Christmas shopping in Bradford

With the cold nights drawing in, slippers on and warm drinks brewing, it can only mean one thing… it’s nearly Christmas time!

If you're looking for gift inspiration this year, we've pulled together our top recommendations of the best independent shops in Bradford to help you find the perfect presents for your loved ones. Travel with Northern this festive season and save up to 65% on advance tickets!

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Bradford Waterstones Bookshop

If you're looking for a gift for the book lover in your life, check out Bradford’s Waterstones. A visual treat, this bookshop is housed in the Grade I-listed Victorian Gothic Wool Exchange building and has a wonderful selection of books, stationery, gifts and more. Less than a 10-minute walk from Bradford Interchange station, the store also has a balcony café where you can enjoy a well-earned rest while you shop.

The Record Café Music Shop

For music lovers, The Record Café on Bradford’s North Parade is a must! It’s the perfect combination of great music, great food and great beer – what’s not to love? The downstairs concentrates on cask and craft beers from the UK and internationally (plus a small number of specially selected wines and gins), served alongside an amazing charcuterie selection. While the upstairs is a cosy retro-themed music shop selling both the latest music releases and reissues on vinyl record.

Artz-i Islamic Art & Gifts

If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, Artz-i Islamic Art & Gift Gallery on Longside Lane is one of the best Christmas shops in Bradford. The store is a beautiful place to visit, as both the interior design and the gifts they sell make for a superb shopping experience. Styled like a gallery, this lifestyle gift shop has an outstanding range of modern and traditional hand-crafted artworks that make for a truly special Christmas gift.

Bradford’s Shopping Centres

Bradford is also home to three large shopping centres, making finding the perfect Christmas gift for your family and friends a little bit easier.

Bradford Kirkgate Centre

The Kirkgate Centre is easily accessible from both the Bradford Interchange and Bradford Forster Square train stations and boasts a huge array of high street stores to answer your Christmas shopping needs! Whether that be smellies from the Fragrance Shop, stocking fillers from Poundland, treats from Crazy Sweets, or something sparkly from Warren James, you'll find it here.

Foster Square Retail Park

Forster Square Retail Park, which is conveniently a stone’s throw away from Forster Square train station, is home to an array of retail giants. If your loved one’s put electricals at the top of their Christmas list, then Curry’s may offer the perfect gift. For fitness enthusiasts, the present possibilities are endless at JD Sports and Sports Direct. Or if you really need inspiration for those hard-to-buy buddies, there’s TK Maxx and, not forgetting your four-legged friends, Pets at Home.

Bradford Broadway Shopping Centre

Bradford’s also home to The Broadway Shopping Centre, a 5-minute walk from Forster Square train station, and a 10-minute walk from Bradford Interchange. If jewellery is on the shopping list, stores range from Claire’s to Pandora to Ernest Jones, so there’s something for every budget. For kids (or big kids) there’s also The Works, The Entertainer and Game, so you’re bound to find something to keep them busy on Christmas Day and beyond. Cosmetics more their thing? You’ll be spoilt for choice with plenty to choose, from stocking fillers to premium products. And with a whole array of fashion and sports stores to explore, The Broadway could easily fulfil all of your Christmas shopping needs.

With such a vast range of stores, you're spoiled for choice when Christmas shopping in Bradford! Plus, don’t forget that you could save up to 65% on trains to Bradford when you travel with Northern and book your train tickets in advance.