitable snack stop, and the building's wheelchair accessible with lifts and one wheelchair available to borrow. Just don't turn up expecting to park on site if there's a car boot sale on, they're clear that parking disappears entirely for those and you'll need to sort somewhere else to leave the car.

Opening hours are a bit fiddly to remember: 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Friday, but 11am to 4pm at weekends and bank holidays, and it's shut on Mondays along with Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Good Friday. No booking needed, you just turn up within those hours.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

Under 5s, with drop-in sessions aimed squarely at toddlers

Parking

Free on-site car parking and disabled car parking

Food

Café on site serving drinks, snacks and light meals

Wheelchairs

One wheelchair hire available, disabled access with lifts

Getting there by bus or train

Bus 645 from Market Street or Hall Ings stops at Moorside Road

• First Saturdays have free drop-in play and growth sessions built for under-5s
• There's a Halloween trail with a skeleton rat hunt, face painting and a disco
• No on-site parking at all during car boot sale events, plan an alternative
• It's signposted from Bradford Ring Road and Harrogate Road if you're driving

Plan your visit

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