Welcome to Bradford
There are a wealth of travel options available for anyone travelling to the Bradford Literature Festival (BLF). Many BLF events take place in easily accessible city centre locations. Most of our venues are within a 5-15 minute walk from either Bradford Interchange or Bradford Forster Square station. Please check the venue on your email ticket and plan your journey in advance.
By Air
Leeds Bradford Airport is only seven miles away, with regular flights running to major cities throughout the UK and beyond.
For more information about flights please visit the Leeds Bradford Airport website.
By Rail
The city is served by two train stations, both of which are located in the city centre, providing fast and easy access to most festival locations.
Bradford Interchange is a five-minute walk from Centenary Square and has rail, bus and taxi services all under one roof. From here, you are just a 20-minute direct journey from Leeds train station, with links to the rest of the country. You can plan your journey using National Rail.
Bradford Interchange also runs a direct service to London Kings Cross, via Wakefield and Doncaster. Visit the Grand Central Rail website for more information.
Bradford Forster Square is a 5-10 minute walk from Centenary Square and City Hall. The station has daily direct London North Eastern Railway services to London, and also serves Leeds, Ilkley, Saltaire, Keighley, and Skipton.
By Road
If you choose to travel by bus, Bradford Interchange is located in the city centre and is just a short walk from the majority of festival venues. You can find timetable information on the West Yorkshire Metro website.
For those travelling by car, Bradford city centre is just two miles from the motorway network. From the M62, take junction 26, joining the M606, and follow the brown heritage signs which will bring you into the city centre. Bradford city centre has limited on-street parking. However, the centre is served by a number of large multi-storey car parks:
- The Broadway Shopping Centre: Hall Ings, BD1 1JR.
- The Kirkgate Shopping Centre: Godwin St, BD1 3PT.
Limited parking is available at the University of Bradford across both festival weekends: University of Bradford, Longside Lane, BD7 1SA.
For an additional list of Bradford Council Car Parks, please click here: Car Parks in Bradford.
Clean Air Zone
Bradford has a Clean Air Zone to improve the health of residents and visitors. You do not need to pay if you are driving a passenger car or motorbike.
If you are planning to visit Bradford please check if you have to pay to drive in the Bradford Clean Air Zone. Visit the Breathe Better Bradford website to find out more.
Travelling with Children
Our children’s programme is a major part of the festival line-up, with dozens of events including storytelling, crafts, workshops, theatre shows, film screenings and much more. All of these events are FREE to attend and do not require tickets. Simply turn-up with the whole family and have fun.
- Literature Unlocked – Free, family fun days held on Saturdays and Sundays during the festival. Dates for 2024 coming soon.
- Waterstones Bradford – Book readings from children’s authors and illustrators. See individual event pages for details.
- Early Years – A range of activities for pre-schoolers. From baby yoga to craft activities. See individual event pages for details.
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