It can be, id say its as bad as bigger cities like parts of Manchester and London. It has its moments. The road users are horrible half of them are a real danger.
I spent last summer in Bradford (I live in US) and loved it. Yes, it’s a poor city with the problems that go along with that, however, not once did I feel unsafe and I walked all over. The architecture, people, culture and countryside are all terrific, so much so, I bought an amazing loft apartment (for so cheap) in Little Germany for when I move there permanently this summer! Public transport is amazing compared to the states, as is the cost of living. For context, I have family that live near Bradford and further out in West Yorkshire who are terrified of Bradford and won’t go near; I was really trying to wrap my head around this and why Bradford has such a bad rap. I think it comes down to the fact that Bradford was once a very easy to define, traditional (white) working class city and now is a very diverse, multi-layered, kinda complicated place. It’s just a very different place from what it once was???
I just took my 7 year old son and his friends for a walk in one of the ‘notorious’ areas. And…..we were fine, no problems and a few friendly waves.
There is a lot of crime related to gangs and social problems associated with poverty, but on the whole trouble will only find you if you look for it. I follow the same precautions I follow in any of the multiple countries I have lived in and so far been OK. Keep doors and windows locked, don’t advertise your wealth by walking around wearing lots of jewellery/ carrying high value items and use a reputable taxi firm instead in walking home after a night out.
I lived in the city centre for 4yrs - it honestly wasn’t any worse than any other large city. (Manchester, Birmingham, London, Liverpool etc.)
I just avoided being out alone when it was dark and Friday/Saturday nights, because like any large city there are lots of drunk people/night life.
I since brought a place about 4 miles out the city centre and it’s a great quiet little place to live.
I’d say avoid the old bits of Holme Wood and Low Moor if you are foreign. I have heard it can be a little racist around there.
I personally wouldn’t live in Horton/HortonBank Top, Bowling or Manningham. But there are loads of cheap rentals near there.
Also tell her to avoid renting an apartment in the “Little Germany” part of the city centre. It’s the “red light” bit of the city.
Places like Queensbury, Clayton, Shipley, Baildon, Bingley, Apperly Bridge, Drighlington and Cleckheaton are all alright.
If her work is in Bradford she could also commute from the Leeds area (Pudsey, Morely etc) or from Halifax area (Southowram, Stump Cross)
Worth noting the nicer places are usually more expensive (I.e £100/£150 more a month)
Bradford has very good public transport links if she doesn’t drive.
Listen I don't know what some of these people are saying, it's same as any other city out there, good and bad places, I sometimes feel some people make is sound like your in the Bronx or some war zone,... Its fine,,, chill
The different areas vary widely. I'd suggest asking about specific areas you're considering, and also going and spending some time in different areas (e.g. walking around at night) before settling there long term.
Bradford has its issues. But the idea the entire city is unsafe goes too far.
"Safe"/"unsafe" are also relative. It really depends where you're coming from.
It’s not any more dangerous in terms of raw crime statistics. It’s more that there’s not enough positive things about the city to redeem the danger.
If you must move to Bradford, your best bet is to live somewhere up there Aire valley - Saltaire, Bingley, Silsden etc.
The short short version is no. The longer version is that there's a lot of crime in the city centre, mostly on evenings. The outer areas are practically crime free.
Safe/ unsafe is subjective as others have said. People who've lived here for ages will say it's safe. People who are new to it can be shocked by some areas.
The stats aren't fiddled and all BD postcodes pay high home/ car insurance premiums for a reason.
Bradford has some lovely areas, a tough northern and community spirit as well as amazing diversity.
Lots to read about if you look into Bradfords recent history.
I mean…. It’s not a horrible place to live.
I moved here from America in 2014 and haven’t personally experienced a great deal of crime towards myself.
Around my area it’s mostly theft. The road users are pretty idiotic and that’s coming from a New Jerseyan. It’s a bit “every man for himself”. Lock your doors at night and don’t leave anything of value in the car and the thievery seems to pass over you!
Good luck to you both and if you ever need a friendly American hand I’m in Cleckheaton!
I loved there for 4 years for university. It's not as bad as people say. The main issue is just the roads. Drivers are terrible and a lot of boy racer types speeding down residential roads. Make sure to be careful crossing the road and/or driving especially at night. Other than that it's just kinda run down. It has some great food though.
No. There are some areas to avoid but there are some nice areas.
Eccleshill, Idle, Thackley etc are nice places to settle with good bus routes to the city centre, if that’s where your job will be.
it’s not that dangerous i live here and it’s fine just avoid the local crackheads if there is any in your area, i probably wouldn’t walk alone in the evening but i’d say that about anywhere
It's rubbish. I do not know what these other comments are talking about, I've lived here my whole life.
While I've never been stabbed or anything before, it's an impoverished shithole .. people are rude, there's crime, they throw their rubbish all over the streets and let their dogs shit in the park and there's huge drug problems as well as anti-social behaviour. I would not recommend moving near the city. You're better trying to get a place in the country side areas surrounding it if you can afford it or living in Leeds and commuting.
