Bradford 2025: Where will the City of Culture judges visit? Full list of areas

From historic locations to exciting projects, the UK City of Culture 2025 judging panel will take in a number of sights - just one day after visiting bid rival County Durham.

Bradford is among four shortlisted areas vying for the prestigious title, going up against the North East county, Southampton and Wrexham county borough.

In the next stage of the judges’ whistle-stop tour, the Bradford 2025 team will showcase elements of the city’s rich past, promising present and exciting future.

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Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, Minister for Arts, said Bradford was "full of energy" following his visit to the city on Monday. Photo credit: Asadour Guzelian.

City of Culture: Where are the judges visiting in Bradford?

The full tour schedule is yet to be revealed, but the Telegraph & Argus understands that the panel will split into two groups to explore different parts of the Bradford district.

The visit will start with a tour inside Bradford Live, the regeneration project which will see the former Odeon cinema transformed into a 4,000-capacity live entertainment venue.

Construction work is well underway onsite, bringing the once iconic building back to life.

Building work has uncovered a number of unusual pieces of history - including a can of Carnation milk found under the 1930's dance floor and a trilby hat, thought to belong to the T&A's former entertainment correspondent who lost it during an interview with The Rolling Stones in the 1960s.

The tour will continue on to Salts Mill for a celebration of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Saltaire, philanthropist and businessman Sir Titus Salt and David Hockney.

There will also be a visit to Keighley, Lister Mills in Manningham and areas undergoing huge amounts of investment and regeneration.

This includes the £23 million flagship Darley Street Market, a project set to include a 750-capacity performance venue, food hall and trade stalls.

Bradford City of Culture bid

Bradford 2025 officially submitted its bid for City of Culture 2025 in February 2022. 

The full bid contains detailed information about what Bradford’s potential year as City of Culture would look like, with thousands of spectacular events, increased access to culture, and innovative new uses for the district’s historic settings all in the pipeline.

Bradford was announced as one of the four shortlisted cities in March 2022 after it was approved by Secretary of State for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nadine Dorries.

It fought off competition from eight locations across the UK.

• Read more: City of Culture judge reveals what will it take for Bradford to win bid

Young people send off Bradford's City of Culture bid. L-R: Phoebe Dear, Danielle Wright, Amber Whithead Stevens, Ali Islam, Nikodi Joseph, Zahabia Naveed, Kemmi Gill, Ibby Flaherty. Pic: Karol Wyszynski.

Speaking at the time, Shanaz Gulzar, chair of Bradford 2025, said: “This is fantastic news! We’d like to thank the thousands of people, community organisations, businesses and the creative community across the Bradford district who have thrown their support behind the campaign and helped us shape what we believe is a winning bid.

"We’re keeping details of our entry tightly under wraps for now, as the competition heats up, but I can say that our bid is rooted in the heritage and character of the Bradford district, and will reveal the magic of its people, ambition, and above all its potential.

“We’re representing Yorkshire, as the only bidding city from the region left in the contest, and we can be proof of the major role culture can play in levelling up. The title is within touching distance, we look forward to welcoming the judges when they visit the shortlisted places in May. We’re ready to write a new chapter in the story of this young, diverse district. This really is our time.”