HISTORIC England has created a new heritage trail of Bradford, which gives young people the opportunity to discover and explore some the city’s most important historic buildings.

The trail has been developed as part of Historic England’s Heritage Schools Programme in celebration of Bradford’s status as City of Culture 2025.

The Heritage Trail, which includes an interactive digital tour and trail map allows both teachers and pupils to experience the trail virtually and go on a self-guided walking tour around the city centre.

A timeline of Bradford has also been developed, ‘Bradford through time’ guides school children through life in the city, from Ancient Britain all the way up until the 21st century.

Julie Edwards, Local Heritage Education Manager for Historic England in Yorkshire, said: “Bradford has many fine heritage related trails, but none specifically designed for schools and young people. The aim was to create a trail which is visually stimulating and informative and would encourage and support teachers in exploring learning in the city centre. The trail will help young people to notice and understand more about places they may otherwise pass by. It is about seeing, knowing and being proud of what is ‘their place now’.

The heritage trail was trialled by Beckfoot Thornton School in Thornton.

Neil Adams, Head of History at Beckfoot Thornton said: “Our students had spent their whole life in Bradford and seen many of the buildings, but their eyes were opened to the history around them. Notable was their realisation that the City Hall had so many monarchs around it, but the biggest revelation was entering the former Wool Exchange and seeing the magnificent building now being used as bookshop. The trail was concise, clear and engaging for the students and I will be recommending it as both a professional and social tool going forwards”.

Historic buildings featured in Bradford’s Heritage Trail include St George’s Hall, one of the oldest concert halls still in use in the United Kingdom, Bradford City Hall, the centrepiece of the city centre which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, the Midland Hotel, which opened in the 1890s, Kala Sangam, the former General Post Office turned arts centre, the Wool Exchange, a Grade I listed building that is now a Waterstones bookshop and café, and the National Science and Media Museum.

For more information on the tour visit Bradford City Heritage Trail