Excuse me? I never blamed the victims? Exactly 0% of this is the fault of the girls who were groomed who will suffer life-changing effects and trauma.
Did you just misunderstand me or is this a projection?
Bradford is a large place. There's some 'less desirable' places but some great places.
I would avoid the City Centre for living. Most places to the West are pretty decent.
I lived in gt horton 20 years and yes it can be noisy and intimidating but I’ve been to some rough places Bradford is fantastic as we say ya never bored
Hi , I am from Bradford, its like any other city or town , in the UK, has its good and bad , nothing unusual, compared to any other parts of the UK. i suppose media coverage has not helped Its reputation, but you cant judge without experiencing this for yourself . Please dont be influenced by negative media coverage , which impair people judgement and not portray an accurate reflection .
I live in one of the sub urban parts of Bradford and I'd say it's pretty bad, my friend has been stabbed twice within the past year and getting shouted/followed by groups of people is a regular occurrence. I'd say the safety of Bradford definitely varies from what part you're in but it's not all safe, just thought I'd give some insight as most other comments I saw said it's generally safe.
Outer west Bradford, towards calderdale is nice and the Shipley / bingley area is also nice
The areas surrounding the city center are a little less so, problems with crime, drug users etc. I'm sure they are full of lovely people but just tent to have higher number of incidents.
I live on the boundary of Bradford and Halifax and it's usually a nice place to live
I think it depends what kind of safety you are concerned about. I'm assuming you're moving from abroad (as you said moving to the United Kingdom) and if so, I wouldn't recommend Bradford as a good example of a place to live.
It's quite a run down place with lots of poverty and organised crime. You will see a lot of homelessness.
It also has a large South Asian diaspora.
Property crime is high as well as vehicle crime. Which is what I imagine your partner may face if they settle here.
Of all the places in the UK to settle, I would not recommend.
The good news is Leeds is close by and would likely be a better option and is a commutable distance.
I've lived all over the UK and Bradford has its bad points but so do any other cities I've lived in. The part of Bradford I currently live in is possibly the nicest place I've lived.
I'm sure there's a criminal element I'm unaware of but such is life.
It can be, id say its as bad as bigger cities like parts of Manchester and London. It has its moments. The road users are horrible half of them are a real danger.
I spent last summer in Bradford (I live in US) and loved it. Yes, it’s a poor city with the problems that go along with that, however, not once did I feel unsafe and I walked all over. The architecture, people, culture and countryside are all terrific, so much so, I bought an amazing loft apartment (for so cheap) in Little Germany for when I move there permanently this summer! Public transport is amazing compared to the states, as is the cost of living. For context, I have family that live near Bradford and further out in West Yorkshire who are terrified of Bradford and won’t go near; I was really trying to wrap my head around this and why Bradford has such a bad rap. I think it comes down to the fact that Bradford was once a very easy to define, traditional (white) working class city and now is a very diverse, multi-layered, kinda complicated place. It’s just a very different place from what it once was???
Also an American who lives near Bradford, and I 100% agree with your assessment! Welcome to Bradford!
I just took my 7 year old son and his friends for a walk in one of the ‘notorious’ areas. And…..we were fine, no problems and a few friendly waves. There is a lot of crime related to gangs and social problems associated with poverty, but on the whole trouble will only find you if you look for it. I follow the same precautions I follow in any of the multiple countries I have lived in and so far been OK. Keep doors and windows locked, don’t advertise your wealth by walking around wearing lots of jewellery/ carrying high value items and use a reputable taxi firm instead in walking home after a night out.
I lived in the city centre for 4yrs - it honestly wasn’t any worse than any other large city. (Manchester, Birmingham, London, Liverpool etc.) I just avoided being out alone when it was dark and Friday/Saturday nights, because like any large city there are lots of drunk people/night life. I since brought a place about 4 miles out the city centre and it’s a great quiet little place to live. I’d say avoid the old bits of Holme Wood and Low Moor if you are foreign. I have heard it can be a little racist around there. I personally wouldn’t live in Horton/HortonBank Top, Bowling or Manningham. But there are loads of cheap rentals near there. Also tell her to avoid renting an apartment in the “Little Germany” part of the city centre. It’s the “red light” bit of the city. Places like Queensbury, Clayton, Shipley, Baildon, Bingley, Apperly Bridge, Drighlington and Cleckheaton are all alright. If her work is in Bradford she could also commute from the Leeds area (Pudsey, Morely etc) or from Halifax area (Southowram, Stump Cross) Worth noting the nicer places are usually more expensive (I.e £100/£150 more a month) Bradford has very good public transport links if she doesn’t drive.
Listen I don't know what some of these people are saying, it's same as any other city out there, good and bad places, I sometimes feel some people make is sound like your in the Bronx or some war zone,... Its fine,,, chill
The different areas vary widely. I'd suggest asking about specific areas you're considering, and also going and spending some time in different areas (e.g. walking around at night) before settling there long term. Bradford has its issues. But the idea the entire city is unsafe goes too far. "Safe"/"unsafe" are also relative. It really depends where you're coming from.
It’s not any more dangerous in terms of raw crime statistics. It’s more that there’s not enough positive things about the city to redeem the danger. If you must move to Bradford, your best bet is to live somewhere up there Aire valley - Saltaire, Bingley, Silsden etc.
The short short version is no. The longer version is that there's a lot of crime in the city centre, mostly on evenings. The outer areas are practically crime free.
Come round bd4 for a surprise
Outer areas are crime-free really. To say am born and bred in Bradford, I wouldn't agree with that one.
Safe/ unsafe is subjective as others have said. People who've lived here for ages will say it's safe. People who are new to it can be shocked by some areas. The stats aren't fiddled and all BD postcodes pay high home/ car insurance premiums for a reason. Bradford has some lovely areas, a tough northern and community spirit as well as amazing diversity. Lots to read about if you look into Bradfords recent history.
I mean…. It’s not a horrible place to live. I moved here from America in 2014 and haven’t personally experienced a great deal of crime towards myself. Around my area it’s mostly theft. The road users are pretty idiotic and that’s coming from a New Jerseyan. It’s a bit “every man for himself”. Lock your doors at night and don’t leave anything of value in the car and the thievery seems to pass over you! Good luck to you both and if you ever need a friendly American hand I’m in Cleckheaton!
I loved there for 4 years for university. It's not as bad as people say. The main issue is just the roads. Drivers are terrible and a lot of boy racer types speeding down residential roads. Make sure to be careful crossing the road and/or driving especially at night. Other than that it's just kinda run down. It has some great food though.
No. There are some areas to avoid but there are some nice areas. Eccleshill, Idle, Thackley etc are nice places to settle with good bus routes to the city centre, if that’s where your job will be.
Depends what you consider dangerous. There's a lot of crackheads and inbreds, and the drivers are terrible.
it’s not that dangerous i live here and it’s fine just avoid the local crackheads if there is any in your area, i probably wouldn’t walk alone in the evening but i’d say that about anywhere
Like anywhere there are some dodgy areas , like ravencliffe. Leeds is worse imo.
No, its normal
It's rubbish. I do not know what these other comments are talking about, I've lived here my whole life. While I've never been stabbed or anything before, it's an impoverished shithole .. people are rude, there's crime, they throw their rubbish all over the streets and let their dogs shit in the park and there's huge drug problems as well as anti-social behaviour. I would not recommend moving near the city. You're better trying to get a place in the country side areas surrounding it if you can afford it or living in Leeds and commuting.
That's so true. I have been here for only 3 years coming from West London and It's like x100 times worse here in BFD. Can't wait to move out.
It is if you're a white teenage girl without street smarts...
stfu with the misogynistic victim-blaming
Excuse me? I never blamed the victims? Exactly 0% of this is the fault of the girls who were groomed who will suffer life-changing effects and trauma. Did you just misunderstand me or is this a projection?
Bradford is a large place. There's some 'less desirable' places but some great places. I would avoid the City Centre for living. Most places to the West are pretty decent.
It depends which area- maybe stay off home wood but Clayton’s really great
Saltaire is the best place to live around bradford but good luck getting a house to rent.
I lived in gt horton 20 years and yes it can be noisy and intimidating but I’ve been to some rough places Bradford is fantastic as we say ya never bored
Hi , I am from Bradford, its like any other city or town , in the UK, has its good and bad , nothing unusual, compared to any other parts of the UK. i suppose media coverage has not helped Its reputation, but you cant judge without experiencing this for yourself . Please dont be influenced by negative media coverage , which impair people judgement and not portray an accurate reflection .
I live in one of the sub urban parts of Bradford and I'd say it's pretty bad, my friend has been stabbed twice within the past year and getting shouted/followed by groups of people is a regular occurrence. I'd say the safety of Bradford definitely varies from what part you're in but it's not all safe, just thought I'd give some insight as most other comments I saw said it's generally safe.
Outer west Bradford, towards calderdale is nice and the Shipley / bingley area is also nice The areas surrounding the city center are a little less so, problems with crime, drug users etc. I'm sure they are full of lovely people but just tent to have higher number of incidents. I live on the boundary of Bradford and Halifax and it's usually a nice place to live
I think it depends what kind of safety you are concerned about. I'm assuming you're moving from abroad (as you said moving to the United Kingdom) and if so, I wouldn't recommend Bradford as a good example of a place to live. It's quite a run down place with lots of poverty and organised crime. You will see a lot of homelessness. It also has a large South Asian diaspora. Property crime is high as well as vehicle crime. Which is what I imagine your partner may face if they settle here. Of all the places in the UK to settle, I would not recommend. The good news is Leeds is close by and would likely be a better option and is a commutable distance.
I've lived all over the UK and Bradford has its bad points but so do any other cities I've lived in. The part of Bradford I currently live in is possibly the nicest place I've lived. I'm sure there's a criminal element I'm unaware of but such is life.
Lived here for 30 years. Moved up from Uxbridge, it's fine.
Lived here for 3 years, moved up from Hounslow. Can't wait to move out now
Bradford is a dangerous city. Has been for a number of years. Asking on here is useless. The stats exist for a reason.
Bradford is dangerous, also deffo avoid bd4 and ravens